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Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 5 March 2021
Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- New council officers to help post-lockdown reopening of East Devon high streets
- Census 2021: Have your say
- Local Plan: One week left to have your say
- Creative Cabin Shorts 6
- Wild East Devon mark World Wildlife Day
New council officers will help post-lockdown reopening of East Devon high streets
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East Devon District Council have employed new officers to help High Street businesses reopen safely and follow Covid-19 guidelines.
Whilst Covid has closed down our thriving centres, we are now on a journey of transition, dedicated to reopening shops, restaurants and community venues in a safe and sustainable way.
Read More
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Census 2021: Have your say
Households across the nation will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.
The Census will ask residents where they think public funding should be spent - including on everything from services like transport, education and health to cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries.
It is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
The Census is a snapshot of who we are and how we live our lives. The information is vital for assessing community needs for services such as schools and Doctors surgeries as well as how our communities are made up and changing.
Census weekend is the 21st March It is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
For more information visit www.census.gov.uk.
Vandals damage public toilet in Budleigh Salterton
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Vandals caused damage to one of the cubicles at the Lime Kiln Toilets at Budleigh Salterton sometime during the evening of Sunday, 28 February.
An EDDC spokesperson said: "It is such a shame to see such mindless acts of vandalism that will have a knock on effect to the users of the beach and toilet facilities.
"We will endeavour to get them back up and running just as soon as we can.
"East Devon District Council are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused."
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How does your portrait link you to a tree?
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Join the Clyst Valley Regional Park to get outdoors and make art!
Art is all about exploration and discovery, and is a journey in itself. We want to help you find the links between art and the world around you.
You can join in: Download our first #ClystArt activity sheet
HERE
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ClystValleyPark for art activities, walks, history and wildlife.
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Local Plan: One week left to have your say
There's just one week left to have your say in the initial consultation on East Devon's next Local Plan.
The Local Plan is the key document used in making decisions in East Devon – and everyone who lives, works and spends time in the district has been asked to share their views about the future of the district. The feedback we receive to this first consultation will be used to help inform and refine our thinking as the Local Plan is progressed.
We have set ourselves a challenging but exciting programme to produce the Local Plan. In just over a year’s time we hope to have a draft plan with lots more detail in it that we will invite comment on, then in late 2023 and into 2024 we will move to a final version of the plan informed by the comments we receive that will be subject to an examination in public by a Government appointed planning inspector.
Alongside the Local Plan consultation we are also offering the opportunity, through a call for sites, for people to identify land areas that they think would be suitable for development. We will look at the sites submitted and choose from them a list of those that we think should feature in the Local Plan as future land for development. As part of future consultation there will be the opportunity for people to comment on favoured site choices.
Read more
Public feedback is essential to help us produce our new Local Plan. If we don’t get your input now then we won’t be able to deliver the East Devon you want in the future. That is why we are asking you to read our Issues and Options report and fill in our questionnaire.
Devon’s COVID-19 Community Testing Service
If you leave home to work or volunteer, or you are in contact with vulnerable people, regular testing will help to keep you and your community safe.
Testing is key to breaking the chain of coronavirus transmission, especially as around one in three people who have the virus don't display any symptoms and may be unknowingly spreading it.
Testing is important even after you have been vaccinated, as you may still be able to pass on the virus to others even if you do not get symptoms.
Tests are available twice a week from these locations:
- Axminster (Wednesday and Sunday): West Street Short Stay Car Park, West Street, Axminster, EX13 5NX
- Exmouth (Tuesday and Saturday): Foxholes Car Park, Queen’s Drive, Exmouth, EX8 2DB
- Honiton (Monday and Thursday): Blackdown House, Border Road, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Honiton, EX14 1EJ
For more information or to book a test click here.
No Smoking Day 2021 - 10 March
It might not feel like a good time to quit smoking – but it is. Last year, during lockdown, one million people quit. New research confirms that now those ex-smokers will now be feeling happier and more positive than if they were still smoking.
We don’t often talk about the benefits of quitting to mental health, but just as it improves your physical health, stopping smoking also improves your sense of wellbeing. Withdrawal can be tough, but with help, smokers can come out the other side feeling happier, healthier and wealthier too.
For more information on quitting smoking, click here.
Results released on residents' satisfaction with council
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The LGA’s latest survey into resident satisfaction with local government has again showed some positive results - including residents views on trust, value for money and feeling informed.
The results show:
- 67 per cent of people are satisfied with the way their local council runs things
- 67 per cent think their council keep residents informed
- 66 per cent trust their council
- 61 per cent think their council acts on the concerns of residents
- 52 per cent agree their council provides value for money
- 71 said they trust their council to make decisions about how services are provided in their local area, compared to 18 per cent who said the Government
- 70 per cent of respondents singled out councillors as people they most trust to make decisions about how local services are provided
The high levels of trust and feeling informed are also significantly above the polling average.
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Register to vote
Running a bath? Doing your laundry? Or waiting for the kettle to boil? It only takes five spare minutes to register to vote.
On Thursday, 6 May residents in East Devon will have their say on who represents them, voting for a Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon County Council and casual elections in some towns and parishes after having been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
In order to vote, residents must be on the electoral register.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday, 19 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Business grants closing soon
East Devon businesses affected by national restrictions are urged to check their eligibility for business grants before looming deadlines. Please read the guidance and frequently asked questions to ensure you are eligible before applying. Due to the large number of applications, we are unable to answer queries by phone. The Additional Restrictions Grant is open until 5pm 11 March. It's for businesses legally forced to close by Government OR suffering a min 30% reduction in trade AND a min of £250 fixed business costs per month. Current local restrictions support grants will close on 31 March. Please do check your eligibility before applying https://eastdevon.gov.uk/business-grants
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
Our latest news headlines and newsletters
Warning issued over buying puppies after Honiton couple receive life-time dog owning ban
Future High Streets Fund: East Devon District Council's letter to Robert Jenrick, MP and Simon Jupp, MP
Over £45,000 given out by Coronavirus Community Food Fund
East Devon District Council agrees £5 annual Council Tax increase for average Band D property
New Local Plan: How should East Devon deal with its climate emergency?
Why do planning applications attract so much interest when the Local Plan generates so little?
THG's Creative Cabin Shorts take flight in March
Bigger, better Sidmouth sea defence plans back on table after changes to funding eligibility
Plans to look at using council car parks for evening entertainment and to install electric charging points revealed
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Dates of next East Devon virtual council meetings
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council virtual meetings are taking place:
- Asset Management Forum on Tuesday 9th March at 9.30am
- Planning Committee on Wednesday 10th March at 10am
- Exmouth Queen's Drive Delivery Group on Thursday 11th March at 10am
- Standards Hearing sub-committee on Friday 12th March at 9.30am
- Poverty Working Panel on Monday 15th March at 11am
- Planning Committee on Wednesday 17th March at 10am
- Audit and Governance Committee on Thursday 18th March at 2.30pm
The meetings can all be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
Agendas
Have your say on the Resources and Waste Strategy
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Residents have until April 14 to have their say in a consultation on the the draft Resources and Waste Strategy for Devon and Torbay for the period 2020 - 2030.
The next few years will be a period of fundamental change for the resources and recycling sector as the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy and Environment Bill come into being.
It will be a key part in building a greener and more circular economy so it is important that our county wide approach prepares us for the changes and challenges to come.
Click here to have your say.
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Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) - Creative cabin shorts
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THG’s Creative Cabin Shorts hope to bring some enjoyment and light relief at this time. Dedicated to all the extraordinary employees across the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, NHS staff and key workers across the region. In partnership with East Devon AONB, Blackdown Hills AONB and Wild East Devon.
CREATIVE CABIN SHORT 6 Tom Bailey ‘Zugunruhe’ – highlighting a mesmerising film about the incredible flight of the marsh warbler.
View full performance (🎧 headphones on)
View all Creative Cabin Shorts here
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World Wildlife Day
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On Wednesday, Wild East Devon removed the iconic heron from our logo in support of the WWF's campaign to show that a #WorldWithoutNature is not one that we want to live in.
WWF said on Wednesday it was 'an action that aims to highlight the dramatic loss of biodiversity globally and the social and economic risks it poses.' According to WWF's Living Planet Report 2020, global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have suffered an average two-thirds decline in under half a century. The Wild East Devon team remain committed to nature recovery across the district.
Sign up to our monthly newsletter here to keep updated with our work.
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To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 19 March 2021.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using this link to the update on our website.
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