The meeting was opened with a prayer.

Following the opening, Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect in memory of Pete Addis, a former councillor, and Jack Jennings, a Torquay resident and thought to be the last surviving veteran of the infamous Burma Railway, both of whom had recently passed away.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Barbara Lewis.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7 December 2023.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay proposed and Councillor Stevens 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 7 December 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay.

No interests were declared.

To receive any communications or announcements from the:

Ø  Civic Mayor including the presentation of the Long Service Awards;

Ø  Leader of the Council;

Ø  Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator; and

Ø  Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council referred to the Levelling Up Minister’s (Jacob Young) visit to Torbay on 25 January 2024, when he announced the publication of proposals for a devolution deal for Devon and Torbay.  It was noted that the proposals included the transfer of a range of Government powers to enable decisions to be made locally by a new combined county local authority.  It was noted the proposals would be launched for consultation and it was anticipated Devon County Council and Torbay Council (at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 30 April 2024) would then determine the response for submission to the Secretary of State.

The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator:

a)    thanked the Cabinet and senior officers for their time and input on the Priorities and Resources Review Panel’s review of the Cabinet’s draft budget proposals.  The Overview and Scrutiny Board was due to finalise it’s recommendations on the proposals on 7 February 2024;

b)    advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 10 January 2024 had triggered a report into the felling of palm trees in Torbay following receipt of a councillor call for action and the report was expected in March 2024;  and

c)    highlighted the excellent work undertaken by the Children’s and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board on their spotlight review of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

In accordance with Standing Order A2.2 in relation to Council meetings, the Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay varied the order of business to enable agenda Item 6 (Members’ questions) to be considered at end of the meeting.

To consider the submitted motion and associated report from the Director of Finance, notice of which has been given in accordance with Standing Order A13 by the members indicated.

Further to the Council meeting held on 7 December 2023 (Minute 54/12/23 refers), members received a Notice of Motion in relation to £100,000 of one-off funding being identified to introduce 20 mph neighbourhoods (for schemes as listed in the Notice of Motion), along with the Director of Finance’s report on the financial implications of the motion.

Councillor Fox proposed an amended motion as set out below:

There continue to be high levels of concerns over road safety which have been expressed to us by residents in many parts of Torbay about the excessive speed of traffic in residential areas particularly on arterial routes near or outside schools.

We believe that this is putting the safety of pedestrians at risk, including parents with young children in prams and buggies, as well as for wheelchair users, the frail and elderly, and anybody attempting just to cross a road.

We believe that some of the roads in greatest need of urgent action to control vehicle speeds include our older ex-Council estates and high density areas, which often have a predominance of terraced housing.

The principle has already been agreed by the Council to introduce 20mph neighbourhoods especially in close proximity to our schools and in relation to areas which have a high concentration of accidents.  At the 22 February 2023 Transport and Parking Working Party, it was stated that there was strong support from schools across Torbay suffering from speeding traffic impacting on their pupils for such 20 mph neighbourhoods.  The following schemes were earmarked for action:

Phase One

Hayes School (Totnes Road & St Michael’s Road) (Hayes Road already has permanent 20mph zone)

Cockington School (Avenue Road & Mill Lane areas)

Sacred Heart School (Cecil Road area)

Barton Academy (Barton Hill Road)

Torquay Academy (Barton Road & Cricketfield Road areas)

St Cuthbert Maine (Teignmouth Road & Westhill Road areas) (could include St Margaret’s and Homelands Schools)

Phase Two

Roselands Primary School (Roselands Drive area)

White Rock Primary School (Davies Avenue/Gibson Road areas)

Sherwell Valley Primary School (Upper Cockington Lane/Drake Avenue/Hawkins Avenue areas)

Curledge Street Primary School (will be included within the proposed Fisher Street zone but consideration to expanding zone into Dartmouth Road area)

Ilsham Primary School (Ilsham Road and Babbacombe Road areas)

Eden Park Primary School (in quiet residential area, no 20 limit in place)

St Margaret Clitherow School (in quiet residential area, no 20 limit in place)

Chestnut Primary School (in quiet residential areas, no 20 limit in place

As at the 19 October 2023 we note with concern that the above schemes which have been earmarked for action are not being delivered at pace.  One particular example where the need for reduced traffic speeds is overdue is Barton Hill Road, from the Barton shopping centre, to Hele roundabout, via Barton Academy, where there is an urgent need to reduce traffic speeds.  We are also aware that accidents continue to happen in the neighbourhood of St Cuthbert Mayne with a motorcycle accident where the motorcyclist was hospitalised in early October.

In light  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet on an amendment to the Resource and Waste Management Straegy.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Cabinet on amendments to the Resources and Waste Management Strategy to include a positive statement that fortnightly residual waste collections would continue and to extend the timeframe of the Strategy to 2025.

Councillor Billings proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

That the Council be recommended to:

1.    Amend the sixth paragraph under Action 2 of the Resource and Waste Management Strategy to read:

“Whilst we will maintain fortnightly residual waste collections, Wwe will develop operational waste collection policies.  This will , include ing a robust side waste policy with associated reporting by collection crews, which will help to target support to the correct households.  Controls over residual waste delivered to the Household Waste Recycling Centre will also be implemented.”

2.    Extend the timeframe for the strategy to 2025 so that work can continue against the Actions within the Strategy.

To note the Treasury Management Mid – Year Review 2023/24

Members noted the submitted report in respect of the Treasury Management Outturn for 2023/2024.

In accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders (A9.1) to select, the Civic Mayor-Elect and Deputy Civic Mayor-Elect for the 2024/2025 Municipal Year.

In accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders A9.1, the Council considered selecting the Civic Mayor-Elect and Deputy Civic Mayor-Elect for the next Municipal Year 2024/25.

Councillor Mandy Darling proposed and Councillor David Thomas seconded a motion, which was agreed (unanimously) by the Council as set out below:

1.    that Councillor Long be selected as Civic Mayor (Elect) for the 2024/2025 municipal year;

2.    that Councillor Harvey be selected as Deputy Civic Mayor (Elect) for the 2024/2025 municipal year;  and

3.    that Councillor Stevens be thanked for her work as Deputy Civic Mayor for 2023/24 and in recognition of this, Councillor Stevens be selected as Civic Mayor (Elect) for the 2025/26 municipal year.

To receive details from the Leader of the Council of the composition and constitution of the Cabinet for the remainder of 2023/2024, together with the record of delegations of Executive functions (in accordance with Standing Order C2).

Members noted the submitted report which provided details of changes made by the Leader of the Council to the Cabinet.

To respond to the submitted questions asked under Standing Order A12.

Members received a paper detailing questions, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order A13.  The paper also contained the answers to the questions which had been prepared by Councillors Billings, Chris Lewis, Jackie Thomas and Tyerman, and was circulated prior to the meeting.

Supplementary questions were put and answered by Councillors Billings, Chris Lewis and Tyerman, arising from their responses to the questions in respect of questions 2, 3, 4 and 6.