Mid Devon Notices

On Thursday 8 May 2025, the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, we came together as a community to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of all those who served during the Second World War.

A welcome by the Chair of Mid Devon District Council, Cllr Gordon Czapiewski, began the VE Day 80 flag raising ceremony, followed by opening prayers by Reverend Andy Humm.

Read the full press release: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/community-gathers-to-mark-ve-day-80-at-phoenix-house/

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Mid Devon District Council’s 2025 Green Enterprise Grant is now available to small and medium businesses in the district.

The Green Enterprise Grant scheme offers capital grants from £500 to £5,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. Funded by Mid Devon District Council, it is open to small and medium sized local businesses who want to reduce their carbon footprint by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, or by efficient use of resources or materials.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/grants-now-available-to-help-mid-devon-businesses-go-green/

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Paddling pools at Westexe Park, Tiverton and Newcombes Meadow, Crediton reopen on Monday 26 May, in time for young families to be able to make the most of the summer sunshine and enjoy hours of fun outside this half term.

Read the full press release:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/splash-into-summer-crediton-and-tiverton-paddling-pools-reopen-soon/

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Mid Devon District Council has achieved its highest-ever ranking for waste and recycling performance, thanks to the continued efforts of residents to reduce waste and recycle more.

For the year 2023/24, the district council recorded a recycling rate of 57.9%, placing it 11 out of 197 local authorities. Mid Devon also achieved a non-recyclable waste figure of 307.8kg per household, ranking ninth and placing the district within the top 5% of local authorities nationwide.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/mid-devon-achieves-best-ever-waste-and-recycling-results/

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Mid Devon’s new look leisure service, Active Mid Devon, is introducing fee reductions to unpaid carers who use its facilities and classes.

The new fees mean adult carers will receive a 25% discount on membership, or a 20% discount on casual sessions, while carers under the age of 18 will be granted free access to Active Mid Devon’s facilities. The changes come into effect from 1 May 2025 and will be trialled for a year.

Read the full press release:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/active-mid-devon-introduces-discounts-to-carers/

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Mid Devon District Council has received a judgement from the Regulator for Social Housing, following its housing rent calculation error.

The Council made a self referral to the regulator in September 2024, following the discovery of a historic error in the way it applied formula rent to the majority of our tenants.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/housing-rent-error-regulator-s-judgement/

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Dive in to Active Mid Devon’s New App 

Following the launch of Active Mid Devon our leisure customers can now benefit from a new Mid Devon Active app.

The app works alongside Active Mid Devon’s new online booking system, which launched last month and is available on our website.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/dive-in-to-active-mid-devon-s-new-app/

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The results of a six-week-long survey open to all Mid Devon residents were discussed by the Council’s Cabinet this month.

The resident and budget survey ran from 30 October to 11 December 2024, with 433 residents completing the questionnaire.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/let-s-talk-mid-devon-2024-the-results/

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Mid Devon District Council’s Cabinet will hold its next meeting in Cullompton on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, rather than its usual location in Tiverton.

Following a successful meeting in Crediton in August 2024, the Council is continuing its efforts to make local democracy more accessible by holding meetings in different towns across the district.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/council-s-cabinet-to-meet-in-cullompton/

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ACTIVE MID DEVON

Following the launch of Active Mid Devon our leisure customers can now benefit from a new Mid Devon Active app.

The app works alongside Active Mid Devon’s new online booking system, which launched last month and is available on our website.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/dive-in-to-active-mid-devon-s-new-app/

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Building on the success of previous years Mid Devon District Council’s popular Landlord Networking Event is back

If you own a rental property business within Mid Devon, this worthwhile event will help guide you through your legal obligations and help you provide a good quality, well managed and safe home for your tenants.

To read the full press release:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/local-property-landlords-don-t-miss-your-opportunity-to-attend-mid-devon-s-popular-landlord-networking-event/

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Council Issues Update Regarding Rent Calculations Error

Read the full press release:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/housing-rent-correction/

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Mid Devon District Council has introduced new features to its self-service portal, My Mid Devon, making it easier than ever for residents to report issues, access essential services, and stay informed about their local community.

Read the full press release at:

https://www.middevon.gov.uk/new-features-added-to-the-council-s-self-service-portal/

Access the self-service portal at:

https://my.middevon.gov.uk/

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National government signalled in December 2024 its intent to end the current system of District and County Councils and smaller unitary Councils. Instead, these are to be replaced by unitary Councils covering much larger areas, with a guideline minimum population of 500,000 people.

We are proud of our track record in delivering high quality and cost-effective public services. Each of our Councils is well established and has, over many years, built a connection with local communities such that we understand how best to tailor the delivery of these services to meet the needs of local residents.

We are also very concerned that the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) as stipulated by government including the timetable runs the real risk of financial unsustainability from inception. The most significant funding challenges facing the people of Devon concern Adult and Children Social Care, SEND, and NHS funding. Government proposals address none of these, but rather risks uprooting the very organisations holding the line today.Na

However, it is our duty to respond to answer national government’s demand for structural change through LGR.

We are united in our belief that the interests of the nearly 1 million people of Devon and Torbay will not best be served by a single ‘mega’ Council covering the entirety of this area. As districts, we have therefore reached initial agreement to work towards the formation of two new Councils that combine our existing areas as follows;

• A Unitary combining the South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon areas with Torbay
• A Unitary including East, Mid and North Devon alongside Torridge District and the City of Exeter

There is considerable further work to do to develop these proposals. We want to maintain local distinctiveness whilst seeking to secure ongoing service improvements. We are having to move at pace to meet the initial deadline set by national government for Interim Plans to be submitted by the 21st March. Final decisions on the content of the Interim Plans will continue to be made by individual Councils and we will engage with all our Devon council colleagues on an ongoing basis. We are mindful that the LGR process is fast-changing still and until submission date further options may need to be considered in addition to the currently preferred option.

We are in active dialogue with Torbay Council concerning the potential for a new unitary council covering a wider geography encompassing the 4 areas described above.

We also recognise that Plymouth City will be looking to change their boundaries, which is a matter for government to decide on.

We are resolute in our shared commitment to engaging with our residents, partners and stakeholders to help shape these proposals going forward. This includes in the period through to November and the submission of final proposals. We will provide ongoing updates as we reach key milestones.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon, Cllr Luke Taylor, Leader of Mid Devon, Cllr David Clayton, Leader of North Devon, Cllr Julian Brazil, Leader of South Hams, Cllr Richard Keeling, Leader of Teignbridge, Cllr Ken James, Leader of Torridge, Cllr Mandy Ewings, Leader of West Devon                          

28 February 2025