An Inspector Calls

The Inspector’s Proposed Modifications to Plan Teignbridge has been published on the Council’s website www.teignbridge.gov.uk/examination A developer made representations to have the land at Shepherds Lane put back in to the plan (TE2 in the original draft policy) but this has been rejected by the Inspector. There is more good news for the rest of the Teign Estuary in the Inspector's proposed modifications to the Local Plan: KS2 - the proposed transport interchange to the north of the A381 adjacent to the A380/A381 roundabout has been rejected. KS7 - development to the north of Passage House Inn have also been rejected These and other proposed modifications to the Plan are open for comment until 7th February and the Inspector hope to finish his report shortly after that date

Staying Warm and Well this Winter

The Staying Warm and Well Service runs until the end of March 2014; it has been created to provide support for people in Devon who are living in a cold home and who may need extra support over the winter or who have a heating emergency. The Service is run by voluntary groups on behalf of Devon County Council to help with: Wellbeing assistance from voluntary organisations, including: ◾food and medicine supplies in bad weather ◾welfare calls and alerts ◾maintaining social contacts and help with transport ◾room thermometers - economic support from Citizens Advice Bureau, including: •an income maximisation check at home •fuel debt advice and help with fuel switching •fuel grants - warm and safe homes support from Devon Care and Repair, including: •emergency help with boiler breakdowns and burst pipes •getting heaters and dehumidifiers •advice on how your home can be more energy efficient •help to apply for insulation, boiler replacement and housing grants •help with loft clearance before insulation is installed •a warm homes pack, which includes a blanket and socks •a room temperature alert for people at risk •installation of smoke alarms, Carbon Monoxide detectors and handrails to help prevent accidents. How do I get help? If you are having difficulty staying warm and well in the winter phone the Staying Warm and Well Service on freephone 0800 046 7700 or complete the online referral form -http://www.teigncvs.org.uk/component/rsform/form/7-in-confidence-referral-form-staying-warm-and-well-in-devon-in-confidence-copy The Staying Warm and Well Service will work with you to develop a winter action plan and arrange the support you need. How can I help others? Be aware of vulnerable family, friends or neighbours who: ◾are living in a cold or damp home, particularly older people who live alone and people who have an existing health condition ◾have a winter warmth emergency such as their boiler breaks down or pipes burst or their home floods ◾are struggling to keep warm because their home is poorly insulated or their fuel costs are high. If you know someone in this situation give them a copy of this factsheet or contact the Staying Warm and Well Service on freephone 0800 046 7700. If you need more information or a different format phone 0845 155 1015, textphone 0845 155 1020

£700k consultant Bill Run up by Tory Police Commissioner

Devon and Cornwall's Conservative police commissioner is still spending vast amounts on consultants. At a time when frontline police have suffered cuts. The Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg has been spent nearly £700,000 on consultants and agency staff. The figure covers the period from November 2012, when Tony Hogg took office, until March 2014. Back in June Tony Hogg claimed that his consultant spending was very much about setting up his office. Not the case, it seems, as the spending has continued and grown. Now even the Police Federation have picked up on the scandal. As ever Mr Hogg has failed to answer the questions himself, and has left it to one of his staff to make his excuses. It's not as if this is the only example of wasteful spending by Mr Hogg. His overall office costs are higher than the Police Authority he replaced, despite the promise by the Home Secretary that the new offices would be a saving on the previous system. Mr Hogg's excuse is that he isn't as bad as some. Don't forget that Mr Hogg demands that we pay his accommodation costs even though he could stay at Police HQ at Middlemoor Exeter for free. http://cllrdavidcox.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/hogging-limelight.html

Teign Estuary Cycle Route - Where's the Money

Almost 200 cyclists staged a pedal protest on Remembrance Sunday; riding between from Broadmeadow to Kingsteiognton, in protest at the delay of the Teign Estuary Cyclepath. Rumours abounded that the project had been shelved, only for Devon County Council to claim it was committed to the project. However Teignmouth County Councillor, Richard Younger-Ross has questioned the Conservatives on the lack of planned funding for the proposed Teign Estuary Cyclepath. At the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee it was reviled that no funds have been allocated for the Scheme for 2014/15. Richard said: ”We were given a presentation on capital projects in Teignbridge showing the proposed spend for this year and next year. Most Schemes showed the projected costs for both years but the Teign Estuary Cycle Route only showed £40,000 for this year and next year was “to be confirmed”. We have been given assurances by the Conservative led Council that they are going to progress the scheme. Those assurances would sit better if we could see some progress and some anticipated expenditure.”

Shepherd’s Lane

The Waddington Park planning applications for Shepherd’s Lane was received at Teignbridge on Monday - they will be on the website next week, the numbers are 13/02613MAJ (the houses) and 13/02612FUL (the turning circle). The planning officers are aiming to determine the applications by November. The housing application is technically in the civil parish of Bishopsteignton. I attended Bishopsteignton Parish Council's meeting on Monday, and at Tuesday's Teignmouth Town Council meeting it was agreed to work together to on these applications. Councillors from both councils along with the county councillors will be meeting in the next few days. There may be a public meeting in the near future.

Housing development off Shepherds Lane

Tim Baker of Waddeton Park Ltd has written to Bishopsteignton Parish Council to inform them that they intend to put forward a Planning Application. Advertisements in the Teignmouth News claiming this could not happen are sadly totally wrong. There are good planning reasons why this planning permission should be refused. The Letter says- Following the public meeting and the responses to the web site and newspaper articles we have been carefully considering our next steps. Teignbridge DC have had further confirmation of their lack of a 5 year land supply by way of the Inspector's comments on the Bradley Bends Bovey Tracey planning appeal. Teignbridge have lodged their Local Plan and the Examination in Public is scheduled to start of 5th September 2013. Amongst the many questions posed by the Inspector for the Examination is whether the Shepherds Lane site should be put back into the plan.National policy is to encourage house building in sustainable locations such as this. We have decided to proceed with a planning application and that will be submitted within the next week or so. In preparing the planning application we have carefully considered the comments we received and in particular those about the impact of the development on the landscape setting and visibility from Bishopsteignton, surface water drainage from the site, access from Shepherds Lane into the proposed development site and the proposals to alter Mill Lane. Our scheme has been amended to address these and other issues.We shall be doing a leaflet drop to the Moorview Drive occupiers and the residents of Bishopsteignton and there will be an advert in the Teignmouth Post and the rest of the Mid Devon Advertiser series. T J Baker FRICS Waddeton Park Ltd

Teignbridge Hands Back Benefits Money

Money that could have been used to help hard-up households pay their rent and council tax has been handed back to the Government by Teignbridge Council. The Conservative-run authority failed to allocate all the £120,005 it was givenand sent back £9,683 which could have gone to families in need, says Lib Dem opposition leader on the council, Alan Connett. This year, Teignbridge has been given even more by the Government to help local families with their housing and council tax through the Discretionary Housing Payment system. A total of £186,222 has been awarded to Teignbridge, says Cllr Connett. He is concerned the council does all it can to help local people with their housing, rather than see money handed back to the Government. Last year, 181 cases were helped by the council with rent top-ups, advance payments and deposits, explained Cllr Connett. "The council really does need to make sure it uses all the money it has been given to help local people who are facing hardship. Average grants are around £25-£30 a week I am told, and the money sent back could have helped locally. It would have meant that money was used and benefitting the economy in Teignbridge." Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, says the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) may be claimed if people get housing benefit or council tax benefit, but are having difficulty paying the rest of the rent themselves. Residents may also be able to get the payments if their housing benefit has been cut because of the 'bedroom tax' or spare room subsidy. The council decides who should be given the payments. When the money for the year runs out, no more payments can be made. Discretionary housing payments (DHP) may be paid weekly, or can be a lump sum. They can also be backdated.A discretionary housing payment (DHP) may be used to pay for: •rent deposits •rent in advance •rent arrears (but not if you were receiving enough housing benefit to pay all of your rent at the time the arrears built up) •a shortfall between housing benefit and rent •reductions in housing benefit, after changes in April 2013 known as the 'bedroom tax' •reductions in local housing allowance resulting from changes from April 2011. Cllr Connett added: "There are rules and conditions about the discretionary housing payments, but my message is that people who think they need help or may qualify, should contact Teignbridge Council and not leave it. Last year money that could have helped local people was sent back to the Government."