To consider a report on the Torre Abbey Business Plan 2024 and make recommendations to the Director of Pride in Place.

(Note:  The Cabinet Member for Tourism, Culture & Events and Corporate Services, the Service Manager, Culture and Events and the Torre Abbey Manager have been invited to the meeting for this item.)

The Board considered the submitted Torre Abbey Business Plan for 2024 together with the details of performance against the previous Business Plan.  Prior to the meeting Members had been given the opportunity to have a guided tour of Torre Abbey.

The Board asked a number of questions in relation to if the Council had looked into the background of the contractors doing the renovation works to see if they were stable; had the Torre Abbey Manager looked at other examples of where local authorities had been responsible for historic buildings; with the removal of the pitch and putt what measures had been put in place to replace the income from the lease; had the Council explored with the current leaseholder for the pitch and putt alternative locations; why was no public consultation undertaken of the removal of the pitch and putt; Torquay Museum had to close in the Winter it was believed due to not being viable, what measures had been taken to ensure that Torre Abbey doesn’t come under the same restrictions; Page 33 did not mention about the Kickstart roles; when the café reopens would it be existing staff or new staff; and how was the Torre Abbey Development Foundation progressing.

In response to questions, Members were informed that the contractors for the restoration had been through proper procurement processes and they were brilliant.  They have worked with Historic England with their relationship managed through the Conservation Architect with an archaeologist on site who had recently, whilst carrying out minor repairs, uncovered remains of a building that predated the Spanish Barn which the Council did not know was there.  The Torre Abbey Manager advised that there was not that many local authorities that had such a large unique heritage asset as Torre Abbey but she had looked at properties owned by the National Trust and English Heritage.

In response to questions about the pitch and putt site, Members were advised of the current situation regarding income for the site and that an investigation had been carried out by the Leader of the Council.  This information was exempt and was not discussed at the meeting.  The current tenant had been offered three alternative sites for the pitch and putt but had declined them all 18 months ago.  Members suggested the merit in exploring if another supplier would like to take on one of the sites as they recognised the importance of a pitch and putt course as part of Torbay’s tourism offer.  The Council had tried to find alternative solutions and had many discussions with the current operator.  The Board was informed that the decision to stop the lease for the pitch and putt was a landlord decision and was taken to protect and preserve the scheduled ancient monument.  The Spanish Barn was underused and the side where the pitch and putt was located had lots of holes which impacted on the ability to hire the space.  The Council wants to encourage more events and provide opportunities for the community to use the space and bring people from the seafront up to the Abbey to increase footfall.  Consultation with the public would be carried out on the development phase on the future use of the site.  This would involve engagement with stakeholders and a young person has been invited onto the Board to help with this.

It was noted that Torquay Museum was closing for a short period of time over the winter as they were replacing their boiler and it would be difficult to run the Museum whilst this work was being carried out.  Therefore it had been a planned closure and was not as a result of lack of footfall and it was understood that it would be opened once the repairs had been completed.  Due to the 30 year grants for the restoration of Torre Abbey it had to remain open but may close for two to three weeks when required.  There had been a restructure of staff at the café with it being made a seasonal offer and the current Team was on a permanent contract with limited hours in the winter and increased hours in the summer.  With the proposed changes and all year-round offer planned for Torre Abbey it was anticipated that the café would be open more when events were being held throughout the year.

The Board was informed that Kickstart was a scheme introduced by the Government to help get young people back into work but the funding had finished.  Torre Abbey had several placements funded and all of the young people had gone on to employment including one working in the gardens at Torre Abbey.  It was a successful initiative and gave young people opportunities to see the different roles that could be done at Torre Abbey in addition to heritage there were catering and gardening opportunities etc. and the Torre Abbey Manager would love to offer this again but does not have funding to do so.

It was noted that the Torre Abbey Development Foundation was progressing well with three Trustees being identified and currently going through the process to be set up as a Charity so that it could take over from the Friends of Torre Abbey.  It was anticipated that it would be up and running by the end of 2024.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.       that the Board acknowledges the hard work of the Torre Abbey Manager and her Team and supports the submitted Torre Abbey Business Plan and ambitions going forward; and

2.       that the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator be requested to write to the Local Members of Parliament for Torbay to request them to lobby the Government to replace the Kickstart Scheme to help young people back into work, noting the particular benefits highlighted by the young people who had placements at Torre Abbey all of whom have gone onto employment.

(Note:  Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 23, Councillor Brook declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Board Member of English Riviera Business Improvement District (BID) Company.)