Council leader’s anger over NHS meeting snub

Care partnership under threat

The leader of a Devon council whose much-praised partnership with its local health service is under threat has described the response from health chiefs as ‘disappointing and unacceptable’.

Torbay Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) wanted to raise the prospect of the ground-breaking adult social care partnership being scrapped at a meeting of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust’s board later this week (March 26).

He said he was keen to stress the council’s cross-party concerns that the partnership, which has been running for 20 years and has been hailed as an exemplar for the rest of the country, could be axed.

But he has been told he cannot speak at the meeting in defence of the partnership. In a social media post he said he wanted to speak on behalf of the 140,000 Torbay residents who will be affected by the changes.

“This is of major concern for any resident within Torbay,” he added: “We really have no idea what the changes will be, because the hospital doesn’t know what the changes will be.”

The trust is thinking of ending the integrated care arrangement which serves 2,700 adults in need of social care in the bay because it costs £35million a year to keep up its end of the deal and it can no longer afford it.

But councillors say the decision is being ‘rushed through’ and the public needs to have its say.

Cllr Thomas has aired his frustration in an open letter to the trust ahead of this week’s meeting.

In it he says: “The agreement represents a long-standing and substantial partnership between the council and the trust. It underpins the way adult social care services are delivered locally and, most importantly, shapes the experience of residents who rely on care and support. Decisions about its future therefore carry significant public interest and consequence.”

He says the issue was aired in public by the council’s cabinet in December, and had been raised in writing with the Health Secretary.

He says it is ‘entirely reasonable’ that the leader of the council should be able to speak at the meeting and adds: “Preventing that contribution, particularly where decisions may directly affect our residents, staff and wider community, falls short of the standards of openness, transparency and partnership working that the public rightly expects.

“Public board meetings exist to promote transparency, accountability and public confidence in decision making. They should provide space for constructive challenge and for partner organisations to set out their perspectives directly, in public, to those making decisions.

“When that opportunity is not provided, it risks undermining confidence both in the process and in the strength of partnership working.”

He says the council remains committed to working collaboratively with the trust, and recognises pressure on local services.

“However,” he adds, “effective partnership working must be built on openness, mutual respect and meaningful engagement. This is about ensuring that decisions are informed, transparent and taken with the full involvement of all accountable partners. Our residents expect, and deserve, nothing less.”

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust chairman Professor Chris Balch said: “We have been working closely with Torbay Council and NHS Devon during the past few months to explore and consider the arrangement.

“The leader of Torbay Council, its chief executive and the director of adult social services presented to our board in January 2026, outlining the council’s position in detail. Thursday’s board meeting is a meeting in public, and not a public meeting, but our partners’ views will be considered before a decision is made.”