Business Daily

The National Trust garden at Killerton, near Exeter, has been chosen as one of only ten gardens nationwide to host a prestigious two year trainee programme. As the only garden in the south west taking part in the Historic and Botanic Garden Trainee Programme (HBGTP), Killerton will host a trainee gardener for two years from September 2017. Karl Emeleus, Killerton’s Head Gardener, said: “We have a long history of taking trainees here at Killerton. The garden’s unique setting and unusual style make it a great place to work and learn. The team here believes that passing on skills is a...

The UK’s most vulnerable tenants are being pushed out of the private rental market in the South West, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey.

New figures show that around one-third of respondents believe that access to private rented properties had fallen among people on housing benefits.

Recent caps to housing benefits were cited by 29% cent of respondents across the UK as a key reason why those on lower incomes were being pushed out of the rental market.

Those on lower incomes are set to face further...

Devon County Council is set to record a balanced budget for the 26th year in succession.

County Treasurer Mary Davis said the budget was projected to be in surplus when the financial year ended in four weeks time.

But she warned: “Caution should be taken when looking at this position as there is still time for storm events and winter emergencies to occur.”

Mrs Davis told the Cabinet today that there was likely to be an overspend in adult social care as a result of increased costs in residential and nursing homes and a rise in demand. The number of packages of care...

Adrian Hemmings, partner at Simpkins Edwards LLP, commented: “The Chancellor’s budget marked a significant departure from that of Mr Hammond’s predecessor. The silence from the opposition bench alone spoke volumes. In many ways it marked a new beginning focussed more on taxing individuals rather than making cuts in spending. “Designed to address perceived imbalances, many of the tax increases were aimed at the Tory heartland signalling a shift to the central ground. “Mr Hammond’s determination to ensure that individuals’ employment status should not be driven by tax implications, but...