1.       To review the Council’s key performance indicators for Quarter 2 2025/26 and make recommendations to the Cabinet.

2.       To receive a report on the Enforcement Service and make recommendations to the Cabinet.

The Board scrutinised the submitted Performance Report for Quarter 2 2025/2026 which provided an overview of the performance of the Council working towards the ambitions and priorities within the Community and Corporate Plan and the Council Business Plan.  132 performance indicators had been identified and 32 projects. 

The Board considered the submitted report which provided an update on the Council’s Planning Enforcement Service, response to the 2024 Audit outcomes and an update on the lessons learned from a recent Ombudsman case.

Members raised the following questions:

·         Could clarification be provided regarding the report slippage in the commencement of the review of Torbay play parks detailed on page 13 of the Performance Report?

·         Why had Members not been consulted on the Plan for Neighbourhoods prior to publication which included details of costings allocated against playparks located within Torbay that Members were unaware of?

·         If the increased costings within the Oldway budget detailed on page 17 included the removal of the West Tower?

·         What actions were being taken by the Council to resolve the slippages detailed on page 21 regarding care-experienced children not in employment?

·         With more Enforcement Planning Officers now employed, when could Members expect to see an increase in the number of Enforcement cases being completed, in line with the Performance Indicator target?

The following responses were provided:

·         The Team who was tasked to complete the review of Torbay play parks had to be rediverted to complete other urgent tasks which had resulted in the delay of the review commencing. 

·         The Director of Pride in Place advised that there was a process required to be completed prior to submission for a bid within the Plan for Neighbourhoods.  A written response to be provided by the Director of Pride in Place to provide further information on this issue to Members.

·         The Board was advised that there had been challenges experienced within the allocated budget for the Oldway resilience scheme due to increased costs for additional security for the mansion and the grounds due to repeated incursions into the grounds and mansion.  Officer conversations were being held with Heritage England and National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to identify further funding opportunities.  The budget did include the costs for the West Tower removal. 

·         There was currently work being completed funded until March 2026 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support young people returning to work.  It was unknown at present if there would be a replacement method of funding available in 2026.  The Board noted that the target detailed within the Performance Report was above the national target due to focus on driving Torbay young care-experienced residents into new employment and that the reached target was higher than that achieved by neighbouring authorities.   

·         The Service Manager for Development Management advised that it was impossible to provide a timeline as to an increase in enforcement cases being completed.  The Service would be going out to advert soon for a Case Manager post, however the process to complete enforcement cases takes time to ensure the all the required action was completed for each case.

Resolved:

1.    that the Director of Corporate Services be recommended to work with colleagues across the Council to improve communications with Members to ensure that all Members are kept up to date on proposals on schemes for their relevant Wards, prior to being published in various reports and policies;

2.    that the Chief Executive be requested to consider asking the Local Government Association to carry out a peer review into the Planning Service;

3.    that the Overview and Scrutiny Board note the Quarter 2 Performance Report for 2025/2026; and

4.    that the Overview and Scrutiny Board note the report on Planning Enforcement and the achievements of the Team over the last 12 months.