Dave Thomas on Torquay United, Budget proposals, Council Tax levels and more

I wanted to start this week’s letter by recognising the announcement last week from Torquay United Football Club. As with everyone else, we learnt of the sad news that the Club had filed an intention to appoint an administrator last Thursday. Local football, at all levels, is an important part of our community and we want to reassure the club and its supporters that we will engage with any interested parties to understand how we might support the ongoing operation of the club.

One of the questions that I’ve been asked is about the freehold of the club, which is held by the Council. We have long held the position that this will remain with the council, and we have not changed our view on this.

Moving on to other important business from last week, at full Council we considered and agreed the budget proposals and Council Tax levels for the next financial year (2024/25).

The balanced budget that was agreed ensures that we can continue to deliver £350 million worth of services. This is even with the backdrop of a number of councils across the country who are issuing or having to consider issuing Section 114 notices – which is local government speak for councils having to consider bankruptcy. 

Not everyone has experience of all our services, but there continues to be a need for all of them. Along with our population living longer and cost of living pressures, we are experiencing an increase in the demand as well as an increase in the costs of providing them.

In response to feedback from you as part of the budget consultation, amendments were made to the initial proposals to ensure we can make Torbay a great place to live, work and invest in.

In summary the budget agreed includes:

• An additional £3.1 million going into Children’s Services

• An additional £4 million going into Adult Social Care

• A £1 million commitment to Oldway

• £1 million going into the Event reserves for the next four years with an extra £100,000 to support putting on events across the Bay

• £75,000 towards sports

• £100,000 towards accelerating affordable housing

Overwhelming support was also given through the consultation for two new planned investment projects - Operation Brighter Bay and Operation Town Centres. Both operations will be receiving £300,000 each over the next 12 months.

Operation Brighter Bay will work towards making Torbay even more attractive and safer, giving green areas more attention with additional cuts to grass. This will not only happen in high-profile areas, but also town centre and residential areas. The investment will also allow for the repainting of more white lines and yellow box markings right across the Bay.

Operation Town Centres will see collaboration between the Police and additional Council staff in Town Centres, with the objective of providing more enforcement against those who engage in anti-social behaviour.

It was also agreed at Council last night that there will be an increase to Council Tax payments by 4.75 per cent from April 2024.

Instead of the maximum increase of 2.99 per cent set by the Government, the increase agreed here was 2.75 per cent. And in recognition of the pressures in adult social care, it was agreed that the two per cent adult social care precept is also charged – making the 4.75 per cent

This isn’t a decision we have made lightly but each one per cent increase in Council Tax generates £840,000 of income and it is the only means that we have to raise additional funding for our place-based and housing services.

We are aware of the financial pressures faced by many households across Torbay which is why a new Council Tax Support Scheme has recently been approved. This new scheme will be based on household income, not just linked to benefits, which means more households across the Bay can apply for a reduction to their Council Tax bill. This will provide over £500,000 of additional discounts to many of our residents most in need of financial support. 

As soon as the scheme is ready to be launched, we will share more information.