Oh dear! How much worse can it get. The Chancellor has got a real problem, a complete lack of growth in the economy and debt not coming down. In only June 2010 he forecast borrowing in 2015/16 to be £20 billion. He now estimates this figure to be £87 billion! Debt was to peak previously during 2014/15 but instead will now peak in 2016/17 and at a much higher level. Austerity has been pushed out by a further two years Growth forecasts for the economy have been reduced again but perhaps the good news is that we should avoid a recession at the next quarter’s release of figures. I bet we do it...
The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has risen slightly over the past month, in line with the usual trend seen at this time of the year.
The claimant count across the county was up by 24 from 9,818 in January to 9,842 in February.
Even though the Devon figures reflect the national trend, the month on month increase of 0.2% has occurred at a slower rate in Devon compared to the UK (2%). The claimant count in Devon stands at 2.2% of the working age population, which remains below the national figure of 3.9%.
Against the backdrop of last week’s announcement that school sport is set to be transformed thanks to a £150m-a-year boost that will improve coaching for the youngest pupils and inspire the Olympic and Paralympic stars of the future, over 1,000 Devon school children aged between 9 and 18 years and over 200 young volunteers are preparing to take part in the Devon Winter School Games at Exeter University on Wednesday 27 March.
The national Sainsbury’s School Games programme is coordinated by a Local Organising Committee in Devon which is chaired by Hugh Bellamy (Principal of South...
Hundreds of thousands of pounds are set to be saved by Devon County Council and Somerset County Council as the authorities work to establish a joint Trading Standards Service.
The move, which was approved by Councillors this week, will see a fully shared service created covering both Devon and Somerset, comprising staff from both authorities and offices in both counties.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “With increasing pressure on budgets we must make sure we work hard to get the best value from...
Exeter-based property developer, Grenadier Estates, has secured planning permission to develop an innovative new scheme of eco cottages at Widemouth Bay in north Cornwall.
Built on the site of a redundant holiday complex in Bude (Atlantic View Bungalows), the £3m development will feature six threebedroom beach holiday cottages. The unique scheme was developed with professional consultation from Bell Cornwell Chartered Town Planners, and designed by awardwinning Cornwall based architects, The Bazeley Partnership.
Mr Iestyn John, Associate at Bell Cornwell, stated: “...
This Friday, 22 March, is the deadline for applications for this year’s Exeter Business Games. Twenty teams from Exeter businesses large and small have already signed-up, but there are some limited spaces remaining for others who wish to enter. The Exeter Business Games are made up of eight events, including Ten-Pin Bowling, a Pub Quiz and River Activities at the Quay, and will take place during May and June 2013. Participants also raise money for the Games’ nominated charity, the Exeter Foundation , and last year donated over £5,400. Exeter Business Games Co-ordinator, Debbi Moore, said...
Saturday's Aviva Premiership encounter between Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers is now a complete sell-out. The final few tickets for the game, which will kick-off at the slightly later time of 5pm, were sold on Wednesday morning. That means a capacity crowd will be turning out to see if Rob Baxter's side can build on their recent wins over London Welsh and Harlequins, whilst at the same time looking to avenge their 30-8 defeat earlier in the season by the Tigers at Welford Road. Commenting, Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE, said: "Games between ourselves and...
Tiverton and Honiton MP Neil Parish has congratulated the owners of Pipers Farm on winning an award at the Countryside Alliance Awards held in Parliament on the 12 March. Also known as the Rural Oscars these awards celebrate and acknowledge those rural businesses which contribute so much to food production, environmental stewardship and protecting our rural heritage. The Greig family of Pipers Farm near Cullompton won the top award and were crowned UK and Ireland Champions by the Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Afterwards they met...
Michele Parker, a Director at Pavey Group, one of the South West’s leading Financial Services and Insurance Firms, has been named runner-up in the prestigious Independent Financial Adviser of the Year Award. The competition is organised by Sesame Bankhall Group, a major provider of support services to more than 4,000 financial advisers in the United Kingdom.
Michele, who joined Pavey Group in 2004 and works across both the Exeter & Torquay offices, specialises in investments, pensions, and Inheritance Tax planning. She has been nominated for the award for demonstrating a...
A special workshop at Axe Estuary Wetlands is giving people the opportunity to help protect and conserve Britain's bee population this Easter.
Making Homes for Bees will see East Devon's Countryside team work with participants to construct bee houses for their gardens. It takes pace on Wednesday 3 April from 10am-1pm at Axe Estuary Wetlands in Seaton.
Ghislaine Silvers from East Devon District Council's Countryside team said: "The most important thing that bees do is pollinate – this is necessary for plants to reproduce. Plants are vital to our lives – for clean air, food,...
