Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority has agreed to increase its council tax precept by 1.99%.
The increase means that the Authority’s part of the council tax for a Band D property will go up by £1.53 for the year 2015/16 to £78.42.
The Government’s grant funding to the Authority has reduced by £2.9 million for 2015/16, which means a total reduction of £8.7 million since 2012/13. Devon & Somerset has suffered the third worst settlement of all the Fire Authorities in the country.
Cllr Mark Healey, Chairman of the Fire Authority, said: “The Authority is...
It was smiles all round on last week as residents turned out in force to support an apple tree planting event arranged by East Devon District Council.
The orchard idea is aimed at creating a more interesting and stimulating environment on a patch of land behind the community centre at Bidmead, Littleham, with local people feeling they have an involvement in the plot.
Tools, gloves and refreshments were provided and there was a real family atmosphere as mums, dads and children from tots to teenagers came along to dig holes and plant the saplings in an area of spare grassland...
Coastal process and engineering experts will present baseline reports at second steering group meeting today (24 February)
Members of the Steering Group for the Sidmouth & East Beach Management Plan (BMP) project will be meeting at East Devon District Council’s offices at the Knowle on Tuesday 24 February to discuss the findings of four key baseline reports – Coastal Processes (including cliff evolution), Coastal Defence Works, Environmental Issues and the Economics – upon which the rest of the project will be based. The project was commissioned by the council in partnership...
Police were contacted at around 4pm yesterday (Monday 23 February) following concerns raised by a member of the public of the welfare of a man on the Tarka Trail near Barnstaple.
Ambulance were unable to reach the man due to the location, air ambulance and police attended the scene and the man was transferred to North Devon District Hospital by helicopter where he was pronounced dead.
The death is currently being treated as not suspicious.
Police are appealing for anyone who used the Tarka Trail yesterday and may have witnessed anything to contact them via 101...
‘A record finale to a record year’ was one description of this year’s Awards night, as 10 months of work culminated in the presentation of 98 trophies to the South West’s leading tourism businesses at the South West Tourism ExcellenceAwards 2014-15.
The event, in association with Source for Business, saw Devon establishments taking home a grand total of 30 awards with 5 Gold Awards, 9 Silver and 16 Bronze.
With Taiko drummers grabbing the audience’s attention and dancing till the small hours, this year’s awards were announced on Thursday 12th February 2015 in the Great hall...
With just one week to go until the Exeter Business Improvement District (BID) ballot closes, voters are urged to use their votes and look to a better future for Exeter.
Members of the Exeter BID steering group feel that Exeter must remain competitive and make sure it does not lose business to competing cities, online retail and newly proposed developments such as Junction 27. The steering group feel that in order for Exeter to become a destination fit for the 21st century they need to ensure that money is spent on projects that will generate a positive return.
One of Devon’s biggest independent holiday parks is set to host two live music events to raise money for local charities.
Ladram Bay Holiday Park, between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, is the venue for the two upcoming events.
One, organised by Budleigh Salterton Carnival Club, will aid the Devon Freewheelers EVS, a team of 50 volunteer emergency vehicle drivers who support the NHS in delivering essential supplies to local hospitals. The other will raise funds for SPACE - St Michael’s Parish and Community Endeavour, launched last year to develop Otterton Church into a...
Local charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau today publishes its latest advice trend statistics which show that so far this financial year it has helped 4,976 people directly with advice and information.
On average, clients with debt problems had debts totaling £15,685.79, up by £2,488.38 on the same period the previous year.
The amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide has increased in the following areas compared to the same period last year:
Welfare benefits
• 28.2% increase in enquires about council tax benefit/local support • 24.8%...
Having seen his side return to winning ways in the Aviva Premiership last weekend, Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is hoping for more of the same at Harlequins tomorrow (Saturday 3pm).
Last Saturday’s 46-17 home win over Newcastle Falcons was just the pick-me-up the Westcountry outfit needed following a turgid run of league form either side of Christmas.
Four successive losses meant the Chiefs had allowed a number of their top flight rivals around them to close in - and with it create a bit of log-jam with regards to the positioning around the top end of the table....
With excitement building ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015, schools are being offered the opportunity to be part of the ceremonies which will welcome the 20 participating teams to the Tournament in England and Wales.
Each of the 20 teams will be officially welcomed to the Tournament and their respective Team Base regions by local schools in September 2015.
The Welcome Ceremonies, delivered by Tournament Organiser, England Rugby 2015, will feature a performance by the selected schools, as well as a celebration of the local community and the game.
