Police action to tackle inadequate rating

Last October, Devon & Cornwall Police was graded as ‘inadequate’ by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in three areas: how crime is recorded, its ability to answer emergency and non-emergency calls and the management of registered sexual and violent offenders.

Last week HMICFRS published its full report and the Chief Constable has written to Cllr Connett outlining action being taken to address these issues. 

Last week Inspector David Hamond attended Overview and Scrutiny 1 to present the work of the  Community Safety Partnership over the last year.  The written report to O&S starts on page 93 of the papers for that meeting

Publications 

• The latest climate change bulletin is now available.
• The LGA has updated its pre-election guidance for the May elections

Webinars

The LGA's next webinar on Personal safety for councillors is on Tuesday 21 February, 2.00pm - 3.30pm

Budget survey findings support council priorities

Significant support for the council’s priorities of tackling climate change, housing and jobs was the headline finding in its recent budget survey, completed by more than 1000 people.

An analysis of the feedback shows that 67% of respondents supported this year’s plan to increase council tax by 2.99% (the equivalent of £5.54 per year for a Band D property) to help maintain essential services.

But in future, 78% of respondents thought the best way to balance the budget was for the council to generate more income with 35% preferring more budget savings and 23% council tax increases.

Ahead of finalising the budget for the next financial year councillors will see that 74% of respondents agreed that we should work with others to support climate change initiatives; 69% thought we should continue to support housing as a priority; and 78% supported strengthening the economy and boosting jobs through improving town centres.

Improving transport links received strong support (79%) as did attracting new businesses into the District (87%) and investing in schemes that promote better health and wellbeing through leisure and recreational spaces (75%).

The proposal to refund £5.54 as a one-off cost of living payment for all those eligible to pay council tax on their main home attracted 42% support with 37% opposing the idea and 21% neither for or against the proposal.

Views on council performance

Questions were also asked in the survey to gauge people’s views on the way the council was performing and 48 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the way the council was run compared to 21% who were not. 

Waste and recycling and street cleansing services were given a thumbs up with 76% and 46% respectively satisfied compared with 15% and 29% who were not.  Some 80% were satisfied that Teignbridge was a good place to live with a similar percentage believing they were kept informed by the council.

Trust

Asked who they trusted most to make decision about services, almost 60% of respondents backed the council compared with 3% who opted for the government with 33% not trusting either.  Councillors were also substantially trusted more than MPs or Government Ministers to make service decisions.

Applications for Green Business Grants live

The first of five projects to be launched with funding from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Green Business Grants is now live for applications.

In addition to businesses, charities and not for profit organisations can also apply for grants providing the funds can be spent before the end of the financial year.

Members will have received today a news release setting out more details of this important initiative.

Companies can apply for grants ranging from £3,000 – £25,000 to pay for example for improvements such as LED lighting, low energy heating systems, heat pumps, double/triple glazed windows and doors or thermal insulations.

Applications for grant funding  - which will cover 80% of the cost for businesses and 100% for charities and not for profit organisations and be paid in arrears - must be made via our web page teignbridge.gov.uk/greenbusinessgrant.

Through Team Devon we have been asked to highlight the above role which is a 12 month appointment. 

The Commission’s role is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the various local housing markets, related socio-economic profiles and model demographic change to make the case for a step change in social and housing policy and pragmatic solutions to be delivered locally moving into the next decade,

The closing date for applications is 23 February and a job profile gives more details including a job description.  If you know anyone who might be interested, please share these details with them.