To consider the submitted report on a proposed joint partnership agreement with the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation to fund improvements to provide additional visitor and staff parking on the Torbay Hospital site.

The Council considered the submitted report on an ‘in principle’ proposal to enter into a joint partnership agreement with the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to fund improvements to provide additional visitor and staff parking on the Torbay Hospital site.  The report also set out proposals for the Council to manage the enforcement of parking on the site for the next ten years.  The Chairman advised that a revised officer recommendation had been tabled.

It was proposed by Councillor Excell and seconded by Councillor Pritchard:

(i)         that the Council, agrees in principle, to make available up to £1.7 million funding through prudential borrowing to provide increased surface level parking on the Torbay Hospital site:

(a)       subject to a business case being submitted by the Residents and Visitor Service (RVS) that is satisfactory to the Executive Director of Operations in consultation with the Mayor and Executive Head for Finance. Such business case to be approved by a future meeting of the Full Council and is approved by the Board of the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (SDHFT), to enable delivery of the car parking project at the Torbay Hospital site with the borrowing costs to be funded from increased income at the Torbay Hospital site;  and

(ii)        That, subject to the approval of the business case as outlined in (i) (a) above, the Director of Place be given authority, in consultation with the Executive Head of Finance and the Executive Lead for Safer Communities, Parking and Sport to enter into a 10 year Joint Partnership Agreement (or other suitable legal structure) with the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (SDHFT) to fund an increase in parking spaces on the Torbay Hospital site and to provide enforcement to all car parks over the next ten years.

(a)       subject to the operational business case including the payment of the Council’s interest and repayment costs of borrowing and is approved by the Board of the South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (SDHFT).

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Morey and seconded by Councillor Cowell:

That consideration of the report be deferred to allow time to work up an options appraisal.

In accordance with Standing Order A19.4, a recorded vote was taken on the amendment. The voting was taken by roll call as follows: For:  Councillors Addis, Baldrey, Cowell, Darling, Davies, Doggett, Ellery, Faulkner (A), Faulkner (J), James, Morey, Pentney, Pountney, Stocks, Stockman, Stringer and Tyerman (17); Against: the Mayor, Councillors Amil, Barnby, Brooksbank, Excell, Hernandez, Hill, Hytche, Kingscote, Lewis, Mills, Pritchard, Richards, Scouler, Thomas (D) and Thomas (J) (16); Abstain:  Councillors Butt and Parrott;  and Absent: Councillors Bent and McPhail (2). Therefore, the amendment was declared carried and became the substantive motion before Members for consideration.

In accordance with Standing Order A19.4, a recorded vote was taken on the substantive motion. The voting was taken by roll call as follows: For:  Councillors Addis, Baldrey, Cowell, Darling, Davies, Doggett, Ellery, Faulkner (A), Faulkner (J), James, Morey, Pentney, Pountney, Stocks, Stockman, Stringer and Tyerman (17); Against: the Mayor, Councillors Amil, Barnby, Brooksbank, Excell, Hernandez, Hill, Hytche, Kingscote, Lewis, Mills, Pritchard, Richards, Scouler, Thomas (D) and Thomas (J) (16); Abstain:  Councillors Butt and Parrott;  and Absent: Councillors Bent and McPhail (2). Therefore, the substantive motion was declared carried.