Friday 10 May 2024
 Prudent financial management leads to real benefits
Earlier this week councillors agreed a £12 million boost to pothole repairs and pre-emptive road drainage work after hearing that our overall budget for 2023/24 has come in underspent.
We've been working hard to strengthen our financial sustainability and resilience by living within our means, and have managed to make significant savings resulting in an underspend of £5.2 million last financial year.
This, coupled with a better-than-expected settlement with the Government to reduce our deficit on special needs education, has allowed for the new multi-million pound investment to improve the condition of our roads and tackle the large backlog of repairs.
You can read more in the full story on the news page of our website.
 Please tell us what you think!
We'd like to know what you think about our proposal to use some of our former Children’s Centre buildings in a new network of Family Hubs in Devon.
We've listened to families about how they have used Children’s Centres and what they value most, and this has given a clearer idea of how Family Hubs can be most beneficial to families in the future.
Our proposal includes ten main Family Hub centres across the county, at least one in every District council area. These would be bases from which families can access the wider range of support that Family Hubs offer, with meeting rooms, space for groups to use, and for staff to meet and train.
In addition, there would be a wide number of outreach hub spaces in local communities, using buildings such as schools, libraries, community hospitals and community centres, for families to access services closer to home, in trusted spaces they already know.
We would like to hear your views, so invite you to complete our online survey before Wednesday 3 July 2024.
 Councillors agree to halt Exmouth Gateway scheme
Earlier this week, Councillors agreed not to continue with plans to develop the “Exmouth Gateway” scheme which was part of a series of improvements to ease traffic congestion in the town.
The proposal to enhance the area near the railway station had been included in the Destination Exmouth Levelling Up Fund improvements for the town, which also includes an extension to Dinan Way.
However, during two public consultations on the proposals, the majority of people who responded opposed the closure of the subway, which was needed to provide additional space and deliver the active travel benefits to meet the Levelling Up Funding requirements.
We're working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) to understand the financial implications of not progressing the gateway scheme.
You can read more in the full story on the news page of our website.
 Denham Bridge reopens with extra protective measures introduced
Emergency repairs to Denham Bridge, near Bere Alston, have been completed and the bridge reopened earlier this week, two weeks ahead of schedule. Around three metres of the parapet of the Grade II Listed bridge have had to be rebuilt after being damaged on the evening of Thursday 18 April. It’s the second time this year the Grade II Listed bridge has been shut after being damaged by vehicles.
Our bridge engineers met with local residents earlier this week to discuss what’s being done to better protect the bridge from careless driving. These include re-positioning the protective concrete blocks to guide large vehicles to take a wider approach across the bridge and applying for an 8-metre max length restriction in addition to the max width limit of 6’ 6” (2 metres) already in place. Additional measures which were discussed with the local community, such as surveillance cameras, are also being explored.
We're still appealing for information on the vehicle which damaged the structure on Thursday 18 April. Anyone who witnessed the incident and is able to provide details of the vehicle is asked to please contact our Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1004.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 Whooping cough cases continue to rise
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows cases of whooping cough (a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways also known as pertussis) are continuing to rise.
Vaccination is crucial as whooping cough can spread very easily through coughing and sneezing and can sometimes cause serious health problems, especially in young babies.
If you're pregnant, it's important to have the vaccine between 20 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This means that the vaccine's protection is passed on to your unborn baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in their first months of life before they can receive their own vaccines from eight weeks old.
The whooping cough vaccine is given to children as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK. Babies receive three doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks old (the 6-in-1 vaccine), followed by a booster at 3 years 4 months.
You can find out more about whooping cough on the NHS website.
 Ray Alexander (Inland Waterways Association) and Mark Baker (Grand Western Canal Country Park Manager) beside one of the new noticeboards
Boost to Grand Western Canal visitor experience
Visitors to our Grand Western Canal Country Park now have a range of new facilities available to them to help make the most of a trip to this charming waterway in mid Devon.
The Canal Visitor Centre now features two new video display screens, each playing a choice of several short film clips, including some spectacular birds-eye drone footage of the Canal Basin and horse-drawn barge.
Along the towpath, all 10 existing noticeboards are being replaced with tougher and smarter models, with a further two noticeboards added in new locations. Seven of these new noticeboards are already in place, while the remaining five are on order and are due to be installed in the summer.
Within each noticeboard is a newly developed A2-sized information panel, each one packed with fascinating stories and images relating to the Canal’s history, wildlife and management in the area near their location. They will also house maps, posters promoting Canal events, information about recreational activities that can be enjoyed within the Country Park, and health and safety guidance.
Read more in the full story on the news page of our website.
 Councillor James McInnes and Councillor Andrea Davis
Introducing our new leader and deputy
Last month we told you that our long-serving leader, John Hart, is stepping down after 15 years. The ruling Conservative group have chosen James McInnes, the current deputy leader, to replace him, and Cabinet member Andrea Davis to be his deputy. The changes are set to be ratified at the council’s annual meeting on Thursday 23 May. John Hart is being nominated to become chairman of the council at the same meeting.
James McInnes represents Hatherleigh and Chagford and is a retired farmer from West Devon. He is married with a daughter. He was first elected to the county council in 2005 and has been chairman of planning and Cabinet Member for children’s services and education. He currently holds the adult social care and health portfolio. He is a former leader of West Devon Borough Council.
Andrea Davis has represented Combe Martin Rural since 2005. She is currently the Cabinet Member for climate change, environment and transport. She chairs Exmoor National Park and Peninsula Transport and has previously held the Cabinet portfolios for children and education and health and wellbeing. She is married with three sons.
Read the full story on the news page of our website to find out more about their appointments.
 Small steps to improve your mental wellbeing
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week next week, from Monday 13 May. It's a reminder that making time for mental wellbeing and self-care is important.
Embedding small things as part of your routine can help you feel better and more resilient.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple steps that you can take to help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
Here in Devon, you can find plenty of inspiration for making changes that are good for you.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 It's Exeter Pride this weekend!
We will be at Exeter Pride on Saturday 11 May 2024, demonstrating our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The march starts at midday but please meet outside St Sidwell’s Community Centre at 11:30am. The route begins on Sidwell Street (just off Summerland Street), it will head down the High Street and turn off right onto Queen Street, ending just before Northernhay Gardens around 1pm.
If you do not want to join the march, please do still come along and enjoy all that Pride is bringing to Exeter.
Together, let’s celebrate this partnership and work towards a more inclusive Devon where everyone feels valued and accepted. Find out more about how to get involved on the Exeter Pride website.
And finally! To all of you who will be coming to the Devon County Show next week, Thursday 16 May to Saturday 18 May, you are extremely welcome to come and see us on our stand!
We've got a lot to showcase once again, with a variety of different exhibitors on our stand with information, games and activities for all ages.
We'll be in our usual place on Road 8, as well as our enormously popular Farmwise stand on Road 9. For those with young families, our Farmwise stand is always a must-not-miss!
We're also pleased to be supporting the Devon Agri-Tech Alliance at 'Innovation Avenue', Farmwise and their enormously popular stand on Road 9, as well as The Devon Music Education Hub on Avenue K and Trading Standards with the Rural Support and Wellbeing project alongside Devon and Cornwall Police.
You can read more about what's on our stand in the story on our news page.
Fingers crossed now for good weather. See you there!
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