Friday 10 January 2025
Happy New Year, and welcome to our first weekly news round up of 2025!
The amber Cold-Health Alert for the South West issued by the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency has been extended until 9am on Tuesday 14 January.
Make sure you plan ahead to keep warm and well:
- Don’t get stranded in cold weather. Keep an eye on UK Health Security Agency Weather Health Alerts and Met Office National Severe Weather Warnings so you can take informed action in time.
- Follow Devon Alert for the latest road and traffic updates.
- Make sure you have enough food and medicine.
- Take simple measures to keep your home warm and reduce draughts.
- Look out for others - cold weather can have serious consequences for health especially for older people, young children and those with certain long-term health conditions.
There will be more money to provide care for Devon’s vulnerable adults and children in our target budget for 2025/26.
Our Cabinet has agreed a proposed budget with an overall 5.9 percent increase in spending on local services for Devon.
There will be an 8.2 percent increase in the revenue budget for adult services with a 5.5 percent rise in children’s services and 3.4 percent extra for climate change, environment and transport.
Reductions in other departmental spending give a total overall budget of over £784.1 million.
Our Full Council will debate the budget next month.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Our councillors considered the Government’s White paper at a special Full Council meeting this week. You can watch all of the debate on our website.
Elected Members were asked to support the leader of the Council writing to the Minister to indicate that the Council wishes to be included in an ambitious programme for local government reorganisation to enable deeper devolution.
The Government has requested that all councils develop interim proposals by March 2025 for replacing two-tier council arrangements (like in Devon, where District Councils and County Councils work to deliver different public services) with sustainable unitary authorities (where single unitary councils deliver a full range of public services) that meet the needs and aspirations of the areas they serve.
If Devon is accepted on the ambitious programme, under the Government’s timetable, this would mean that our County Council elections, which are due to take place in May 2025, could be postponed for a year, (if Government agree to the request from Devon), to provide the capacity to develop reorganisation plans for the area as quickly as possible.
Householders who want to make their homes more energy efficient but are unsure of what steps to take next can get free impartial advice from trusted local experts at Energy Saving Devon.
This could include a free home visit from a local energy advisor to help you understand which energy saving measures are best suited to your home, advice on grants you may be eligible for as well as solutions to issues such as damp and mould, condensation or underheating.
The Energy Saving Devon team will be able to advise you on the suitability of your home for measures such as insulation, energy efficient windows, heating and hot water systems and renewable energy systems like solar panels.
Retrofitting these measures can make your home warmer and more comfortable as well as providing healthier living conditions, lower energy costs and lower carbon emissions.
To find out more, or to book your free home visit, contact your local community energy organisation by phone or WhatsApp on 0800 999 1439, or email energysavingdevon@devon.gov.uk
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Our cabinet has approved the delivery of a package of measures to tackle speed-related collisions and careless driver behaviour on a stretch of the A361 between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe this week.
A combination of 'spot' speed and average speed cameras will support safer speeds, and innovative artificial intelligence cameras will help encourage drivers to adopt safer driving practices. This includes reducing drivers being distracted by mobile phones and increasing use of seatbelts.
Three new bidirectional spot speed cameras are being planned, two to help reduce speeds at Knowle and Ilfracombe and the third will help manage speeds on the 50mph, A361 dual carriageway and its approaches into Ashford and Barnstaple. Additionally, two new average speed camera systems will be delivered between Ashford and Chivenor and between Knowle and Mullacott Cross.
Further safety improvements, to be considered at a future Cabinet meeting, are also being planned and will include junction upgrades and pedestrian and cycle crossing improvements including access to bus stops.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
A single bus journey will cost just £1 on all bus services in Devon and Torbay across three ‘Super Saturdays’ this January. This New Year special offer is open to all, with £1 single journeys available on Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 January.
The initiative, delivered through the Devon Bus Partnership in conjunction with bus operators, is designed to encourage more people to use the bus for leisure to explore their local area, visit family and friends and enjoy the stunning coast and countryside across Devon.
The routes included in this offer cover a wide area across Devon and detailed information about the specific routes and timetables can be found on the Travel Devon website (please note that journeys which commence outside of Devon and Torbay, including those in Plymouth, are excluded).
We and Torbay Council have made this offer possible through Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. The initiative is also part of a joint, long-standing commitment between operators and Devon and Torbay transport authorities, to provide reliable and affordable services while working together to enhance the travel experience for passengers and support sustainable travel solutions.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
It’s inviting people to submit evidence, by presenting their views based on their experience, for the committee to consider before reporting back its findings.
It’s welcoming evidence from parents and carers, early years settings, schools, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations, professionals, sector bodies and anyone else with an interest in the system of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The committee intends to publish the evidence it receives online, although it says that given the sensitive nature of its inquiry, the committee will not publish all of the evidence it receives.
 Pressure continues for busy NHS in Devon
People in Devon are being asked to help the county’s busy NHS by continuing to choose the right service for their needs and getting vaccinated against winter viruses.
A rise in cold weather illnesses such as flu, vomiting and diarrhoea bugs mean all of the county’s NHS services, including the main hospitals – in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple – are likely to remain under severe pressure all week.
The region’s ambulance service has also been experiencing significant and sustained demand across its 999 services.
Visit the One Devon website to find out more about what you can do to help.
 Work starting on Dinan Way extension
Work is underway on a congestion-busting scheme to extend Dinan Way in Exmouth.
Around 830 metres will be added to the road, linking its junction with Hulham Road to the A376 Exmouth Road, to improve traffic flow in Exmouth.
New roundabouts will also be installed at the junction between Dinan Way and Hulham Road, and at the junction between the A376 and the Dinan Way extension.
The scheme will also provide the opportunity to close Summer Lane to through traffic, providing a better route for active travel and supporting improved links to the Exe Estuary Trail, which connects to the rail station town centre and seafront.
The new extension to Dinan Way will also feature a two-metre wide shared path along one side for pedestrians and cyclists.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place while the work is undertaken. There will also be overnight closures for resurfacing in the summer. (More information on these overnight closures will be available nearer the time). The work is expected to take around 12 months to complete.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Dozens of drone experts touched down at a recent event to explore how the technology could be used to save money and improve services.
Nearly 70 participants – including representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority and several drone companies met as part of our ‘Future Flight Innovation Zone’ (FFIZ) project with Somerset Council, which is being funded by £233,000 from the Government’s Local Growth Deal Fund.
The project aims to support the development of future flight technologies by providing access to academia, skills and regulatory bodies, as well as test and demo areas to bring new innovative products to market in the South West.
Research commissioned as part of the project on ‘Drones for Social Good’ highlighted potential drone applications for councils, the NHS and other institutions, which could save money, reduce carbon emissions and improve safety.
To find out more visit the South West Future Flight Innovation Zone website.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Stop For Life, Devon’s free Stop Smoking Service is here to help you achieve your smokefree journey in 2025.
The friendly team of expert coaches guide you through a personalised 12-week programme of behaviour change coaching, practical tools and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) support. They’ll make quitting easier and more achievable than ever.
Don’t wait! Take the first step towards a healthier, smokefree future today.
Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health and well-being. Start your smokefree journey today by visiting the Stop for Life Devon website or calling 0800 122 3866.
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