WDBC Report Dec 24
Parish Council Report December 2024
West Devon Borough Council
Hello all and I wish you a peaceful Christmas and New Year. It has been another busy and
productive year for the Borough council. I will outline some of our aims and achievements to
date.
The council has agreed on 8 key priorities for the next 2 plus years.
1. Natural Environment – We have secured funding to deliver projects including developing
plans for active travel. The Beacon Path from Sticklepath to the Okehampton
Interchange is one of the routes to be considered for funding. I have instigated this
project so I am so pleased it is included. Support for agriculture to implement
regenerative farming practices, we are working with organisations to deliver this.
Developing sustainable and renewable energy projects across West Devon with Tamar
Energy being funded to work on this project. We aim to incentivise renewable energy
projects.
2. Built Environment – the council aims to preserve and protect Devon’s historic buildings.
We are part of the Joint Local Plan with Plymouth and South Hams councils to deliver
the sustainable homes we need. We have delivered our quota of homes so far. An
upcoming review of the JLP will be carried out in 2025 to ensure it meets local needs.
3. Housing – The council has declared a housing crisis and are striving to tackle this locally.
The cost of homes to buy or rent is high and many local people find difficulty in obtaining
an affordable home, especially in rural areas. I have instigated a Community Land Trust
in this area so that the local community can work to meet our local affordable housing
need. We have the evidence from our housing need survey carried out last year to
underpin this project.
4. Health and Wellbeing – the council is proactive in supporting healthier, safer and fairer
communities. There are a range of grants to support local organisations
and community centres to thrive. We inspect food premises and carry out.
environmental protection schemes. We respond to concerns about private sector housing
standards. Waste collection and recycling is a core strategy to ensure healthy communities.
5.People and Community – the council will support local communities to deliver their own
ambitions. Our ground maintenance services keep open spaces available for people to enjoy.
We have our locality teams that visit and engage with local organisations and residents. We
lobby other organisations on behalf of the West Devon community, on issues such as road
conditions.
6.Economy and Jobs – the council creates an environment to enable businesses small and large
to flourish and develop. We will strengthen our visitor economy and lobby on behalf of farmers.
We have plans to promote our cultural heritage and sports activities.
7. Performance and Resources – the council needs to deliver good quality services that are
value for money and will continue to lobby the government for fairer funding on behalf of
residents.
8.Accessibility and communications – West Devon Borough Council business is mainly carried
out online with most of our customers choosing this method of contacting us. We know that some
residents prefer telephone and face to face contact and will continue to deliver these services
whilst they are needed. We aim to put the needs of the community at the centre of our
communications.
Community Land Trust (CLT)
As your council representative I have started the process of forming a CLT for our area as I believe it is the only way we will achieve affordable to rent and buy property specifically for local people.
The initial meeting on 15th November was useful and we have potential of 5 members including myself to form the trust.
A further information meeting will take place in January in South Zeal, date to be decided.
Following this meeting the trust will convene to start work on looking for potential sites and other pieces of lane that we can manage and own in trust on behalf of the community. Let me know if you wish to join the trust or please pass this message to anyone who may have an interest in doing so.
Councillor Lynn Daniel
December 2024