West Teignmouth School Excels

DEVON County Council's primary schools have enjoyed another year of sustained exam performance and continue to beat national results. Figures released today show that in the 2008 SATs tests in English, maths and science for 11-year-olds, the county continued to improve its performance. A number of schools are highlighted for their outstanding Contextual Value Added or CVA score, including the Teign Estuary’s own OLSP - Our Lady and St Patrick's. CVA measures the progress made by pupils from the age of seven to 11 using their test results.

Recently it was my pleasure to congratulate Bishopsteignton School on their very good OFSTED; and I have congratulated Shaldon, Stokeinteignhead for outstanding OFSTED reports, and Inverteign for its achievements.
Across the South West, Devon’s schools are achieving more highly than their neighbours in Plymouth and Torbay and beating the English aggregate of 248. The improvement comes despite Devon sinking to 146th out of 149 local authorities for the amount of money received from the Government to educate the county's children.
It seems that every child in a Devon school is worth £359 less than the national average according to the latest Government funding formula. Yet our schools not only manage to deliver sustained exam performance but they are also heavily involved in developing their wider community role; it stands as testament to the dedication of the heads, teachers, staff, governors and friends groups.

Cash Machine at Post Office

I'm very pleased that the ATM cash machine is now installed at Shaldon post office, I was able to get Devon County Council to contributed a third of the cost. DCC had also agreed to fund a ATM at Bishopsteignton post office; however Post Office Ltd refused to install one.

I hope the ATM will, not only contribute to the viability of the post office, but boost trade in the village.

Devon - Excellent Council

Independent inspectors say that Devon County Council is an "excellent council" and have given the authority a top 4 star rating in its latest judgement on performance. Inspectors also say that the council is "improving well".
The 4 star rating - the top mark possible - has been awarded by the Audit Commission as part of its regular Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection looking at the full range of council services and overall value for money.
Praise has flooded in for the County Council since it was announced that it had been awarded four stars by the Audit Commission .
Devon Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jo Tennant has congratulated on Council on it's partnership working: "We work closely in partnership with Devon County Council and would wish to congratulate our colleagues in the Local Authority on this assessment which recognises the extremely high standards consistently achieved by them in serving the communities across Devon".
Teachers' union NASUWT congratulated Devon County Council on achieving a four star rating for their work with young people and school staff: Nigel Williams said "We share with the local authority their concerns about the low levels of funding pupils receive in comparison with other parts of the country. The positive achievements of our young people in spite of the need for better funding is testament to the hard work of the many adults who work in schools throughout the county and the positive support Devon offers to its schools."
Professor Ian Mercer CBE who chaired this year's Napoli Inquiry was equally congratulatory: "That Devon County Council is to be congratulated on achieving a four star rating in the Audit Commission's assessments, and is now an 'excellent council' in its terms, goes without having to be said, except that it does need saying by a Devon resident. On behalf of all those of us who live, breathe and work under the Council's protective and supportive wing, Devon is a splendid place to live in, not least because of the way it is governed".
Praise has also been received by Devon Conservation Forum, the Bishop of Exeter, and the Federation of Small Business.

Campaign Against Hospital Parking Charges

I have discovered that Devon Primary Care Trust (Devon PCT) plans to introduce Car parking charges at Teignmouth Hospital, I have written to the Chief Executive of Devon PCT, Dr Kevin Snee, calling on the plans to be scrapped. Teignmouth Mayor Fred Tooley and Alderman Mary Strudwick, Vice Chairman of the League of Friends, are backing me. Many people will be financially penalised when attending their local hospital. In addition many people attending Teignmouth Hospital will be tempted to leave their cars in surrounding roads – being in conflict with school traffic, and causing additional congestion and nuisance for people who live in Mill Lane and near the hospital. The PCT plans to introduce car parking charges at all community hospitals, claiming that the scheme is green: “The plan is promoting environmentally friendly ways of travelling to and from the hospitals.…and will aim to encourage better use of alternative methods of transport” (PCT website) I rejected the PCT's claims, this is not a green initiative, I believe the charges are purely designed to raise income for Devon PCT. many parts of rural South Devon have no, or very limited, bus services. Teignmouth Hospital is situated up a very steep hill so the car is vital to most people."I hope the PCT reconsider, this is really a sad move, the local community through the League of Friend of Teignmouth Hospital, raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the hospital. Now the PCT face the prospect of alienating those communities for the sake of a few hundred pounds they will raise with parking fees."

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.