1.         That the following decision made by Cabinet on 11 August 2020 (Cabinet Minute 115d/08/20 refers) be rescinded:

‘ii)        That a standalone bidding process is introduced to determine what local projects the CIL Neighbourhood proportion should be spent on (as set out in the main body of the report). The establishment of the panel (CiL Spend Board) and its operation will be the responsibility of Torbay Council, but shall include representatives of the Neighbourhood Forums, Community Partnerships, Local Member(s) and the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment & Culture.’

2.         That the following bids to the Torquay Neighbourhood proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy be approved:

a)     Maidencombe Beach, steps and railings: restoration;

b)     Replacement of damaged toddler swing, Stoodley Knowle Meadow, Ilsham Road, Wellswood;

c)     Reinstatement of stone wall on Southwest Coast Path close to Imperial Hotel, Wellswood;

That the following bid to the Torquay Neighbourhood proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy be approved for year 1 costs only:

d)     Clearing a safe, off-road path from Babbacombe Theatre to Babbacombe Beach, land including Glen Sannox at Babbacombe (St Marychurch & District); and

3.      That the Divisional Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency be instructed to present to Cabinet on 13 December 2022 a revised and streamlined bidding process to determine what local projects the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood proportion should be spent on.

During the course of the last year, bids have been received by the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum on behalf of Community Organisations that have been discussed by the forum steering group before submission to the Council.  However, the administration of the Board originally proposed has proved to be very cumbersome and overly complicated resulting in a number of bids being undetermined.  Therefore the Cabinet as the ultimate ‘parent’ and decision maker in establishing the administration and Board are requested to rescind their previous decision in this regard, determine the bids that have been submitted in order that they can be progressed and seek to implement a more streamlined process for future applications.

An alternative option would be to further delay the consideration of the bids until a new bidding process has been determined.  However, given the length of time that some of the bids have been waiting this option was deemed unacceptable.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 28 November 2022 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

At its meeting on 11 August 2020 the Cabinet agreed that a standalone bidding process would be introduced to determine what local projects the CIL Neighbourhood proportion should be spent on.  The Cabinet established the CIL Spend Board and its operation would be the responsibility of Torbay Council, but would include representatives of the Neighbourhood Forums, Community Partnerships, Local Member(s) and the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture.

During the course of the last year, bids have been received by the Torquay Neighbourhood Forum on behalf of Community Partnerships that have been discussed by the forum steering group before submission to the Council.  However, the administration of the Board has proved to be very cumbersome and overly complicated resulting in a number of bids being undetermined.  Therefore the Cabinet as the ultimate ‘parent’ and decision maker in establishing the administration and Board are requested to rescind their previous decision in this regard, determine the bids that have been submitted in order that they can be progressed and seek to implement a more streamlined process.

At the meeting Councillor Morey proposed and Councillor Steve Darling seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

None.