Agenda and minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 May and 17 June 2025

It was proposed by Councillor C Parker, seconded by Councillor Thorne and

RESOLVED

The Minutes of the meetings held on 13 May and 17 June 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 .None

Members of the public may ask questions of the Chair. A maximum period of 15 minutes will be allowed with a maximum period of three minutes per questioner. The deadline for questions is no later than three working days before the date of the meeting i.e. should the meeting be on a Thursday the deadline would be the Friday before at 5pm.

None.

Members of the Council may ask questions of the Chair of the Committee subject to procedural rules. The deadline for questions is no later than three clear working days before the meeting.

None.

To note forthcoming issues anticipated to be considered by the Executive over the next 12 months. The Executive Forward Plan can be found here.

The Executive Forward plan was received.

It was agreed that the Executive Member for Newton Abbot redevelopment be requested to advise on the communications strategy with market traders on future progress and the vison for the market as the project moves forward.

To Scrutinise decisions made at the Executive held on 9 September 2025

https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=3646&Ver=4

The Executive decisions of 9 September 2025 were received.

There were no matters arising.

To consider the attached report

Consideration was given to the agenda report presented by the Executive Member for Environmental Services, and the Director of Customer and transformation.

The Modern 25 programme to provide modern, innovative council delivering beneficial community services, has been implemented since September 2022. A transformation initiative to deliver a new operating model to achieve £2.6 million in phased savings by aligning services with corporate priorities and improving efficiency through digital innovation and organisational restructuring.

The Overview and Scrutiny Medium Term Financial Plan Review Group (MTFP) is progressing the programme. Appendix I of the agenda report and the most recent report taken to MTFP, detailed that by the end of 2024/25 an estimated 29% of the overall goal and savings of £872,888 had been achieved. The one off in year saving for 2024/25 had been omitted from the details and was £25,616. Continued delivery depends on key projects including asset disposals, recharging for green space management, reducing discretionary spending, enhancing commercial income, and implementing service restructures

The Modern 25 Programme is currently on target to achieve its identified savings. The MTFP will be recommending additional savings for 2026/27 budget to address the further budget gap which was currently £3.6 to £3.8M.

In response to questions, the Director of Customer and Transformation advised that: business plans were being drawn up by service area managers and these would be considered by the MTFP for savings; asset transfer savings were dependent on the willingness of parish and town councils to take on the running of assets and this was being assessed through current consultation; the Section 151 officer confirmed that interest on CIL funds could be incorporated into the general revenue fund; and the Council has a responsibility to deliver a balanced budget regardless of local government reorganisation.

It was noted that any interested member could attend the meetings of the MTFP and the meeting dates would be circulated to members. 

It was proposed by Councillor Ryan, seconded by Councillor Rollason and

RESOLVED

The Progress report on the Modern 25 Programme be accepted.

Report to follow

Consideration was given to the agenda report and in particular page 5 of the Appendix to the agenda report section “a roof over our heads.” In relation to CSROH01 and 02 officers were looking at the potential for developer forums to enable the Council to understand the issues surrounding these targets not being met.  In relation to H10 and H11 a survey would be undertaken with private landlords to understand issues and results would be reported to councillors.

It was proposed by Councillor Thorne, seconded by Councillor Steemson and

Resolved

The Strategy Q1 performance monitoring report be received and the actions being taken to rectify performance issues detailed in the Appendix be supported.

To consider the attached reports on the public survey results

The Chair referred to the agenda report which provided results and analysis of the public overview and scrutiny work programme issue prioritisation survey, conducted from 4 to 29 August 2025. The report also detailed the issues identified for the Committee’s work programme by Members at an informal meeting in July 2025, which formed the basis of the public survey.

Previously schedule Committee work programme items for the next 9 months were tabled at agenda page 65. Topics from the survey to be programmed into the Committee’s work programme were tables at agenda pages 66 and 67. These topics would be considered for inclusion in the work programme at the Committee’s informal meeting in October 2025.

RESOLVED

1.   The results of the survey be received.

2.   The results be considered when the Committee determines its Work Programme for the 2025/26 Municipal Year at the informal scrutiny meeting on 14 October 2025.

To consider the attached document and the Committee’s current forward plan which can be found here.

In consideration with the previous Minute, the Committee’s current Forward Plan was noted, and it was

RESOLVED

1.   The Forward Plan as set out at agenda page 65 be received

2.   The items listed on the forward plan issues suggestion document at agenda pages 66 and 67 be considered at the informal scrutiny meeting 14 October 2025 for inclusion in the Committee’s Forward Plan.

To receive a biannual update from:

Executive Member for Planning  -  Councillor G Taylor

Executive Member for Local Government Reorganisation  - Councillor Nuttall

The Chair referred to the agenda reports of the Executive Members (EM) for Planning and Local Government Reorganisation, summarising the service and legal responsibilities covered by the EM remit, Strategic Plan objectives, service delivery updates, and how OS can support upcoming decisions and  the delivery of the strategic plan, and any other relevant information for the OS forward plan/work programme.

The Executive Member for Planning, Councillor G Taylor presented his report, and thanked staff of the development management, and spatial planning teams for their hard work. 

In response to questions, the EM advised that temporary staff cover would be arranged to address the planning enforcement issues. The section would be transferring from Planning Services to Neighbourhoods Services in the near future.

The EM for Local Government Reorganisation was not present and sent his apology for non-attendance.

RESOLVED

1.     The report of the Executive Member for Planning be received and a further report be presented to the Committee on how the Strategic Plan Objectives, detailed in the report at agenda pages 69 and 70, will be achieved.

2.     The report of the Executive Member for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution as set out on the agenda be received.

The Council’s outside organisations representatives to report on any meetings of the appointed outside organisation in the past few months, whether they  attended, a report on the meeting if they did so, the role the outside organisation(s) they represent plays in promoting and aligning with the Council's priorities, policies and strategies, and advising on partnership discussions which are open and in the public domain.

To consider the update reports from the following as attached:

1. Local Government Association Rural Services Network (Cllr Robert Steemson)

2. Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (Cllr Nutley)

3. Dartmoor National Park Authority (Cllr Nutley) To follow

4. Exe Estuary Management Partnership (Cllr Nutley)  To follow

The Chair referred to the agenda reports from the Council’s appointed representatives for the following outside organisations:

·         Local Government Association Rural Services Network (Cllr Robert Steemson)

·         Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (Cllr Nutley)

·         Dartmoor National Park Authority (Cllr Nutley)

·         Exe Estuary Management Partnership (Cllr Nutley) 

The agenda reports summarised the purpose of the organisation, attendance requirements, feedback on the work of the organisation, the role the outside organisation plays in promoting and aligning with the Council's priorities, policies and strategies, the value that the Council brings to the origination, why the organisation needs the Council, and any other relevant information for OS.

Full presentations can be viewed on the webcast at https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=418&MId=3647&Ver=4

RESOLVED

1.  The update agenda reports from the Councils representatives appointed to the following outside organisations be received:

·      Local Government Association Rural Services Network, and that Councillor Steemson report further on the requirements for funding for rural areas when Dartmoor National Parke do not require CIL from development within the DNP boundary.

·      Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and that Councillor Nutley report further to the Committee on an update of the Channel View, Teignmouth Surgery.

·      Dartmoor National Park Authority.

·      Exe Estuary Management Partnership.

The update report from the MTFP (Medium Term Financial Plan) review group was received. The group would be reporting proposals to OS at the meeting on 11 November 2025 for approval to work into the budget process.

The Chair referred to the need for Members to attend the MTFP meetings to ensure cross party representation.

It was agreed that all Councillors be advised of the dates of future MTFP meetings, and arrangements be made for an all Councillor briefing on the MTFP.