Friday 8 July 2022
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 Warning on spending from our Director of Finance: our budget situation
Like many other local authorities across the country, Devon County Council is facing unprecedented financial pressures.
Director of Finance, Angie Sinclair, has warned that Devon County Council is facing an unprecedented black hole in its finances largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis and spiralling demand for help for vulnerable children and adults.
She predicts that the County Council could overspend by more than £40 million in the current financial year, and says urgent action must be taken by every department to rein in spending.
Chief Executive, Phil Norrey, informed staff of the challenging financial position and the steps being taken to address the financial stability of the Council.
A group of senior officers from across all Council services – a Tactical Leadership Team – has been established to identify options for councillors to consider. The options to save money include modernising and remodelling services and delivery, identifying different sources of funding, and cancelling or delaying some projects.
 Openreach progressing well with Full Fibre delivery for Connecting Devon and Somerset
Openreach is making good progress with providing Full Fibre broadband connectivity to thousands of people as part of its latest collaboration with Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS).
More than 2,000 premises in some of the hardest to reach rural areas in the region will receive ultrafast broadband coverage through Openreach’s ongoing Full Fibre rollout for CDS.
Openreach is actively bringing connectivity to around 1,500 of those premises in a number of communities throughout Devon and Somerset, including Bampton, Brompton Ralph, Coffinswell, parts of Dulverton, Ilfracombe, Kentisbury Ford, Oakford, Parracombe, Rackenford, Shaugh Prior, Stogumber, Washford, and Watermouth.
In the coming months they are expected to start in Brayford, Butterleigh, Cadbury, Cadeleigh, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Filleigh, North Molton, Silverton, South Molton, Stockleigh Pomeroy and Thorverton.
Design and survey work has also been undertaken in Clapworthy Mill, Meeth, South Zeal, Throwleigh, Satterleigh and Warkleigh.
More than 400 premises are currently ready for service in communities, including parts of the parish of Bickleigh and Wotter, Combeinteignhead, parts of Dulverton, and Lane End near Peter Tavy.
Ofsted SEND report published
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have shared their inspection report with us. In the report, the conclusion is that our SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) service continues to require significant change.
 Heat wave warning issued - how to beat the heat
The Met Office has said temperatures will continue to rise this week, and it is likely to be very hot here in the South West. Temperatures will climb over the weekend and into next week, with the hottest conditions expected on Monday 11 July and Tuesday 12 July.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning temperatures will stay high until next Friday 15 July.
Most of us welcome the arrival of summer, with the chance to get outside and enjoy the sunny weather. But when it's too hot for too long, there are health risks. In England, there are on average 2,000 heat related deaths every year.
The main risks during hot weather are:
The UKHSA issued guidance, and ask us all to prepare for the warm weather:
- shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight – external shutters or shades are very effective, internal blinds or curtains are less effective but cheaper and easier to install
- check that windows or vents can be opened
- if applicable, check mechanical ventilations systems are switched on and operating in summer mode
- check that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly
- check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging
Please also look out for the most vulnerable in our communities over the summer months. Although much of the advice about beating the heat is common sense, some people may need extra help coping with the hot weather and keeping cool.
It’s vital we all follow the advice and adapt what we do when needed, so we don't put our local NHS services under any more pressure. People can experience heat exhaustion or heatstroke, so it’s helpful to know the common signs and symptoms, available on the NHS website.
We've put together this special edition of our ConnectMe newsletter to share top tips for staying safe in the summer sunshine and urge you to look out for those in our communities who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated.
Launch of One Devon
One Devon launched on Friday 1 July 2022 and paves the way for a new, innovative and collaborative approach to health and care in our county.
One Devon is the name of the health and care system, which includes our NHS partners and local councils, as well as the many other local organisations, groups and communities who work together to improve the health, wellbeing, and care of people in Devon.
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 Project launched to equip young people with entrepreneurial skills
A new project has been launched to support young people in Devon to develop key employability skills and gain an insight into entrepreneurship.
'Young Entrepreneurs' is being funded through our £6million recovery programme in response to the pandemic.
Devon has a high number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses, so provision of good quality enterprise education is vital in preparing young people for their future employment in the county if they plan to be self-employed or work in small enterprises.
The initiative is being delivered through four organisations:
- SETSquared and Volt Entrepreneurs Ltd
- South Devon College
- Space Youth Services
- Young Enterprise
The Young Entrepreneurs project supports the delivery of enterprise education across Devon, particularly in disadvantaged communities. It aims to allow young people to consider alternative routes into employment and will encourage them to pursue their ideas and aspirations to create new businesses and products.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert
Growth of ‘shop local’ is a huge opportunity for businesses
A consumer survey has revealed that 88 per cent of local people try to buy Devon-sourced goods whenever possible, which presents a huge opportunity for local businesses!
We're encouraging Devon’s businesses to sign up to our Made in Devon scheme to advertise that they are a trustworthy business supplying Devon-sourced products, and that those claims have been vetted by trading standards. Membership is also available to Devon-based companies in other sectors including retail, arts, and services.
And we want to encourage consumers to keep buying quality local products and services which we have in Devon, supporting local businesses to bring long-term, sustainable prosperity to the region and to help in the region’s economic recovery.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, our Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said:
"The benefits of supporting local are huge. It helps keep money in the community as local businesses have lower overheads like transportation, which, in turn is better for the environment.
"It also helps avoid the supply issues that have been experienced by many national retailers.
“And if businesses can demonstrate that its goods are local it will give confidence to the consumer, and this will help ensure that Devon’s economy continues to recover following the pandemic.”
Devon County Council attendees with Chairman Cllr Ian Hall (pictured in the middle of photo bottom left), at the South Devon College Apprenticeship Awards.
South Devon College Apprenticeship Awards 2022
We have been awarded Highly Commended for the Best Large Employer of the Year at the South Devon College Apprenticeship Awards!
Holly Brimson, Trainee Graduate Planner, was invited to attend the awards as a guest speaker as part of her role as Devon County Lead for the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SWAAN).
SWAAN is a community of passionate apprentices and former apprentices who have chosen to share their apprenticeship story with others. Apprentice Ambassadors use their own positive experience as a powerful tool for engaging and inspiring the next generation.
 Devon Development Education summer party
Devon Development Education (DDE) is holding a summer party on Thursday 14 July. Please join from 6:30pm to 9pm in the Northernhay Room, Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David’s Hill, Exeter, EX4 3RG.
There will be activities, short presentations, refreshments and an update on DDE’s work in the past year.
Director of Public Health Devon asks people to stay home if they’re feeling unwell, as COVID-19 cases rise
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data is showing (in June 2022) a continuing rise in the number of people in hospital with coronavirus, and a rise in positive cases overall.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon says:
“We are seeing a gradual climb again in the number of people in Devon reporting a positive coronavirus test. However, with fewer people testing, the actual numbers of people with the virus is likely to be higher than is reported – the ONS data for Devon suggests that around one in every 45 people in Devon currently have coronavirus.”
The increase is being attributed to the new faster-spreading BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, which now constitute more than half of new infections in England, and more people mixing socially.
Reminder: if you feel unwell don't come into an office
Leadership Group advise anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or who develops symptoms to stay at home and avoid contact with others – in the same way you would if you had the flu or vomiting and diarrhoea.
If you are well enough and can do so, please work from home.
Members' area
Don't forget your Members' Area SharePoint site is your one-stop-shop to access resources to aid you in your role as a Devon County Councillor. Key documents from the Council's various service areas, including induction resources, are posted in the Document library, and the Who's who? highlights the best person for you to contact to help answer any queries you may have.
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