More flexibility for council tax payers
We now offer three different options for your council tax direct debit. We’ve added the 25th of each month to the previously offered 1st and 15th to enable customers to set their direct debit date at the best time to suit their finances.
If you want to set up a direct debit or change your existing payment date, you can do so via our website.
Combined authority a step nearer
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his autumn statement (page 105) that the Government is close to finalising a ground-breaking Devolution Deal that will transfer a range of new powers and funding from Whitehall to Devon and Torbay.
Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young wrote to Leaders of Devon County Council and Torbay Council last week, confirming the Government’s commitment to continuing negotiations, and praising the councils on their ‘constructive leadership on the devolution agenda’.
Mr Hunt reiterated the government’s commitment to devolving powers to county areas, with the Chancellor confirming that it is in advanced discussions to agree a Level 2 non-mayoral deal with Devon and Torbay.
The proposed Deal promises to bring greater local control plus transferring new and existing Government funding to Devon and Torbay to help tackle key local priorities, including the shortage of affordable housing; a need for new training and retraining opportunities; improved coordination of public transport; and the need for more investment to support local business, green jobs, and to increase productivity and pay.
Last year we successfully bid for Levelling Up funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The bid was based on five projects which would benefit communities across the district.
Here are three of them:
Helping businesses to decarbonise
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Nearly £400,000 has been invested through the Green Business Grants supporting businesses and community organisations across the district to reduce their carbon footprint and use less energy.
Projects supported since the Grants were launched include installing solar panels, double glazed windows and LED Lights.
Danceworks Devon have already seen the benefits of installing wifi-controlled infrared heaters in their studio. The heaters have allowed the owners to split their studio into four zones, heating areas as and when needed. The heat is virtually instant rather than waiting for gas fired heaters to take effect. It’s estimated that a considerable saving will be made in comparison to last winter’s heating costs.
The Green Business Grants funding comes from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and we expect more money to be made available for new applicants in Spring / Summer 2024.
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Arts programme begins to take shape
An Exhibiting, Performing and Participating in the Arts Programme will employ an Arts Co-ordinator who will start work in the New Year and meet arts groups and organisations from across the district. In Spring next year a grant fund will be available to local arts organisations to expand their work.
Overseeing this work will be a Board made up of representatives from some of these groups which met this week to hear about the successful bid to DHLUC and decide how it should be used.
Board members were most keen to see these funds go to support young people, hard to reach groups and to better co-ordinate the local arts scene.
The next Board meeting will take place in mid December
Markets and town centre promotion and coordination
From next week, Teignbridge town councils have the chance to get involved in a project designed to boost town centres and markets across the district.
The plan was recently discussed at a stakeholder meeting involving representatives from town councils across the district.
The aim is to increase footfall and visitor numbers, whilst also supporting town centre economies, and councils are being invited to submit projects which would achieve these goals.
Councils should first submit an expression of Interest that will enable towns to bid for funding towards feasibility studies to be carried out in line with the successful UKSPF funding bid.
Once these have been completed, councils will be able to apply for project funding in the next financial year.
Council meetings
The Full Council meets on Tuesday, 28 November, at 10am in the council chamber, Forde House. The meeting can be followed on our webcast service. The agenda and reports for the meeting are on our website.
Planning
The committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 19 December has been brought forward to Thursday, 14 December, starting at 10am in the council chamber, Forde House.
Saturday is the deadline for you to buy tickets in the Teignbridge Lottery for Communities to be entered into the Super Draw for a chance to win a £1,000 eGift Card for John Lewis & Waitrose.
Anyone who buys a ticket in any of the lotteries run by our partner Gatherwell is entered into the super draw and can win the monthly prize in addition to the normal prizes for matching lottery numbers.
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Council vacancies
Accountant, Revenue & Benefits Assistant/officer
Waste & Recycling vacancies
Waste Project Officer
Teignbridge Leisure
Casual opportunities in Newton Abbot for swimming teachers, class instructors and sports coaches
Full details of all vacancies and closing dates for applying are on our jobs portal
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