Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10^th February 2026.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 10^th March 2026 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Keeling and SECONDED by Councillor Palethorpe and

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the previous meeting on Tuesday 10^th March 2026 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Williams made two announcements pertaining to the work at Osbourne Park to deter unauthorised encampments and the sufficiency of a local fuel supply to ensure that the Council’s waste and recycling vehicles are able to operate.

Information pertaining to the Members' Code of Conduct and guidance relating to declaring interests can be found on the following webpage: Teignbridge District Council – Councillor Conduct

None received.

To update the Executive on the call in of the Executive decision on 10^th February 2026 relating to Teignmouth Lido.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

1.     Notes the recommendation of Overview & Scrutiny to reconsider the decision not to open Teignmouth Lido in 2026.

2.     Agrees to the ambition of opening Teignmouth Lido in the 2026 season, subject to any necessary maintenance and repair works to the site and the recruitment of staff.

3.     Instructs officers to seek legal advice regarding procurement and Asset of Community Value (ACV) compliance.

4.     Agrees that any proposal for community operation must:

A)    follow a transparent and fair process.

B)    comply with the Localism Act 2011.

C)   comply with the Procurement Act 2023.

5.     Notes that no binding commitment to transfer, lease or exclusive operation shall be entered into until legal and procurement compliance is confirmed.

The Chair used his discretion to move the agenda item up the order. The Executive considered the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting on Tuesday 3^rd March 2026.

On Tuesday 10^th February 2026, the Executive decided:

1.     Not open the Teignmouth Lido site in 2026 and deliver a budget saving of £74k

2.     Declare the Teignmouth Lido asset surplus to Council requirements and dispose of the freehold interest, as described in the title plan at Appendix C, on the open market, without setting restrictions as to future use.

3.      The results of all bids be brought back to the September Executive meeting for consideration.

The first decision to not open for the 2026 season was called in by Councillors and discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 3^rd March 2026. The Committee recommended that:

1.     The Executive decision to not open the Teignmouth Lido site in 2026 is reconsidered and reversed.

2.     The Executive works together with the local community and willing community groups to explore other solutions for how the Lido site can be operated in 2026, and details for any proposals to be submitted is given by the Executive in due course.

In coming to a final decision, the Executive should consider an Equality Impact Assessment and assessment of the economic and health impact of their decision.

The Executive considered the recommendation and an addendum paper prepared for the meeting highlighting the points raised in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

At the invitation of the Chair, Councillors Cox, Clarance, MacGregor and Bullivant spoke to the item on a range of points including:

·       Their reflections on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting and the view of local people in the meeting.

·       Their support for the Lido being opened in 2026 either by a community group or by the Council.

·       Personal anecdotes regarding their own use of the Lido and the local history of the Lido. 

·       Recognising the financial pressures on the Council.

The Head of Leisure commented on the highlighted areas of discussion from the Overview and Scrutiny meeting and gave a verbal update, summarising the addendum paper.

The Managing Director highlighted the financial pressures facing the Council in that the Council had set a budget with £1m taken from reserves and had not set a balanced budget for 7 consecutive years.

Councillors Palethorpe, Keeling, G Taylor and Hook spoke as part of the debate, highlighting:

·       The strength of the community feeling for the Lido.

·       Support for the recommendations proposed to open the Lido in the summer of 2026 by the Council.

·       The financial pressures on the Council and the Modern 25 Programme.

·       The longer-term ambition to ensure a community group operates the Lido and ensuring a positive working relationship with any Group who operates the Lido. 

·       Ensuring that the opening of the Lido is advertised and marketed to attract users.

·       The future of assets considering Local Government Reorganisation.

·       The tensions on decision makers that they must balance in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To note forthcoming decisions anticipated on the Executive Forward Plan

The Executive Forward Plan was noted.

Members of the Public may ask questions of the Leader or an Executive Member. A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allowed with a maximum of period of three minutes per questioner.

One question was received from Ms Nicola Hamblin, Clerk to Shaldon Parish Council, regarding Shaldon Beach and a written response was given by the Executive Member for Environment, Climate and Sustainability.

To follow: To seek approval for the policy change to Devon Home Choice, the Social Housing Register for Teignbridge and Devon local authorities.

RESOLVED

The Executive approve the policy decision to offer an additional preference on the housing register for households seeking to downsize large family homes.

The Executive considered a report to seek approval for the policy change to Devon Home Choice, the Social Housing Register for Teignbridge and Devon local authorities. The report was also appended by an Equality Impact Assessment.

Councillor Buscombe introduced the item and the recommendation.

Councillor G Taylor spoke to this item regarding the positive elements of the proposals and the Housing Needs Lead gave an overview of the positive impacts of the pilot.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor Buscombe and SECONDED by Councillor Williams and

RESOLVED

The Executive approve the policy decision to offer an additional preference on the housing register for households seeking to downsize large family homes.

To seek approval to commence work on a new Local Plan for Teignbridge and agree a timetable and budget for the project.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

1.     Commence preparation of the Teignbridge Local Plan 2029–2044, prioritising actions to address the shortfall in housing provision created by the updated standard method calculations.

2.     Agree the Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix 1 to come into effect on 20 March 2026.

3.     Agree a budget of £105,000 for year one of the project (2026/27).

4.     Reconvene the Local Plan Working Group as per the Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 2.

The Executive considered a report to seek approval to commence work on a new Local Plan for Teignbridge and agree a timetable and budget for the project.

Councillor MacGregor spoke to this item regarding the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and in support of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now known as a National Landscape) for the Teign Estuary. The Head of Strategy and Policy gave a verbal response, pointing out the relevant section of the report (2.4.3).

Councillor G Taylor presented the report and gave an overview of the recommendations proposed, highlighting the Council’s imminent new Local Plan, Government Housing targets and the requirements within the timetable. Councillor Taylor highlighted the Council had applied to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for additional funding, but the outcome was not confirmed at the time of the meeting. This funding was to meet some of the £105,000 budget needed for this work.

Councillors Parrott and Palethorpe spoke to this item, highlighting the wider context of budget pressures on the Council, support of the Local Plan Working Group to provide cross-party support and in support of the recommendations proposed.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor G Taylor and SECONDED by Councillor Williams and

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

1.     Commence preparation of the Teignbridge Local Plan 2029–2044, prioritising actions to address the shortfall in housing provision created by the updated standard method calculations.

2.     Agree the Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix 1 to come into effect on 20 March 2026.

3.     Agree a budget of £105,000 for year one of the project (2026/27).

4.     Reconvene the Local Plan Working Group as per the Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 2.

Executive Member Decisions

Noted.