To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

Apologies for absence were received from Kirsty Brodest, Carolyn Custerson and Hannah Worth (who was represented by Matt Evans).

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on  15 June 2026.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Torbay Place Leadership Board held on 15 June 2026 were confirmed as a correct record.

To discuss the outcome and implications of the LGR decision.

Anne-Marie Bond and Councillor David Thomas provided a detailed summary of the Government’s decision regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), providing details of the expansion to Torbay’s boundaries, the next steps toward the creation of the new Authority and the implications for other authorities throughout Devon.

The Board discussed a wide range of issues, including how boundary changes may affect financial arrangements, and Judicial Review timescales relating to potential challenges from other Authorities.  Policing arrangements were discussed, and the Board noted the parallel Policing review and the implications of the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner role.

Members then discussed at length the future role of the Torbay Place Leadership Board, noting that the Board’s role will become increasingly important within the new authority footprint.  Every area within the new geography will have a Parish Council except Torquay and Paignton, and the Board may be well?placed to fill a strategic gap by providing a strong, place?focused voice.  The Board may choose to develop its role as a channel into the new authority, and potentially into any future Strategic Mayoral Authority.

The Board discussed the need to develop a strong relationship with the shadow authority and eventual new Council, recognising LGR as both a challenge and an opportunity.  Members noted the importance of ensuring that any future arrangements represent a partnership of equals, and discussed how the Board may best work with areas which are due to be incorporated into the new Authority.

Questions were raised regarding the following:

• How the Board might cover the wider area under new boundaries.
• Whether expansion of the Board’s remit would ensure equality of voice with areas that already have established Parish Councils.
• Existing representation from many of the new areas, and whether additional strategic relationships may be developed.
• Arts Council England’s work across the new footprint, including ongoing mapping of cultural assets.

Members discussed what the Board could realistically achieve between now and May 2027, and agreed that further work on mapping strategic relationships should be brought back to the Board for further discussion in September.

Concerns were raised about perceptions in newly incorporated areas that they may be “taken over”, and the need for careful engagement with the existing Town and Parish Councils.  Members noted the potential contradiction between strengthening Torbay’s voice and expanding the Board’s membership, and agreed that clarity of purpose is essential.

Further points included:

• Torbay’s comparatively lower council tax rate, and the potential implications for newly incorporated areas.
• Lessons learned from other areas that have undergone similar reorganisations, noting that the Local Government Association has facilitated learning, though not specifically focused on Place Leadership Boards or similar Boards.
• Government indications that they do not support creating new Town or Parish Councils, though a community governance review could be initiated by the new authority to facilitate this.  It was noted that communities can petition for such a review.
• The importance of supporting the new authority to drive prosperity, and ensuring that regeneration work does not stall, particularly given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.