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Annual Report 2025 -2026

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025 - 2026

Contents

Foreword

This year has been one of significant activity for Torbay Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function.  Across the Overview and Scrutiny Board, the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub‑Board, and the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub‑Board, Members have continued to provide rigorous challenge, support the improvement of services, and ensure accountability to Torbay’s residents.

The programme of work between May 2025 and April 2026 demonstrates a sustained focus on housing for care experienced young people, children’s mental health, adult safeguarding, public health issues, and major health service change proposals.  Our Boards and Sub‑Boards have reviewed key areas of performance, scrutinised the development of local strategies, and engaged with partners across the NHS, public health, children’s services, and the voluntary sector.

We continued to take a leading role in the Leader and Cabinet’s Budget development for 2026/2027 and I am pleased that our recommendations informed the final budget proposals.  In addition to the budget, the Board and its Sub-Boards have investigated several issues and I believe has made a notable difference in some of the key decisions made by the Cabinet, the public and private sector partners. 

This report gives details of the work which has been undertaken by Overview and Scrutiny over the course of the 2025/2026 Municipal Year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a part in contributing towards the work of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Boards, Sub-Boards and Panels. 

Councillor Swithin Long
Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator

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Key information about Overview and Scrutiny

The operation of overview and scrutiny

Torbay Council’s Overview and Scrutiny system continues to act as a critical friend to decision‑makers, providing independent review and constructive challenge. Its purpose is to improve services through transparency, accountability, and public involvement.

The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator (Councillor Long) is supported by Scrutiny Lead Members: 

  • Councillor Law – Children’s Services;
  • Councillor Johns – Adult, Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities;
  • Councillor Cowell – Housing, Finance, Corporate Services and Place Based Services; and
  • Councillor Douglas-Dunbar – Place Development, Economic Growth and Culture.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board meets monthly with Spotlight Reviews and Task and Finish Panels created to consider topics in greater detail.  During the last year the following Members have served on the Overview and Scrutiny Board: Councillors Atiya-Alla, Brook, Bryant, Cowell, George Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fellows, Foster, Fox, Harvey, Johns, Law, Barbara Lewis, Long, Maddison, Penny, Spacagna, Stevens, Tolchard and Twelves.

There are two dedicated Sub-Boards:

The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board provides greater focus on issues in relation to adult social care and health and fulfils the statutory health overview and scrutiny function and normally meets monthly. 

This Board comprised of five Councillors and was Chaired by the Scrutiny Lead for Adult, Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities - Councillor Johns.  During the last year the following Members have served on the Sub-Board:  Councillors Brook, Bryant, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fellows, Foster, Johns, Long, Penny, Spacagna and Tolchard.  Representatives from Healthwatch Torbay and the Voluntary Sector Network were appointed as non-voting co-opted members on the Board to help provide independent expert advice.

The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board is responsible for overview and scrutiny of Children’s Services and meets bi-monthly. 

This Sub-Board comprised of five Councillors and was Chaired by the Scrutiny Lead for Children’s Services – Councillor Law.  During the last year the following Members have served on the Sub-Board:  Councillors Fellows, Foster, Law, Nicolaou, Tolchard and Twelves.  Representatives from Devon and Cornwall Police, Play Torbay, Voluntary and Community Sector and Alternative Provision (Education) as well as the Statutory Co-opted Members from the Church of England Diocese and a Primary Parent Governor also help provide the voice of the child or young person and provide independent expert advice.  Young People working with Sound Communities also attended some meetings and provided valuable insight and questioning.

Scrutiny’s Role

To make recommendations to the Cabinet, Council or key partners in accordance with following principles:

  • Focusing on the issues which matter.
  • Policy Development is of equal importance to “holding to account”.
  • The Forward Plan is the key tool for managing the decision making process.
  • The relationship between overview and scrutiny and the Cabinet should seek to complement one another.
  • All Councillors should have the opportunity to help shape policy decisions at an early stage.

Meetings:

  • Are open to the public to attend.
  • Typically last 2-3 hours.
  • Meet regularly (during the daytime and evenings).
  • Have a formal structure, but are run in an accessible way.
  • Papers are published on the Council’s website at Committee structure (torbay.gov.uk).

Residents and stakeholders can get involved by:

  • Attending public meetings;
  • Giving evidence to one of the Panels, Boards/Sub-Boards; and
  • Sending in comments about a review.

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Snapshot of scrutiny development in 2025/2026

Focusing on the issues which matter

The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board has undertaken the statutory health scrutiny duty (on behalf of the main Board) providing oversight of health services in Torbay and clinical services across the peninsula and has also taken part in masterclass sessions run by Devon County Council.  It has held our health partners to account including Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, One Devon and NHS England for delivery of services to the residents of Torbay.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board continued to receive regular reports on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets and monitor key performance indicators, this includes monitoring performance and compliance of all of the Council’s housing stock and former TorVista Homes housing stock.  It has closely monitored and challenged the performance and outcomes for children holding the Cabinet and our key partners to account through the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.  As well as monitored and challenged the performance and outcomes for adults holding the Cabinet and our key partners to account through the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board

Equal importance placed on policy development 

The Overview and Scrutiny Board and its Sub-Boards provided feedback during the development of the following Council’s key policies and strategies, as well as monitoring progress against delivery such as the following:

  • Play Improvement Strategy
  • Housing Policies
  • Torquay Town Centre Place Vision
  • Paignton Town Centre Place Vision
  • Brixham Town Centre Place Vision and Torbay Vision
  • Annual Review of the Events Strategy as aligned with Destination Management Plan
  • Annual Review of the Council's Climate Change Action Plan
  • Torbay Youth Justice Plan 2025-26
  • Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report
  • Fostering Annual Report 2024 - 2025
  • Best Start in life – Torbay’s Local Plan
  • Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan
  • Healthwatch Annual Report 2025
  • Public Health Annual Report 2025/26
  • Women's Safety and Domestic Abuse Strategy
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC) Adult Social Care Assessment Report and Improvement/Action Plan
  • Men’s Health Strategy 2026

Complementing the work of the Cabinet

The Overview and Scrutiny Board continue to seek to complement the work of the Cabinet, with Quarterly Overview and Scrutiny Leadership meetings held between the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator, Overview and Scrutiny Board Vice-Chairman, Group Leaders and Chairman of the Audit Committee to review work programmes and determine where Overview and Scrutiny can add value. 

Pre-Briefings and Work Planning

Monthly briefings have enabled better member engagement and more focussed debate at Board meetings, developing key lines of questioning and exploring upcoming items to ensure relevant items are considered at the right time with key attendees invited to contribute towards discussions.  They have also monitored implementation of recommendations and received updates on topics to determine if they should be included in the Work Programmes, which freed up capacity for the main Board to focus on delivering its Work Programme.  The Forward Plan was also used as a tool to identify key issues for consideration by the Board and Sub-Boards.

Workshops were held during March to develop the draft Work Programmes for the two Sub-Boards for Children and Adults.  These were open to all Councillors, Directors and Co-opted Members of the Sub-Boards to enable them to contribute and share ideas on the focus Overview and Scrutiny in 2026/2027.  All Councillors and Directors were invited to review and contribute towards the Work Programme for the Main Board for 2026/2027. 

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Overview and Scrutiny in Numbers 2025/2026

A 3D pie chart titled “Overview and Scrutiny in Numbers” showing four categories: 40 Overview and Scrutiny Board and Panel meetings held (blue), 39 topics considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Board (orange), 28 topics considered by the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board (grey), and 34 topics considered by the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board (yellow).

  • Overview and Scrutiny Board and Panel meetings held - 40
  • Topics considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Board - 39
  • Topics considered by the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board - 28
  • Topics considered by the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board -34

Snapshot of some of the Key Achievements 2025/2026

Overview and Scrutiny Board

Over the last 12 months Overview and Scrutiny has focussed on delivering its main Work Programme with meetings dedicated to spotlight reviews rather than undertaking longer task and finish groups, except for the annual Priorities and Resources Review Panel which considered the Cabinet’s draft Budget Proposals for 2025/2026 and the Local Government Reorganisation Review Panel which undertook a number workshop sessions to help inform the Council’s response to Local Government Reorganisation in Devon.  Members found that this enabled a greater focus on a single topic with key stakeholders invited to contribute.  Quarterly meetings focussed on monitoring the Council’s Revenue and Capital Budget and key Performance Indicators which helped to hold decision makers to account for delivery of the budget and Community and Corporate Plan.

Spotlight Review of Water and Flooding

Further to the successful Spotlight Review of Drainage and Flooding in 2024, the Overview and Scrutiny Board held a Spotlight Review on issues of concern regarding water and flooding.  The Panel heard evidence from the Regulatory Manager (Water) - Environment Agency, South West Catchment Co-ordinator - Environment Agency, Head of Local Government Affairs – South West Water (SWW), Head of Developer Services – SWW, Operations Manager Waste Water Services – SWW; and Chief Executive Officer - English Riviera Business Improvement District (ERBID) Company Ltd.).  The Review resulted in:

  • improved communication and greater public engagement with the Council, residents and South West Water (SWW) on key campaigns to encourage responsible use of water and disposal of fats and oils and other pollutants which can cause blockages to sewers or other environmental hazards;
  • improved relationships between the Council and Environment Agency and South West Water and better engagement on key strategic issues e.g. revised Torbay Local Plan;
  • raising awareness of the dedicated SWW Council Enquiry email for Councillors and encouraging Councillors to share concerns and raise awareness of any events that may have impacted so that SWW could log, track and respond in a timely manner; and
  • encouraging the public to report leaks and use water efficient measures to help reduce the amount of water used by residents.

The full details on this Spotlight Review can be viewed at Agenda for Overview and Scrutiny Board on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 5.30 pm.

Full details of the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Board can be viewed at Committee details - Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Continued to Support Children’s Services Improvement Journey

The Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board has had a busy year working with and holding to account the Director of Children’s Services and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and our key partners across a wide range of topics, including school attendance and exclusions, emotional wellbeing and mental health support and youth justice.  The Sub-Board has also contributed towards the Council maintaining a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating through its questioning and holding decision-makings to account to continuous improvement.

Continued Focus on supporting the most vulnerable children

Members continued to champion additional support to the most vulnerable children throughout Torbay.  Having already helped to ensure that free school meals were automatically rolled out to all those entitled to receive them through auto enrolment in Primary and Secondary Schools, the Sub-Board was also instrumental in encouraging this to be rolled out across early years settings, recognising the key benefits of free school meals to a child’s learning and development.

Service Changes at the St Margaret's Academy and The Spires College Hearing Impairment Units

Members reviewed the Service Changes at the St Margaret's Academy and The Spires College Hearing Impairment Units following an earlier Councillor call for action and referral of a petition from Full Council.  They received evidence from a petitioner, One Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), National Deaf Society, St Margaret’s Academy, The Spires College and Director of Children’s Services.  The outcomes included providing clearer communication and information to those impacted by the proposal and challenging misconception in the community and parents’ understanding regarding the proposal, especially around those children who were not entitled to receive provision through the units.  School Leaders were also requested to consider how they deliver sensitive news to parents and families in the future.

More information on this issue can be found at Agenda for Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Monday, 2 June 2025, 1.30 pm

Spotlight Review on Education

Members undertook a spotlight review on education which gave them more time to look into education in greater detail and provided useful background which will help Members to develop a greater understanding of issues impacting on education and enable them to take this learning forward into future sessions.

More information on this review can be found at Agenda for Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Monday, 9 February 2026, 2.00 pm

Full details of the work of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board can be viewed at Browse meetings - Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.

Scrutiny of Adult Social Care and Health

Over the past year, the Adult Social Care and Health Sub-Board has focused on understanding the complexities of Adult Social Care and Health.  The Sub Board continued to hold the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to account for the delivery and quality of services at Torbay Hospital and received regular updates.

Developing a case for change for cardiovascular disease, cardiology and cardiac surgery services

Following high levels of concern from Torbay residents, the Sub-Board considered the Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) proposals for developing a case for change for cardiovascular disease, cardiology and cardiac surgery services.  Members heard evidence from the Medical Director Secondary Care ICB and Medical Director Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust), the Chief Medical Officer from Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), Healthwatch Torbay and Heart Campaign.  The outcomes from the meeting were to highlight the strength of concern from Torbay residents which resulted in the ICB having greater engagement with Councillors, residents and the Heart Campaign as they develop their case and ensuring greater engagement with the Sub-Board on any other significant changes to health care affecting Torbay’s residents.

More information on this issue can be found at Agenda for Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 2.00 pm

Section 75 Agreement for the Integrated Care Model

The Sub-Board considered whether or not it felt that there was a substantial change to service delivery in both health and social care which may result in a ‘duty to consult’ should the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) decide to serve notice, bringing an end to the Section 75 Agreement for the integrated care model for delivery of community health and adult social care services with Torbay Council and the Integrated Care Board (“ICB”).  Members head evidence from Chief Executive of the Trust, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer of the Trust, Chief Nursing Officer from the ICB, Director of Adults and Communities, Torbay Council and Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, Public Health and Inequalities. 

The key outcomes from the meeting were that Members felt that the proposal to end the Agreement would amount to a substantial change in both health and adult social care service delivery in the area of Torbay and requested the Trust to delay making a decision until it had carried out a full consultation.  The matter was also referred to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the grounds that the proposal constitutes a substantial service change/reconfiguration to health services for the Torbay area, and the Trust has a ‘duty to consult’ before taking a decision to end the Agreement and the requirement for an impact assessment to inform the decision.  The Trust’s response confirmed that they do not believe that there is a substantial change to service or requirement to consult but demonstrated a commitment to continued working with the Council and ICB on a way forward.

More information on this issue can be found at Agenda for Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, 3.00 pm

Full details of the work of the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board can be viewed at Browse meetings - Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board.

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Topic List

Overview and Scrutiny Board

  • Call-in of the Cabinet's Decision on Brokenbury Solar Farm
  • Play Improvement Strategy
  • Housing Policies
  • Performance Report - Quarter 4 2024-25
  • Budget Monitoring 2024/2025 Quarter 4 Outturn
  • Update on Planning Service for the Future – Development Management
  • SWISCo Annual Report and Business Plan
  • Torbay Housing Delivery Plan Annual Review
  • Torre Abbey New Beginnings Chapter One
  • Local Government Reorganisation in Devon
  • Annual Review of Key Performance Indicators for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Area Strategy
  • Performance Report 2025/26 - Quarter 1
  • Budget Monitoring 2025/26 Quarter 1
  • Torquay Town Centre Place Vision
  • Report of the Local Government Reorganisation Task and Finish Group
  • Overview Report for Safer Torbay (Community Safety Partnership)
  • Call-In of Cabinet's Decision on Community Grant Fund - Funding Awards Tranche 1
  • Update on Local Government Association Peer Review
  • Spotlight Review on Water and Flooding
  • Budget Monitoring - Revenue and Capital Quarter 2 2025/2026
  • Performance Report 2025/26 – Quarter 2
  • Paignton Town Centre Place Vision
  • Local Government Reorganisation in Devon
  • Brixham Town Centre Place Vision and Torbay Vision
  • Update on capital investment to implement the Play Park Improvement Strategy
  • Operation Brighter Bay and Town Centres
  • Annual Review of the Events Strategy as aligned with Destination Management Plan
  • Torbay Economic Development Company - Closure and re-integration into Torbay Council
  • Revenue and Capital Budget 2026/2027 - Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Board
  • Budget Monitoring - Revenue and Capital Quarter 3 2025/2026
  • Performance Report 2025/26 - Quarter 3
  • Torre Abbey Business Plan
  • Call-In of Cabinet's Decision on Implementation of the English Riviera Beach Standards
  • Annual Review of the Council's Climate Change Action Plan
  • Social Mobility in Torbay
  • Cockington Court
  • Review of Memorial Bench Policy
  • Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/2026
  • Initial Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2026/2027

Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board

  • Care Experienced, Including Housing for Care Experienced Young People
  • Early Years Sufficiency
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Work Programme 2025/2026
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Service Changes at the St Margaret's Academy and The Spires College Hearing Impairment Units
  • Torbay Youth Justice Plan 2025-26
  • Youth Provision and Physical Activity
  • Family First Partnership Programme - 6 Month Update
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report
  • Exploitation and Children Missing Update
  • Exclusions and Absence
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Young and Young Adult Carers Update
  • Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support for Children and Young People
  • Wraparound Programme
  • Fostering Annual Report 2024 - 2025
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • NHS Devon - One Devon's Children's Strategic Approach and Action Plan
  • NHS One Devon Children and Young People Long Term Conditions
  • 0-5s with School Nursing and Family Hubs - Update
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Spotlight Review on Education
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Performance
  • Child Exploitation and Missing Children Update
  • Ofsted Report
  • Best Start in life – Torbay’s Local Plan
  • Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Sub Board Action Tracker

Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board

  • Update on the Prevent and Modern Slavery Workstream
  • Review of Women's Health in Torbay
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • MacMillan Torbay Community Engagement Project
  • Draft Adult Social Care Market Position Statement
  • Adult Social Care Self-Assessment
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Developing a case for change for cardiovascular disease, cardiology and cardiac surgery services
  • Illicit sales of illegal tobacco and vapes
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Healthwatch Annual Report 2025
  • Public Health Annual Report 2025/26
  • Spotlight Review of Adult Safeguarding
  • Annual Review of Building a Brighter Future Programme
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Women's Safety and Domestic Abuse Strategy
  • Multiple Complex Needs (MCN) Alliance Review
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Public Health Update on Suicide Prevention and Baton of Hope Torbay
  • Public Health Update on Winter Readiness and Year Round Resilience to Adverse Weather and Infections
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Oral Health and Dental Access Update
  • Winter Plan
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Section 75 Agreement for the Integrated Care Model with Torbay Council
  • Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adult Partnership Annual Report 2024/25
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC) Adult Social Care Assessment Report and Improvement/Action Plan
  • Overview of the Adult Social Care Market
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker
  • Key Public Health Updates
  • Men’s Health Strategy 2026
  • Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board Action Tracker

Panels

  • Priorities and Resources Review Panel
  • Local Government Reorganisation

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Current and Future Work Programme

The Overview and Scrutiny work programme needs to be flexible in order to address any issues that arise throughout the Municipal Year.  A number of new topics were added to the programme during the year and the timing of some of the items was varied to enable key items to be considered in a timely manner.

The Work Programmes for 2026/2027 will be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Board on 8 April 2026 and then to the subsequent Sub-Boards. 

Overview and Scrutiny will continue with its flexible approach to work programming to ensure that it is able to react to issues as they arise and in respect of Task and Finish Review Panels and Spotlight Reviews, which will be subject to available staff resources. 

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Call-in of decisions

The call-in process is one of the mechanisms which can be used to hold the Cabinet to account.  The purpose of a call-in is to examine the decisions reached by the Cabinet (or other decision makers) and the reasoning behind those decisions.  The process enables further public debate to be held on the subject.  The Overview and Scrutiny Board can then consider whether in their view, the decision was appropriate and make recommendations accordingly.

There were three call-ins during 2025/2026.

  • Call-In of Cabinet's Decision on Brokenbury Solar Farm – the outcome of the call-in was to refer the decision back to the Cabinet for reconsideration on the grounds that Board considers that there was insufficient evidence available to the Cabinet at the time it made its decision and recommends in reconsidering the decision, that Cabinet receives a detailed business case which sets out all of the risks and mitigations of delivering the solar farm in-house for transparency of the decision. The Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board but reconfirmed their original decision – see (Public Pack)Minutes Document for Cabinet, 13/05/2025 17:30 and Cabinet Response to Overview and Scrutiny Recommendations.pdf
  • Call-In of Cabinet's Decision on Community Grant Fund - Funding Awards Tranche 1 – the outcome of the call-in was no further action. However, the Board recommended that the Cabinet be recommended to ensure that detailed information on the applications for Tranche 2 be included in the report, with an Appendix setting out detailed information on the successful applications for Tranche 1 and a process for letting unsuccessful applicants know the outcome.  The Cabinet accepted this recommendation and reviewed the process for Tranche 2.
  • Call-In of Cabinet's Decision on Implementation of the English Riviera Beach Standards – the outcome of the call-in was no further action but the Cabinet was requested to consider the lessons learned from the call-in of the Cabinet’s decision on the implementation of the English Riviera Beach Standards regarding communication and engagement and review their approach to future decisions; and to include the Ocean Conservation Trust in the stakeholder panel. The Overview and Scrutiny Board would then monitor the implementation of the new Beach Standards annually.

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Councillor Call for Action

Any Member of the Council can ask for Overview and Scrutiny to request officers to prepare a report on a topic for overview and scrutiny.  There have been no new Councillor Call for Action requests in the past twelve months.  However, Members have identified new topics for inclusion such as a review of the Memorial Bench policy through the Monthly Overview and Scrutiny Briefings.

Community involvement

The Overview and Scrutiny Boards and Panels engage with a wide selection of groups, organisations and individuals.  We welcome the opportunity to hear from members of the public at our meetings whose input is important in understanding the concerns and needs of our communities.  To support this approach and in addition to the statutory education co-opted members the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board includes a number of non-voting co-opted members to provide independent expert advice and help represent the voice of the child and young person.

Representatives from Healthwatch Torbay and the Voluntary Sector Network were also appointed as non-voting co-opted members on the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board to help provide independent expert advice together with relaying a service user perspective.

How to get involved in overview and scrutiny

  • Attend meetings – our scrutiny meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to come along and listen to the debate and discussion. Please note that reports may be considered in private if they contain confidential information.
  • Ask a question or make a point – if you would like to make a representation at a meeting, please email support@torbay.gov.uk at least two days before the meeting so that we can let the Chairman know in advance. It is helpful to know what you would like to raise in order for it to be considered at the appropriate time during the discussions.
  • Request a review – if there is something you think scrutiny could look at, then let us know via support@torbay.gov.uk
  • Consultation and participation – you could be asked for your views on an issue or be invited to provide specialist knowledge you might have by being a witness in a scrutiny review.

Contact Us

Torbay Council
Town Hall
Torquay
TQ1 3DR

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