Social Value Ideas for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

External audit costs challenged

The board discussed the high cost of external audit for the new authority, with members questioning whether the amount was proportionate given the size of the organisation. The chief executive asked o…

“I'm also very concerned about the 200 plus,000 that we're spending for the external auditors. Um, has there been a drop in equivalent to the order the…”

2026/27 budget approved

The board approved the combined authority's 2026/27 revenue and capital budget and associated treasury and investment strategy. The report confirmed a balanced budget for 2026/27, but also acknowledge…

“just by way of introduction to this paper um this report um present or this report presents the proposed revenue and capital budget and strategy for 2…”

Core budget and programme spend forecast

The authority reported that income is expected to exceed costs, with a carry-forward request of just under £540,000 to help smooth next year’s budget. Program delivery spend has increased materially, …

“There isn't a lot that's moved on really since I was here for the month six paper and sort of that view the core funding or the core team delivery um …”

Future funding gap risk

Members expressed concern that projected deficits in 2027/28 and 2028/29 could require constituent councils to underwrite the combined authority. Officers said the figures were still indicative and th…

“So, I'm okay with this year. Next year, I will not be signing this off if it includes funding from the county council. Um, Tobay may take a nipple vie…”

Audit fee overruns budget

The CCA forecast a year-end overspend, largely because the Public Sector Audit Appointments fee for auditing the CCA accounts was far higher than budgeted. Officers said they are challenging the fee a…

“"overall we're now forecasting uh an overspend against our set budget of £288,99 uh to the year end. That is a significant adverse variance based on t…”

Year-end surplus carried forward

The board noted a better-than-forecast year-end outturn for 2025/26, including an underspend on core team delivery and surpluses on operational and capital activity. The report proposed carrying forwa…

“Um so in terms of the core team delivery um at month 12 um cine operating expenditure was 938,000. That's 195,000 higher than the full year budget of …”

Revenue budget forecast stable

Month 3 monitoring showed the board forecasting a small year-end underspend of £175,000 on core delivery, broadly break-even overall. The report also noted £2.7 million spent on revenue programme deli…

“essentially table under 2.1 um we are forecasting a small underpend for the end of the year 175,000 that is essentially break even um but recognizing …”

New CFO appointment

The board approved the designation of Virginia Harris as chief finance officer for the authority, replacing Matthew in the role once she starts next week. This is an internal governance appointment ra…

“Sean, >> thank you very much. Just very briefly, um Matt has moved into the substantive role that Deon County Council Devon County Council provides th…”

Transport levy kept optional

Officers clarified that no transport levy is being sought in 2026/27, but the board may need one in future if the operating model changes and transport delivery is no longer largely passported through…

“So just to confirm to members that we're not asking you to approve a transport levy um for this year and that's partly because the um again the operat…”

Transport capital programme agreed

The board approved a consolidated transport capital programme and draft local transport plan covering the multi-year DfT settlement through 2030/31. Officers said the programme is deliberately over-pr…

“we I think we advised the January board of the multi-year funding settlement that was received, uh, by the by the CCA from the Department of Transport…”

Transport governance clarified

The board agreed operating arrangements for the new local transport authority, with Devon and Torbay teams continuing to deliver most functions as before and a single capital programme and enhanced pa…

“So, we have brought uh various reports on transport uh or the the command authority exercising autonomously exercising local transport authority power…”

Transition year for transport

The board endorsed an implementation approach treating 2026-27 as a transition year for local transport powers, with current operational arrangements largely remaining in place and no transport levy i…

“"I'm proposing to members that from an operational perspective uh the uh largely largely speaking the the operations will remain in place and we treat…”