Agenda and draft minutes

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2025

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

RESOVED

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 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 five 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 listing issues to be considered by the Executive over the next few months was received.

It was noted that Teignmouth Lido had recently been added and it was requested that Members be updated on this item given the potential local interest in the facility.

To review the Committee’s forward plan which can be found here

The Committee’s work programme is attached.

The Overview and Scrutiny Forward plan was received. There were no matters arising.

Chair to report and to invite members of the Committee to comment

The notes of the informal meeting had been circulated to the committee. There were no matters arising.

To consider the initial financial plan proposals set out in the Executive report and appendices for the Executive meeting on 6 January 206 as attached.

In considering theinitial financial plan proposals 2026/27 to 2028/29 to be published for public comments over the next six weeks, the Executive Member for Corporate Services thanked the Chief Financial Officer and staff for completing the proposals and presented the initial financial plan proposals.

The Executive Member referred to:

- the re-structuring of Local Government in Devon within the next few years, but that it is important that a high standard of financial management is maintained and to continue acting in the best interests of residents;

- the current annual survey asking the public what they consider what the council should prioritise for the coming year. Responses will be reported to members for consideration with the final budget proposals.

- The financial backdrop for Local Authorities continues to be very   challenging.

- Teignbridge has received the provisional financial settlement for the next three years.

- Teignbridge do not qualify for some of the new funding streams that the Government have announced.

- Although the projected budget deficit has reduced since last year and is now forecast to be £1.1m in 2026/27 and £900K in 2027/28 we continue to be faced with increased costs and are having to look at different ways to run our services.

- The work on implementing the proposals set out in Modern 25 Programme needs to continue. 

The proposals include draft revenue and capital budgets for the three years 2026/27 to 2028/29, and represents a balance between the Council’s desire to improve services that the people of Teignbridge need and deserve and the financial restrictions that it faces.

The main issues taken into account are:

• The level of council tax and the proposal to increase it by £6.05 (2.99%).
• Reducing central funding and the need to make ongoing efficiencies using invest to save where possible.
• Maintaining 100% council tax support.
• The ongoing impact of economic conditions on income streams and changing Government funding.
• Continuing to react to the climate change emergency by maintaining ongoing budgets for a climate projects officer and associated spending in revenue and provision in the capital programme, including ongoing provisions for corporate decarbonisation schemes as per 5.5.
• A £3 million provision for employment sites funded by borrowing.
• Authority for Executive to exceed the approved overall revenue budget by up to £200,000 per 4.25 of the agenda report.
• Support for housing – the Homes4Teignbridge initiative including £7,243,317 for the Sherborne House Car Park social rented flats and further purchases supported by the Local Authority Housing Fund (see 5.3) whilst backing business and bringing people and organisations together for local neighbourhood planning.
• Infrastructure delivery plan investment funded by community infrastructure levy (CIL) and external sources where available (see 5.4 of the agenda report);
• Continuation of grant-funded South West Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme as per 5.6 of the agenda report.
• Town Centre investment in infrastructure and employment as per 5.7
• Revenue contributions to capital being maintained at £1,500,000 per annum for 2026/27 and £500,000 thereafter.
• Councillor’s Community Fund set at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144.

To receive a report reviewing the issues over the last few months

The Committee received a progress report on the action following approval of the target hardening measures for unauthorised encampments by the Executive on 29 July 2025.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed work that has been undertaken at key sites recently and the proposals for further target hardening at Bakers Park, Courtenay Park, Dawlish Countryside Park, Forde Park, Osborne Park and Sandringham Park.

In terms of partnership working to address issues the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority’s meetings of Chief Housing Officers were being held to support the community and work with the Police. Potential sites for transit sites across Devon for travellers and other stayers were being discussed. Councillors would be updated in due course.

The report was received and it was agreed that a further update report be presented to the committee in 6 months’ time.

To receive a biannual updates from Executive Members as follows:

·       Councillor Keeling – Corporate Strategy, Devolution, Strategic Partnerships, and Governance (to follow)

·       Councillor Williams – Environment Services (to follow)

·       Councillor Hook – Environment, Climate and Sustainability (attached)

The Committee scrutinised the agenda biannual update reports of the following Executive Members (EM).

• Councillor Keeling – Corporate Strategy, Devolution, Strategic Partnerships, and Governance

• Councillor Williams – Environment Services

• Councillor Hook – Environment, Climate and Sustainability.

The reports summarised the service and legal responsibilities covered by the EM remit, Strategic Plan objectives, service delivery updates, 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 report of the EM for Corporate Strategy, Devolution, Strategic Partnerships, and Governance was received. In response to questions the EM’s responses included that they would report back on how many youths were currently homeless. A partnership pilot programme was in the process of being set up to help house the homeless particularly youths.

The report of the EM for Environment Services was received. The EM particularly referred to the recycling successes and extension to the scheme to further improve recycling rates. In response to questions the EM’s responses included that ways of increasing play pitches were being looked at.

The report of the EM for Environment, Climate and Sustainability was received. The EM particularly referred to the energy savings detailed in page 5 of the agenda report, and progress on the emergency planning with Town and Parish Councils having community emergency plans.

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

-        Dartmoor National Park Forum - Cllrs Purser and Farrand-Rogers (attached)

-        LGA Coastal and Special interest Group - Cllr Hook (attached)

-        Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group – Cllr Buscombe (to follow)

The Chair referred to the agenda reports from the Council’s appointed representatives for the outside organisations of Dartmoor National Park Forum and the Local Government Association costal and special interest group.

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.

It was noted that the report of the representative for the Devon and Torbay Housing Advisory Group was deferred to a future meeting.

The report of the representative for the Local Government Association costal and special interest group was received. The representative advised that the newsletters produced by the group would be made available to the Members for information. The meeting was also advised in response to a question that an update on the geotubes at Dawlish Warren would be made available to Members.

There were no issues to report.