Friday 07 November 2025
 Credit: Oliver Keenan
Communities are at the heart of our business case for the future of local government in the county, which has been published today.
We're proposing that Devon County Council and the existing eight district councils are replaced with a single unitary authority serving around 840,000 residents, while retaining the existing authorities of Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.
Councillors will have the opportunity to examine the plans at the Full Council meeting next Friday (14 November) ahead of the document being presented to the County Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 18 November.
We are the first two-tier authority in the country to implement auto-enrolment to pupils whose family income makes them entitled to free school meals.
It’s meant that more than 1,000 pupils in Devon who were entitled to free school meals but not previously receiving them, are now getting free meals at school.
From this week you can book your child onto our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for the Winter break. The offer is four sessions per child.
The Government-funded scheme provides activities and nutritional meals during the holidays to children aged 5 to 16 who receive benefits-related free school meals.
 Tiverton Work Hub
Four new coworking spaces have joined Devon’s successful Work Hub network.
The Good Space in Dawlish, Propeller in Exmouth, Tiverton Work Hub, and UNIT 2 CoWorking in Kingsbridge, are the latest additions to the expanding number of independently run, locally-focused work hubs across the county.
Our successful child pedestrian safety training for primary schoolchildren has received additional funding from Vision Zero South West to continue through to March 2028.
“Walkability” child pedestrian training launched last year, and more than 4,070 pupils from 48 schools in Exeter, North Devon and the surrounding area have so far taken part in the current pilot, which is delivered by Active Devon on behalf of Devon County Council and funded by Vision Zero South West.
 Charly Rhodes, organiser
Parents, carers and young people with special educational needs were at Devon County Council's County Hall, Exeter, this week to express their concerns about the education system.
The group brought with them young people’s shoes that they placed on the steps outside the building. Each pair represented a child who has been failed by the system, and was labelled with a description of its young owner’s personal experience in education or of the education system.
Our Cabinet Member, Councillor Denise Bickley, welcomed and spoke to the parents and carers.
This Sunday, (9 November), marks Remembrance Sunday, which commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
This is followed by the observance of Armistice Day with the Royal British Legion on Tuesday 11 November at 11am, when there will be a two minute silence to mark the end of World War One.
The Chair of Devon County Council, Councillor Caroline Leaver, will be raising the Devon Remembers flag at County Hall on Tuesday to mark Armistice Day.
A community-led arts project exploring freedom, creativity and connection will culminate in a final celebration at Exeter Library on Saturday 8 November 2025 at 11am to tie in with Remembrance Sunday.
Children across Devon dived into reading recently as part of Libraries Unlimited’s ocean-themed Summer Book Quest – but it was The Beacon Primary School in Exmouth that truly made waves.
With the highest completion rate of any school in Devon and Torbay, Beacon pupils helped propel Exmouth Library to the top spot, recording the highest number of finishers of all participating libraries.
This week, we've been celebrating Get the Nation Learning Week – a national campaign that champions the power of learning at every stage of life.
Whether you're looking to boost your skills, change careers, or simply try something new, there’s a wealth of opportunities available right here in Devon.
We published a special edition of this newsletter with guidance, tips and opportunities for learning to get involved with.
Pupils at primary schools across East Devon, West Devon, South Hams and Mid Devon will soon be receiving a visit from Bonster, the food waste eating Monster, as part of Recycle Devon’s Waste Education Programme.
Children will be taught how important it is to use their food waste caddy at home as part of a fun and engaging assembly, delivered by Resource Futures.
Next Wednesday, (12 November), is our Cabinet meeting and included on the agenda are a number of key decisions and notices of motion for councillors to consider.
An update on the Bus Service Improvement Plan is being presented, and members of the Cabinet will consider items including Bus Interchange Scheme in Newton Abbot, a revised Barnstaple Rail Station Bus Integration Enhancements scheme, and the allocation of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding to support bus operators to decarbonise.
The Adult Social Care Transformation plan, proposals to improve support for Foster Carers and the future of the Meldon Viaduct Company will also be considered.
Notices of motion on subjects including the Rights of Rivers, Pavement Vegetation, ADHD and Pavement Parking Enforcement will also be discussed.
NHS Devon is encouraging residents to take control of their health this winter through the NHS App.
Record numbers of patients in Devon are now accessing services through the NHS App, which has become an essential tool for managing healthcare needs conveniently and efficiently.
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