 In this issue...
-
Pay your council tax by direct debit and receive your energy rebate payment quickly
-
Have your say on East Devon’s cultural scene for the next decade and beyond
-
Application to build 1,400 new homes at Cranbrook is submitted to council
-
Exciting new perennial planting schemes revealed for East Devon open spaces
-
Renovations complete to The Old Toll House in Sidmouth
 News and updates:
Pay your council tax by direct debit and receive your energy rebate payment quickly
 East Devon District Council (EDDC) are urging all bill-payers to set up a direct debit to pay their council tax. By paying by direct debit will enable the council to pay the £150 energy rebate payment as quickly as possible.
All eligible households in England that live in properties banded between bands A to D (or if you live in a band E property but receive a disablement reduction) should get the £150 one-off payment from the council from April this year.
To set up a direct debit to pay council tax, please visit: Paying Council Tax - East Devon
To subscribe for news updates on the energy rebate scheme and when you will receive your payment sign up for our special newsletter.
Have your say on East Devon’s cultural scene for next decade and beyond
We want to know what you think about East Devon’s cultural scene – everything from our museums and art galleries to theatres and live music/festivals. Help shape the district’s creative arts for the next decade by taking part in this quick survey.
Deadline: midnight, Sunday 27 March.
Application to build 1,400 new homes at Cranbrook submitted to council
 Up to 1,435 new Cranbrook homes, a second neighbourhood centre and a primary school could be built under freshly proposed plans, submitted to the council this week.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) has now launched a consultation on the plans which form an important part of the planned expansion of Cranbrook.
Details of the application and how to respond can be found on the authority’s website: https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/
The reference for this application is 22/0406/MOUT.
Exciting new perennial planting schemes revealed for East Devon open spaces
|
Exciting plans to transform East Devon’s open spaces into seas of colour, that bloom all year around, have begun.
|
|
Last year East Devon District Council (EDDC) made a move towards becoming more environmentally friendly, planting more perennials which return bigger and better each year in parks and greenspaces.
EDDC has again careful laid out exciting plans for its green spaces in 2022. The planting has been design specifically for each area to try and capture each spaces’ identity, through the use of colours, textures, structures and shapes.
The authority’s StreetScene team spent the first week of March tidying up all its open spaces and preparing them for even more new planting.
Like last year, plans involve reducing the seasonal bedding displays, focusing on more permanent planting designs which help EDDC to take positive steps towards reducing its carbon footprint and using resources more sustainably, while increasing biodiversity.
|
Renovations complete to The Old Toll House in Sidmouth
 East Devon District Council’s principle maintenance contractor, Ian Williams, have recently renovated one of our listed properties, The Old Toll House.
Dating from the early 1800’s, the Toll House, controlled the approach to the town of Sidmouth. The Toll House is located at the start of the Byes riverside walk and is sited adjacent to Waterloo Bridge. The toll gate was removed during the Second World War; this gate was said to have been the front gate to ‘Egypt’. The property will be home to some of our residents.
Successful day of planting at Percy Wakley Wood
 22 people from Cranbrook and Rockbeare joined the Woodland Trust on Friday, 25 February, to plant native trees at Percy Wakley Wood as part of the Big Climate Fightback.
100s of young trees were planted by the volunteers to kick start nature recovery in a wood that has been hard hit by the tree disease ash dieback.
The wood was acquired by the Woodland Trust after the donation of the land by local Percy Wakley. Unfortunately, much of the wood was planted up with ash which have recently suffered from the tree disease ash dieback. While lots of other species of young trees are already starting to grow naturally, the new planting to fill in the gaps, is giving the wood a helping hand.
Come along to YES1: Honiton's FREE energy saving conference
 Electricity and Gas is expensive. Heat rises, and so do energy prices.
You can change this. Reduce energy consumption and help meet climate change commitments.
On Saturday, 2 April 2022 from 10am-2pm, Honiton Town Council is holding the YES 1 Conference at the Beehive in Honiton.
YES 1 is to support the residents of Honiton, to make their homes warmer, more energy efficient, and cost less.
Supported by local employers, Bradfords Building Supplies, and Nu-Heat Underfloor Heating, expert speakers will tell you how. Also, Exeter Community Energy will be there to help and advise you on how to access grants.
Are you concerned about the energy price increases? Check out available energy efficiency grants
 If you are concerned about the energy price increases we are encouraging everyone to get to know their homes Energy Performance Certificate. The EPC gives the energy rating for your home and recommendation to improve the score. Talking to Exeter Energy Company about energy efficiency measures and grants will help improve your energy performance in your home.
What is the Green Homes Grant for?
The grant can offer a range of products for your home. To make sure your home gets what it needs, a free survey will be carried out. The grant can cover what your home needs to improve the efficiency:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Air source heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Underfloor insulation
- Smart heating controls
- High heat retention electric storage heaters
Who is the grant for?
- If you own and live in your property; and
- Have a combined gross household income of less than £30,000 a year OR someone in your home receives a means-tested benefit; and
- Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G. If you don’t have an EPC then E.ON will arrange a free survey.
Don’t miss out, apply today at eonenergy.com/green-homes-grant
Or Call E.ON on 0333 202 4820 (9am to 5pm,Monday to Friday)
More information can be read at the National Energy Action website.
Business update
Don't miss on the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG)
 Last call for business grants in East Devon: Hospitality, accommodation and leisure premises may be able to claim one-off grants of up to £6,000. Be quick! The Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant (OHLG) closes on Friday 18 March 2022.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
Latest news and newsletters
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
East Devon businesses blaze a green trail for carbon reduction thanks to innovation grants
 Council meetings dates
Over the next week the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings will be streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
Wednesday, 16 March
Thursday, 17 March
 Recycling news
Garden recycling
 Please remember to take your great recycling habits into your garden. The packaging used in lots of garden products is made up of valuable resources and can be recycled at the kerb-side with your other household plastics and cardboard.
Please note we are unable to collect rigid plastic items such as plant pots and watering cans at the kerb-side. Please take these to your household recycling centre to be recycled.
Thank you from the Recycling team.
Have you downloaded our free East Devon App yet?
Join over 30,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection.
|
 Thelma Hulbert Gallery
New exhibition in the THG Project Space
 credit Black Sky City © Esmé Lloyd
Esmé Lloyd: Black Sky City (till 14 May) Exhibition by emerging artist Esmé Lloyd presenting a dramatized storyboard of photographs illustrating her song of the same name.
Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
Humans in the Landscape - Drawing Workshop
 11am-1pm, 17, 24 + 31, March. Last few spaces on our new workshops taking place in the THG garden, Offwell Woods and on Exmouth beach.
All materials/refreshments provided and a model will be present.
 Wild East Devon
AV&DCS Family explorer day at Trinity Hill
 AV&DCS Family explorer day at Trinity Hill Join the Axe Vale and District Conservation Society and Wild East Devon’s Education Ranger to explore, spot wildlife and get creative. Children must be accompanied by an adult
Join the Axe Vale and District Conservation Society and Wild East Devon’s Education Ranger to explore, spot wildlife and get creative. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tuesday 12th April, 2-4pm.
£5 per family group.
Booking required through Wild East Devon (visit wildeastdevon.co.uk, email wild@eastdevon.gov.uk or phone 01395 517557).
Currently 10 spaces available.
To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
Warning of loan shark dangers in East Devon
 East Devon District Council is lending its support to a national campaign aimed at tackling loan sharks and raising awareness of where people can seek help.
Loan sharks prey on people at their most vulnerable. Borrowing from a loan shark can seem like an easy option but often it will lead to a vicious cycle of threats, intimidation and spiralling debts.
Here are some of the warning signs to watch out for that a lender is acting illegally:
- Giving you no paperwork or agreement on a loan
- Refusing to give you information about the loan
- Keeping items such as your passport and bank card until the debt is paid
- Taking things from you if you don't pay on time
- Adding more interest or charges so the debt never goes down
- Using intimidation or violence if you don't pay
- Starting off by being your friend but quickly turning nasty
If you have borrowed money from a loan shark, it is important to remember that you have done nothing wrong and there is no shame in seeking help.
HMRC urges caution as fraudsters seek to hijack personal tax accounts
 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is today warning customers not to share sensitive personal information online to avoid their identities being used to commit tax fraud.
Handing over sensitive personal information to criminals like this, even inadvertently, risks individuals involving themselves in tax fraud, and having to pay back the full value of the fraudulent claim.
Customers should therefore only deal with HMRC directly or through their tax advisor in relation to their Self Assessment tax refunds.
Changes for taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence applications from April 2022
 HMRC is introducing a simple tax check that will take place when people renew their licences to drive taxis, drive and operate private hire vehicles, or deal in scrap metal.
This is a small addition to the requirements licensing authorities already put in place. The straightforward online check should only take a few minutes, typically once every 3 years.
The tax check is simply to confirm that the applicant is appropriately registered for tax.
The tax check will be introduced for licensees in England and Wales from April 4 2022.
We want to make sure licensees:
- understand what the tax check code is
- are ready for April 2022 and registered for tax where needed
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday, 18 March 2022.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using the view it as a web page link at the top of the page.
|
