Devon County Council

A Devon and Somerset Trading Standards officer has been honoured at a national awards ceremony for his work in boosting business by forging closer ties between traders and regulatory bodies.

Former businessman Tim Milsom, owner of Exminster Garage for 27 years, has clinched the Government’s inaugural Better Business for All (BBfA) ‘Individual Ambassador’ Award at a ceremony in London.

The Devon and Somerset BBfA Partnership is an alliance of 19 local authorities across Devon and Somerset plus the Fire and Rescue Service working with the Heart of the South West (HotSW) LEP,...

A third of people who suspect child abuse do nothing to report it, according to the Department for Education.

Many don't report their suspicions because they're worried about being wrong or that they're overreacting, the Government says. But in a new national campaign, being promoted locally by Devon County Council, the message is that you don't have to be absolutely certain about your suspicions before reporting them.

The campaign, 'Together we can tackle child abuse', aims to highlight the fact that everyone has a role to play in protecting children and young people from...

Applications are being welcomed for the latest round of business support funding for local communities.

Community organisations, social enterprise and voluntary sector groups are being invited to apply for Community Impact Support Scheme (CISS) funding. Online expressions of interest can be made until Sunday 6 March at https://new.devon.gov.uk/communities/ciss .

Funding ranging from £10,000 to £50,000 is available through the scheme which is run by Devon County Council in partnership with district councils and with support from key stakeholders, including Dartington School...

Devon County Council will host Stage Six of The Tour of Britain, on Friday 9 September.

The world’s top cycling teams and riders will race from Sidmouth on the East Devon coast to the summit of Haytor on Dartmoor. British Cycling’s premier road cycling event will take in Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Willand, Tiverton, Crediton, Moretonhampstead, Haldon Forest, and Chudleigh before climbing from Bovey Tracey to the only summit finish of The Tour.

At 152.7km long and with 3,101metres of climbs, the route is almost a repeat of the thrilling 2013 stage. That year almost...

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in helping growing numbers of people to live longer in their own homes, says Devon County Council. Many people though are simply unaware of the vast range of technologies available on the market, which could greatly enhance their quality of life. And many care providers - care home owners, personal care providers, day centre providers - may also not be aware how new technologies could be helping their business, as well as the people they support, the Council says. The Council has organised an event in Cullompton on Tuesday 1 March, to...

More than £8 million extra will be spent on services in Devon next year.

County councillors have won an extra £8.4 million in rural support and other grants from Local Government Secretary Greg Clarke.

It made Devon County Council the fourth highest beneficiary in the country after robust lobbying from council leader John Hart and the county’s MPs.

At the authority’s annual budget meeting it was confirmed how the extra money will be allocated.

An extra £5 million will go into strengthening resilience in social care for elderly and vulnerable people as Devon’...

Allowances for county councillors in Devon are to be frozen for the seventh year running.

The Conservative administration froze basic allowances when they took control of County Hall in 2009.

And council leader John Hart and his deputy, John Clatworthy, reverted to the rate that the leader and deputy leader were being paid in 2005.

The council has continued the freeze since then.

And the county council’s Budget meeting today (Thursday) confirmed a further freeze on allowances for 2016/17.

Mr Hart said: “This has been a period of unparalleled...

Devon County Council has been cited as an authority of good practice by the Fostering Network for its positive work with children in its care.

The Fostering Network this week launched a new report highlighting the importance of maintaining relationships between fostered children and their former foster parents.

Their report, Keep Connected: Maintaining Relationships When Moving On, follows national research among children in care and care leavers that showed that nearly a quarter of those surveyed had no contact with their former foster carers; and that nearly 30 per cent...

Devon county councillors are calling on the region’s MPs to rebel against the Government if the local government settlement is again inadequate to provide front line services and support for vulnerable people. County Labour Leader Cllr Richard Westlake said: “The County Council is facing the stark reality of further overall budget cuts totaling £34 million, a devastating amount for any local authority to bear. The final decision on the county council’s budget, along with the level of council tax, is likely to be made on February 18.

“We still have not had all the final budget...

Work on the business case for the development of the North Devon Link Road will accelerate in the coming months, following confirmation of initial funding from the Department for Transport.

Devon County Council has been informed that it will receive £609,000 from the DfT for work being carried out this financial year and into 2016/17, with a further £891,000 being made available to develop the project beyond 2017.

The investment confirms the funding investment the Government announced in its Autumn Statement last year.

The County Council has already started work on...