The Board considered the details of a call-in by at least five Members of the Council of the decision of the Deputy Mayor to grant a 10 year lease to a local media company for the south side of the 4th floor of Tor Hill House, Union Street, Torquay following the vacation of Children’s Services from Tor Hill House.

In addressing the Board, the Call-in Promoter highlighted that he believed that the Deputy Mayor’s decision was contrary to the Council’s Policy Framework.  He made reference to the Corporate Plan and Corporate Asset Management Plan both of which made reference to generating income from and making effective use of the Council’s buildings.

The Deputy Mayor and other members of the Executive were invited to respond to the points in the call-in and to the questions raised by members of the Board.

Members of the Board indicated that they were minded to agree that the decision was contrary to the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework and, at that point, the Monitoring Officer provided advice to the Board.

Resolved:  (i)  that having listened to the advice of the Monitoring Officer, the Board is of the view that the Deputy Mayor’s decision is contrary to the Policy Framework as it does not conform with the Corporate Plan or the Corporate Asset Management Plan and therefore the matter is referred to the Council; and

(ii)        that the report to the Council include the views of the Director of Children’s Services setting out the risks in relation to the proposed decision, any mitigating actions that he would recommend and whether those mitigating actions would be, in his opinion, sufficient to allow the lease to be granted.

(Note:  Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 61, the Mayor declared a pecuniary interest and withdrew from the meeting.)