Devon County Council has welcomed a High Court ruling that the way it calculates the fees it pays to independent sector care homes is fair and reasonable.
The judgement that the decision on fees was “a rational one which was preceded by a fair consultation process” comes after a judicial review into the way that this year’s 6.6% increase in fees was calculated.
The legal challenge was brought by a small number of independent care home owners and made on three separate grounds.
In addition to claiming the model used to calculate fee levels was flawed and unreasonable...
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has led a Parliamentary debate on the proposed introduction of regional pay by the South West Pay Consortium.
The motion reads: That this House believes national pay agreements are an important part of the infrastructure that underpins a national health service; notes the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister ruling out regional pay in the main public services; notes with increasing concern attempts by twenty trusts in the South West of England to opt out of national agreements by reducing staff pay and changing terms and conditions; notes with...
The countdown to Christmas has begun with one of Devon’s leading housebuilders offering youngsters the chance to design the company’s official 2012 Christmas card.
The winning individual will not only see their design printed, but will also receive an iPod, an art kit and £250 vouchers for their school.
Charles Church South West sales director, Nina Hester, says: “ We constantly strive to build relationships with the communities in which our developments are located and work closely with a small number of schools to host site visits and seek their assistance when naming...
Two men have been convicted of stealing birds' eggs and connected offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act following their appearance at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court on Tuesday 6th November.
Marcus Betteridge, aged 52 years from Jubilee Road in Totnes, was fined £1,000 after he pleaded guilty to the disturbance of dartford warblers. Seymour Crang, aged 49 years from Bittaford near Ivybridge, was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of wild birds' eggs. Both men were ordered to pay £200 costs. The convictions follow a two-year operation between the Police...
Brain injury survivors in the city now have access to top-of-the-range IT facilities thanks to the generosity of the Exeter Foundation.
The Foundation, which supports a range of charities in the Exeter area, made a donation towards Headway Devon's day centre in Exeter, enabling the charity to invest in a brand new computer hub for the use of the people with brain injuries who attend the centre. The computer hub, which was opened on Monday by Michael Caines MBE, highly acclaimed chef and Trustee of the Exeter Foundation, consists of three desktop computers, a laptop for those...
President Barack Obama secured a second term in the White House, beating Republican challenger Mitt Romney, after winning the crucial battleground state of Ohio which helped him surpass the 270 mark of required electoral votes, according to projections.
"We're all in this together. That's how we campaigned, and that's who we are. Thank you," Obama wrote in a message on the social networking website Twitter, moments after American news networks projected his re-election.
In his victory speech before supporters in Chicago, Mr Obama said he would talk to Mr Romney about "where...
Exeter City put an end to a disappointing run of results with a 2-0 win over visitors AFC Wimbledon. Veteran Jamie Cureton opened the scoring for City with a composed finish just after the half-hour mark, and John O’Flynn sealed the victory with a low drive 20 minutes from time. AFC Wimbledon rallied in the second half but City’s dominance was reflected in the result. City manager Paul Tisdale made just a single change to the starting XI after the weekend’s FA Cup tie against Bury. Amankwaah took a seat on the bench with Steve Tully slotting in at right-back, while John O’Flynn made his...
Commenting on today’s report from Incomes Data Services on directors’ pay, Gerry Jones, chairman of the Institute of Directors in the South West, said:
“Very high levels of pay at the top of the UK’s largest companies damage the legitimacy of business as a whole.
“Most directors in the private sector earn nothing like FTSE salaries, and yet are often damaged by association. It is therefore welcome that top directors’ basic pay is not rising as fast as in the past.
“However, the level of pay in some cases remains excessive, and incentives are often not properly...
Twenty five young people have joined the County Council at the start of their two year apprenticeships.
The successful apprenticeship programme has been running for many years across all areas of the Council’s work in business administration, customer service, ICT and civil engineering. For the first time this year ten young people have also been recruited to the social care apprenticeships within the council’s own residential homes. The apprentices work towards nationally recognised qualifications and gain excellent ‘on the job’ experience over the two years. They are often...
Topsham Museum's popular annual Christmas Market will be held on Wednesday 14th November at 10 a.m. in Matthews Hall.
Do come with your friends and neighbours to do some early Christmas shopping and have a coffee and a chat. Stocking fillers, Christmas gifts, seasonal produce, jewellery, crafts, books and cakes.
