Exeter City Council has announced it will begin paying its staff the ‘living wage’.
64 council staff will see their hourly pay rise to £7.65 per hour from January 1 next year.
The decision is designed to encourage businesses in Exeter to also make the move onto the higher pay standard as the council believes it will boost the local economy. "Research has shown that people living in Exeter are some of the lowest paid in the south west," said Council Leader Pete Edwards. He continued: "Paying people a 'living wage' helps reduce poverty and dependence on benefits. It also...
Recognising the importance of attracting investment to Exeter to create much needed employment, the City Council recently commissioned Three S Films to produce a video encouraging businesses to relocate to the city.
This video was launched to local businesses at a special showing on Wednesday 27 November 2013. The city has a good record in attracting new businesses to the city including the Met Office but in view of the economic climate and ongoing reduction in employment in the public sector there is no room for complacency.
This video has been uploaded on YouTube for the...
Exeter City Council will decide if to freeze its parking charges over the next year at the council executive next week. (26 November)
The City Council is also looking at the possibility of trialling some special offers in selected car parks in the run up to Christmas.
Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "These are difficult times, not only for residents but for shops and businesses and the Council as well.
"Car park revenue is essential for the city, especially when the government is continually reducing the amount of grant that we...
People living in Exeter are being urged to complete their electoral registration forms so that they can vote in next year’s elections. Over 52,000 forms went out to all homes in the city at the beginning of October and need to be returned to the City Council as soon as possible. This is the first step in compiling and updating the 2014 Register of Electors for Exeter. People who fail to complete and return the form won’t be included on the Register and will lose their right to vote. Jeff Chalk, Democratic Services Manager, said: ''The Council is obliged by law to contact each household to...
The writing's on the pavement for irresponsible dog owners!
In a bid to crack down on the menace of dog poo, Exeter City Council has decided to spell it out to those owners who fail to pick up after their pets.
The Council is trialling spraying messages on city pavements where the problem occurs, warning of potential £1,000 fines for those owners who fail to pick up the mess. The stencils show a dog doing its business and carry the message beneath it ' Clean it Up!' , with '£1,000 fine' on the line below.
The spray is chalk based, environmentally friendly, and will...
Exeter City Council has been stepping up patrols in Belmont Park following the unfortunate incident back in August when a dog was attacked and killed in front its elderly owner.
Diana Walton, the owner of a 9-year old Yorkshire terrier Folly need medical attention after a much larger dog bit and shook Folly to death in August this year.
The dog was initially thought to be a banned breed and was seized by Police but has since been confirmed to be a Bull Terrier by Exeter City Council. Recognising that this was an isolated incident, the Council decided not to take immediate...
The past week was Local Democracy Week and Exeter City Council organised several events, including a Question Time from Exeter College.
During the event, I live-tweeted questions and answers. To what end?
Well, local councillor, Catherine Dawson hasdbeen signed off sick and was unable to attend Full Council on Tuesday and the other events during the week - she felt isolated from what was going on. At least she had Twitter.
She followed the Question Timeevent on Twitter as Ilinked my tweets from Exeter College with the hashtag #ExeQT.
