To consider approving the calendar for school terms and holidays for community and voluntary controlled schools for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

That the proposed school term and holiday dates for 2022-2023 and 2023-24 for community and voluntary controlled schools as attached to this Record of Decision be approved.

The Torbay Children and Young People’s Plan sets out the priorities of the Council and Children’s Services Strategic Partnership in delivering services to children, young people and their families.  The existing Plan runs until 2023 and it is not expected to need major amendment, although it is likely that the associated action plan will be updated.

That the refreshed Children and Young People’s Plan – Protecting all children and giving them the best start in life 2018-2023 appended to this Record of Decision be approved.

(i)         that the Cabinet recognises, that the standard methodology is the Government’s expected approach to calculate housing need;

(ii)        that a call for evidence for any appropriate alternative methods of calculating housing need in Torbay be run in parallel to assessment work and consultation on housing land capacity; and

(iii)       that a Local Development Scheme be updated and published by the Assistant Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture), to reflect the anticipated programme for updating the Local Plan following this decision.

The publication of the Annual Salary Statement is a statutory requirement under Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.  If Council does not approve the Salary Statement then the Council will be in breach of the legislation.

The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017 requires local authorities and other public, private and voluntary sector organisations to publish their gender pay gap data.  The Council must also publish a written statement on their public website and Government website using the gender pay gap reporting service.

Under the current Pensions Regulations, Torbay Council is able to exercise a range of discretions in regard to how the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is applied to its employees who are members of the Scheme. The Employers Pensions Discretions must be reviewed and approved by Council annually in line with Local Government Pension Scheme regulations.

At the Cabinet meeting on 18 February 2021, the Interim Chief Executive advised that the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021-22 made reference to the Public Sector Exit Payment Regulations which came into force on 4 November 2020.  Since the report was published, the Government’s Treasury Department had issued a direction on 12 February 2021 to dis-apply, with immediate effect, Public Sector Exit Payment Regulations and it was noted the report to Council would be revised to reflect this.

That Council be recommended to approve:

(i)         the Torbay Council Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 as set out in revised Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved for publication;

(ii)        the Torbay Council Gender Pay Gap Report, contained within the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved for publication; and

(iii)       the Employers Pensions Discretions set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report be approved for publication.

The Resources and Waste Strategy will inform both members and residents of Torbay's direction of travel regarding recycling waste collection, residual waste collection, waste disposal, associated climate change issues and future possible alignment with neighbouring authorities.

(i)         that Cabinet recommends to Council that the Resource Management and Waste Strategy be approved; and

(ii)        Cabinet Decision:

(a)       that the proposed trial of a three weekly collection be paused, whilst efforts are intensified in respect of educating, engaging and communicating with residents regarding recycling is undertaken, along with implementation of other aspects of the Resource Management and Waste Strategy in order to increase recycling rates;  and

(b)       that the covering report be updated in respect of the above prior to its submission to Council.

We are submitting this draft policy document for approval by the Cabinet to go out to the wider public and partners for consultation.  The intention is for the final policy document to be brought back to full Council for approval once informed by the community consultation.  It is currently intended that the consultation of this document will form a significant part of Communities Week (Community Conference).

That Cabinet recommends to Council:

(i)         that the Policy Framework be amended to replace the Communication, Engagement and Consultation Strategy with the Community Engagement and Empowerment Strategy;

(ii)        that the Community Engagement and Empowerment Strategy set out at Appendix 3 to the submitted report be approved; and

(iii)       that Head of Policy, Performance and Community Engagement, working as part of the ‘Our Communities’ project team, takes responsibility for implementing the plans required to deliver this Strategy.