Sponsors wanted. On offer: one air show

£90,000 needed, or Torbay Airshow at risk

Torbay Council wants sponsors to put up the cash to save Torbay Air Show. The authority which has banned non-urgent spending due to financial pressures wants to save its £90,000 proposed funding for 2019. The show hasn't yet been cancelled, but could be if the funds aren't raised.

There are concerns that if the money is not raised, next year’s event could be cancelled. If that happened, it is unlikely it would ever get off the ground again, councillors were told. Although not at that stage yet, councillors, backed by mayor Gordon Oliver, voted to ask the authority’s financial chief to try to raise the £90,000 from alternative sources instead of from its own coffers. Mr Oliver, who says he established the show three years ago, will make the eventual decision. 

A report said the cash could be found from sponsorship, funding or by setting up a crowdfunding website.

The two-day show each June features the Red Arrows, with events on the ground based at Paignton Green. This year it attracted more than 165,000 people, bringing in an estimated £7 million to the local economy. The next show is scheduled for June 1 and 2, 2019.

Mr Oliver told councillors at the policy development and decision group that the week-long Bournemouth Air Festival, established ten years ago, was attended by 1.3m people last year and brought in up to £45m to the local economy. He says he's optimistic about raising the funds: “Once there is a feeling of confidence and opportunity, the private sector will respond. This has become a major event, and it will continue to grow."

Committee chairman Conservative Richard Haddock wants the 2019 air show to go ahead, saying the community and businesses that make money out of it should contribute, such as hotels and restaurants, as well as trade and commerce groups.

UKIP councillor Julien Parrott suggested that the English Riviera Bid Company should be asked to take over the running of the air show. 

But not everyone agreed that the show should go ahead at all. Independent Mike Morey says it's a “no-brainer” to end funding for the air show when vulnerable children and adults were being put at risk because of a shortage of money.

Councillors, backed by the mayor, voted to instruct the executive head of assets and business services Kevin Mowat to engage with the business, community and voluntary sectors to raise the £90,000 to replace the council’s planned funding.  He'll report back on 5 November.

Last year the council agreed a five-year plan of support for the air show, reducing from a maximum of £100,000 this year to £90,000 for 2019  followed by further annual cuts. The Conservative-run council has banned non-urgent spending in an effort to balance the books after a projected overspending of £2.8m this year, mainly because of children’s social care.