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Exeter announces its bid to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2029

Exeter City Council has today announced it will be submitting an expression of interest (EOI) for the prestigious UK City of Culture title. 

The City of Culture bid follows the culmination of five months extensive engagement and consultation with artists, creatives, cultural organisations and residents to shape the council’s commissioned new five-year Cultural Strategy for Exeter.

This will set out a clear ambition to become a leading city of culture. The new Exeter Culture Strategy is ambitious and will be delivered in partnership with the city’s cultural organisations...

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Rogue Devon plumber jailed

A 54-year-old North Devon plumbing and heating engineer has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of fraud and consumer protection charges. Gary Henry, of Anstey Way, Instow, stood trail at Exeter Crown Court on three charges of Fraud and three charges of contravening Professional Diligence under Consumer Protection legislation. Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Team launched an investigation into Mr Henry, who had been a plumber for 30 years alongside his job as a professional firefighter, following a number of complaints about his work. The court heard how,...

Cost of rural crime falls in South West

Rural crime cost Devon & Cornwall £750,000 in 2014, down from £1.1 million in 2013.

Despite the fall, 2014 saw thieves continue to target expensive all terrain vehicles (ATVs) as well as tools.

The figures are part of a UK-wide survey by NFU Mutual.

The leading rural insurer’s annual Rural Crime Survey shows the nationwide cost of rural crime totalled an estimated £37.8 million in 2014 – a 15% reduction on last year’s figures.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across Devon & Cornwall over the last 12 months were ATVs such as quad-bikes,...

Funding bid expected for sections of Teign Estuary Trail

Sections of the Teign Estuary Trail are expected to be included in a funding bid for cycling improvements across Devon which the County Council is planning to submit later this year.

Devon County Council is hoping to put the bid to the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which, if prioritised, would then be submitted as part of a wider bid to Government for Growth Deal funding.

The Dawlish to Teignmouth and Kingsteignton to Passage House sections are likely to be included in Devon’s bid. Although timescales are yet to be confirmed, a decision on the...

Make arboriculture your future

Do you or anyone you know fancy an exciting career working outdoors? The Arb Academy offers just that! The Arb Academy is an Arboricultural training provider that prides itself in delivering high quality Arboriculture Apprenticeships and commercial courses in the most idyllic and fun surroundings.

Headed up by renowned Arborist Nobby Clarke, the academy’s aim is to realise every learners full potential by offering a high quality Tree and Timber Apprenticeship to all who want to improve skills, qualifications and career prospects.

Learners, employers and staff are the...

Bluebird Care celebrates staff achievements

Last week a local award winning at-home care provider celebrated several staff member service milestones. Bluebird Care Exeter and East Devon understand how important staff longevity and commitment is to the happiness and welfare of their customers, so take time each quarter to recognise, celebrate and simply thank the staff who have reached service achievements.

William Flint, Director said “Our Care Workers are the lifeblood of this business, their dedication and commitment to doing the best job possible is staggering, so to take time out to thank them is so important” Husband...

Cut in rents means £7m cut in income for EDDC

Government proposals for a 1% reduction in council house rents each year for the next four years means East Devon District Council faces a £7 million cut in its income by 2019/20.

The council is now asking to meet with its MPs Hugo Swire and Neil Parish to discuss the compulsory 1% rent cut which was announced in the Budget in June.

East Devon is landlord of 4,245 council homes, and its social rents, at less than £82 a week, are already well below equivalent affordable rents charged by most Registered Housing Providers.

Cllr Jill Elson, East Devon District Council’s...

Starcross station is looking blooming lovely

Starcross railway station has been brightened with pretty summer flowers thanks to a partnership between Easter Hill Nursery and its owner James Murphy, First Great Western and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

Mr Murphy said: ”Looking out onto the Exe Estuary from Starcross station is one of the best views in South Devon. I am delighted to be working with First Great Western and the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to welcome passengers at Starcross with these bright new planters full of flowers.”

Three new planters were established as part of Citizens’ Rail,...

61% of staff admit to stealing from office

Sixty-one per cent of workers have stolen items from their office ranging from toilet rolls to mugs, according to new research.

Staff who sneaked something out from work were more likely to have taken pens than any other item (80 per cent), followed by post-it notes (40 per cent), notepads (32 per cent) and highlighters (25 per cent).

One in ten admitted to stealing toilet rolls from the office toilets to take home.

Staff also confessed to unscrewing light bulbs (3 per cent) and taking tea bags home (6 per cent), according to the survey of more than 2,000 office...

Have your say on Exeter ward boundaries

Time is running out for local people to tell the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England what they think of proposals for new council ward boundaries across Exeter.

The public consultation closes on 10 August 2015.

The Commission’s draft recommendations propose that Exeter City Council should have 39 councillors in the future: one fewer than the current arrangements. The proposals mean those councillors would represent thirteen three-member wards across the city.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are keen to hear local views about...

Stage one of Ottery pub overhaul revealed

Customers and supporters of the Volunteer Inn in Ottery St Mary raised a cheer as the ribbon was cut by pub regular and family friend, Mel Snow on the completion of the first leg of refurbishment.

The new look for the popular pub in Broad Street includes a contemporary dining area, outdoor deck and, the piece de resistance, brand new, luxury toilets.

Landlady Jacqui Down explained: “It’s not often that new toilets are noteworthy, but having had outdoor facilities since the pub first came into existence as a dwelling, hostelry and recruitment centre for the Napoleonic Wars...

Business Daily

Exeter announces its bid to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2029

Rogue Devon plumber jailed

Cost of rural crime falls in South West

Funding bid expected for sections of Teign Estuary Trail

Make arboriculture your future

Bluebird Care celebrates staff achievements

Cut in rents means £7m cut in income for EDDC

Starcross station is looking blooming lovely

61% of staff admit to stealing from office

Have your say on Exeter ward boundaries

Stage one of Ottery pub overhaul revealed

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