 In this issue...
- At least 50 new East Devon hosts needed, as Ukraine war enters second year
- East Devon District Council agrees its budget for 2023/24
- Trans-inclusivity motion backed by East Devon councillors
- Plans in works for East Devon's arts and culture scene
- Work towards Axe Valley projects to continue, says EDDC
 News and updates:
At least 50 new East Devon hosts needed, as Ukraine war enters second year
 The Homes for Ukraine team standing outside Blackdown House, where the Ukranian flag is flying
Vulnerable women, children, families and elderly people hoping to escape war-torn Ukraine require your help as part of the UK Government Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Today Friday, 24 February marks the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine and with no end in sight, East Devon needs more than 50 new host families to provide refugees with safe homes.
If you have a spare room, annex, Airbnb, a house or any form of accommodation you are willing to offer to Ukrainian guests seeking sanctuary, you will receive £500 a month in thank you payments.
East Devon District Council agrees its budget for 2023/24
 Front line services will continue to be protected by East Devon District Council (EDDC), while leisure services are set to get a financial boost to help with inflation pressures.
At its full council meeting, on Wednesday 22, February, EDDC councillors agreed a 3.19 per cent Council Tax increase for Band D properties, which is an extra £5 a year.
The amount each household will pay, depends on the Council Tax band and other circumstances – keep an eye out for your council tax bill which should be arriving through the post in the next few weeks and can give more information.
EDDC continues to take just 7p in every pound of the total Council Tax bill with the rest of the money going to Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and town and parish councils.
Trans-inclusivity motion backed by East Devon councillors
 Councillor Jake Bonetta (second to right) proposed the motion which was seconded by Councillor Joe Whibley (far right)
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A move to create a more ‘welcoming, inclusive and respectful’ space for transgender and non-binary people has been backed by EDDC councillors.
The motion focusing on the authority’s services and work as an employer, was overwhelming supported by councillors at the full council meeting held on Wednesday 22 February:
EDDC recognises the challenges trans residents may face, including domestic abuse, hate crimes, homelessness, poor medical access and workplace issues. Housing is a particular concern for trans people, so inclusion is vital for our housing team.
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Plans in works for East Devon's arts and culture scene
 Cllr Paul Arnott with EDDC’s new cultural producer Sarah Elghady and Cllr Nick Hookway.
The paintings in the background are by artist Michael Buckland (Photo: EDDC)
Exciting plans to grow East Devon’s arts and culture scene over the next decade will be led by a newly appointed specialist.
EDDC revealed the news of its new cultural producer Sarah Elghady this week. Sarah has been tasked with making the authority’s dream vision, as part of its 10-year ‘cultural strategy’, a reality.
Work towards Axe Valley projects to continue, says EDDC
 Seaton seafront is one of the Axe Valley project sites that EDDC plans to redevelop
Disappointment over a failed £11million funding bid for the Axe Valley Levelling Up project will not deter EDDC.
The authority has vowed to continue works looking to progress a number of the smaller Axe Valley projects, included as part of the wider plan, that aim to build developments which bring hundreds of new jobs to Seaton and Axminster.
EDDC submitted a bid for a portion of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, to support a £15million programme of projects within the Axe Valley. Out of the 500 bids submitted across the country, only 111 were successful.
🚨 EDDC Phone lines down on 1 March 📞
Maintenance work to our main telephone lines will be taking place on Wednesday 1 March and is expected to start from 10.30am and take approximately two hours.
During this time if you need to get in contact with us, please head to our website:
Honiton Community Fund Day to help you save money
A group of expert organisations will help you save money, fix problems, get answers and maybe even boost your income a little. We hope to see you there!
222-mile swim raises £320 for worthy cause - British Heart Foundation
LED swim schools took part in the 'Swim to the Beat' campaign, helping to raise £320 for the British Heart Foundation.
Swimmers as young as four years old took part in the event, between 6 and 12 February, with hundreds swimming an impressive 222 miles in just a week.
The campaign was created by the Swim Teachers Association to raise funds for BHF to help them fund vital research that can save and improve the lives of people affected by heart and circulatory diseases.
Are you up for an active challenge?
 Do you think you could get to the top of the leader board, getting more active with your co-workers as part of the Let's Walk and More event?
Throughout March, people across Devon are being challenged to see who has the most active work place, with great prizes up for grabs every week.
Find out more by following the link below:
Quiet Times offer inclusive environment at LED Community Leisure
LED hope to make the gym experience more comfortable for members with autism, high levels of social anxiety and those who prefer working out in a quieter environment by offering quiet times at each of its leisure facilities.
Do you know someone in the community who could do with a little recognition?
Community work, caring and environmental work can be a thankless task, so if you know someone who fits the criteria and you want to say thank you to them, maybe consider nominating them for the BBC's Make a Difference Awards.
There are eight categories and nominations must be in by Sunday, 5 March. To find out more
Are you interested in becoming a councillor?
If you're thinking of standing as a candidate in May's elections, sign up to the Electoral Commission's pre-election webinar on 7 March (12pm - 1pm) by emailing sbutler@electoralcommission.org.uk.
For more information about becoming a councillor, head to our website.
Latest news, consultations and newsletters
East Devon District Council hold regular consultations and also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
 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.
28 February
1 March
2 March
 Recycling news
Recycling…Please do what it says on the sack!
Most of these items can be recycled at your local household recycling centre. Small electrical items that fit inside the recycling box can be collected from the kerb-side
We are getting some badly contaminated recycling sacks with some residents choosing to put in items we are unable to recycle from the kerb-side.
Your recycling sacks are for recycling the packaging items that are shown on the sack. Nothing else should go in your sack. Please only use your sack to recycle these items.
Putting other things in your recycling sack can prevent the items we can collect from being recycled.
Please visit our website for further information relating to recycling and disposals and head to the Devon County Council website for queries Recycling Centres.
Thank you for recycling.
The Recycling Team
Have you downloaded our free East Devon App yet?
Join over 50,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection.
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 Thelma Hulbert Gallery
Climate Conversations & Seed Swap
 4 March 2023, Talks 4-5pm, Seed Swap 5-6pm
£5 (£2 pay what you can).
To celebrate Seed Week 2023, we will mark the new growing season by swapping seeds. Bring seeds if you would like to share them. Key speakers will also reflect on our Climate Conversations themes
Guest speakers:
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Léonie Hampton exhibiting artist
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Dr Jane Catford, Reader in Ecology at King's College London
- Catherine Causley - Climate Officer, East Devon District Council
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Lulu Urquhart award-winning garden designer
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Marc Cadotte, professor of biological sciences, University of Toronto-Scarborough.
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 3 March 2023.
Let us know what you thought of this week's edition by emailing us.
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.
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