Social Value Ideas for North Devon District Council

Council tax rise proposed

The draft budget proposes a 2.99% council tax increase for 2025/26, with the council explaining this is needed to help balance the budget. The increase is one of several measures offsetting higher cos…

“The proposal is for the north Deon share to go up by around about 3% the other major preceptors are considering their uh proposals at the moment um an…”

Asset valuation policy updated

The council approved amendments to accounting policies for property, plant and equipment and heritage assets to introduce annual indexation between five-year revaluations. The change is intended to ke…

“So, the accounting policies sit within the statement of accounts that your uh committee will receive uh in due course once we finish the financial yea…”

Budget gap and funding cut

The council described a worsening medium-term financial position, with a budget gap of £1.6 million for 2026/27 and later gaps increasing to £1.7 million and £2.3 million. Members were told the settle…

“The main highlight we've got is we have a legal duty to prepare a balanced budget and I'm pleased to report that for the financial year 2627 we are ab…”

Reserve transfers and LGR

The 2025/26 outturn produced a £1.991 million revenue surplus, largely due to extra business rates income. Officers proposed reserve transfers including £700,000 to the local government reorganisation…

“The revenue budget for 2526 was approved from council in February 25 of 18 million pounds. It's pleasing to report that the final outcome position bud…”

Balanced 2025/26 budget set

The committee was presented with a balanced 2025/26 revenue budget of about £18.07 million, delivered after increases in council tax, fees and charges, business rate growth, grant income, and use of t…

“members the recommendations are in 21 and 22 on page 144 I'll stop there and have to take any questions thank you very much John very comprehensive ve…”

Council tax base set

The council set the 2025/26 council tax base at 37,670.43 band D equivalent properties, up from just over 35,000 last year. The increase includes the second homes premium and a projected 250 new prope…

“this is the annual council tax base setting which uh is not the formal setting of the council tax itself that will come next month at for Council uh t…”

Housing acquisitions and tenders

The housing and community safety update set out multiple property acquisition and tender activities: all Local Authority Housing Fund round three properties had been purchased, round four would add fo…

“local authority housing fund round three we've now purchased all the properties um associated with that scheme and we've entered into a memorandum of …”

Healthy Homes capital borrowing

The committee considered borrowing just under £1.259 million to fund conversion and refurbishment works at 36 and 38 Oxford Grove and the former Royal Mail building in Ilfracombe, with a possible furt…

“Um in 2024 as members are aware um we secured 1.98 million from uh uh from government for the housing homes project and I know you're aware of its obj…”

North Devon Homes management agreement

Members approved in principle the creation of a management agreement and delegated authority to finalise housing management arrangements with North Devon Homes as the management agent for the council’…

“The last few months we've been working closely with North Demon Homes to provide the housing management services for the LAR. North Demon Homes are we…”

Building control fee increase

The council approved an 8% increase in building control fees to address recruitment and retention pressures in the shared North Devon and Mid Devon Building Control service. The fee rise is intended t…

“So what we are looking for in terms of trying to bring some sustainability to the service is officers wish to minimize both that cost and also the rep…”

Staff shortages affecting service

The service is under operational pressure because two permanent inspectors left in Q3 and a third class one inspector later departed, leaving the partnership short-staffed and reliant on agency cover.…

“performance table in my report highlight our time to F response has dropped to 24 days set against Target 10 this drop is due to a departure of two pe…”

Procure levy software platform

The partnership intends to procure a software system to automate building safety levy administration and reporting. The selected package from Exacom links spreadsheets, Uniform, the Delta reporting sy…

“Exaccom presented a software package to the building control management technical support team leader via an online seminar in April. The package prov…”