During October 2023,
the previous Government launched the Long-Term Plan for Towns
(LTPFT) initiative. Some fifty-five
towns were selected, including Torquay.
The new Government had since confirmed that Torquay had been
allocated £19,537,000 of funding (75% capital, 25% revenue)
over 10 years as part of seventy-five areas. Alongside the reconfirmation of funding came new
guidelines, deadlines, requirements, and opportunities.
In Spring 2024 The
Torbay Place Leadership Board agreed to fulfil the role of the
‘Neighbourhood Board’ (was town board) under the name
The Torquay Place Leadership Board.
New guidance stated
that a Neighbourhood Board should bring together those with a deep
connection to Torquay such as local businesses, grassroots
campaigners, workplace representatives, faith and community leaders
and any other relevant organisations. Furthermore, the guidance set out that all members
of the Board had an equal right to vote on Board issues and that
the Board would work as partners with Torbay Council to develop a
plan for their local area and distribute funding to the projects to
deliver on this vision.
Government guidance
stated the new Neighbourhood Board needed to have convened by 22
April 2025to confirm membership, elect an independent Chairperson
and discuss any proposals to alter the Torquay boundary suggested
by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government. The Torquay Place
Leadership Board met on 9 April 2025 in order to comply with this
requirement.
By ‘Winter
2025’ the Torquay Place Leadership Board is required to have
developed a Regeneration Plan, setting out a vision for the next
decade. It would also need to set out
an Investment Plan for the first four years of the programme.
Torbay Council would support the Board
to develop and deliver the Plan. Money for those interventions
would be released yearly from April 2026.
At the meeting
Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lewis
seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as
set out above.
