Cllr Thomas: With your help we can reach for the skies with the air show

Who can forget the period during the Covid pandemic, when public meetings changed, and our decisions had to be made in the online/virtual world? Thankfully, we started to return to what has become, a new normal and open back up and we started to hold our meetings in person again. However, that period showed us is that by live streaming our main council, cabinet and planning meetings more of you had the opportunity to watch and hear how decisions are made. 

We appreciate not everyone can get to the Town Hall or the Riviera Centre in person so by having these important decision-making meetings available online means more of you can watch. Did you know, you can either watch live as it is happening or simply tune in later at a time that better suits you? If you want to see any of our previous public meetings, these can be found on our YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/TorbayCouncil. If you are on YouTube make sure you subscribe to our channel so you are notified when a new live stream is happening. To see when these meetings are taking place, or if you would like to attend in person, together with following along with the agendas, these can all be found on the Council’s website (www.torbay.gov.uk).  

The reason I mention this is because at this week’s cabinet meeting, which was held on Tuesday and streamed live, we discussed the future of the English Riviera Airshow. This was following the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board, who recommended that this popular event should continue as a two-day event and that we should own and deliver it ourselves as a Council.  

The report we looked at in the cabinet meeting showed us that the 2023 Airshow needed a contribution from the Council of £195,000 towards the total cost of £305,000. An economic study of the 2023 event showed that this year’s event produced a financial return to Torbay as a whole of more than £15 for every £1 invested, which is great to see and shows what this event brings to the Bay. 

We have delivered the Airshow every year since 2016 (except 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic and poor weather), as well as underwriting the costs. But the escalating costs of putting on this event means that an innovative approach is needed. As a result of our decision, the organisation and promotion of the Airshow will start immediately, we will work closely with the English Riviera Business Improvement District (ERBID) Company and other groups, utilising their professional expertise and experience. 

We will need your help more than ever; this will include volunteer opportunities and we will proactively seek sponsorship and commercialisation whilst keeping as much income within the Bay as possible. We want next year’s event to become more than just an Airshow, with the flying displays being part of a whole series of attractions from the Friday evening through to the Sunday evening and whilst we recognise the variability of the weather, we need to ensure repeat attendance over both days is significantly higher. 

As we have stated previously, the airshow is a great event, but we need a strong grip on the finances, with the external funding received determining the format of the event.  The council will match fund the event subject to a maximum contribution and we look to the event becoming self-financing in the years to come. 

Our next job will be to pull together a business case which we look forward to sharing with you all. We shall be looking for your help and support to ensure the 2024 Airshow is the best event we have can pull together. I am confident working together we can achieve a superb event.