Keeping town and parish councils up to date

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Information, advice and support for town and parish councils

3 July 2020

Team Devon Recovery Plan provides blueprint for local economy

DCC recovery prospectus

As part of Team Devon - a public and private sector partnership that consists of education, skills and public sector organisations - we have worked with Devon County Council to develop a Devon-wide plan that pledges to re-build the county’s economy to be stronger, more inclusive and sustainable.

The programmes and projects listed in the plan could create up to 30,000 new jobs, 80,000 new training places and secure investment of £550 million, generating £2.8 billion of additional economic output.

Devon's economy is predicted to shrink by around 8% this year, which is roughly 1% more than the rest of the UK, and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to continue until at least 2023.

The immediate priority is to seek investment into local projects that will assist businesses to reopen, adapt and grow, help young people and those at risk of redundancy find or keep a job, and invest in Devon’s hardest-hit communities and sectors.

In a joint statement, our MD Phil Shears and Leader Gordon Hook said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have been talking to community representatives, town and parish councils, residents and businesses to see how we can best support recovery and longer term sustainability and these conversations. Our recovery plan and the Team Devon plan will enable us to deliver these vital lifelines into the heart of local communities, alongside our Team Devon partners.”


Plans in place to contain local COVID outbreak

Devon County Council has published a Local Outbreak Management Plan to contain and reduce cases of coronavirus in Devon

The plan sets out how we will work together to help reduce the risk of outbreaks in the county and to identify outbreaks quickly, providing a rapid response to prevent the virus spreading.  A partnership involving district councils, police, fire authority, NHS and other statutory and voluntary groups across Devon has come together to agree the plan, roles and responsibilities, and what action would need to be taken in the event of a local outbreak.

Teignbridge's role in the local outbreak control is critical in ensuring that businesses and residents across the district know what's happening and what the plans are to keep everyone safe.  Key staff from across the council have been involved in shaping this local plan and looking at the latest data to ensure a timely and co-ordinated response as the situation emerges.

DCC tracing

NALC

Guidance from NALC on parish council meetings

Despite further easing of lockdown both the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) strongly advise local councils to continue to meet remotely, without the need for face to face contact.

Local councils can hold public meetings remotely by video or telephone conferencing technology until May 2021.They must allow the public to observe council meetings without placing restrictions on the number attending, something many council venues will not be able to accommodate in a safe way at this time.

Where a local council does need to hold a physical meeting, as they are unable to conduct council business any other way, they can consider doing so from 4 July. These meetings must be managed within the Government's social distancing and ‘working safely guidance'  which includes requires a risk assessment to determine if it is feasible and safe to hold a physical meeting and actions arising from the assessment to be implemented before face-to-face meetings resume. Councils must keep documentation of this risk assessment and the reasons why the council has taken the decision to return to face-to-face meetings.

NALC will be updating guidance on remote meetings early next week to include information on how to approach ‘hybrid meetings’ (where some people attend in person and others join remotely) effectively and safely.


Village halls and community facilities

The government has issued new guidance on the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities and has issued guidance for the re-opening of Village Halls

PPE and cleaning supplies for village halls

Many domestic products are suitable for cleaning and disinfecting purposes but we have been asked for sources of janitorial supplies and PPE.

Having spoken to a number of suppliers, they report that most PPE products are available, but pressure on supplies will increase as more shops open and parts of the hospitalty sector are unlocked this weekend.  Suppliers are willing to supply village halls but may need an account set up and minimum order value, but these could be resolved through forming a purchasing group with other local organisations.

Devon Communities Together has provided us with a list of Devon based suppliers but please note this list is not an endorsement by us or Devon Communities Together.

  • Green My Business - Exeter
  • Spot-On-Supplies - Willand
  • A+D Supplies - Newton Abbot
  • Safety Supplies Direct - Barnstaple
  • Bunzl - Plymouth
  • PVM Supplies - Exeter Airport

Some supplies may also be found at outlets such as building and catering trades suppliers. There are also some less conventional suppliers such as breweries for sanitisers and a fish and chip shop in Dawlish that makes face masks!


play parks

Play parks to re-open soon

Recent changes in guidance are allowing more spaces to be opened up safely over the coming weeks and months.

We'll be opening play parks in a phased approach
once appropriate controls are in place to ensure they are as safe as possible to use.

New signs are being prepared to provide information in our parks to help reduce the risk of infection.


Discretionary grants

Time running out to apply for a discretionary grant

Friday 17 July is the deadline for local businesses that need financial help to apply for a discretionary grant. In the first allocation, £668,000 was paid out in grants and a second allocation will be paid shortly.

Businesses can apply providing they do not qualify under the range of other COVID-related support schemes.  Those unsuccessful in the second tranche and who meet the criteria will be automatically considered for the third tranche.

New applications can be made via our website before the 17 July deadline


Supporting local retailers

Saturday is “Independents’ Day”, promoting the contribution that independent retailers make to the economy up and down the country. The sector is vital to our community wellbeing, creating jobs and contributing to the recovery of the local economy. You can follow this promotion via social media using #ukindieday.

Independents' day

Reopening High Streets Safely

Our Economic Development team has held two meetings with representatives from
town councils to explore how best to take advantage of the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund.

Most recently representatives from Bovey Tracey, Dawlish, Newton Abbot and
Teignmouth met to discuss the practicalities of accessing the fund and potential
budget requirements. The Economic Development team also organised a meeting with Visit South Devon yesterday to discuss how it might help promote the towns and other opportunities.

We will continue to work together to plan the best way forward. Funding for the government’s initiative comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and stringent procedures have to be met to access the money.  To date many of the suggestions have not met the criteria for accessing the funds and so discussions are continuing.

Teignbridge has been allocated up to £120,000 which needs to be invested and
reclaimed by the council.


Re-thinking local

Re-thinking local

The LGA has produced a paper - Re-thinking local - examining what in a post covid world, ‘local’ means to our communities and what it means for services. It aims to help councils tackle inequalities.


Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP)

Teignbridge together with East Devon, Exeter and Mid Devon Councils will be considering in the coming weeks whether to begin the next round of consultation on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.  It includes draft planning policies and large scale development options across all four council areas.

It will be discussed at Teignbridge's Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 14 July and at the Executive on 21 July.  Both meetings will be held virtually but you can watch them live on our YouTube channel

The GESP, which looks to 2040, will tackle big planning issues affecting the Greater Exeter area. These include climate change, meeting the need for new homes, jobs and infrastructure, transport and wildlife protection.

Teignbridge Local Plan consultation

This closes on 13 July.  Town and Parish Councils should have received from our spatial planning team virtual presentations to assist in their deliberations. If you have not or have any queries about them please email the team.

As of this week, we had received 264 formal responses compared with 144
for the whole of the ‘Issues Consultation’ in 2018; our web pages have been
viewed by more than 2,000 people; over 50,000 had been reached by social
media and our online videos had been watched by more than 3,500 people.

We will continue to engage with town and parish councils via the Planning Cafés (or other virtual means) following this formal stage, so if there are policy areas which you would like to discuss please let the team know after the end of the consultation period.

Business and Planning Bill

A briefing from the LGA is available on the government’s announcement this week on proposed changes to the planning regime.


Government funding package to help councils with income shortfall from coronavirus

The government has announced a new support package to help councils respond to income lost as a result of coronavirus. Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said that councils would receive a further £500 million to respond to spending pressures.  We are awaiting further detail from the government to understand what this will mean for Teignbridge.


Hardship fund

Hardship support still available

Some residents may face increasing financial hardship as we come out of lockdown with future job market uncertainty and many businesses struggling to survive

Our Covid-19 Hardship Fund may be able to help people who, as a result of the pandemic, cannot pay for things like utility or essential mobile phone bills, transport costs or the purchase of white goods or other essential items.

To get support residents must have:

  • Lived in Teignbridge for three months prior to the application
  • Been financially affected by the COVID19 pandemic
  • No access to funding from other sources
  • No savings or have less than £500 disposable income

Full details and application process on our website   Anyone who does not have internet access can call us on 01626 215 512


Antisocial behaviour funding bid

Devon and Cornwall Police has identified 20 sites including Teignmouth and Newton
Abbot where additional funding will be made available to help prevent alcohol related
antisocial behaviour. The Police and Crime Commissioner is setting up a £500,000
fund to help tackle antisocial behaviour and a bid to the OPCC will be submitted
next week in conjunction with the police.


Latest government guidance

Click on the images below for more information about each

keeping distance
every mind
Domestic violence