Teignbridge Council Tax

More good news for residents in Teignbridge, which already has the second lowest level of council tax of any district in Devon, is that the ruling Liberal Democrat and Independent administration have cut back on the proposed 3.9% rise in Council Tax from April to 3.5%. The national Local Government Association says this is likely to be the average rate across the country.
Under the old regime Council Tax bills in Teignbridge more than doubled; increasing by 127% in ten years under the Conservatives according to the Herald Express. Since taking over in 2003 the Liberal Democrats have taken Teignbridge from one of the highest charging councils in Devon to the second lowest. With good financial management, this has been achieved without cuts to the services people rely on.

Teignbridge has frozen all car park and leisure charges from April, and introduced free parking on Sunday afternoons to encourage more people to visit, shop or go for lunch in Teignbridge.

Lowest Rise in Council Tax

Devon County Council's Executive has proposed a new budget for stability and for the local economy, and with it the lowest increase in Council Tax in this Council's history. At a 2.89%, this year's increase by the County Council is the lowest rise in Council Tax since the County Council started operating in April 1998. That increase would see the County Council's share of the Council Tax representing £1,094.67 for Band D properties.
The local economy is a high priority with the County Council targeting an additional £5.75 million for economic regeneration plus, keeping the large capital programme in schools and roads intact.
The Executive Committee will recommend the proposed budget to the Council's Full Council when it meets on the 19th February. The increase is markedly below the government's effective capping limit of 5% and the April increase for state pensions (5.0%) and state benefits (6.3%).
Meanwhile Dorset County Council has announced an increase of 3.5%, Torbay Council (Unitary) is to increase council tax by 3.9%.

Shaldon Botanical Gardens

I'm very pleased to have helped the Friends of Shaldon Botanical Gardens (FSBG) win a 10,000 grant from Investing in Devon.
The volunteer group will use the grant with other funding to transform the gardens to their former glory. I submitted the grant bid to the Investing in Devon committee, and will continue to help where I can.
The Botanical Gardens are a tranquil and unique place. Sadly over the years some of the finer plant species have gone and many of the features are in need of refurbishment. I know the Friends work very hard for the Gardens so I hope this grant will help the Friends restore the Gardens to their original glory, for all to enjoy.
The Homeyards Botanical Gardens are situated on a sloping hillside above Shaldon and enjoy stunning views of Teignmouth and the east Devon and Dorset coastline. The Gardens boast an eclectic mix of delights, such as the castle folly, pond and rill garden, and the Italianate Garden, making the Gardens an interesting place to explore. The Gardens were created by Maria 'Laetitia' Kempe Homeyard in the late 1920's and early 1930's, and were built by Thomas Rider of Southwark. They were constructed on the steeply sloping patchwork of fields above Shaldon . Mrs Homeyard was the widow of William Newcombe Homeyard, the inventor and manufacturer of Liquafruta cough syrup - you can still buy it.
The long established Friends are always looking for keen volunteers to help them in their efforts to raise the profile of the Gardens and help out with voluntary work days. If you think you can help or would like to join them please contact the Green Spaces team who will put you in touch with them. E-mail greenspaces@teignbridge.gov.uk or call the Green Spaces Development Officer on 01626 215885.

Devon is Best - Official

Country Life have published a survey today on which is the best county. As we all know the best county is Devon; I'm glad to say Country Life realise this, and have named Devon as the best county.

In the Landscape, Green, Pubs and Food, categories Devon was first. You can read an abridged version of the article on Country Life's website http://www.countrylife.co.uk/ .Teignbridge District Council's outstanding recycling record was used to illustrate the Green category.

Boost for Cycling But No New Bridge

Whatever the Herald Express front page story says there isn't going to be another bridge over the Teign.
But Cycling in South Devon has received a boost, thanks to Liberal Democrat led Devon County Council's £5 million investment in cycle routes. As part of the investment Haldon Forest cycling trails will be getting an upgrading, and £1.3million will go towards an important commuter and leisure route between Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. This is welcome news, this investment will create a lasting legacy for South Devon. Cycling is an important part of the tourist market. With the drop in the pound more people are deciding to holiday in Britain rather than abroad, these routes will put South Devon at the forefront of attracting more tourists for cycling holidays, which potentially could have a healthy impact on the local economy.

Creating a comprehensive network of cycle routes in Devon can encourage more people to cycle to school or work, which will benefit people's health and the local environment, and it is further proof of Devon's ambition to be even greener.The council hopes the investment will stimulate the local economy by putting the county on the map as a premier destination for cycle tourism.The money from the Investing In Devon fund, generated by the sale of Exeter Airport, will not only add to the extensive network of designated cycleways in Devon but will also build on the County Council's efforts for Devon to become England's greenest county.The funding will be used to develop commuter and recreational routes, many of which will attract visitors for short cycling breaks.

Money you might be missing out on

One of the problems with the Government inventing lots of complicated tax credits and benefits is that people very often don't get what they are entitled to. One example is something called the "children's tax credit" (not to be confused with the 'child tax credit' which is what you can get now). This ran for just two years 2001/02 and 2002/03 and the deadline for claiming for 2002/03 is the end of January 2009. The 'children's tax credit' was introduced in 2001 to make sure that people with children did not lose out when the married couple's tax allowance was abolished in that year. It is too late to claim for 2001/02 but you can still claim for 2002/03.
It was worth about £520 (or double if you had a child born during the year) and was payable once per family. You could qualify if you paid tax during 2002/03 and were responsible for a child under 16. People who paid higher rate tax got less help, and those on the highest incomes got nothing.
If you think you didn't get the money at the time and might be entitled, you need to act quickly. You can download the claim form from here and it needs to go back to your local tax office by 31st January.
Good luck!

Torbay to copy Teignmouth

Torbay Mayor Nick Bye has announced plans to build a copy of Teignmouth’s popular Den play park in Paignton. In his New Year message Mr Bye admitted many people from Torbay visited Teignmouth because of the Den facilities, and consequently spent their money in Teignmouth shops and cafes. He said he had had numerous letters calling for a similar facility in Torbay.

I’m very proud to have played a part in getting the play park on the Den; which has attracted visitors to Teignmouth. I’m not worried by the challenge after all Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I still think people will come from Torquay and further a field; parking is cheaper in Teignmouth, and our traffic wardens are a lot friendlier than Torbay’s!
The Adventure Golf and Den play park represent nearly £1million of investment by Teignbridge Council over the past few years.
The Den won the award in the children's play category in this year's Local Government Network Street Design awards. It is the latest in a line of awards for the Den including a Green Flag award and a highly commended in the ILAM Best Playground 2005 competition.
This places the play park, adventure golf, multi-use games area and open space among the best designed resorts in the country.