South Hams & West Devon sent this bulletin at 25-09-2020 

Download the New NHS COVID-19 App The new COVID-19 App is now live and available to download. It’s free and it is hoped that it will stop the spread of coronavirus. You can download the app here. The benefit  is that it will help quickly trace people you may have been in contact with who have tested positive for coronavirus. That way, you can be advised to self-isolate and reduce the risk of infection to others.  You’ll get an alert if you’ve visited a place where you’ve had contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus because it records the places you visit, like pubs, restaurants, cafes, tourist attractions, hairdressers, places of worship, libraries or village halls.  All of these places now have to legally collect contact details from customers either using a QR code for use with smartphones, or by writing down your details if you don’t. You can find out more about the app here. Stop Bogus Waste Collectors Help us to stop green waste fly-tipped by checking the credentials of doorstep conmen trying to take away green waste. Households in the South Hams, particularly near Plymouth, are being asked to quiz people knocking on their doors and offering to take their rubbish away. Waste carriers, like other licensed trades, are required to register and operate in line with a set of rules that protect the environment and their customers. These rules include disposing of waste in the right place, storing it safely and keeping accurate records of transfer and disposal. Find out more on what to do here. Sunflower Competition There are just days left for green-fingered children across the South Hams to take part in a creative challenge ‘Let’s Spread Some Sunshine’ – a colourful competition launched by FCC Environment. Have your children grown some sunflowers for the competition? If so, send the photos in before the competition closes on the 30 September. Read on here. Updated COVID Restrictions Due to the COVID alert rising to Level 4 this week, the Prime Minister has introduced some new measures which include: Work from home wherever possible: Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. If you cannot work from home, you should go to your place of work. The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk. Hospitality: All pubs, bars and restaurants are now table service only and must close at 10pm. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm. Businesses: All businesses need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally. Businesses must remind people to wear face coverings. In retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, the guidelines will become law. Businesses will be fined and possibly closed if they breach rules. Face coverings: You need to wear a face covering if you work in retail, in taxis and private hire vehicles, everyone within indoor hospitality, except when eating or drinking. Gatherings: From Monday (28 September) only 15 people can attend weddings and civil partnerships. Funerals remain at 30 people. Indoor sports can only be in groups of less than six – from Monday. Penalties: The penalty for not wearing a mask or for gathering in  more than six people will rise to £200 for the first offence. Shielding: Shielding is not currently required, but the government is keeping this under constant review. What is new can be found here on the government’s website. COVID-19 Tests If you think you may have COVID-19, please remember, you only need to get a test if you have the following symptoms or have been asked by a medical professional to get one. You must get test if you have: A high temperature A new, continuous cough Loss or change in sense of smell or taste Visit the NHS website for more information and to book a free test.

My email to Mr Mangnall urging bolder thinking on the governments proposals to increase woodland cover from 13% by only another 2% by 2060.  Click to enlarge.

Anthony’s reply to me

…and my response

The government has put out proposals for improving safety for cyclists and other non-vehicular traffic.

Highway Code consultation link.  Online survey.  Tell them if you agree or not.

Nick Arding has summarised these changes for the SCAG transport working group (Staverton Climate Action Group)

The transport sub-group of the Staverton Climate Action group is meeting at the Sea Trout this Tuesday (1st Sept) at 7pm.  Contact johnforte@btinternet.com for more details or just turn up.  This is a general meeting to debate ideas on what direction to take the group.  Cycling will be a focus.

Act quickly to claim this grant that runs from this September for only 6 months. It pays up to £5,000 per home all up-front in the form of a voucher. You have to contribute 1/3rd of the total cost. So for works costing around £7,500, you’d receive £5,000 and pay £2,500. If any occupant is receives income-based or disability benefits, it’s £10,000 per home with no contribution needed from the owner.

Applies to social housing too, but it’s the owner that claims.

£10,000 for households on benefits is a huge sum and we want to reach all such homes in the parish. Can you help? Do know anyone who might qualify. It could pay for external wall insulation, which can slash bills, whilst increasing comfort.

All the information you need is on our Green Homes Grant page.

Only government registered Trustmark companies are able to do the work and order books will fill, so contact one for a free survey and assessment asap.

Advice

• Free independent impartial advice available on the green homes grant from South Dartmoor Community Energy on 0800 112 3044 or info@sdce.org.uk.
• Citizens Advice South Hams on 03 444 111 444. If you’re on benefits, get advice on the Green Homes Grant as well as energy bills, debt etc.

Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG) made up of DCC and others have set up a group buying scheme for solar panels with the aim of achieving cheap prices for homeowners.  Experienced buyers will select the best value panels and negotiate a deal.  Anyone can register for further info with no obligation.

More info at www.solartogether.co.uk/devon/home

Not all contractors seem aware of this in my experience.  A heat pump installation project should qualify for 5% VAT, including the cost of enabling building works, provided that material costs do not exceed 60% of the total project cost.  If materials are greater than 60%, you still get 5% on the labour only.  If you’re over 60 or on certain benefits, this 60% test doesn’t apply, and you qualify for 5% whatever.

If you’re using several contractors as well as your heating engineer (e.g.  digger driver to dig trenches for the ground source piping, or a builder to alter a room to accommodate the heat pump), speak to your heating engineer about acting as main contractor.  The other contractors will invoice at 20% VAT to your heating engineer who will then bill that work on to you at only 5%.  This obviously involves admin and temporary cashflow costs for the heating engineer so expect a small charge to cover it – e.g. 2.5% commission.

The same 5% VAT rules also apply if you’re doing work that is primarily designed to improve the insulation of your house.

VAT notice 708/6 – link

Extract from an email from Cllr Hodgson 17th Aug 2020

Both Devon County Council and South Hams District Council are actively developing Climate & Biodiversity Emergency Action Plans, both are also developing their Post-COVID-19 Recovery Plans.  There is clear overlap in both these plans, in particular around working with the new behaviour changes such as reduced travelling, but also at recognising and valuing the new resilience that is emerging in the general public and in particular local communities.  People and organisations that have long petitioned governments and local authorities to develop policies and practices that will support and lead us to a sustainable future can now find a much more open door and some leadership evolving through dedicated and well-informed local authority officers who are producing the kind of draft action plans, many of us would only have dreamed about just six months ago.

I urge all of our local residents to get informed and respond to the opportunities for public views and consultations to these draft plans and proposals as they evolve.  You can sign up via these links for the regular updates and newsletters coming out of both DCC: https://www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk  and SHDC: https://www.climatechange.southhams.gov.uk/climate-emergency

Last November, Totnes Town Council hosted a week of sessions and workshops to bring together individuals and groups from around the town and adjacent parishes to develop themes and actions for a Community Climate and Ecological Action Plan.  The document with outcomes are at the link (and a copy is attached to this email): https://jacqihodgson.org/totnesclimateecologicalemergencyactionplan/    The next steps will be to combine this work with the outcomes of other local action planning days and reveal priorities and pathways of linked actions that can take us individually and collectively towards a resilient, safe and happy future for everyone.

See you later,

Best regards,

Jacqi

Cllr Jacqi Hodgson

Devon County Councillor for Totnes & District

South Hams District Councillor for Dartington & Staverton

Totnes Town Councillor – town Mayor