News, views and Events in and around Bigbury, South Devon

Posts tagged finance

AGENDA for Extraordinary Parish Council meeting to discuss precept – 27th Jan 2022

January 22, 2022 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Agenda – Bigbury Parish Council meeting –Thursday, January 27th, 2022

An Extra-ordinary meeting of Bigbury Parish Council is to be held, on, Thursday, January 27th, 2022 in the Memorial Hall, St Ann’s Chapel at 18:00 to discuss and approve the Bigbury Parish Council Precept for 2022/23

1 Welcome

2 Open session: Members of the public are invited to make representations on matters of
concern

3 Declarations of Interest

4 Apologies for Absence

5 2022/23 South Hams District Council tax Precept

6 Any other business

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New financial help for local hospitality and leisure businesses – SHDC

January 7, 2022 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

7 January 2022

South Hams hospitality and leisure businesses impacted by the latest Omicron COVID-19 wave can now apply for financial support.
In December, the government announced a one-off grant payment for hospitality and leisure businesses including restaurants and pubs. It is worth up to £6,000 and is designed to help those who have struggled in what should have been the most profitable time of the year.

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is being administered by South Hams District Council. The Council has now directly contacted local businesses by email, which, based on previous grant applications, might be eligible for this financial help. The Council is urging local hospitality and leisure businesses that meet the criteria set out below to check their email and junk mail folders and follow the instructions to claim the government grant.

Who is eligible?

Eligible businesses must appear on the business rates ratings list on 30 December 2021 in order to qualify.

The Grant is a one-off payment to business rated businesses that fall into the following sectors:

Hospitality
Including (but not limited to) pubs, restaurants (excluding takeaways), cafés, etc.
Leisure
Including (but not limited to) tourist attractions, event venues, museums, galleries, theatres, etc. Gyms, personal care, and retail businesses are not included.
Accommodation
Including (but not limited to) holiday parks, hotels, campsites, etc.
How much is the grant award?

Payment is based on the rateable value (RV) for each eligible business premises as follows:
Rateable Value on 30 December 2021
Grant Award
Exactly £15k or below
£2,667
Over £15k and less than £51k
£4,000
Exactly £51K or over
£6,000

Cllr Judy Pearce, Leader of South Hams District Council said: “We know that our local hospitality and leisure businesses were counting on a busy trading period in the run-up to Christmas after what has been a year of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the Omicron variant threw up more challenges, like cancelled bookings, which have hit many of our businesses hard.

“Our business grants team has worked swiftly to set up the processes we need in place to get the money to the right businesses as quickly as possible. We have contacted eligible businesses directly by email on 6 January with instructions and links to apply for this grant. The email will list everything you will need to tell us for your application. Please read it carefully and in full before completing your application. Giving us correct information allows us to process and pay applications much faster.

“If you think you are eligible but have not yet heard from us, please double check our eligibility criteria on our website www.southhams.gov.uk/businesscovid19 If you still believe you are eligible, please contact us via the website page.

“I hope this positive start to 2022 will help our local businesses to push forward and thrive this year.”
The Council is urging businesses to contact them via their website www.southhams.gov.uk/businesscovid19 if you think your business is eligible but:

You have not previously applied for any COVID-19 business support grants from the Council
You think the Council may have the wrong contact details for your business (based on previous grant applications)
The deadline for applications to be received is 28 February 2022. This deadline has been set by the Government and the Council is unable to accept any applications after this date. All grant payments will be made by 31 March 2022 and as soon as possible after a completed application form has been received and all national fraud checks have been completed, in accordance with the Government guidance.

-ENDS

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COVID SUPPORT GRANTS AVAILABLE IN DEVON

November 26, 2021 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Grants of up to £25,000 available to increase Covid-19 support for people in Devon this winter

Devon Communities Together is working in partnership with other voluntary sector and community organisations in Devon to deliver the Devon County Council Covid Outbreak Management fund.

We are accepting applications for large grants between £10,000 and £25,000 to increase the support for people over the coming winter months in response to the covid pandemic.

Applications are encouraged from voluntary and community sector organisations and community groups that are working in a whole range of areas including:

communicating important messages with their communities around Covid-19 issues;
targeted interventions for communities or workplaces; building local capacity to respond to outbreaks;
extending specialist support that’s already in place; community-based support for those who are disproportionately affected, including BAME people in Devon;
research and analysis to learn from and shape, regional and local initiatives;
providing support for those who are clinically vulnerable;
and supporting rough sleepers.

Smaller grants of up to £300 are being administered by Devon Voluntary Action (DeVA) and Living Options Devon is administering an Equality and Diversity Fund, with grants from between £5,000 – £20,000.

There are lots of factors at play this winter that may exacerbate the already challenging effects of Covid-19 here in Devon. We want to ensure that community groups and organisations who are doing fantastic work ‘on the ground’ are able to deliver increased support to people in their communities who need it. So, if you’re engaged in activities that support people due to the effects of Covid-19, then please do visit our website, check your eligibility and apply as soon as possible.

Applications for the large grant fund may be made online at: www.devoncommunities.org.uk/covid-outbreak-management-fund.

For more information on small grants up to £300 visit www.devonva.org/news/304.

To check eligibility and to apply for the Equality and Diversity Fund, contact Info@livingoptions.org.

Applications to the Large Grant Fund are reviewed and grants awarded on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able. All Grants will need to be spent by the end of March 2022.

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Continental-style Al Fresco Culture Coming To Our Towns this Summer

April 7, 2021 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

6 April 2021

South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils invite local hospitality businesses to apply for outdoor seating licences so they can start trading as quickly as possible.

The current Government guidance states that hospitality businesses can use outdoor seating areas to re-open no earlier than 12 April 2021.

South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council know that many local businesses do not have their own space to be able to re-open under these social distancing guidelines.

To help get our hospitality businesses back up and running as quickly as possible and to give them a boost this summer, they can now apply for a temporary licence to use nearby Council-owned land or the pavement.

Businesses have two different routes to apply.

To find out more about using land that is considered the adopted highway, (such as the pavement, an adopted road or footpath), follow this link:

South Hams: www.southhams.gov.uk/pavementlicence

West Devon: www.westdevon.gov.uk/pavementlicence

To find out about using Council-owned land, (such as market places etc.), that is not considered the adopted highway, follow this link:

South Hams: www.southhams.gov.uk/useourland

West Devon: www.westdevon.gov.uk/useourland
Last year, many businesses took the opportunity to set up tables and chairs on council-owned land or pavements so they could safely serve customers. This included The Kings Arms, using Whitestrand in Salcombe, The Bull Inn, using The Rotherfold in Totnes, and Taylors Restaurant, using Bank Square in Tavistock.

The application process is straightforward and the Councils aim to determine them within 10 working days for pavement licences or five working days for applications to use Council-owned land. The licences for using Council-owned land will run until 31 October 2021 inclusive. Pavement licences will run until 30 September 2021. Both will be offered for one season only as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the responsibility of the business to comply with the requirements of the licences, which includes time limits and disposing of litter correctly.

The scheme is intended to help local hospitality businesses with existing business premises. It is not intended for new or mobile businesses. Where there is more demand for outside seating than space available, adjacent businesses will be given priority.
To find potential locations for outdoor seating in towns across the South Hams, and to apply: https://southhams.gov.uk/article/7040/South-Hams-Available-Land

To find potential locations for outdoor seating in towns across West Devon, and to apply: https://westdevon.gov.uk/article/7041/West-Devon-Available-Land

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Agenda – Bigbury Parish Council meeting – Tuesday, January 26th, 2021

January 18, 2021 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

An Extra-ordinary Meeting of Bigbury Parish Council is to be held on Tuesday, 26th January, 2021 at 19:30 to discuss the Parish Precept for 2021/2022.

In accordance with Government advice and DALC guidance this meeting will be held by video link via Zoom.

1. Welcome

2. Open session: Members of the public are invited to make representations on matters of concern.

3. Declarations of Interest

4. Apologies for Absence

5. Parish Precept; 2021/2022

6. Any other business

This on line meeting will be hosted on the Zoom website at 19:30 (ends 20:30 latest)

Meeting I.D. 830 1490 5898 Passcode 308114

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Scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus situation.

March 31, 2020 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

With the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) situation, criminals are playing on people’s confusion to try new scams. Many claim to offer services and products relating to Covid-19, to trick innocent customers into parting with personal information and their money. So here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

Scams to look out for:-

Purchase scams offer protective equipment, sanitising products and other desirable goods for sale, that you will never receive. Be careful paying for anything via bank transfer and only buy goods from reputable companies that you know and trust.

Smishing is sending text messages that appear to come from a trustworthy source like the UK government or even your own doctor which try to steal personal or financial information. If you doubt the text’s authenticity, don’t click links. Visit www.gov.uk to check any information given. Verify an organisation’s phone number from their website or from old printed correspondence.

Phishing is sending emails which try to make you divulge sensitive personal or financial information. They may appear to be Covid-19 tax refunds, reimbursements from travel bookings, safety advice via email and even donation requests. Fraudsters will try to make you click on links that aren’t safe. So think before you click. If in doubt, then don’t click. And don’t open any attachments from senders that you don’t know. If you’re still worried, talk to family, friends or someone else you trust.

Vishing is unsolicited phone calls. Always be suspicious of ‘cold-callers’. Don’t be afraid to challenge them or hang up if you can’t verify the caller. Banks, police etc. will never ask for security information, so never give out personal details. If you’re concerned, call the organisation back on the number listed on their website, ideally on a different phone as criminals can sometimes keep the line open. Or if it’s your bank, use the number on the back of your card.

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Prince of Wales Awards

December 9, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

See file for details:- Prince of Wales Award 2020

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Steady as She Goes – South Hams District Council presents its budget for the next financial year.

February 28, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Steady as She Goes

South Hams District Council presents its budget for the next financial year. A budget to maintain front line services, invest in the local economy and navigate the uncharted waters of uncertain government finances.

25/02/2019

Sound financial management by South Hams District Council over the last few years has left the Council in a strong financial position. But uncertainty from central government means that there may be more turbulent times ahead.
Cllr Simon Wright, Deputy Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “Four years ago the Government told us how much money they would give us every year for four years.

“We have known since then that we would not get any more Revenue Support Grant. But the four year settlement did give us certainty that we would continue to get the Rural Services Delivery Grant, which is basically extra money because they recognise it is difficult delivering services in a rural area.

“This agreement ends next year and we have no information about what money, if any, the Government will give us after that.

“It appears that they will be basing future funding figures on the number of people living in an area, and with so many second homes in South Hams, this could prove a real problem for us. We are currently lobbying government to recognise the increase in our seasonal population.

“So without any certainty, we present this budget, a stable, steady budget that helps us to maintain the status quo, allows us to invest where we can, but keeps some money in reserve for an unpredictable future.”
South Hams District Council remains committed to doing everything it can to support residents and businesses. They recognise income generation and local investment will be key to keeping their finances healthy and their services protected.

This is reflected in the budget that they have put forward:

The Council continues to make a £3.9 m saving every year by working with West Devon Borough Council. By working together they save the taxpayer £6 million a year.

This year South Hams has secured an extra £80,604 from Government as part of its Rural Services Delivery Grant, which they have been lobbying for, but this is just for one year.
The Council wants to invest in a programme to replace play park equipment across the District, with a budget of £190,000.

This budget also continues to support the five year programme of repairs to the Council’s coastal assets, worth £300,000 per year.

By signing a contact with FCC Environmental to provide waste, recycling and cleaning services, South Hams District Council will save £286,000 this financial year.

To support the new waste contract, this budget has put money aside to make improvements at the waste depot in Ivybridge and to increase the amount of money the Council is putting away for new waste and recycling vehicles

Work will take place in the village of Ermington to provide new (and improve, existing) business units.

Money has also been put aside to provide improvements to Batson Creek car park.

Resurfacing of a number of car parks has also been included in this budget alongside honouring a commitment made to resurface the South Devon Tennis Centre’s outdoor courts, which are owned by the Council.
Alongside these investments are a programme of development opportunities which will support the local economy and provide jobs. Subject to obtaining planning permission, these include a Hotel in Kingsbridge, a Health Hub in Dartmouth, improvements to the quay and new business units in Batson and Beach Huts at Beesands. The Council also approved a new Commercial Property Strategy which will see it consider prudent commercial investment within the district in the forthcoming year.
This year, the councillors have also agreed to increase Council Tax on the proportion of money that the District Council gets. This amounts to a £5 a year increase on a Band D property or 10 pence a week. This makes the Band D Council Tax for South Hams District Council £165.42 for the year.
Sophie Hosking, South Hams District Council’s Chief Executive, said: “Our finance officers have worked really closely with councillors on this budget. Their careful management of the budget was recognised by the Peer Review team, a independent group of officers and councillors from across the country, who we invited in to observe everything we do.

“They said that sound financial management had put us in a good position. But as Cllr Wright has said, there remains some tough challenges ahead. Next financial year we are still predicting a budget gap of £0.47m and we do not know what our funding from Government will be. So there is clearly a lot of work to do.”

Visit the South Hams District Council Committee for Budget Reports
Visit the transparency pages on our website to read the Peer Review Report

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