The meeting was opened with a prayer.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Cowell.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 September 2025.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay proposed and Councillor Foster seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 September 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet and the submitted report on Torbay Council’s proposal for Local Government Reorganisation.

Members considered the recommendations of the Cabinet in relation to Torbay Council’s proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (as set out in the submitted report).

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay advised that, after consulting with the Group Leaders:

a.       recorded votes would be taken on all votes in respect of this item; and

b.       Standing Order A15.5 would be suspended to enable Group Leaders to provide opening speeches of up to fifteen minutes with all other speeches being limited to five minutes.

Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis seconded a motion as set out below:

1.       that the proposal for local government reorganisation in Devon as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved for submission to Government; and

2.       that the Chief Executive be authorised to make any further amendments deemed necessary to the proposal and submit the proposal to the Government by the deadline of 28 November 2025.

During the debate, Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Law seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

1.       that Torbay submit a detailed letter to Government setting out the proposal for local government reorganisation in Devon as per Option 2.2, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report; and

2.       that the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to approve the letter, in consultation with Group Leaders and submit the letter proposal to the Government by the deadline of 28 November 2025.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Amil, Atiya-Alla, Carter, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Harvey, Johns, Law, Long, Maddison, Nicolaou, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (17);  Against:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Hutchings, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman (18);  Absent:  Councillor Cowell (1).  Therefore the amendment was declared lost. 

Councillor David Thomas’ and Councillor Chris Lewis’ original motion was then considered and agreed by the Council (by recorded vote) as set out below:

1.       that the proposal for local government reorganisation in Devon as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved for submission to Government; and

2.       that the Chief Executive be authorised to make any further amendments deemed necessary to the proposal and submit the proposal to the Government by the deadline of 28 November 2025.

The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Hutchings, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman (18);  Against:  Councillors Amil, Atiya-Alla, Carter, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Harvey, Johns, Law, Long, Maddison, Nicolaou, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (17).  Absent:  Councillor Cowell (1).  Therefore the motion was declared carried.