Adrian Hemmings, partner at Simpkins Edwards LLP, commented: “This budget seemed to be the most technical we’ve had in recent times, compared to the more politically charged announcements of the past couple of years with a raft of smaller measures across the tax landscape. “The Chancellor has confirmed a series of measures such as the tampon tax, insurance premium rise to fund flood defences, tightening the VAT rules for online traders, NIC on termination payments and the anti tax avoidance initiatives that are what I would term ‘sensible tinkering’. From a commercial perspective I would...
Chancellor George Osborne is expected to use his Budget speech to call for an extension to school days.
Schools will be able to bid for funding for extra activities like sport and art.
Mr Osborne's will also pledge that every school in England will be removed from local authority control.
Schools will either have to have converted by 2020 or have an academy order in place by then.
For any school that fails to have a plan in place, the government will take on radical new powers to intervene and ensure academy conversion takes place.
Final budget decisions outline how Teignbridge District Council will continue to face up to increased demand for services and reduced central funding.
At a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday 23 February it was agreed to increase its share of the council tax by an extra £5 per year. This means the Teignbridge share of the bill will be £155.17 in the coming financial year - an increase of 3.33%. This represents an increase of just 9.6p per week on a Band D property.
It is the first time since 2010 that Teignbridge has increased its share of the council tax.
Teignbridge District Council is asking residents and businesses for their views as they start the annual budget-setting process.
The council is preparing to debate its budget plans for the coming financial year and invites comment as it moves towards a final budget for 2016/17.
The initial proposals detail savings made by the council over the past year and planned savings in years to come with further investment in key projects that help support the economy and housing growth.
Teignbridge has had a good track record of ‘low or no’ council tax increases but, as no...
Devon County Council is set to spend at least £443 millions on services in the new financial year.
Devon's ruling Cabinet today agreed to set a target budget which includes a £16 million boost for under pressure care services.
But there will be a reduction of £3.4 million in Place services which covers highways, libraries and the economy. The target budget calls for the county to spend an extra £16.1 million on its People services in the new financial year. That's an increase of 5.4 per cent on this year's spending. The People budget covers children and adult care as well...
Devon’s under pressure care services are to get a £16 million boost.
Devon County Council is planning to spend an extra £16.1 million on its People services in the new financial year. That’s an increase of 5.4 per cent on this year’s spending.
The People budget covers children* and adult care as well as education.
The boost for care spending in 2016/17 comes despite budget cuts in other departments.
The target budget for Place services calls for a 3.5 per cent cut from £97.3 million to £93.4 million.
The budget for the Corporate Services department,...
Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has warmly welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement not to make any further budget cuts to policing. “Two weeks ago we were celebrating changing the Government position through our work in Devon and Cornwall on the funding formula.” “Today we see the product of a longer campaign to persuade Government not to proceed with disastrous cuts to police budgets.” “The change in the Government’s position makes it possible for us to plan on building a policing service for 2020. This is a service that will better meet the new and increasing...
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.
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement announcement on Wednesday 25 November, Plymouth & Devon Chamber of Commerce, as part of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) network, is urging the government to fix the deep-rooted structural issues facing the UK economy.
While the UK economy continues to grow at a good pace, the slightly weaker numbers recorded in the BCC’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey, combined with major uncertainties over China and a continued weakness of the eurozone, are a stark reminder that the UK’s economy remains in need of care and...
