Agenda and decisions

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Public contributions in accordance with the current scheme. (The deadline for registering to speak is by 2pm Thursday 29^th January 2025. To register please email dem.services@torridge.gov.uk).

Members with interests to declare should refer to the Agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is being considered.

To receive the report of the Lead Member for Climate, Councillor P Hames.

RESOLVED:

That it be agreed to do nothing for the next year and bring it back when we’ve got more robust information.

(Vote: For – 7, Against – 3, Abstentions – 0)

To receive the report of the Head of Communities & Place.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s biodiversity policy, objectives and actions as set out in the plan be approved.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

RESOLVED:

That it be recommended to Full Council that £70,000 be allocated in the budget to deliver tree planting on TDC land.

(Vote: For – 6, Against – 4, Abstentions – 0)

To receive the report of the Finance Manager (& S151 Officer).

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be approved and noted, and recommended to Full Council:

a)         Torridge’s Band D Council Tax for 2025/26 be increased by (2.99%) from £195.17 to £201.01 per year

b)         Torridge’s Net Revenue Budget 2026/27 is £13.685m

c)         The contributions to the Council’s reserves as outlined in paragraph 11.3 are approved.

d)         That the Member Budget Working Group is tasked with identifying £1m of bridging measures for implementation from 2027/28.

That members note:

The Chief Finance Officer (s151 Officer) assurance of the robustness of the budget 2026/27 set out in section 13 of the report.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

To receive the report of the Principal Accountant (& Deputy S151 Officer).

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be approved, and recommended to Full Council:

a)    The Capital Programme is updated to include four new projects:

·         Generator for Server Room - £33k

·         Appledore Fish dock Energy Saving Works - £140k

·         TDC Energy Saving Works - £200k

·         Building Control – New Back-office System – Dataspace - £77k

b)    Increase the vehicle programme by an additional £2k per light van to support the transition to electric vehicles.

(Vote: For – unanimous)

The Chair to move:

That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.