To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative Groups, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillors Darling (S), Morey and Thomas (D) in place of Councillors Stocks, Stockman and Barnby, respectively.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 18 May 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 18 May 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Director of Adult Services to present the latest version of the proposed Strategic Agreement between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Torbay Council/South Devon and Torbay CCG.

Representatives from the Foundation Trust and CCG have been invited to attend the meeting.

The Board to review the proposed Strategic Agreement and make any recommendations to the Mayor.

(The Executive Lead for Children’s and Adult Services has been invited to attend the meeting but has sent his apologies.)

The Director of Adult Services provided the Board with an updated version of the Annual Agreement between Torbay Council, South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust which had been prepared since February 2016 to allow for the NHS planning cycle.  The Agreement described how the Council would be making a greater financial contribution than had been expected in February 2016 and the accompanying report provided information of how that would be funded.

The Director explained that the allocation of £1.3 million Better Care Fund between the Council and the CCG had been disputed but that, following mediation, an agreement had been reached as set out in the Agreement.

Resolved:  that, whilst the Board has no specific recommendations, it is felt that the recurrent basis of the agreement reached between the Council and the CCG with the Council contributing £926,000 throughout the lifetime of the Risk Share Agreement should be made explicit in the covering report to the Council.

The Chief Accountant to present the provisional revenue budget outturn for 2015/2016.

The Mayor (as Executive Lead for Finance) to attend to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board to consider the provisional outturn report and make recommendations as appropriate.

The Board considered the provisional outturn for the 2015/2016 Revenue Budget which included a recommendation that the Council should carry forward a sum of £120,000 as a budget contingency to ensure the success of the Torbay Airshow in June 2016.  Members of the Board questioned whether the need for a contingency was identified prior to 31 March 2016 with the Mayor (as Executive Lead for Finance) confirming that he had not been aware of such a need at that point in time.

As part of the report, the Board considered the debts of over £5000 which had been written off by the Chief Financial Officer during Quarter 4 of the 2015/2016 financial year.

Resolved:  (i)  that the Council be recommended to not approve the carry forward of £120,000 as a budget contingency for the Torbay Airshow and that any losses be shown in the Revenue Budget for 2016/2017; and

(ii)        that, as per the Board’s decision in November 2015, a review of the Council’s debt recovery procedures be added to the Board’s Work Programme to ensure that the Council’s income is maximised.

(Note:  Prior to consideration of that part of Minute 14 relating to the write-off of debt, the press and public were formally excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the item involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).)

The Chief Accountant to present the provisional capital plan budget outturn for 2015/2016.

The Mayor (as Executive Lead for Finance) to attend to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board to consider the provisional outturn report and make recommendations as appropriate.

The Board noted the Capital Plan Outturn for 2015/2016 which provided high level information on capital expenditure and income for the previous financial year and provided a comparison with the position reported in February 2016 for Quarter 3 of that year.

The Mayor to update the Board on the preparation of the Efficiency Plan which is due to be considered by the Council in September 2016 and answer the Board’s questions.

The Mayor (as Executive Lead for Finance) reported to the Board that he would be recommending that the Council submit an Efficiency Plan to the Government in order to secure a four year funding settlement.

The Board questioned the Mayor when the draft of the Efficiency Plan would be available in order that engagement with all Councillors, partners and the community could be undertaken.  The Chief Executive reassured members that a number of the issues to be included in the Efficiency Plan were already known to members and therefore it was likely that the detail of these could be shared sooner rather than later.

Resolved:  (i)  that this Board formally requests the Mayor and Chief Executive:

(a)       to share details of the emerging Efficiency Plan with all members of the Council as they become available during June, July and August 2016; and

(b)       to release the draft Efficiency Plan to all members of the Council once it has been considered by the Mayor’s Executive Group; and

(ii)        that the Board hold a series of briefing meetings over the summer and in early September to discuss the emerging Efficiency Plan ahead of formal consideration at the meeting of the Board to be held on 14 September 2016.

Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 18, the press and public were formally excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the item involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).)

The Head of Spatial Planning and the Director of Economic Strategy and Performance (TDA) to provide an update on the current position in relation to the Masterplans.

The Executive Lead for Business to brief the Board on how the Executive is ensuring that regeneration is being driven forward in Torbay and to answer the Board’s questions.

The Board received a presentation of the current position in relation to the Masterplans for Torquay and Paignton Town Centres.

Resolved:  that it be recommended to the Chief Executive that, given the delivery of the Masterplans is a key priority for this Authority, a dedicated project manager should be appointed as soon as possible to drive that delivery forward.

(Note 1:  Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 18, Councillors Bye and Morey declared non-pecuniary interests as members of the Masterplan Programme Board.)

(Note 2:  Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 18, the Mayor declared a pecuniary interest in relation to specific elements within the Torquay Masterplan and withdrew from the meeting prior to discussion on those elements.)