Barton Recreation Ground

Interests Declared –

Vince Flower as Chair of Torquay Academy and trustee of Torquay Boys Grammar School Multi-Academy Trust

Jim Parker as Chair of Barton Cricket Club

It was noted that the final costs of the project are likely to be substantially higher than that approved by the Board, due to the need for additional surveys to get the project to RIBA-4 status. 

Board Members questioned why this issue had not been previously picked up, and queried what lessons had been learned from this, noting that this may set a precedent for projects where funding figures vary in future. It was noted that the Quality Assurance Framework scored the projects submitted against risk frameworks on the basis of the information provided, and had found no issues with the project on that basis, noting only later that achieving RIBA-2 would not be sufficient for the project to progress.  The Board discussed various possible processes for issues of this nature, including more robust interrogation at the earlier stages and a more significant contingency for every project as standard. 

It was unanimously agreed by those entitled to vote that :-

1. a report detailing the Quality Assurance process and lessons learned from Barton Recreation Ground funding variances be bought back to the Board in September.
2. That the funding award be increased from £35,000 to £60,000 and the project be allowed to continue.

Business-Led Town Centre Improvements

It was noted that the Town Centre Partnership had said that they were not aware of this bid being put forward.  The Board noted that a number of Town-Centre focussed bids had been out forward and Members raised queries as to whether the interested parties were effectively communicating and consolidating their efforts.  Regarding this specific project, the feedback was that the aims were not sufficiently strategic and long-term in their current form, and that the funding request was substantial relative to the aims of the project.  The Board consequently declined to fund the project as submitted, but requested further information, most particularly on how the Town Centre groups are collaborating to form a coherent, strategic, long-term town centre project.

Melville Community Hub

Board members were generally supportive of this project, noting that previous funding allocations in the area had made a significant difference.  It was also noted that local groups in the area had secured funding from other sources, and had worked extremely hard to improve safety and security in the area.  The Board noted some low scores from the Quality Assurance Framework, and that these risks were primarily around the issue of planning permissions.  The Board felt that this did not represent a significant risk to the aims of the fund, and it was agreed unanimously that the following funding award be made :-

Melville Community Hub –

Interests – none present

          £50,000 Capital funding for the construction, installation, fit-out and making good of the Melville Community Hub structure

It was agreed that, having looked at the indicative scoring of the unfunded projects, Members would like to analyse the following projects at the next meeting in order to make a decision on an award :-

4. Business-Led Town Centre Improvements

29. Children’s Society Wellbeing Hub

57. Transforming play spaces

49. Torbay Creative Exchange

36. Hidden High Street Creative Space