Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust: 'Why we were forced to shut down'

The trustees of the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust have made a 'final statement' after its financial collapse.

The future of some of the Bay's most precious green spaces and the Occombe Farm, which the Trust has managed for Torbay Council for more than two decades, is up in the air after trustees decided to put the charity into liquidation due to growing financial pressures.

Their statement said: "Since its formation in 1999, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust has managed and conserved a number of important sites owned by Torbay Council under various agreements.  Under these agreements, Torbay Council paid TCCT a management fee for its work.  Whilst this fee has fluctuated over time, it has never come close to covering the full cost of managing and conserving the sites for which TCCT was responsible, many of which require specialist environmental care. 

"As operating costs and inflation have risen, and the need for substantial investment in the sites has become apparent, the gap between the management fee and the true cost of maintaining the sites has grown significantly."

The statement said that during 2021, in an effort to address this financial challenge, TCCT decided to expand its operations at Occombe Farm, a plan approved and partially funded by Torbay Council. 

"Unfortunately, the ambitious expansion was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant delays and cost increases.  As a result, TCCT’s reserves were substantially depleted," the trustees revealed.

They added: "Earlier this year, further increases in national insurance and the national minimum wage added to TCCT’s operating costs.  At the same time, the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation led to a fall in trading income.

"As soon as it became clear that TCCT could face financial difficulty, it began working closely with its accountants to develop a detailed and responsible recovery plan aimed at securing its long-term future. 

"However, uncertainty around the level of management fee to which Torbay Council would agree hindered TCCT’s ability to plan and operate effectively.

"After extensive negotiations, a new management fee was eventually agreed with Torbay Council. However, this fee was not due to take effect until April 2026. Financial forecasts showed that TCCT’s funds would be exhausted by October 2025.

"Faced with this unavoidable shortfall, the Trustees made the extremely difficult decision to move towards voluntary liquidation and immediately informed Torbay Council of this decision."

It said the TCCT had hoped that early notice would enable a controlled and transparent transition, ensuring continued care for the sites under its management.

"However, despite repeated requests, Torbay Council declined to participate in any handover process and instead chose to make a unilateral public announcement regarding TCCT’s closure," said the statement.

The Trustees said they are aware that Torbay Council now appears to be engaging with the intended liquidators to deal with the various sites for which the Trust has been responsible – a responsibility the Trustees regard as of utmost importance.

The statement ended: "Finally, the Trustees wish to express their heartfelt thanks to TCCT’s staff, volunteers, supporters, and the local community for their unwavering dedication to Torbay’s countryside and coastline over the past 26 years.  They remain deeply saddened by the way events have unfolded."