An apology for absence was received from the Mayor.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 17 and 29 February 2016.

The minutes of the meetings of the Board held on 17 and 29 February 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Board considered the item in Minute 68, and not included on the agenda, the Chairman being of the opinion that it was urgent by reason of special circumstances i.e. the matter having arisen since the agenda was prepared and it was unreasonable to delay a decision until the next meeting.

To review the draft Corporate Plan Delivery Plans and make any recommendations to the Mayor and Council.

As part of the consultation, the Board considered the Mayor’s draft Corporate Plan Delivery Plans 2015-2019.  The Deputy Mayor attended the meeting to respond to the points raised by the Board.

The Board had asked a Task-and-Finish Group to review the draft Delivery Plans and the Group’s views were reported back to the Board.  The feedback included that the Plans took little account of reports and policies (such as the Corporate Peer Challenge, the Ofsted Inspection and the Housing Strategy) which had been prepared after the Delivery Plans had been originally drafted.  It was felt that the Plans could be simplified if they made adequate reference to the other plans and strategies of the Council (such as the emerging Economic and Tourism Strategies) and to the Capital Programme Prioritisation Matrix.  Further, the Delivery Plans needed to the SMART and identify both deadlines for completion and who would be responsible for delivery.

The Board felt that the aspirations within the Delivery Plans appeared confusing and disjointed.  Specific questions were raised about issues such as apprenticeships, corporate parenting, affordable housing and child poverty.

Resolved:  (i)  that the following response be made to the Mayor as part of his consultation on the draft Corporate Plan Delivery Plans 2015-2020:

The draft Delivery Plans should be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan (including the work programme of the Transformation Board) and the Ofsted Action Plan both of which have been prepared since the Delivery Plans were first drafted.  In particular, there should be a focus on how the Council will become sustainable over the period of the Corporate Plan in accordance with the recommendation of the Corporate Peer Challenge.

There should be better cross referencing between other Policy Framework documents meaning that there is no need to list actions within the Corporate Plan Delivery Plans which are already identified in the existing Policy Framework.

The Delivery Plans should make clear reference to the Capital Programme Prioritisation Matrix and that proposed capital schemes will be scored using that Matrix.

The Delivery Plans should include specific targets, dates by which these will be achieved and who will take responsibility for delivery.

(ii)        that Members of the Board work with the Executive and Senior Leadership Team to redraft the Delivery Plans prior to their consideration by the Council.

To consider the Review of Parking in Torbay and to make any recommendations for inclusion in the forthcoming Parking Strategy.

The Executive Head for Business Services presented his Review of the Parking Service which had been undertaken in order to inform the production of a revised Parking Strategy.  The Executive Head highlighted a range of the recommendations within the Review and explained that a revised Parking Strategy was due to be considered by the Council in July 2016.

Resolved:  that a Task-and-Finish Group be established to provide feedback on the recommendations within the Review of Parking and on the draft Parking Strategy once it is released for consultation.

To seek an update from the Executive Leads on the proposals in relation to Self Build Affordable Housing.

The Executive Lead for Business attended the meeting to provide an update on the proposal to provide self build affordable housing.  It was explained that the recently adopted Local Plan included a policy to enable affordable self build, that the Council proposed to release some of its land to support self build and that the Council had launched its Self Build Interest Register at the beginning of March 2016.

The Register would help the Council to identify the need or demand for self build and the information gathered would be used to develop the qualifying criteria for self build in Torbay.

The Board accepted that the proposals were at the very early stage and requested that the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Lead be kept informed of progress which could then be reported back through the Overview and Scrutiny Monthly Briefings.  The Board would wish to review the proposed criteria for self build before a decision was made.  However, the Board felt that any scheme should be designed to meet local need.

To consider a report on the above and make any recommendations to the Council.

The Assistant Director – Corporate and Business Services presented the report on the proposed Capital Plan Prioritisation Matrix.  The report had been reviewed by a Task-and-Finish Group who had felt that the Matrix should be presented in a clearer, more general language.

Resolved:  that the Task-and-Finish Group aim to meet with the Chief Accountant with a view to revising the wording of the Matrix before it is considered at the meeting of the Council to be held on 7 April 2016.