Meeting: Informal Cabinet	Date: 5 October 2021

Wards affected: Tormohun

Report Title: Torre Abbey Development Foundation Proposal

When does the decision need to be implemented? November 2021

Cabinet Member Contact Details: Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, mike.morey@torbay.gov.uk

Director/Assistant Director Contact Details: Kevin Mowat, Director of Place, kevin.mowat@torbay.gov.uk

1.	Purpose of Report

1.1	To request permission for the foundation of an independent Development Foundation with charitable status to support Torre Abbey. The governance and operating model of Torre Abbey will not change. The asset will remain under the care and management of Torbay Council. This Development Foundation will simply raise funds to support the asset.

1.2	Since the Global Pandemic grant funding has become even more competitive and necessary. With many funding pots being oversubscribed and only available to charities Torre Abbey has been very limited as to those that can be applied for. A Development Foundation would open up the opportunity for Torre Abbey to apply to a wider range of funds and to make use of the government Gift Aid scheme. A Development Foundation would also change funder and donor perception.

1.3	Anticipated outcomes are:

Securing funding for Torre Abbey to complete the package of works which were formally known as Phase III.

Financially support future works and projects as required.

Increase revenue by using the government Gift Aid scheme for memberships and small donations. This would gain an additional £4.50 for each adult membership sold with no cost to Torbay Council or the customer.

Cover 75% of the cost of employing a dedicated fundraising officer within 3 years. The reaming 25% will be self-funding via successful grant applications.

2.	Reason for Proposal and its benefits

We want Torbay and its residents to thrive.

We want Torbay to be a place where we have turned the tide on poverty and tackled inequalities; where our children and older people will have high aspirations and where there are quality jobs, good pay and affordable housing for our residents.

We want Torbay to be the premier resort in the UK, with a vibrant arts and cultural offer for our residents and visitors to enjoy; where our built and natural environment is celebrated and where we play our part in addressing the climate change emergency.

2.1	The proposals in this report help us to deliver this ambition by enabling the setup of a new charity which will attract funding for Torre Abbey supporting conservation and preservation of our most important heritage asset (as identified in the Heritage Strategy). Funding will also enable Torre Abbey to undertake a wider range of community exhibitions, events, and activities for the health wellbeing benefit of the local community. More volunteering opportunities will be available and funded projects will raise the profile of Torre Abbey as a haven for locals and visitors alike. Additional revenue though Gift Aid will support a council fit for the future. The packages of work will support a thriving economy through procuring local suppliers and contractors. Increased visitors to Torre Abbey will boost the local Tourism economy. Jobs will be created as business grows as a result of additional funding attracted and local artists and other creatives will be commissioned. All projects supported by the Development Foundation will take into account the climate change emergency and those linked to capital works will support decarbonisation. Much of this work already happens at Torre Abbey however additional funding secured through the Development Foundation will allow this to be increased to greater benefit.

2.2	The reasons for the decision are permission is required for Officer time and start-up costs for the Development Foundation.

3.	Recommendation(s) / Proposed Decision

1.	That development of a Development Foundation for Torre Abbey be approved

2.	That the Director of Place be delegated authority to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the Foundation, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture and the Monitoring Officer.

Appendices

Appendix 1:	Development Foundation Proposal,

Appendix 2:	External Consultant Report

Background Documents

https://www.torre-abbey.org.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-commission-guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-detailed-guidance-notes/chapter-3-gift-aid

https://www.theboxplymouth.com/support-us

https://rammuseum.org.uk/support-us/become-a-patron/ramm-development-trust/

Supporting Information

1.	Introduction

Torre Abbey is Torbay’s most historic building complex dating from 1196. An ancient scheduled monument set within 17.8 acres of gardens and parkland. It’s an accredited museum owned by Torbay Council, home to a regionally important collection it’s been a centre of religious and artistic expression and hospitality for 800 years.

Currently Torre Abbey is a loss-making asset and a non-statutory service. The Development Foundation will secure additional funding relieving pressure on Council budgets and enable Torre Abbey to move towards becoming a financially sustainable asset. Torre Abbey and Torbay Council would still apply for large grants and potentially some smaller grants where it is of benefit or limited to Council applications for example Museums Estate Development Fund. This is likely to be from funders such as Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and funds administers or provided by Central Government for Local Authority’s

Torre Abbey is currently supported by the Friends of Torre Abbey group (FOTA), this is a long standing important and valued relationship which has supported Phase I & II along with many smaller conservation-based projects. FOTA continues to support smaller conservation projects and collection acquisitions.

Since the Global Pandemic grant funding has become even more competitive and necessary. With many funding pots being oversubscribed and only available to charities Torre Abbey has been very limited as to those that can be applied for, Appendix 1 in the Development Foundation Proposal shows funders available as a local authority and those only open to charities. It is also noted that many funders, who although technically eligible to be applied to by Torbay Council, give a lower priority to Local Authority’s as they are not perceived as being at high risk if funding is not given (there is a perception the Local Authority will always underwrite and support their assets).

The cost benefits of the proposal are:

Access to grants currently not available to Local Authorities

Increased revenue from memberships i.e. and additional £0.25 in the pound which equates to £4.50 per adult membership

Take advantage of the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme which allows charities to claim up to £2000 on £8000 of donations per annum. This does not require individuals to give consent or provide contact details and so can be claimed on the full amount of cash donations up to £8000.

Access to legacy donations (gifts from Wills) as donor perception is more likely to give to a charity directly benefiting Torre Abbey rather than a Local Authority.

2.	Options under consideration

2.1	Option 1: Stay as is – this is not feasible as Torre Abbey needs to increase the funding it receives to pay for essential maintenance work and a variety of projects.

2.2	Option 2: Request Support from Friends of Torre Abbey (FOTA) – FOTA have confirmed they are unable to undertake the level of funding bids required to be submitted by a charitable arm and do not wish to supply gift aid support.

3.	Financial Opportunities and Implications

3.1	The initial set up costs for the Development Foundation would be approximately £5150 (a break down of these costs can be seen in the Start-up Funding section of the Development Foundation proposal document.

3.2	Ongoing costs will include supporting the Development Foundation with administration and accounting though in kind services from Torbay Council Officers.

3.3	Martin Phillips is aware of this proposal alongside the report from the external Consultant Andrew Hardingham, Trustee of the Box Foundation and has indicated his support in principle.

3.4	The cost benefits of this proposal are outlined in Introduction section 1.5 above.

4.	Legal Implications

4.1	There no legal implications to Torbay Council for this proposal. Once set up the Development Foundation will be an independent Charity.

4.2	The governance and operating model of Torre Abbey will not change. The asset will remain under the care and management of Torbay Council. This Development Trust will simply raise funds to support the asset.

4.3	A memorandum of understanding will be drawn up between Torbay Council and the Development Foundation to secure agreement on ways of working together and objectives.

5.	Engagement and Consultation

5.1	We know from the current level of donations direct to Torre Abbey and support to FOTA that there is a desire from both visitors and the local community to support Torre Abbey.

5.2	It is common practice for museums, including those Local Authority owned, to have a Development Foundation to support there fundraising ambitions. As part of this process we have consulted with a number of museums and interested parties.

6.	Purchasing or Hiring of Goods and/or Services

6.1	No goods or services will be procured as part of this proposal.

7.	Tackling Climate Change

7.1	The Development Foundation proposal in itself will have no climate change implications however projects carried out as a result of successful fundraising will support positive changes to the climate change agenda.

8.	Associated Risks

8.1	If this proposal is not accepted Torre Abbey will continue to be unable to access numerous funding pots which are only available to charities and will be unable to gain the other financial benefits including Gift Aid.

9.	Equality Impacts - Identify the potential positive and negative impacts on specific groups

The Development Foundation will not in itself directly impact any of the below groups but will be used to fundraise to support Torre Abbey’s creative, diverse annual programming, some examples are given below. The groups worked with will change depending on the programming themes.

The initial recruitment of trustees will aim to be as diverse as possible however once the initial setup is completed Torbay Council will no longer be able to influence future recruitment.

Positive Impact	Negative Impact & Mitigating Actions	Neutral Impact
Older or younger people	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects such as increasing our ‘ageing well sessions’
People with caring Responsibilities	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects
People with a disability	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects
Women or men	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects
People who are black or from a minority ethnic background (BME) (Please note Gypsies / Roma are within this community)	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects such as our projects with Channing’s Wood and Black History projects
Religion or belief (including lack of belief)	We are unlikely to engage further with religion than we already do as a result of the Development Foundation
People who are lesbian, gay or bisexual	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects such as our projects with Into the Mix
People who are transgendered	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects such as our projects with Into the Mix
People who are in a marriage or civil partnership	We are unlikely to engage further with religion than we already do as a result of the Development Foundation
Women who are pregnant / on maternity leave	We are unlikely to engage further with religion than we already do as a result of the Development Foundation
Socio-economic impacts (Including impact on child poverty issues and deprivation)	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects
Public Health impacts (How will your proposal impact on the general health of the population of Torbay)	Additional funding secured will enable greater community engagement projects such as Torbay Connecting Actively in Nature

10.	Cumulative Council Impact

10.1	None

11.	Cumulative Community Impacts

11.1	None