Issued: 7 March 2024

Vulnerable residents and war pensioners and widow(er)s could soon receive extra financial support paying their rent after South Hams District Council’s Executive granted approval for two policies which offer financial aid.

Today, Thursday 7 March, the District Council who is responsible for managing Housing Benefit for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) discussed the first of two policies. The Discretionary Housing Payment Policy details how the Council decides it will support the District’s vulnerable residents who are struggling with the cost of living.

In the South Hams, residents who receive the housing cost element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit are helped by the District Council through short term payments which can then be used to pay for rent or other housing costs.

Over the past year alone, £90,848 has already been spent to support 168 South Hams’ residents with £3,000 still existing for support. The Council expect a similar amount to be available for the coming year which is increasingly needed due to the rise in help asked for by residents who are struggling to meet their housing costs.

When calculating how much housing benefit residents receive, in some instances district councils have the choice to decide how much income should be deducted from income they receive, such as the War Disablement Pension and War Widow(er)’s Pension.

When discussing the second item of the meeting, the War Pensions Disregard Policy, and the importance of supporting veterans and their spouses who have fought for their country, the Executive wholeheartedly agreed to recommend continuing to discount the full 100% pension income.

Continuing to remove all this income from the assessment, means that pensioners receive more support when paying their Housing Benefit if Full Council agree the proposals at the next round of meetings on Thursday 21 March.

Cllr Nicky Hopwood, South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Cost of Living and Service Quality, said: “It is crucial that we support our residents, especially during the cost of living crisis. It’s right that we do what we can with the money we have available and I’m pleased that the Executive have made this decision today.

"If agreed at Full Council towards the end of the month, this money will really help the people who have fought on our behalf and their husbands and wives who have suffered the loss of their loved ones, to keep us safe. Let’s now take a turn to help them when life is harder and give back.

“Both of these two aid policies support our residents, old and young, single and families. There is no script for who is struggling financially these days. Hopefully, this extra money will help give a bit of a relief from day-to-day difficulties and help to pay rent or some household bills. Let’s hope so.”

For support with the cost of living and many other issues, go to:

www.southhams.gov.uk/support-directory

To find out more information on the report discussed during Executive, go to:

www.southhams.gov.uk/executive

The meeting can be viewed in full on our YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/@SouthHamsCouncil

1 March 2024

South Hams District Council has a new award which will celebrate community heroes who go above and beyond to help local people every day.

So, do you know someone doing wonderful things for your community? Is there an organisation who are making a real difference to local people?

If yes, you can now shine a spotlight on their hard work by nominating them for a South Hams Community Award.

The Chairman of the Council along with a panel of judges, are looking for nominations in three categories:

• The Young Persons Award (for under 18s)
• The Community Champion Award (for over 18s)
• The Community Organisation Award

Chairman of South Hams District Council, Cllr Guy Pannell, said: “Very often we hear of great things happening in our community, but we also know there is a lot of hard work which goes unrecognised.

“Our new awards are an opportunity to celebrate the people, and the organisations, who work tirelessly to support the communities they care about.

“Please take the time to nominate and highlight those who are making a real difference.”

Nominations for the South Hams Community Awards close at 11.59pm on Sunday 31 March 2024.

Find out more and nominate at  www.southhams.gov.uk/south-hams-community-award

Issued: 15 February 2024

South Hams District Council’s Full Council today, Thursday 15 February, has formally adopted its Council Plan for 2024-2028 along with the supporting delivery plan for the first year.

The Council agreed the four key policy areas needed to prioritise the climate change and biodiversity emergency, tackle the challenging housing situation, support the economy and deliver good quality services to the District’s communities.

For the next year, the Council has agreed to take forward the following projects all linked to the Council’s key priorities, to:

• lead on environmental concerns and take direct action to combat climate change and biodiversity loss including supporting community energy groups, increasing electric vehicle charging points and developing a Keep It Local food scheme.
• create and launch the South Hams Housing Offer. This new scheme will support communities and landowners to bring forward affordable housing in their area and help conversations with proven registered housing who working with communities.
• deliver an independent living scheme (Disabled Facilities Grants) increasing the amount of funding available to residents.
• improve the energy efficiency of 55 properties by awarding Homes Upgrade Grants.
• delivery of a new temporary accommodation unit in Kingsbridge.
• refurbish and improve local toilets including exploring potential for more Changing Places toilets as important facilities for residents with disabilities.
• improve local sport and recreation facilities using developer contributions.
• explore the idea of a pilot e-bike hub scheme with 10 hubs totalling 70 bikes.
• buy land for tree planting with part-funding from Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest.

Cllr Julian Brazil, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “I’m really pleased that the Council have agreed with the Executive and adopted The Council Plan. They are a robust set of sensible measures to address the very real challenges that we face in the District. These issues of housing, climate change, a troubled economy aren’t going to go away any time soon and we need to work alongside our community and give what support we can to move forward.

“Climate Change and housing issues are not mutually exclusive and we hope to do both. We can’t just sit by; we have to take personal responsibility and do something about it. We have to be holistic in our approach, we don’t have unlimited resources, but we will do what we can.

“We will reach our goals because despite our different party politics, we have the heart of the community at the forefront of what we are doing and that practical approach, together with our excellent financial management will always stand us in good stead.”

To find out more information on each of the reports discussed during Full Council, go to: www.southhams.gov.uk/full-council

The meeting can be viewed in full on South Hams District Council’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@SouthHamsCouncil

Issued: 15 February 2024

Despite very challenging financial circumstances due to the economic climate and previous years’ reductions in Government funding for Councils, South Hams District Council’s Full Council heard proposals for how they would set a balanced budget for 2024/2025.

The meeting held today, Thursday 15 February, heard that strong financial management over many years and the continual drive for efficiency has meant that the Council has remained in a healthy financial position.

Reductions in Government funding over the past few years has meant the Council no longer receives any core Government grant (Revenue Support Grant), a loss of £4 million per year, so the Council has to be self-sufficient to fund all of its services.

Councillors agreed to a small increase in Council Tax of £5.54 per year, (2.99%) meaning residents living in a Band D property would pay £190.96 for the District Council’s section of the Council Tax, for all of its services.

At the same time the Council has approved changes to extend its existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which already supports 4,900 households and has awarded £5.9m to reduce residents’ bills through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Cllr Julian Brazil, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “This Budget proposed an increase in Council Tax of just £5.54 a year (2.99%), an increase of under 11 pence per week.  We have kept the increase as low as possible and below current price rises.

“We really don’t want to put up any costs and I honestly mean that, but we have to be realistic about how we can provide our services with difficult cuts to our funding.

“By raising our Council Tax by this small amount, we can continue to help residents and businesses who need our support and allow us to continue delivering vital services. Whether that is through support with the cost of living, with home improvement grants, housing, benefits or other services. The extra funding will help us put the resource to where it’s most needed and help to balance the finances and to deliver the key priorities that you, our residents, have told us you want us to focus on over the next three years.

“These are only some of the many services that we offer for less than one tenth of the annual Council Tax bill. We offer real value for money, with only 8p of every £1 paid (8%) in Council Tax being kept by South Hams District Council to fund our services.

“The largest part of the Council Tax bill goes to Devon County Council who provide adult social care, children’s services and the roads network, including potholes which many people mistakenly think we are responsible for. The Council Tax also provides money for the Police and Fire Authorities, as well as local services provided by town and parish councils. South Hams District Council collects the Council Tax and pays the money across to these other councils, the Fire and the Police to run their services.”

There are lots of ways to find out more about what the Council is doing by:

• Watching committee meetings and view agendas and minutes at: www.southhams.gov.uk/Full-Council
• How your Council Tax is spent and support paying your bill can be found here: www.southhams.gov.uk/council-tax
• Visiting the web newsroom at: www.southhams.gov.uk/news
• Signing up for Council email bulletins at: www.southhams.gov.uk/newsletter-sign-up

Issued: 15 February 2024

South Hams District Council’s Full Council today, Thursday 15 February, has formally adopted its Council Plan for 2024-2028 along with the supporting delivery plan for the first year.

The Council agreed the four key policy areas needed to prioritise the climate change and biodiversity emergency, tackle the challenging housing situation, support the economy and deliver good quality services to the District’s communities.

For the next year, the Council has agreed to take forward the following projects all linked to the Council’s key priorities, to:

• lead on environmental concerns and take direct action to combat climate change and biodiversity loss including supporting community energy groups, increasing electric vehicle charging points and developing a Keep It Local food scheme.
• create and launch the South Hams Housing Offer. This new scheme will support communities and landowners to bring forward affordable housing in their area and help conversations with proven registered housing who working with communities.
• deliver an independent living scheme (Disabled Facilities Grants) increasing the amount of funding available to residents.
• improve the energy efficiency of 55 properties by awarding Homes Upgrade Grants.
• delivery of a new temporary accommodation unit in Kingsbridge.
• refurbish and improve local toilets including exploring potential for more Changing Places toilets as important facilities for residents with disabilities.
• improve local sport and recreation facilities using developer contributions.
• explore the idea of a pilot e-bike hub scheme with 10 hubs totalling 70 bikes.
• buy land for tree planting with part-funding from Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest.

Cllr Julian Brazil, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “I’m really pleased that the Council have agreed with the Executive and adopted The Council Plan. They are a robust set of sensible measures to address the very real challenges that we face in the District. These issues of housing, climate change, a troubled economy aren’t going to go away any time soon and we need to work alongside our community and give what support we can to move forward.

“Climate Change and housing issues are not mutually exclusive and we hope to do both. We can’t just sit by; we have to take personal responsibility and do something about it. We have to be holistic in our approach, we don’t have unlimited resources, but we will do what we can.

“We will reach our goals because despite our different party politics, we have the heart of the community at the forefront of what we are doing and that practical approach, together with our excellent financial management will always stand us in good stead.”

To find out more information on each of the reports discussed during Full Council, go to: www.southhams.gov.uk/full-council

The meeting can be viewed in full on South Hams District Council’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@SouthHamsCouncil

8 February 2024

Due to extended maintenance works, the Dartmouth Lower Ferry will continue to operate a single service this February. Its usual double ferry service will now restart on Tuesday 27 February.

South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Community Services; Operations and Leisure, Cllr Victor Abbott, said “We had expected that our double ferry service would be back up and running from 12 February, however due to more works needed on the vessel hull and the linked safety checks, this has now been delayed. We also need to make sure we have the correct tides to bring the ferry back into service.

 “We understand that this may cause some inconvenience, however our ferries need to be in the best condition because the safety of our passengers is always our top priority.

 “The Lower Ferry Team has been doing a fantastic job getting people across the River Dart over the past month while both the lower and higher ferry services have been reduced. They will continue to make sure your journeys are as smooth as possible, including extra staff during peak times.”

Following its own maintenance period, The Higher Ferry will also be back in action from Monday 12 February, meaning there will be two car ferry services operating across the River Dart during the Lower Ferry’s single running period time.

For more information on the ferry, please visit:

www.southhams.gov.uk/dartmouth-lower-ferry