With Exeter Central Library due to re-open to the public in a little over three weeks here’s a quick sneak peak at what to expect. The long-awaited library is expected to open on May 22 following a £4.2m revamp; updating the libraries facilities for a more modern service. The new building holds more than 60,000 books, CDs and DVDs on over a km of shelves while another 150,000 are available on request from the libraries reserve stack. A new suite of 34 computers with printing and copying facilities, available for free for up to 2 hours a day along with free Wi-Fi, also complement the...
Plans to demolish and redevelop the Topsham library building are due to be discussed by Exeter City Coucnil’s planning committee next week. The proposals submitted by the Estuary League of Friends (ELoF) seek full planning permission to demolish the existing building and replace it with a 2-storey contemporary building to act as a community hub facility. The discussion of the plans come as Devon County Council begin consultation on the future of its library services. This consultation could see over half of its smaller libraries, including Topsham library, closed unless community...
People in Topsham are being asked to keep roads clear of parked vehicles when the City Council collects its sandbags on Friday (7 March). The bags were used in Topsham during the recent bad weather, helping to prevent more than 40 properties from flooding.
The local authority will be sending a lorry around to retrieve the bags from outside individual properties.
Residents can keep the bags if they wish but these will need to be taken inside or stored out of sight, otherwise they will be picked up by the Council.
If anyone wishes to retain their bags but is unable to...
Exeter City Council is looking at how it can help victims of domestic violence who, the council says, could find themselves homeless when Exeter Women’s Refuge closes in April.
The centre, which has been the home to women who have fled abusive relationships for more than 20 years is due to close in April.
The closure comes as a result of a change in providers for the county’s domestic violence services provider to Wiltshire based charity Splitz which will not continue to fund the refuge.
The refuge’s current residents are now being found alternative accommodation,...
Exeter City Council has proposed raising its charges for city council services by nearly 2% costing some residents over £260 a year.
The council has said the decision to raise their council tax charges by 1.99% is subject to the Government’s decision on how much councils can raise their tax by.
The average tax charge is set to rise to over £132 a year on properties in the band D property but can rise as high as £260 a year for those on the H council tax band.
Council Leader Pete Edwards said the rise was as a result of the government cutting Exeter's funding by 13.6...
Local councils will see their budgets reduced even further in the latest round of austerity cuts.
Eric Pickles, Local Government secretary announced that most local authorities could see their spending power reduced by nearly 3%.
The reduction in spending power- calculated to include council tax and Westminster grants- is estimated to total more than £1.7bn across all UK local authorities.
Exeter City Council will lose 3.5% of its spending power next year and a further 4.1% the following year. Responding to the announcement Council Leader Pete Edwards, said: "We are...
Christmas revellers who get into a spot of bother will be able to take advantage of a Help Zone in Exeter city centre next Friday (20 December). The Help Zone aims to help those who find themselves in difficulties following the excesses of Christmas parties, be it from injury, drinking too much alcohol or being a victim of violence. Situated at The Mint Methodist Church in Fore Street, the Help Zone is being trialled on 'Builder's Friday' - traditionally the busiest night for Christmas party goers. The initiative brings together paramedics, police and Exeter City Council staff in one...
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...
