Community Partnerships
Who are we and what do we do?
Torbay is getting local people involved in local decision-making through a growing network of Community Partnerships.
Community Partnerships provide an opportunity for people who live or work in the different parts of Torbay to discuss issues of common concern, influence the way in which services are provided and improve their local area. There are 16 Community Partnerships in Torbay – 9 in Torquay, 5 in Paignton and 2 in Brixham one of which is working with the new Brixham Town Council.
But what does this mean?
It’s about getting local people together to decide what is important to them and what needs improving in their area. They are a one stop shop for local people to ask questions of their local Councillor, raise an issue with the police, find out what is going on in their neighbourhood, or just to link up with other residents.
Supported by the Torbay Strategic Partnership the Community Partnerships are recognised by all the statutory agencies in Torbay including Torbay Council, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Torbay Care Trust, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue – the list goes on. All the major Housing Associations also have representatives working with the Partnerships. This enables people’s concerns to be dealt with promptly and effectively.
Each group holds regular public meetings open to anyone who lives or works in the area, but there are also many other ways residents can engage with their Community Partnership. There is a steering group for each area run usually by two residents – one who acts as a Chairperson and one as a Secretary and they can be called or emailed with issues, or if no contact details are available call the Community Partnership Office on 01803 208831. Each group has a web page on this Portal.
Each Community Partnership is developing an action plan for their area picking up on the key priorities that residents have raised with them over the past 12 months. Three priority concerns have emerged in most areas - concerns about community safety, concerns about the lack of good facilities for children and young people in Torbay – places where they can hang out and meet their friends, and concerns about the physical appearance of Torbay – particularly in the more residential areas.
The Community Partnerships are currently lobbying the police to improve their non-emergency communication as this has been identified as a barrier to reducing crime and more importantly reducing the fear of crime.
In some areas residents are also looking at buildings that are not being used in their area and seeing if they could be converted to spaces for young people. The Preston Partnership has been working with some young people in Preston to see what they want in this area. We were very pleased to be able to raise some funding to put up basket ball hoops on Preston Seafront, something the young people wanted and now they have it.
Residents are also helping to direct some of the Council’s cleansing budget to priority jobs in their area via the Community Partnerships. We’re working with the Council on a new Community Lengthsmen Scheme. For more information, please see the Community Lengthsmen page.
Have a look through our Community Partnership pages for more specific information on the groups and how to get involved.
