As part of our commitment to improving our customer satisfaction levels, we would like to understand your experience of using our council's services. 

Please take our Customer Experience Survey and tell us what works well for you and where we need to improve.

The survey closes on Friday 21 July and takes around 5 minutes to complete.

Our Teignbridge 100 initiative received national recognition last week as one of the projects shortlisted in the annual, prestigious Municipal Journal Achievement Awards.

The Teignbridge 100 is a council commitment to deliver “genuinely affordable homes to buy or to rent for local people” and its immediate goal is to deliver 100 council-owned or enabled homes across the district, where possible on brownfield land and at social rent.

The initiative, which also includes maintaining a constant pipeline of 100 homes, also backs up the council’s commitment to making Teignbridge a carbon neutral district by avoiding gas boilers, maximising solar gain, having a fabric first approach to quality insulation and electric car charging as standard.

Last week Council Leader Cllr Martin Wrigley, Head of Community and Improvement, Amanda Pujol and Housing and Enabling and Development Manager Graham Davey represented the council at the Awards presentation in London where Wokingham Borough Council came out on top.

Mr Davey said: “Despite us being at the start of our journey, it’s great that our work has already been recognised by being shortlisted for a prestigious MJ Award in the Best Social Housing Initiative category.

“At the award ceremony in London last Friday Cllr Wrigley quoted the words of the event host, Huw Edwards ‘to be shortlisted makes you all winners’ .

Specialist courses to be run at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre

Teignbridge Leisure is thrilled to announce two fantastic qualification courses available this July: Safety Awards for Teachers and Pool Lifeguard. Whether you want to enhance your career prospects or develop new skills, these courses are perfect for you!

Safety Awards for Teachers: if you're an educator or aspiring to become one, the Safety Awards for Teachers course is a must-attend. This comprehensive one-day course equips you with basic rescue, first aid and resuscitation skills, empowering you to create a safer environment for your students. Upon completion, it will give you the confidence and knowledge to deal with an emergency that may occur during swimming lessons. Take advantage of this opportunity to boost your professional profile and inspire confidence in your teaching abilities.

Pool Lifeguard: do you love the water and are passionate about keeping others safe? Our Pool Lifeguard course is your pathway to a rewarding career in aquatic safety. Dive into the world of lifeguarding as our experienced tutors guide you through crucial techniques, rescue procedures and poolside management. From performing water rescues to ensuring a safe and enjoyable swimming experience, this course equips you with the skills to save lives and maintain a secure environment. Join us this July and become a certified Pool Lifeguard, making a difference in the lives of swimmers in our community.

Both courses will be held at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, providing you with a comfortable and immersive learning experience. Our qualified instructors bring a wealth of expertise to the table, ensuring you receive top-notch training in a supportive environment.

Spaces for these courses are limited, so don't delay! Secure your spot today by visiting our Teignbridge Leisure - Training and Qualification Courses website. Early registration is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Refurbishment underway

The first stage of tennis courts refurbishment as part of our link up with the Lawn Tennis Association has taken place with Bakers Park courts being re-painted.  New electronic access gates will soon be fitted but the courts can be used for free until then.

Work started on Forde Park courts this week and will continue for approximately the next five weeks depending on the weather.

The poster below is being displayed highlighting the investment and future refurbishment changes.

Need help with rising costs

Short-term financial support for people struggling to afford food, energy and water bills and other essentials is available from the Household Support Fund.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, anyone eligible to receive the Government’s £900 Cost of Living payment or who has had a previous Household Support Fund award in the past six months is not eligible for support from the Fund.

For more information and to apply for help visit our website and complete the application form.

Cheap toys warning

Consumers are being urged to ensure that the toys they buy display the UKCA mark, or the European CE equivalent, on the packaging following concerns that the cost-of-living crisis is driving people to buy cheaper but potentially dangerous products.

The warning, from our Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service which covers Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay, follows toy testing by our national partners the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards (CTSI).

Despite UK legislation to protect the public, recent testing on a toy bow-and-arrow set revealed that the product contained 100 times the legal limit of phthalates; while a fashion doll set was 300 times over the legal limit.  Phthalates are plastic-softening chemicals that are used to make plastic more durable.

Read more

One month left for tax credits' customers to renew

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding tax credits' customers that they have one month to renew their claim or risk having their payments stopped.

The annual deadline is 31 July and more than 300,000 customers nationally who received a renewal pack still need to confirm their circumstances for the current tax year to continue receiving payments.

Circumstances that could affect tax credits payments include changes to living arrangements, childcare, working hours or a change in income.

The quickest and easiest way to renew tax credits is digitally via GOV.​UK or via the HMRC app.

Bids invited for £1 million defibrillator fund

The government is inviting organisations to bid for a share of £1 million of funding to buy defibrillators for community spaces like town halls, local parks or post offices.

An estimated 1,000 new defibrillators are to be provided by the fund with applicants needing to demonstrate that they will be placed in areas where they are most needed, such as places with high footfall, vulnerable people or rural areas.

Organisations which already have external defibrillators are also being asked to register them on ‘The Circuit’, the national defibrillator network database.  Registering a defibrillator with ‘The Circuit’ enables emergency services, including first responders, to locate the nearest AEDs when they are treating someone out of hospital for sudden cardiac arrest. AED registration is simple and quick to do.

Organisations interested in bidding for a defibrillator are encouraged to submit an expression of interest.

Industrial disputes will disrupt services

GWR is warning that planned strikes by the RMT on Thursday 20, Saturday 22 and Saturday 29 July will result in a limited service, with services starting later,  finishing earlier and with most of the network having no service.

Trains that are planned to run will be subject to short notice changes and cancellations and GWR is expecting this to have an impact on the days before and after the strike dates, in particular Friday 21 July.

Journey planners and GWR’s dedicated webpage are being updated.

An overtime ban by ASLEF from Mon 3 July to Sat 8 July has also been announced and while GWR does not anticipate this having a major impact on services, customers should check before travelling. As a result, GWR's Night Riviera Sleeper service will not run from Sunday 2 July to Friday 7 July, restarting on Sun 9 July.