Devon County Council

Flexible working spaces to be extended

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/14/2015 - 12:37pm

Business are set to benefit from Council plans to increase the availability of flexible working spaces across the county.

With an estimated 20 per cent of Devon's workers working from home, the Council says more flexible working hubs are needed.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, the Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for economic growth, says the county relies a great deal on its small, sometimes home-based businesses, and support to the industry makes Devon a more vibrant, prosperous and attractive place to other business looking to relocate.

In response, the Council...

Devon to continue campaign to tackle pavement parking

Devon County Council says it will continue to pursue efforts for its parking enforcement officers to be granted more powers to deal with obstructive parking.

It comes after the House of Commons withdrew a motion for a bill to end Pavement Parking.

At today's (Thursday 10 December) Full Council meeting, Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, expressed disappointment on behalf of the County Council at the decision.

Councillor Hughes said: “It’s extremely disappointing that this opportunity has been missed. North Dorset MP...

Smart Transport project to reduce traffic congestion in Exeter unveiled

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 12/09/2015 - 11:42am

Cutting edge research and technology will be used to trial new ways to tackle Exeter's traffic problems and alleviate congestion as the City grows over the next nine years.

Exeter is expected to grow by 12,000 new homes and 60 hectares of new business land by 2026, putting more pressure on the City’s already congested road network.

To deal with the problem, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council have joined forces with a business and academic group led by global IT services provider NTT DATA to unveil the pioneering Engaged Smart Transport project.

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Devon Delivers ambassadors celebrate anniversary

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 11/20/2015 - 12:04pm

The first anniversary of the Devon Delivers Ambassadors’ programme has been celebrated by Devon’s business community. A special event was held at Exeter Cathedral to mark a successful first year for the programme, which is part of Devon County Council’s inward investment campaign, while also celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week. Over 30 local businesses have signed up as Ambassadors in the programme’s first year, including Axminster Tools, Aero Stanrew, blur Group, Cosmic, Eagle One, Exeter Airport, Exeter Cathedral, Met Office, Simpleware, and the University of Exeter. More than 70...

£1.2m for rural economy in Mid and East Devon

The rural economy in Mid and East Devon will be bolstered with £1.2 million of funding support, Devon County Council has announced.

The County Council is overseeing the EU funded LEADER grants programme, which aims to create jobs and help to develop rural businesses. It is working with key partners, including Mid and East Devon District Councils, to ensure applicants receive the necessary support to access the funding.

Devon County Council is the accountable body for two of the five Local Action Groups across Devon – Making it Local and REAL Devon.

The REAL Devon...

Help shape local public services

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 11/14/2015 - 11:29am

Devon County Council has launched two public surveys asking residents what they feel about services that the council provides, and where they think the Council's priorities should be next year.

The responses will help the council make decisions about the way services are provided in future.

Over the past five years the County Council has had to save £174 million, giving a total current net budget of £500 million to spend on important public services such as adult social care and road maintenance in Devon.

New Government spending targets means that a further £110...

£13.45m scheme to widen Bridge Road approved

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 11/12/2015 - 8:39am

Designs for a £13.45 million scheme to widen and improve one of Exeter’s busiest commuter routes have been approved by Devon County Council.

The County Council’s Cabinet backed the scheme to widen Bridge Road to two continuous outbound lanes between Countess Wear roundabout and Matford roundabout.

Bridge Road is a vital connecting route to the city centre, Sowton and Marsh Barton industrial estates, as well as linking to the Exe Estuary Trail. The route currently has the only single lane of the outer ring road between Middlemoor and the approach to Chudleigh Road near the...

New chapter for Devon's libraries

Devon’s libraries are to be run by a new organisation owned by staff and the community.

Council chiefs today agreed that Libraries Unlimited, the new ‘public service mutual’ set up by the Council, will take over the library service in April 2016.

The move is set to secure the future of all 50 of the County’s libraries and save the authority a further £1.5 million in addition to the £3 million it has already saved from its library service budget over the past three years.

The County Council will remain responsible for the library service, but will commission the...

MPS urged to back bill against pavement parking

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Tue, 11/10/2015 - 6:28pm

Devon County Council is urging the Transport Secretary and Devon MPs to back a bill to help end the blight of parking on pavements.

The Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill is scheduled for its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 4 December.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, has written to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP, and Devon’s local MPs, appealing for them to support the bill.

Councillor Hughes said: “This issue needs dealing with because bad practices adopted...

Cabinet consider new organisation to run Devon’s libraries

The creation of a new independent organisation to run Devon’s libraries could be given the green light next week.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet will consider final plans to establish a new ‘public service mutual’, which will run the library service from 1 April 2016.

The County Council will remain responsible for the library service, but will commission the delivery of the service from the new organisation, which will be owned by library staff and the community and managed by a Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.

The new organisation’s name will be Libraries...

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