Message from Council Leader Alan Connett
"This week we have taken some important steps forward that will help us to deliver our priority commitments for the district.
This includes signing off our annual budget, which sets out how we intend to support local businesses and communities to bounce back from the pandemic.
During the budget setting process we asked you for your views on our initial proposals, and also asked others, including town and parish councils and businesses, to ensure the priorities we have identified were the right ones. This feedback formed part of the final recommendation, which was agreed by councillors on Tuesday.
The priorities include housing - a place to call home, ensuring future prosperity through quality jobs and a thriving economy, and tackling climate change across the District.
We're already delivering for Teignbridge - improving life for communities by transforming play areas - Decoy Park in Newton Abbot and The Den at Teignmouth being the latest - and developing and securing significant wildlife reserves that will increase biodiversity for the district at Dawlish and Exminster; progressing plans for vital business and working to attract inward investment from major hotel chains and businesses.
We secured major funding from the government to dramatically cut the carbon footprint of the Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, the Broadmeadow Sports centre and the Lido outdoor pool in Teignmouth, along with the Council offices at Forde House.
And our first council houses at Drake Road will soon be joined by another development at East Street in Newton Abbot, where we are currently finishing off work before we welcome our new tenants. These are part of our commitment to providing 100 affordable homes for local people across the district, including developing a brownfield site at Bradley Lane in Newton Abbot.
Councillors also signed off the budget for our 'heart of Teignbridge' regeneration project for Newton Abbot and the surrounding area. This project, supported by £9.2m Future High Streets Fund money from government, aims to deliver a vibrant and successful market town of the future. The plan is for a market and cultural quarter attracting a wide variety of shoppers and visitors from across Teignbridge and beyond, providing a rich mix of social, cultural and other activities throughout the year, boosting both the daytime and evening economy.
We can all see how Covid and the impact of online shopping, the cost of living crisis and the decline in the hospitality industry have affected local towns and communities, and we need to be a positive, forward-looking council to ensure our economy and our population can thrive and prosper into the future.
We have also taken the important decision to keep the council tax rise to a minimum next year (average £5 rise per band D property) and will be safeguarding community and voluntary sector funding which is so vital to supporting local communities, for the next two years.
Our heritage is important to us all, but the way we shop, the way we live and the way we socialise is all changing and we must be at the forefront of this change to secure a future for our residents and businesses."
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Living with Covid
The Prime Minister announced on Monday his plan for 'Living With Covid'. Remaining domestic restrictions will be removed, using vaccinations as the main form of prevention of the most harmful effects of Covid. The legal requirement to self-isolate if we test positive or have symptoms ended yesterday (24 Feb), although until April 1, advice remains for people who test positive to stay home.
Guidance will replace legislation and there will be an increased emphasis from Public Health on people being careful and considerate of others. Everyone is encouraged to:
- Get vaccinated
- Let fresh air in if meeting indoors
- Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where coming into contact with people you do not usually meet
- Try to stay at home if unwell
- Take a test if displaying Covid symptoms
- Stay at home and avoid contact with other people if testing positive
- Wash hands
Self-isolation payments and routine contact tracing has ended, as has close contacts of positive cases having to self-isolate. The use of the NHS Covid app as a pass to get into venues ends on 1 April and free test kits for all will also end with the Government indicating that they may be available for vulnerable people or certain professions.
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Devon's Director of Public Health, Steve Brown, responded to the prime Minister's announcement, stressing the need for people to continue to look out for each other and do all they can to reduce risk, especially to the vulnerable.
“That means being respectful of other people’s concerns and personal situations," he said. "The public health advice is that anyone who tests positive for coronavirus, or who shows symptoms of having it, including a high temperature or cough, should stay at home and avoid contact with others. The same can be said for any other infectious illness, such as flu, or vomiting and diarrhoea. We need to get to a place whereby it’s commonly accepted that when someone’s not well and there’s risk of spreading that virus, they stay home to reduce the transmission to others."
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Council news
Next year’s budget was agreed by Councillors this week, which is set to prioritise climate change projects, support for affordable housing, and backing businesses.
The budget secures funding and resources to deliver key investments such as the Newton Abbot regeneration, as well as supporting infrastructure, climate change projects and enhanced planning enforcement. It will also enable £1m of pension deficit to be paid off, reducing ongoing contributions.
An increase in Council Tax by an average £5 for a band D property was agreed. This represents a 2.78% rise – half the rate of inflation, with the Teignbridge share of the council tax at just over eight and a half percent. This remains lower than the average across Devon.
Councillors voted to pause recommendations to remove voluntary sector funding as part of the budget, to help the sector support local communities hardest hit by the pandemic and cost of living crisis, and they also agreed to retain supportive rent subsidies for local charities.
An increase in the Councillors’ Community Fund to be spent on local projects determined by individual councillors, and a two year pot of £40k for town and parish councils as part of the ‘Tidy Teignbridge’ initiative were also agreed.
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Plans to regenerate Newton Abbot’s market and cultural quarters, protecting and boosting jobs and economic prosperity were approved by Teignbridge Councillors this week.
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The transformational £9m Future High Street plans will see the landmark Grade II listed Market Hall and Alexandra Cinema building being opened up to provide a modern marketplace and a new flexible multi use space for eating, shopping and culture. A new 4-screen cinema will be built, pedestrian improvements made to Queen Street and further cycle routes will enhance sustainable travel into the town centre and around the area.
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Dog control order continues
Councillors agreed to renew the public space protection order (PSPO) which seeks to reduce nuisances caused by dogs not under proper control. From 1 April dogs being walked next to a road or a cycle path must be kept on fixed leads no longer than a metre. Dog owners can be fined for breaching the PSPO rules, which also require them to carry sufficient poo bags and to clear up after their dogs in public places. They must also keep them out of dog exclusion areas (eg. children’s play parks) and certain beaches between 1 April and 30 September. Any breaches of the PSPO can be reported through our website.
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Cycling byelaw to be repealed
Councillors agreed to replace an outdated byelaw which currently prevents all cycling in Newton Abbot parks. The aim is to enable cycling on dedicated, signposted routes and to encourage more people to cycle. As part of replacing the 1951 byelaw, a public consultation will take place before any changes take effect.
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Free online sessions to help parents support their teenagers
A series of webinars aim to help parents and carers understand and support their teenagers to navigate the challenges they might face as they grow up in today’s world.
‘Let’s Talk Teenagers’ is a three-part webinar starting with communities and family life (March 8) and followed by respectful relationships (March 15) and building stronger families (March 22), all at 7pm.
The ‘Let’s Talk Teenagers’ project is part funded by the Safer Devon Partnership in partnership with the South Devon Community Safety Partnership, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council, and is open to parents and carers from across Devon.
The 90 minutes sessions will be delivered on Teams, and a free booklet will accompany the webinar, which will be sent out to delegates after the event. Find out more or sign up for the webinar.
A new look newsletter from next week
We started producing a weekly residents’ update over two years ago as a way of keeping you up to date with Covid-19.
It has evolved to also include news about the council and other activity which impacts on our residents and local communities, and we’ve received positive feedback from some of you about how useful you have found these newsletters.
So as we move to ‘living with Covid’, we’ll be giving it a new look so we can continue to keep you up to date with what’s happening across the district.
If you no longer want to receive it please go to the unsubscribe link at the foot of the newsletter.
Campaign to reduce the number of empty homes
With over 230,000 homes lying empty across the UK, Empty Homes Week (28 Feb to 6 March) is aimed at raising awareness of their impact and the action that can be taken.
Last year we reported our lowest ever number of empty homes and we continue to work with owners and landlords to get properties back in use as quickly as possible. Anyone concerned about an empty property in Teignbridge can report it by email.
We are among many councils which implement higher council tax rates for homes which have been empty for two years or more and this premium passes on with a property sale.
Homes are left empty for many reasons and the issues can sometimes be complex, costly and timely to resolve. Common problems include lack of cash to cover repairs required prior to reoccupation or for energy improvements needed to comply with rental standards.
This is where we may be able to assist. Working in partnership with Lendology CIC, a social enterprise lender providing finance packages to homeowners and landlords, the council has invested funds to be lent via this unique loan scheme.
Lendology recognises that many people will need to complete work before being able to make monthly repayments on their empty properties. Their deferred loan option gives owners the space to rent, sell or move into the property before monthly repayments commence.
For more information, visit Lendology's website, call Lendology on 01823 461099 or email them.
Clearing the planning logjam
Monday is the start of a five day focus by our development management team to concentrate on clearing the backlog which has built up due to increasing numbers of planning applications and a high demand for advice.
From Monday 28 February to Friday 4 March, the team is implementing a ‘planning clearance week’. During this period they will not respond to new applications or requests for advice but will concentrate on applications and queries received in recent weeks and which have not been dealt with.
The team will continue to action urgent matters relating to unauthorised work to protect trees or listed buildings but they will not be checking and responding to calls or emails.
Residents will still be able to use our online 24/7 services including on how to self-help and obtain the information; view details or comment upon a planning application; and get information on permitted development enquiries via the Planning Portal website.
The team expects to respond to calls and correspondence received next week from Monday 7 March but it may take a few days to catch up.
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Constituencies under review
The Boundary Commission for England is holding an independent review of all constituency boundaries in England, and invites you to have your say on its proposals.
Go to the Boundary Commission website to view the proposed new constituencies and share your views before the secondary consultation closes on 4 April. You can also speak at a public hearing in your region - find your nearest hearing and book your attendance.
The 2023 Boundary Review will rebalance the number of electors in each constituency, and the number of constituencies in England will increase to 543. Follow @BCEReviews to keep updated
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