To receive any communications or announcements from the:

·         Civic Mayor – this will include the presentation of the Annual Report (2020-21) of the Virtual School Governing Body,

·         Leader of the Council,

·         Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator,

·         Council’s representative on the Heart of the South West Joint Committee, and

·         Chief Executive.

The Deputy Civic Mayor welcomed Jane Inett, Principal of the Virtual School to the meeting.  Ms Inett gave a presentation on the Virtual School Annual Report for 2020/2021.  On behalf of the Council, the Deputy Civic Mayor thanked Ms Inett for the excellent work of the Virtual School in supporting our cared for children and young people.

The Deputy Civic Mayor invited Councillor O’Dwyer, as the Council’s representative on the Devon County Council Investment and Pension Fund Committee, to provide an update on investments in Russia in light of the current conflict in Ukraine.  Councillor O’Dwyer advised that most of the pension fund was invested via the Brunel Pension Partnership and he read out a statement from them highlighting the actions being taken to prevent any new investments and disinvest, where practical, from all Russian-controlled and Russian-owned assets, bonds and equities.

The Leader of the Council:

a)         provided an update on free Covid-19 testing for vulnerable groups in Torbay following the Government’s announcement to cease universal free testing from 1 April 2022.  The Leader of the Council advised that the Council would provide free Covid-19 tests to key groups on a targeted basis for a transitional period to help protect the most vulnerable people in Torbay; and

b)         thanked Councillor O’Dwyer for his update on investments and those who had chosen to wear blue and yellow to the meeting to show our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.  The Leader of the Council advised that the Government’s Disasters Emergency Committee had announced a new charity fund to help Ukraine and would provide £20 million to match donations.  Torbay Council was planning to donate £25,000 which when match funded would mean raising £50,000 to help support the people of Ukraine.

The Chief Executive led a minute’s silence for two serving members of staff, David Bastow and Barbara Evans who had sadly passed away.