Devon County Council

An additional £27m to be spent on Devon's roads has been approved by county councillors, making the current year's allocation the largest ever annual investment in Devon's road network.

The funding, from the government’s potholes fund, would be used to repair road surfaces, increase pothole prevention and to combat damage caused to highways, bridges and structures during the winter months, the council was told at a meeting.

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Devon County Council's most senior financial officer is warning that it faces huge financial challenges ahead.

In a report being discussed at a meeting on Wednesday, County Treasurer Mary Davis warned the pandemic, Brexit and increasing social care costs meant there could be big cash problems ahead.

The special educational needs budget is also under pressure. It alone is £20m overspent because of increased demand and the costs of independent special school placements.

Devon County Council has published its plan on how it will deal with an outbreak of coronavirus.

Staff said the "comprehensive" Local Outbreak Management Plan would work through stages, depending on the severity of the situation.

They said they would start with offering more hygiene advice and isolation groups, through to a localised lockdown, although council leader John Hart said it was hoped it would not come to that.

The plan also involved close partnership working between local organisations including health providers, councils, police, schools and care homes, "alongside businesses and key industries such as tourism", staff said.

Additional support would also be provided for people who were "particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, such as the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, black and ethnic communities and those with learning difficulties and autism," they added.

A councillor has criticised members of the public who have verbally abused staff at Devon’s reopened recycling centres.

Devon County Council cabinet member Andrea Davis said the behaviour of a minority of people had been "appalling and totally unacceptable" and urged visitors to "be kind to our key workers, please".

Devon County Council

The centres reopened last week for essential use only to cars without trailers, with a one-in, one-out policy and social distancing measures.

The council said the vehicle restrictions were a temporary measure to ensure queues were kept to a minimum and would be reviewed once demand had dropped to "more manageable levels".

People in financial hardship due to coronavirus could be helped by a £1m support fund launched by Devon County Council.

The council said the aim of the fund, which will be made available to Devon local authorities, is to provide direct support to applicants to meet their immediate need for basic essentials.

East Devon has been allocated £181,487 and it will be administered by staff working in revenues and benefits.

There will be eligibility criteria that an applicant must meet and all applicants will have a telephone interview to discuss needs.

Applications for the fund can be made for people in East Devon made for people in East Devon online.

Devon County Council leader John Hart said: “The impact of the coronavirus outbreak is putting a huge financial strain on some people, with work and income changing overnight as a result of the lockdown.

“If you’re worried about money and how to pay in the short-term for basic essentials, there is immediate help available through this fund.

“By working together with our district council colleagues, we can make sure this vital financial support reaches the vulnerable people in our communities who need it most at this difficult and uncertain time.”

A Devon council which warned it would run out of money within six weeks if the government did not stump up more cash has been given additional funds.

Teignbridge District Council leader Gordon Hook said his authority was facing a £10m shortfall.

In a letter to MPs sent last week, Cllr Hook warned that Teignbridge might have to make "sweeping cuts and redundancies".

The government has announced it is giving it an additional £1.3m to help with the coronavirus emergency.

Other Devon authorities have also been told how much of the total government pot of £3.2bn they are to get to help them respond to the extra pressures created by the pandemic.

The Devon county authority is to receive an extra £36.7m and the Torridge district authority has been allocated just over £700,000.

Devon & Somerset Fire Service will receive £1.6m.

Nearly 600 people have answered a call from Devon County Council to help care for vulnerable people in the county.

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Students, college leavers and retired health professionals are among the peoiple who have signed up.

The first group of trainees have already started their three-day fast-track course.

Once trained the new recruits will be deployed to places including people’s homes, hospitals and care homes.

They will support people with their personal care needs including eating, drinking and washing to reduce pressure on existing health and care staff.

Anyone who wants to join up can at Proud to Care.

A county council has launched an action fund to support groups helping out in local communities.

The Covid-19 fund has been launched by Devon County Council.

Grants of up to £500 will be available to allow voluntary groups to help the most vulnerable, with services such as delivering food and medicine.

The grants can also fund virtual support groups to help people access the internet and voluntary car schemes.

There have been 80 applications to the council so far.