New Ipplepen Councillor

Congratulations to new councillor Alistair Dewhirst who won the Ipplepen seat on Teignbridge District Council. The Liberal Democrats gained the seat with a massive 34.5% swing from the Tories following the death of the previous councillor. Turnout was up too, and high for a council by-election: 58.7% compared with 52% in the main elections in 2007.

Council to look at Charging Points

Electric cars are increasing in popularity. They are currently not widely available to everyone and still quite expensive. Most are not suitable for driving long distances or Devon's hilly topography. However the technology behind electric cars is constantly improving.

One of the key issues many people are worried about before purchasing an electric car is where they can charge it. Public electric car charging stations are on the rise and I'm pleased Teignbridge council is actively looking at charging points for the carparks it owns.

Potholes

Amazed to see former Tory MP Patrick Nicholls pictured with a pothole.
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/Potholes-cause-fatality-says-MP/article-2037706-detail/article.html

His Tory colleagues who control Devon County Council are spending £167,000 of taxpayers’ money from a Government grant for road safety work on new conference facilities instead of dealing with potholes.

It’s said the scheme will save money on hiring outside rooms and bring in new business. But further enquiries have confirmed that the room hire ’savings’ are in fact mostly from within the county council.

Cox on the Box

I was interviewed about the Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP) for the BBC's Politics Programme. So I may get five seconds of fame on Sunday. Pleased to say Liberal Youth have taken up the cause, and will be campaigning for the YIP.

Town Council signs up to 10:10

Teignmouth Town Council has signed up to 10:10, the vote was unanimous. Teignbridge District Council and Teignmouth Community College are already signed up. If you are wondering what 10:10 is, you can find out more at www.1010uk.org/. It is very simple, we all cut our carbon by 10% this year. You, me, the council, local businesses, schools...

Residents in Teignbridge have seen the lowest rise in Council Tax over the past seven years compared to other district councils in Devon, new figures reveal.

The highest increase has been in West Devon where residents have seen a near 40% rise in their council tax.

West Devon’s council tax is £192.15 for an average Band D home.

Over the seven years since 2003, council tax for Teignbridge District Council (excluding all other authorities like police, county council) has gone up by 19.1% — the lowest for any of the eight district councils in the county and well below the average rate of increase, reports local councillor Alan Connett.


The seven year increases for each council are:

•Teignbridge 19.1%.
•Mid Devon 25.9%.
•East Devon 26.3%.
•North Devon 26.8%.
•Exeter 27.5%.
•South Hams 28.2%.
•Torridge 31%.
•West Devon 39.6%.
The average increase over the seven years is 28.2% and the average amount payable for a band D property is £151-64. The Council Tax for Teignbridge Council’s services is £150-17 – equivalent to £2-88 a week, added Cllr Connett.
He explained:” Since our first budget in 2004, we have set ourselves the target of low or no increases in council tax in Teignbridge and the fruit of that work is now being seen.


“Council Tax in Teignbridge has fallen below the Devon district average compared to being above average seven years ago. In addition while every other district council in Devon has seen a seven-year increase above 25%, we are well below at 19%”.

Last week (22 Feb) Teignbridge set a lower than predicted council tax of 1.97% — equivalent to a rise of six pence a week.

Youth Inclusion Programmes

I am appalled that Conservative led Devon County Council will be cutting the Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIP) in West Teignmouth on 31 March.

I understand the great pressure upon the council’s finances at this time; however this cut is really stupid and a false economy. Projects like the YIP that improve the life-chances for young people, more than payback their cost in the long run. What is the cost to society of having someone on benefits for most of their life, what is the cost to society of someone in and out of prison? The YIP programme lived up to the promises made at the launch, with a significant drop in crime and anti social behaviour, and young people supported into gainful employment or training.

West Teignmouth is one of the most deprived wards in Devon according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The YIP built on, and gave depth to the outstanding work of PC Colley and his Neighbourhood Police Team, TCA, Teign Housing, and many others, in dealing with West Teignmouth’s problems. It is very sad that the hard work of these people should be undermined in this way.