That a South Devon Growth and Enterprise Task Force be established which could comprise of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Executive Lead for Finance, the leaders of the minority groups, the leaders of neighbouring districts and the South Devon MPs alongside private sector representatives.  The group would be supported by an officer team and would develop proposals to enable growth. These might include the development of a discretionary local business rate relief policy and adoption of simplified planning processes.

To assist with the increased retention of businesses in Torbay and support the attraction of new investment into the area which will lead to increased employment and improved public finances.

The submitted report set out proposals to enable the Council to support the local economy in the delivery of employment sites and premises to enable retention, and attraction of growing businesses and in order to capitalise on the effects of the South Devon Link Road.  The report set out the extent of undeveloped employment land in Torbay and proposed that a task group would consider how strategic sites could be developed and the steps needed to encourage investment from the private sector.

The Mayor supported the recommendations of the Council made on 8 December 2011, as set out in his decision above.