Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from West Devon Borough Council

The Boundary Committee announced on December 7 that it wants to replace Devon’s borough, district and county councils with a single unitary council for Devon.

As part of a long-running local government review, the Committee is recommending to the Secretary of State that a single unitary council is the best option for the county. A six week consultation period now follows and Secretary of State John Denham says that anyone who has a view on the issue should make representations by January 19, 2010. He will then take a decision on whether to implement the Committee’s proposal, implement the original Exeter City Council unitary proposal, with or without modification, or take no action.

Cllr James McInnes, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: “The Boundary Committee and the Government need to face up to the realities of life. Our Council is rising to the challenges of one of the worst recessions on record and helping our residents and businesses get through this terrible period. Yet all they want to do is throw this good work into the melting pot which will result in the quality of services deteriorating at the very time when they are needed most.

“Look no further than Cornwall Council, where the original cost of implementing unitary status has trebled to more than £60 million. The turmoil that is being caused by such a massive reorganisation is unfortunately resulting in poor performance across a number of services. Do we want that in Devon? I say no!

“I’m also horrified at the thought that we will have the worst level of electoral representation in England. These proposals would remove councillors from their residents – it’s suggested just one councillor for 7,500 people. People need to be encouraged to contact their local councillor so they don’t feel so removed from the decisions that are being made on their behalf.

“We will be working hard through the six-week consultation period to convince ministers that the best action they could take is to drop this farce once and for all.”

To make a representation to the Secretary of State email DevonStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk or write to the Unitary Structures Team, Zone 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.

Click here for the Boundary Committee Devon report (http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/south-west/devon/devon-structural-review)

West Devon Borough Council will receive an extra £74,000 in government grants towards funding its services for the next financial year.

Council leaders said whilst they were relieved that the government had kept their funding promise, the grant increase of just 1.7% goes nowhere near to meeting the authority’s unavoidable cost pressures of more than £700,000 for 2010/11.

The money forms just a slice of the Council’s annual income and will have a bearing on council tax levels to be set in February 2010 for the next financial year.

As the recession continues to bite, the demand on Council services has increased dramatically, whilst income from investments has dropped significantly. The Council has still found savings and extra income of more than £400,000 from its current £8.6 million net budget but is left with a shortfall of just under £300,000.

The Council has a package of measures to help small firms through these uncertain times, and is also striving to pay small businesses for goods and services within 10 days of receiving their invoices.

West Devon is one of the most sparsely populated districts in the country with a population of just over 52,000, yet it serves an area equivalent to the size of Greater London. The authority is the smallest staffed district council in the country.

The impact of its small population means that the Council’s capacity to raise income is limited. An extra one per cent increase in council tax only raises an extra £38,000.

West Devon Borough Council’s work to give rural communities better access to the services they need most is recognised in an annual independent assessment of the authority by the Audit Commission released recently.

The council’s innovative approach in helping its residents, particularly those in rural areas, to find and easily use the services they need, has been commended by the Commission. The council holds regular surgeries, called West Devon Connect,  in eight towns and villages in the borough and the service is being replicated by other councils in Devon because it has proved to be such a success.

The council also won praise for providing more affordable housing than any other district authority in Devon.

In a thorough inspection of how the authority serves its residents, the Commission says that, overall, the council is “doing well in the areas local people think are priorities and delivering good and efficient services.”

It adds: “The council has consistently delivered good services at low cost.”

The individual performance of the council is part of a Devon-wide ‘One Place’ assessment of the county’s public sector authorities.

Overall, the borough and district councils, county council, and the police and fire authorities have been awarded two green flags for their exceptional work in helping people tackle climate change, and supporting people affected by domestic violence. The coveted green flags – the Audit Commission’s new way of reporting - are awarded as examples of exceptional performance and innovation.

West Devon’s continued success with recycling – latest figures show residents now recycle 43% of household waste - contributes to the green flag award for climate change. The council also helps those affected by domestic violence by making their homes safer, a factor which has secured another green flag.

Council leader Cllr James McInnes said: “It is important that the council concentrates on what is important for local people. The fact that the Audit Commission inspectors recognise this is a real bonus.”

Areas of other good work by the council in the assessment include:

• Composting borough garden waste collections locally, supporting businesses in the area and saving on fuel emissions.

• Reducing the amount of waste it sends to landfill.

• Working with developers to deliver more than 100 new affordable homes every year. The assessors said: “Even though the credit crunch is making it more difficult to provide new houses that people can afford to buy or rent, the council has done well and delivered 128 affordable houses(2008/09).”

• Preventing 167 cases of homelessness and encouraging small families in large houses to move and free up space for others.

• Working well with businesses to try to protect jobs in the recession, including producing a guide for businesses and residents giving  advice, and providing funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau to support people with money problems.

• Working well with police to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

• Promoting community spirit so that people get on well with each other.

• Awarding grants which give value for money for local projects such as play areas and village halls, and promoting healthy activities for all ages.

Residents' satisfaction with the council is higher than in most other areas according to the report and it has strong local leadership from its councillors and managers. Improving services and saving money by sharing some senior officers and services with South Hams District Council also received praise.

The Commission added that there were some areas to be improved; it said some councils were quicker to settle housing benefit claims. Since the inspection in Spring 2009, the council’s benefits service has merged with South Hams District Council leading to faster settlements.

The council could also do more to promote energy-reducing grants for residents.

Copies of the Audit Commission’s 'One Place' report are available from the receptions of the council’s two offices in Kilworthy Park, Tavistock and St James Street, Okehampton. The report can also be seen at www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace or on www.westdevon.gov.uk

WEST DEVON Walk & Talk Programme for Tavistock, Okehampton and Horrabridge – contact Hannah Colston, Sports Development Officer, on 01822 813628, 07990804756, or email hcolson@westdevon.gov.uk.

TAMAR VALLEY Walk and Talk Programme for locations in the Tamar Valley - contact Dave Readman, Tamar Valley AONB Walks Coordinator, on 07909 965762 or email walkscoordinator@tamarvalley.org.uk

DECEMBER
Saturday December 26 - Boxing Day Walk to the East Dart Falls (Postbridge). Join the traditional boxing day walk to work off the excesses of Christmas. 11am, for 3.5 hrs. Contact B Kocziban 01395 278533 Distance 4.5m/7km.

Sunday December 27 – Sunday January 3 : Wind Down and Warm Up at Castle Drogo. Relax after Christmas with a walk in the Drogo gardens and estate, or make a resolution and add it to the resolution tree. 11am – 4pm. Phone 01647 433306 or email castledrogo@nationaltrust.org.uk.

JANUARY
WEST DEVON CONNECT – Themed events for January. Devon County Council Family and Children's Information Services – at outreach surgeries around the Borough. Contact Claire Wager on 01822 813600 or services@westdevon.gov.uk.

Friday January 1 - New Year Resolution - Get Fit in 2010 (Postbridge). A walk up the East Dart Valley looking at the prehistoric remains, returning over Broad Down. 12 noon, for 3 hrs . Contact D Jenkin 01647 440053 Distance 4-5m/8-9.5km.

Saturday January 9 - Young Artist Scheme Resident Artists at Gallery Exhibitions @ Duchy Square Centre for Creativity, Princetown. Until February 8. Visit www.duchysquare.org/

Saturday January 16 - Wassail at Buckland Abbey. Traditional ceremony to wake the apple trees from their winter slumber. 7pm – 9pm. Phone 01822 853607 or bucklandabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

Sunday January 24 - Villages In Action present Oshima & The Big Sea. 2pm Milton Abbot Village Hall. Phone 01822 618668 or visit www.villagesinaction.co.uk

Visit www.bipwestdevon.biz/newsletters.php or phone 0800 592872 for AgriBIP events and news.

For details of Arts Events visit www.westdevon.gov.uk/artsevents

For a full list of all events and films at The Wharf, Tavistock visit www.tavistockwharf.com or phone 01822 611166.

For films showing at the New Carlton, Okehampton visit www.merlincinemas.co.uk or phone 01837 658586.