This week’s offering from Caring Town focuses on the training offer and Volunteer Week information from our partners at South Hams CVS
Councillors Agree Discretionary Council Tax Payment Scheme
Councillors Agree Discretionary Council Tax Payment Scheme
Issued: 26 May 2022
Having already paid £3 million to 20,000 households as part of the £150 Council Tax Rebate Scheme over the past month, the Executive at South Hams District Council met today, Thursday 26 May, to approve an additional scheme to distribute a Discretionary Council Tax Rebate.
Following the Government’s announcement for additional support for households in Council Tax Bands A to D, South Hams District Council were awarded £4,332,600. The Council were also awarded an additional £173,700 to support vulnerable households not eligible for the main £150 Council Tax Rebate scheme.
The Council has started to process over 1,200 applications that it has received from those households by those who have already applied online. However there are still 5,000 households that have not claimed, or do not know that they are eligible, including those who already receive reductions in their Council Tax.
The Council has been working on a voucher scheme that eligible households can cash their £150 directly at any Post Office. Households will receive a letter from the Council explaining more about how they will receive this money in the next few weeks.
While this scheme is being set up, the fastest way to get payment still continues to be by filling in a claim form on our website here: www.southhams.gov.uk/rebate-
The discretionary scheme agreed today will mean that the Council will be able to give payments to residents who are not eligible for the main £150 Council Tax Rebate scheme.
The discretionary scheme will aim to support residents who meet the following criteria:
· Those that live in a Council Tax property band E-H and are currently being paid a Council Tax Reduction Scheme payment
· Those that live in a property where the owner or landlord is responsible for Council Tax, but the household or tenants are directly liable for the energy bills. This could include people living in a house of multiple occupation or someone under the age of 18.
· Those that live in a Council Tax property band E-H and not currently being paid a Council Tax Reduction Scheme payment, but have savings of no more than £6,000 and a weekly net income less than the following:
· £250 for a single person
· £320 for a couple
· £400 for a family (lone parent or couple) with one dependent child
· £500 for a family (lone parent or couple) with more than one dependent child
If the Council has any funding remaining, the Executive will discuss a further set of criteria in July.
Cllr Nicky Hopwood, Executive Member for Council Tax and Housing Benefits, said: “There are still over 5,000 households that have not yet claimed this rebate. Our team have been working on a scheme where residents can claim their £150 from the Post Office. This is another method to make it easier for our residents to cash their voucher at any Post Office. However, this will take a few weeks to set up, so residents can still choose to get their £150 by completing the claim form on our website.
“If our staff do need to contact you, they will not ask for your bank details, personal data or passwords over the telephone. If we need further information, you will be asked to provide it on our website www.southhams.gov.uk
“Please be careful and watch out for scammers who could try to cold call you to gain access to your bank account details. If you are in any doubt at all, please contact us directly. We would rather you check with us than be scammed.”
“If you don’t qualify for these rebates, there is a range of other direct and indirect financial support available on our website through our Support Directory. This is a one-stop guide on where to go for help that we offer, and that provided from other organisations on a wide range of subjects.”
South Hams District Council’s, Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Unlike the main fund where the Government allocate who gets what, this time we are able to clearly see where the discretionary money needs to go. We want to make sure that we help our most vulnerable residents who missed out on the main £150 payments.
“There is sometimes a misconception that because you live in a bigger house, that you don’t need financial help, but that isn’t always the case. There are many reasons why people struggle with energy bills, so it’s important not to judge others.
“As always our aim is to get the money out of the door and into the pockets of the residents who need it as quickly as we can.
To find out about the range of support on offer, both from the Council and other organisations, please visit the Council’s Support Directory here:
www.southhams.gov.uk/support-
Open air theatre on Staverton Playing Field
Dartington Playgoers present
OPEN AIR THEATRE ON
STAVERTON PLAYING FIELD
MONDAY 4TH JULY AT 7.30
(if wet in Staverton Church)
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF BRUTUS
A MIGHTY TROJAN WARRIOR
OR HOW THE TOWN OF TOTNES GOT ITS NAME.
How many of you know of the legend of the Brutus Stone?
In this show Playgoers tell a ‘tongue in the cheek’ version of Brutus’ journey from Italy through Greece, France and Spain to end up in Totnes!
Six actors tell this amusing story in a forty minute piece of theatre playing all the roles including sailors, gods, slaves and even ‘The Supremes’ as well fighting the giants who live in Totnes (see picture) This is an entertainment for all the family with lots of guaranteed laughs and comedy.
No tickets!! – just come and see the show, bring a bottle and a picnic and if you enjoy the show put something in the hat at the end.
Devised by the cast and written and directed by
Richard Clark
A384 WESTON CROSS TO RIVERFORD, BUCKFASTLEIGH
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
SECTION 14
THE COUNTY OF DEVON (TEMPORARY RESTRICTION) (A384 WESTON CROSS TO RIVERFORD, BUCKFASTLEIGH) NOTICE 2022
TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC & PARKING DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL hereby give NOTICE that:
From WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 2022
for a maximum of 5 days
Until SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2022 (both dates inclusive) Between the hours of 19:00 and 07:00
No person shall cause or permit any vehicle to proceed or wait on the sections of Affected Roads.
Roads affected –
A384 WESTON CROSS TO RIVERFORD, BUCKFASTLEIGH
The alternative, signed, route for vehicles will be via – A384, A385, A38, A384, AND VICE VERSA
This temporary restriction is considered necessary to enable –
DEVON HIGHWAYS – RESURFACING
For additional information contact:
MILESTONE INFRASTRUCTURE
Telephone: 0203 307 7949
Dated: WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 2022
Meg Booth
Chief Officer of Highways, Infrastructure
Development & Waste
Devon Highways
Devon County Council
County Hall
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Ref: TTRO2245732
County & District Councillor’s Monthly Report: Cllr. Jacqi Hodgson May 2022
Annual Parish Meeting Agenda 2022
Do you know a young person aged 8+ who may be interested in Staverton Youth Club?
Do you know a young person aged 8+ who may be interested in Staverton Youth Club? It’s a free session for young people to meet up and enjoy free snacks, drinks, arts, crafts and games. We run every two weeks on a Thursday evening 6.30 – 8pm at Landscove Victory Hall. For more information, please contact: Kerry McCabe on 07727170370
Council Tax Energy Rebate
Just over 9,000 households who live in Council Tax bands A to D and who paid by Direct Debit on 1 April have now been paid their £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate by South Hams District Council.
Despite guidance issued to councils stating that payments should be made by the deadline of 30 September, South Hams District Council knew that their residents needed this extra help as soon as possible.
Staff worked rapidly to set up the systems to those already registered by direct debit, so they could be paid as early as possible. Whereas some councils nationwide have told their residents that they won’t receive payment until as late as the September deadline.
To date, the Council has issued just over 9,000 payments, which was paid to residents’ bank accounts last week.
Those with different direct debit payment dates throughout April will receive similar payments soon.
An application form is live on the Council’s website, for those who do not pay by Direct Debit, and these will be processed from May.
South Hams District Council’s, Cllr Hilary Bastone, Deputy Leader, said: “We want to support our residents as much as possible and getting the money to those who need it, as fast as possible is crucial. Our teams are well practiced after years of paying business grants at being able to quickly react to ever changing situations and they have done it yet again. We are one of the first batches of councils to get the money paid direct to our residents.
“We will continue to work our way through the rest of the direct debit payments as quickly as we can and then we’ll move on to those residents who don’t pay their council tax by direct debit. If we don’t already have your bank details, then there is a form on our website where you can send them to us.
“If residents don’t qualify for this rebate, there are other ways we can help, so please do look at what is available on our website if residents need support.
“There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who will try to take advantage of vulnerable people, so please watch out for scammers who may try to cold call residents to gain access to their bank account details. We stress that we never ask for residents’ bank details over the phone, so please never release these. If in any doubt, please contact us directly.”
Find out more about the Council Tax Energy Rebate here: www.southhams.gov.uk/energy-
What other Council Tax help can residents get?
If you are not eligible for the £150 rebate, you may be able to claim support for a Council Tax discount.
If you are on a low income or on certain benefits, you may also be able to claim help through a Council Tax Reduction scheme.
You can find out more about what is on offer here: www.southhams.gov.uk/
Grant Application Form – Riverford Organics Parish Donation
Renewed funding is now available, and Community groups in the Parish are now invited to come forward with appropriate green/ecological initiatives which might benefit from this fund. Deadline for receipt of applications is 20/6/22.
Riverford Community Grant Request Form 2022