Nick Bye – Latest Message June 16th 2010

Essay One

All those who enjoy moaning and groaning about the performance of Torbay Council will have the smiles wiped off their faces when they read the Annual Report for 2009/10, approved at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. To add to their misery, they might also like to learn the Council’s achievements included living comfortably within budget, despite the worst possible financial storms, and delivering the lowest Council Tax rise since we become a Unitary Authority. Council Tax bills in Torquay and Paignton are significantly lower than in neighbouring areas and are amongst the lowest in the South West Region, despite the extra services the Council provides as part and parcel of being a seaside area (all those beaches to clean!), with an exceptional number of older people and the associated cost of adult social care. We also have more looked after children than you would expect in a place of this size.One regular letter writer to the Herald, from Kingsteignton, is always taking a pop at Torbay Council and Yours Truly in particular, despite the fact he is paying a higher Council Tax for the privilege of living in TQ12 land. You would think he would be having a go at County Hall and Teignbridge District Council for wasting his money instead.Anyway, back to Torbay. The 2009/2010 Report shows how we are performing in our delivery of the Community Plan as well as highlighting the regeneration projects now underway, including the Mayoral Vision.We are proud we were rated ‘good’ for the delivery of adult social care by the Quality Care Commission. Many of our services for children and young people are judged as ‘good or better’. We have successfully reduced the number of young people (aged 16-19) not in education, employment or training (NEETS) to an all time low of 3.7%, giving Torbay the best results in the South West.Projects now underway include the new Brixham Fish Quay and workspace, the Paignton Library and Community Hub, the re-build of Torquay Community College, many more new school buildings across Torbay and 22 upgraded children’s play areas (half are already completed). Work will commence in the next few months on the £5 million My Place youth facility at Parkfield, Paignton (which really will be amazing) as well as the Geo Play Park on Paignton Seafront.Work is also starting on the Castle Circus Regeneration project, which will bring the Council together under one roof to save money, also our next ‘Sea Change’ project at Cockington Court, which will provide space for arts and craft businesses.The centre to support new businesses at Lymington Road has been a great success. The Council supported the newTown Centres Company and the Business Improvement District for Torquay. (Anybody who says Torquay is just full of empty shops has simply not visited the town for months – you really should take a stroll down the main street now).We have launched the new Tourism Company and are recruiting directors, with business experience, for the new Economic Development Company.Our main services, in particular refuse collection, libraries, parks and open spaces are highly rated by residents.We have picked up awards galore in the last twelve months: ‘Team of the Year’ at the National Recycling Awards; ‘Best Highway Authority’ in the South West Improvement Group 2007-08; a commendation by the Royal Town Planning Institute for the Mayoral Vision; a Charter Mark holder for our Library Services; we took top marks for our campaign against dog fouling from the Keep Britain Tidy Network; another Green Apple award for recycling; 14 Blue Flags and Quality Coast Awards for our beaches – top place, nationally, with the Isle of Wight. Sherwell Park, Tessier Gardens and Upton Park all now hold coveted ‘Green Flag Awards’. We are also really proud of our increased tally of ‘Bloom’ awards from the Royal Horticultural Society. The flower displays were simply stunning last summer and again this spring.The Leonard Stocks Centre, providing services for the homeless, opened in Factory Row – and is already turning lives around. We are working on various housing schemes, including a dedicated project for older people, requiring support, on the old Dunboyne site at St Marychurch.The Anthony Gormley exhibition at the Spanish Barn, by Torre Abbey, was a great success last summer.The Heritage Lottery Fund have given us the green light to draw up detailed plans for the next phase of renovations to Torre Abbey and granted funding of £124,000 to expedite this. They have also supported the restoration of many of the buildings along Victoria Parade, by Torquay Harbour.Our Street Wardens continue to do sterling work with our Safer Communities Team to  reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Crime has fallen significantly across Torbay and Torquay Harbourside at night is now a much more pleasant place to visit.After years of neglect, more money is being spent on maintenance and repairs on our infrastructure and there should be quite a party in a few weeks time when we re-open Rock Walk. Many people have kindly commented upon our upgraded loos, attractive coloured lights and improved access to Paignton Sands.I am hugely proud of all that has been achieved in the last twelve months and am grateful indeed to the team in the Town Hall and all our frontline staff. Of course there is still more to do and reports will continue to come along and highlight areas for improvement. But we have come a long way in the last four years: quite simply, the Council is run in a more business like fashion, comfortable with taking difficult decisions, committed to providing improving services and leading a process of regeneration.What a difference a Mayor makes.

Essay Two

If, just a few years ago, someone had told me I would be one day walking through the streets of Torquay behind a Rainbow Flag, as part of a gay history walk, or dancing in a big pink tent on the Seafront, or even enjoying Hazel Dean perform at a street party in Meadfoot Lane as part of a Torbay Pride Weekend, I would not have believed them. Indeed, not so long ago, folk used to drink in the ‘old’ Meadfoot behind drawn curtains, even in the height of the summer.However, social attitudes have changed enormously and I, for one, am pretty comfortable with all this. Torbay has for many years had a significant gay and lesbian community who have made (and continue to make) a huge contribution to the wellbeing of our towns. Indeed, outside London and Brighton, we have had one of the largest numbers of Civil Partnerships in the land. I remember attending the first one in 2005 and several more since (always the bridesmaid, never the bride).So hats off to Matt Newberry and his team for all their hard work. Thanks, also, to all the sponsors, including Port Salut who sponsored the spectacular fireworks on Saturday night and Greenway Ferries who provided a fun cruise on the Fairmile.But thanks, also, to the Herald for all the positive reports and comments. This really is proof the Bay is moving forward.