Friday 16 February 2024
 Left to right: Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay; Councillor John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council; Jacob Young, Levelling Up Minister; Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council; Anthony Mangnall, MP for Totnes.
Public asked to have their say on Devon and Torbay devolution deal
A six-week public consultation has been launched on the draft proposal to create a Combined County Authority (CCA) for Devon and Torbay to oversee new powers and funding transferred from the Government.
The ground-breaking devolution deal announced by Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young last month proposes to create the CCA, which would be a formal partnership of elected members drawn from the councils of Devon and Torbay, including district councils, together with representatives from business and education.
People are being invited to have their say on how the CCA would work, the powers that it would have and the functions it would be responsible for. These include investment in local economic growth, delivering affordable housing, improving public transport, and meeting net zero ambitions.
Read the full story on the news page of our website. For further information about the consultation, including how to respond, please visit the Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal website.
Today is Care Day 2024, the world's biggest celebration of children and young people in care and who have experienced being in care.
This year's theme is 'I am what I choose to become.'
In a message to staff this morning, our Chief Executive, Donna Manson, said that 'adversity does not define you, it shapes you'; and that while for many care experienced young people we often talk about trauma and challenge, there's also resilience and ambition. "Dream big and think big," she said.
This week we announced a new programme to encourage primary school-age young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those with care experience, to do just that - to dream big!
Working with primary schools, the programme aims to encourage young people to think about the careers and lives ahead of them. Schools will be linking lessons to careers, and providing opportunities for pupils to meet inspiring employers, so they can explore different jobs and understand the skills they'll need for the future.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 There will be an increase of 10.4 per cent in spending on children’s services
Our councillors agreed yesterday a 4.99 per cent increase in our bit of the council tax for this coming financial year.
It comprises 2.99 per cent for general services with an extra two per cent specifically for adult care.
It means an extra £1.56 a week for the average Band D householder.
It allows an increase of 10.4 per cent in spending on children’s services, six per cent on adult services and 4.7 per cent on climate change, environment and transport.
Councillors also agreed an extra £1.5 million to boost regular road drainage since the target budget was set last month to tackle the increase in potholes caused by this winter’s heavy rainfall.
Agreement was also given to bring the homelessness budget back up to £1.45 million to support the work of district councils and homeless organisations for another year.
You can read the full story on our news page.
 New Devon Wallet makes it easier for parents and carers to arrange support
We've launched a new online system to help parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to spend their direct payments and personal budgets on services that meet their children’s care needs.
Through the new online system, called the ‘Devon Wallet’, parents and carers will be able to search for the support their child needs, and arrange and pay for that support using their direct payments or personal budgets.
It’s a move away from the pre-paid card system of paying for services and follows feedback from families asking to have an easy-to-use online system that has everything – the full range of support services available to them, and means by which to arrange and pay for the support using their direct payments or personal budgets – all in one place.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
We are running virtual drop-in sessions from March about the Devon Wallet for parents and carers with existing social care plans, to help explain the new system and to answer questions. To find out more about the Devon Wallet, and about the virtual drop-in sessions and how to join them, please visit our website.
 Digital training for core sectors
More than 440 training places are available through a newly launched digital skills programme. The Core Sector Digital Training programme has been designed to support the key growth sectors of creative industries and clean growth as well as the region’s bedrock sectors of health and adult social care, hospitality and tourism.
The scheme is available to residents in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay who are currently not working or those who are employed but want to upskill or are considering a career change. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay who employ less than 250 employees can also access this training for their employees.
The initiative is led by us and delivered by Cosmic. It is part of the Heart of the South West local growth deal funded Digital Skills Series supported by the Heart of the South West LEP and the UK Government.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
You can apply by completing the online application on the Heart of the South West Skills launchpad website which asks a few simple questions to ensure that you’re eligible.
 Our Customer Service Centre opening hours are changing
From Friday 1 March 2024, our customer service centre will be open from 8:30am until 5pm, Monday to Friday. It will be closed on weekends and bank holidays.
Please visit our website for more information about how to contact us.
Be part of Exeter Pride
This year Exeter Pride will take place on Saturday 11 May.
In order to keep the event free the event organisers rely on volunteers, sponsorship and donations. There is a huge variety of roles involved in organising and running the Pride event so there is something for everyone.
 BBC awards launched
BBC Radio Devon has launched its 2024 Make A Difference Awards which recognise individuals, communities and groups who really do make a difference locally.
There are eight award categories including volunteering, fundraising, and caring, as well as awards which recognise people supporting the environment and animal welfare.
The awards close on Sunday 10 March 2024 at 11pm and you can nominate by selecting a category and completing the online form.
 Police and Crime Commissioner election
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are democratically elected every four years to be the voice of the people and make sure that the local police meet the needs of the communities they serve.
The next election is due to take place on Thursday 2 May 2024. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned PCC elections in 2020 were delayed until May 2021, so it is just three years since the last PCC election was held.
The PCC election for the Devon and Cornwall police area is being coordinated by Plymouth City Council. Please visit their website for more information, including a timetable for the election and guidance for candidates and agents.
 Small grants for village halls
The Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has reopened its funded grant scheme for those managing rural community buildings.
This time, the award threshold is lower to support smaller projects and make it accessible to more groups. Grants of between £2,000 and £5,000, and up to 20 per cent of eligible project costs, are on offer to new applicants who wish to undertake smaller projects such as disability access, toilet upgrades and new kitchens.
For more information, please visit the Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) website.
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