Cllr Connett, who represents the Kenton with Starcross ward, has served on Teignbridge since being elected in 1995, and was previously Council Leader between 2003 and 2011.
As a result of his election as Leader, there are some minor changes to the Council’s Executive. Councillor Connett has appointed Cllr Richard Keeling to lead on corporate resources and Cllr Nina Jeffries will resume her role in charge of business improvement and tourism.
To help build a cross-council response to Covid-19, the new Leader has made a personal invitation to Teign Valley councillor Stephen Purser (Conservative) to join the Executive without portfolio. An accountant by profession, Cllr Purser’s role on the Executive will have a particular focus on supporting an economic recovery in the district.
Seek support if affected by eviction ban extension
The Government has extended the measures that were introduced to prevent tenants being evicted due to the impact of coronavirus.
In addition to the four-week extension on the eviction ban for most tenants (which now runs to 20 September), the government is requiring landlords to issue a minimum of six months’ notice of eviction. Exceptions will be in severe cases of antisocial behaviour and in relation to domestic abuse perpetrators.
For vulnerable households this is good news but it also may impact adversely on some landlords where rent arrears are causing financial hardship.
Landlords and tenants affected by coronavirus and the eviction ban should contact us as soon as possible to discuss the financial help and other support that may be available. Our ability to help will depend on the financial circumstances of individuals affected.
Anyone needing advice and support should contact us at housing@teignbridge.gov.uk
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RNLI patrols end on Sunday
With schools returning, the RNLI patrols of Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth North beaches will end on Sunday 6 September in line with previous years.
As with beaches where there have been no patrols, in a coastal emergency people should call 999 and ask for the coastguard. The RNLI advice for anyone going to a non-lifeguarded beach is to read the safety signage at the entrance, go with a friend or tell someone on the shore where they are going as well as being aware of the conditions and their own capabilities in the water.
People walking on the coast should check the weather forecast and tide times before setting out and carry a means of communication.
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Leisure centres expand classes
We are now entering the second phase of reopening our leisure centres, increasing our opening times to include new gym and swim sessions and expanding the number and range of classes with different sessions running across different centres.
Feedback has been really positive, with people keen to return to their classes and new members joining the centres, post lockdown, to start or resume their quest for fitness.
Bookings for swimming lessons have now opened, and staff have already seen a surge in demand over the phones and online. Please bear with us during this particularly busy time, as our staff are focusing on keeping our customers safe and running the classes and centre, as well as answering customer queries. Don’t forget you can book online or use the new app to book your classes, swim and gym sessions.
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Beware of rogue 'man and van' rubbish removers on Facebook
Facebook users in Teignbridge who use unregistered waste carriers could become accidental criminals, warns the Environment Agency.
Waste carriers, like other licensed trades, are required to register and operate in line with a set of rules that protect the environment and their customers. These rules include disposing of waste in the right place, storing it safely and keeping accurate records of transfer and disposal.
Registered waste carriers in the South West have become concerned about the number of ‘man and van’ adverts and self-promotion on Facebook and other social media platforms offering to take away people’s rubbish.
If these traders don’t have a waste carriers’ licence, there is no guarantee rubbish will go to an authorised site. Instead, it could end up dumped on the side of the road or burned in a field, causing environmental damage. And the person who hired the unregistered trader could face a criminal charge.
All householders have a duty of care to ensure their waste is disposed of legally. Failing to meet the duty of care means that people could be held responsible if their waste is fly-tipped or otherwise illegally disposed of. If this happens and they have not met their duty of care, they could be fined up to £400. Before hiring someone to remove waste, householders should check their credentials online
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Shellfish collecting health warning
Local councillors joined environmental health officers, police and officers from other agencies on a recent inspection of the Rivers Teign and Exe to warn of the health risks of shellfish collection and the importance of sticking to the areas where this is permitted.
The warning follows an increase in the numbers collecting shellfish and concerns that groups of people are harvesting for onward sale into the wider food chain, which could cause serious illness.
Over recent months environmental health officers have been handing out leaflets showing where collections are allowed and warning of the risks of dangerous bacteria and toxins that can be found in shellfish. They’ve also worked with local fishermen and parish councillors in an effort to combat the problem.
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Thousands sign up for garden waste collections
More than 21,500 of you have renewed your garden waste collection subscription. Thank you for continuing to use the garden waste collection service.
Don’t forget to pop your garden waste permit on your bin so that our crews know you have subscribed.
If you have not already renewed, or would like to join the service, it’s not too late to join and have your garden waste collected from your property every fortnight. It can take time to fully process your subscription, so please sign up as soon as you can as collections will not start until your subscription has been fully processed.
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Council committee meetings
Three meetings take place next which can be followed live on our YouTube channel:
Latest government advice to control the virus
To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:
- wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly
- cover face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces
- make space - stay at least a metre away from people not in your household
If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least 10 days.
Click an image below for more information.
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