Agenda and minutes

Venue: Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Bideford, EX39 3BE

Contact: Dem.Services - 01237 428705  Email: Dem.Services@torridge.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

181.

Apologies For Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors: C Cottle-Hunkin, S Langford and P Watson. Councillor Leather substituted for Councillor Watson.

 

Apologies were also received from Mr I Harper.

182.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 176 KB

Confirmation of the minutes held on 3rd May 2022.

Minutes:

Page 5, second paragraph from the bottom should read ‘morale’ not ‘moral’

 

It was proposed by Councillor Newton, seconded by Councillor Harding and –

 

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd May 2022 be agreed and recorded as a correct record.

 

(Vote: For – 6, Abstentions 2)

183.

Action List pdf icon PDF 183 KB

Minutes:

The action list was noted.

184.

Public Contributions

A 15-minute period for public contributions.  (The deadline for registering to speak is by 2pm Friday 10th June. To register please email dem.services@torridge.gov.uk).

 

Minutes:

There were no public contributions.

185.

Declaration of Interests

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

 

Minutes:

Members were reminded that declarations of interest should be made as and when the specific agenda item to which they related was under discussion.

 

186.

Urgent Matters Brought Forward with the Permission of the Chair

Minutes:

No urgent matters were brought forward.

187.

Agreement of Agenda Items Part I And II

Minutes:

There were no Part II items.

188.

QBR 4 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to receive the QBR and update Members on the surplus for the financial year 2021/22.

 

Slide presentations were received from the ICT, Strategy & Performance Manager and the Finance Manager (S151 Officer).

 

The ICT, Strategy & Performance Manager introduced the QBR presenting the Performance Highlights, summarising the positives and negatives on each of the following four Themes:

 

·         Theme 1 – Local Economy

·         Theme 2 – Communities, Health & Housing

·         Theme 3 – Our Environment, Our Future

·         Theme 4 – Our Council

 

Following queries from Councillor Hames regarding phone calls increasing it was advised this was during Covid and they have now slowed down. The Chief Executive and ICT, Strategy & Performance Manager were not aware of any complaints received due to the waiting time of calls being answered. The discussion progressed to the main switchboard and the changes made. It was agreed for the changes to be included in the Members Bulletin.

 

The Finance Manager (S151 Officer) continued the presentation by providing a detailed explanation on the key favourable variances within the report. A decision would be required from Communities & Resources on how to allocate the surplus. The Finance Manager (S151 Officer) advised the surplus may need to contribute to next year’s pay award, however, more details regarding the employers pay offer to the unions would be ascertained at a conference call the next day and then be included within the C&R report.

 

The report was noted.

 

QBR Questions and Answers

 

Questions regarding the QBR were asked for in writing prior to the meeting to allow Officers time to formulate a response.

 

The Chair presented the Q&A supplement during which the following additional comments/questions were raised:

 

·         Regarding the question from Mr Dengate on the floating offshore initiative he asked more specifically what the next steps would be for Torridge District Council? It was advised that a written response would be ascertained from the Head of Communities & Place.

·         Councillor Hames expressed his concern to the lack of responses to the People & Places consultations. The Chief Executive advised of the efforts made to promote this and that progress was being made to consult more with Town & Parish Councils so that these Members can engage more with residents and constituents.

·         The take up at the work hub in Torrington was disappointing, hopefully usage would increase.

·         In response to an additional question asking where the electrical equipment gets taken, it was confirmed that an answer would be ascertained from the Operational Services Manager and distributed to the group.

·         The new measure on Affordable Housing in a question from Mr Dengate referred to page 47, measure LE172. The ICT, Strategy & Performance Manager provided further clarification on this.

·         It was confirmed that the Questions and Answers to the QBR are made public.

 

 

 

 

189.

Annual Report pdf icon PDF 540 KB

To receive the report of the Chair.

Minutes:

The Chair presented the annual report of the Internal Overview & Scrutiny Committee which detailed work conducted over the last year and future work for the Committee.

 

Details of the Social Values legislation were given by the ICT, Strategy & Performance Manager and how this would be progressed with the Task & Finish group.

 

The report was noted.

 

 

190.

Consideration of the Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To review the Forward Plan.

 

Minutes:

The forward plan was discussed and updated.