Budget survey findings support council priorities
Significant support for our priorities of tackling climate change, housing and jobs was the headline finding in our recent budget survey, which was 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 us 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 trusted substantially more than MPs or Government Ministers to make service decisions.
Thank you to everyone who took part.
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What's happening in our Green Spaces?
Sign up to our Green Spaces Newsletter to find out what's happening in our outdoor spaces around the district.
The latest issue of our Green Spaces newsletter includes activities organised by the countryside rangers, Ipplepen wellbeing walks, tree planting around the district and lots more.
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Have you had your say?
Our Local Plan consultation is well underway, with four weeks left for people to comment on proposals that will shape future development in the district until 2040.
You can watch this short video which tells you about the Local Plan
An important element of the local plan is that under its proposals, any new development in Teignbridge will need to meet tighter design rules.
The Local Plan sets out the requirements developers must meet to ensure any development is shaped around local people's needs, fits with local community characteristics and reduces the need to drive.
And it gives planners more power to reject development schemes that don't match the high standards set out in the Local Plan. It also sets out the infrastructure needed to support developments such as roads, schools and health centres.
You can find out more on our website
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Help available from Household Support Fund
If you are struggling with cost of living pressures remember the Household Support Fund provides short-term financial support to meet immediate needs.
If you have not received either a £650 cost-of-living payment or a previous Household Support Fund payment and are struggling to afford food and other essentials as well as paying your energy and water bills, you can apply to the fund for support.
Anyone who meets the criteria, which aims to target our limited funds to support those who need our help the most, can apply via our website.
The fund will close on 31 March unless all the funding has been spent before this date.
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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 this financial year.
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 website at teignbridge.gov.uk/greenbusinessgrant.
Companies can apply for grants ranging from £3,000 – £25,000 to pay for improvements such as LED lighting, low energy heating systems, heat pumps, double/triple glazed windows and doors or thermal insulations.
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Make a pancake diary date
Children, teachers and parents from Wolborough Primary School will be flipping pancakes on the Market Square on Tuesday 21 February 10.30-11.30am to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
They will race against each other and the winning child team will compete against a team of staff from the school. The staff team will also compete against a team of parents.
Why not watch the fun event and and afterwards have a coffee and a bite to eat in one of the cafés on the Market Square?
 Council vacancies – Conservation Officer, Landscape Officer, Shaldon Golf Attendant
Leisure vacancies – CSA/Fitness Instructor, Leisure Assistant, Casual leisure roles - Sports Coach Level 1, Sports Coach Level 2
Full details of all vacancies and closing dates for applying are on our jobs portal.
Senior Impact and Partnership Development Manager - Housing Commission Head
An opportunity for a 12 month appointment for a Housing Commission Lead has arisen through the Team Devon partnership.
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.
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Valentine offer – don’t miss out
 Teignbridge Leisure is sharing the love this Valentine’s day with a money saving membership offer!
Buy a Direct Debit membership and you pay nothing until 1 March! There's no joining or upfront fee and no contract commitment.
Be quick though, this offer ends Wednesday 15 February 2023
Direct debit memberships give you access to a range of facilities, including gym, swimming pools, exercise classes and sports courts and there are several membership options to suit different needs.
If you sign up for a Jam Packed Adult, Jam Packed Junior or Aquacize Direct Debit Membership your first payment will be on 1 March 2023.
For the full list of membership packages and their benefits, please visit the Teignbridge Leisure website
Looking after children's mental health
To mark Children's Mental Health Week, run by charity Place2Be, Devon County Council produced a special Connectme news update with lots of useful information on supporting children and young people’s mental health
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Coronation plans
A new Coronation website has been launched with the latest information about what is happening over the weekend of 6–8 May, details about how to get involved and other information about the Coronation.
Funding from £300 to £10,000 is available for events and activities through the National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ programme. Although there is no deadline for applying, it can take up to 12 weeks from the point of application submission to receiving funding if successful. This means applications for the Coronation weekend should be made before the middle of February.
Demonstrating a system-wide commitment to tackling racism
Partners across Devon are working together to co-produce an anti-racism statement – and you are being asked to help shape it.
The project is spearheaded by the Devon-wide Ethnic Equality Network, which was relaunched in July 2022, and developed the concept for the statement as part of Black History Month celebrations in October.
The statement aims to demonstrate the commitment of the One Devon Partnership to tackling racism and actively working towards being an anti-racist system.
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