Friday 15 March 2024
 [pic Ilfracombe] From the tips of our Northern and Southern coastlines, and boundaries east to west, “this will be one of the most ground-breaking developments in decades for the one million people we represent in Devon and Torbay.”
From the furthest tips on Devon's northern and southern coast lines, to our boundaries east and west, the county of Devon, including Torbay, is set to have a very new relationship with Government.
Decision-making powers, until now made by others at Whitehall, are getting ready to transfer from London to Devon and Torbay.
Important decisions will be made by local people about local issues that mean most to Devon and Torbay residents right across the county, including housing, employment and our economy.
The Leader of Devon County Council, Councillor John Hart, has said,
"I firmly believe this will be one of the most ground-breaking developments in decades for the one million people we represent in Devon and Torbay."
We've been asking key sectors within Devon what they think about the proposal. We'd like your comments too.
Don't delay, the consultation closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 24 March, so please let us know what you think before then.
 Financial risks within adult social care and children and young people's services are still being experienced.
Councillors this week heard that our budget will effectively break even at the end of the financial year.
This year has seen dire warnings about local authorities "going bankrupt", slashing services and imposing double digit council tax increases.
But a new report by our Director of Finance, Angie Sinclair, predicts that our revenue budget of just under £700 million will effectively break even in April with a small overspend of £291,000 currently being forecast.
She says:
"Financial risks within adult social care and children and young people are still being experienced but the work underway across the authority to support these pressures continues to ensure the whole organisation is focused on achieving a break-even position for the end of the year."
You can read the full story on our news page.
 Project aims to bring water-lilies back to Stover Country Park
A major scheme is underway to de-silt Stover Lake and help bring white water-lilies back to the Local Nature Reserve in Newton Abbot.
It's the second phase of environmental and biodiversity work at the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is being funded by National Highways and builds on the success of the giant reedbed filtration system that was installed in 2019 to help improve the water quality of run-off from the nearby A38.
Since then there's been significant improvements in water quality and an increase in bird and invertebrate species, and it is hoped that by de-silting the lake, the lilies, that haven't been seen there since 2007, can be re-established to provide a more diverse habitat for wildlife. The dredged silt material will be reused to establish a mixed woodland adjacent to the lake.
You can read the full story on the news page of our website.
 New guide will give advice on how to make homes more energy efficient
We’ve published a free guide giving homeowners, tradespeople and architects detailed advice about adding energy efficiency measures to the house types most commonly found in Devon.
It's part of our work with Energy Saving Devon to improve the quality and speed of work to improve the energy efficiency of homes – also called ‘retrofitting’.
Almost 25 per cent of Devon’s greenhouse gas emissions come from our homes and around 80 per cent of the housing we will occupy in 2050 has already been built, so it's vital that homes are retrofitted with energy efficient measures to cut energy bills, make homes warmer and reduce carbon emissions.
The Devon Retrofit Guide focuses on how to upgrade four of the most common housing types in Devon and covers things like insulation, renewable energy systems and ventilation.
Read the full story on the news page of our website to find out more.
 Pay and display plans axed
Controversial proposals to introduce pay and display parking in eight Devon towns have been withdrawn.
There has been huge opposition to the plans which would have seen charges being imposed after an initial free parking period in Braunton, Crediton, Dartmouth, Honiton, Okehampton, Salcombe, Sidmouth and Tavistock.
A report considered by our Cabinet earlier this week said there has been significant objection to the principle of new pay and display across all communities and to implement the schemes as advertised would not be listening to the concerns of the communities.
However, within the comments received, there is evidence of parking problems within the communities and if and when communities identify potential solutions, these could be considered at a future date.
Autism and Us workshop
The workshop in our Autism and Us series takes place on Monday 18 March, and its about managing stress and anxiety.
The workshop will explore our understanding of anxiety and how autistic children and young people may experience and express their own anxiety. It will also consider how we can support and reduce their anxiety within the home or family context through a range of approaches and strategies.
 Ramadan Mubarak 
Wishing all our Muslim residents, partners, and colleagues a joyous and blessed Ramadan.
We send our warmest greetings to all Muslims observing the month of Ramadan which began this week and will end on Monday, 8 April 2024, subject to the sighting of the moon.
 Stop! Think Fraud!
Nobody is immune from fraud, but by staying vigilant and always taking a moment to stop, think and check whenever we’re approached, we can help to protect ourselves.
Fraudsters often call or message people pretending to be from their bank, other well-known and trusted companies, or even someone they know. They can be very convincing, particularly if they’ve already managed to get hold of some personal information, for example by looking on social media. Having earned their victim’s trust, they often ask them to hand over confidential information, make a payment or give them access to their phone or computer.
Never take calls or messages like this at face value – always take time to stop, think and check if the caller or sender is who they say they are and don't be rushed in to handing over money, personal details or access to your device.
For more information about protecting yourself from fraud, visit the Government's Stop Think Fraud website.
 National No Smoking Day
It was No Smoking Day earlier this week (Wednesday 13 March) - an opportunity to encourage smokers to quit. It's one of the best things you can do for your health and your wealth, no matter your age and how long you have smoked for, and the benefits begin immediately!
After eight hours your oxygen levels recover and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours all carbon monoxide will have been flushed out, your lungs will clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell improve. The average smoker spends around £47 a week on tobacco, which is around £2,450 a year. That's money you could be saving or spending on something else.
Many people try to quit smoking with willpower alone, but it's much easier to go smoke-free with the right help. In fact, getting expert support from your local stop smoking services means you’re three times as likely to quit for good. Our stop smoking service, Stop For Life Devon, is free for everyone living in Devon, and offers personalised guidance and support over the phone, through video calls and face to face.
Visit the Stop For Life Devon website to find out more.
 Have your say!
Consultations and engagement give local people a voice and an opportunity to influence important decisions, and us an opportunity to listen and learn from local people before we make those decisions. Below are a few of the things we are asking for your views on this month. You can find details of all our consultations and engagements on our Have your Say website.
Family hubs
We're changing the way that young families are supported at Children’s Centres, and are inviting those who use the services, as well as professionals and community groups, to help influence the changes.
Visit our website to complete our anonymous questionnaire with your views.
Exeter bus corridor improvements
We're planning to improve bus reliability and active travel facilities on two of Exeter’s primary bus corridors and would like to hear your views on the proposals to inform how the plans are taken forward.
Public drop-in events are being held so you can find out more about the proposals and speak to members of the project team. There is no need to book, just turn up:
- Tuesday 19 March from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at Exeter Guildhall
- Thursday 21 March from 10:30am to 2:30pm at Exeter Library
To find out more about the proposals and provide your feedback, please visit our website before midday on Friday 29 March.
Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans
The Government requires us to produce Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) to identify improvements needed in a particular area and help us to plan for future investment.
We're consulting on our draft LCWIPs for the Clyst Valley, Cullompton and Tiverton. You can find out more about them and share your views by visiting our website before Sunday 7 April.
Join us at our drop-in events to find out more and speak to the team:
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