How is North Devon Council doing? Have your say

North Devon Council is inviting residents to have their say on how it is performing on major priorities such as housing, the environment and the regeneration of the area.

A public consultation on the council's annual performance report is now available to view online. The report reviews and lists the council's achievements against its corporate plan, which outlines its key priorities for 2023-2027.

These include sectors such as housing, the environment, prosperity and financial security.

On housing the council aims to plan and deliver housing provision to try to meet local needs. It lists achievements in this area to date such as the former North Devon Leisure Centre site being developed to provide 180 new homes, of which 54 will be affordable.

It also secured £2milion of funding for Ilfracombe Healthy Homes. This project aims to purchase sub-standard properties, renovate them and re-let them. Another initiative saw 13 properties purchased for temporary accommodation for those needing emergency housing.

On the financial side, the council’s report says the purchase of Green Lanes Shopping Centre has provided additional income. It said it had set a balanced budget and matched spending to those restraints.

Plus services and how they are delivered are reviewed to make them more efficient, such as buying property for temporary accommodation rather than using hotels or bed and breakfasts.

Under the ‘pride of place and prosperity’ heading the council highlights the completion of Ilfracombe Water Sports Centre, plus Completion of the Ilfracombe watersports centre, plus work underway to improve Ilfracombe seafront, with a new play area completed and new public toilets and a bus shelter, which were due for completion in spring this year.

Above: The new Ilfracombe Watersports Centre is among the achievements listed in the North Devon Council’s annual performance report. Credit: NDC 

It also highlighted the £12m Barnstaple Market Quarter project, including the refurbishment of the Pannier Market and Guildhall plus the redevelopment of Queen Street and Bear Street car park.

Another is the renovation of 36 Boutport Street, a previously derelict Grade 2 listed building, into a new cultural hub for North Devon, with the project progressing. In addition there is continued funding for the popular and effective town centre street marshals scheme.

Much more is available to view via the online report and the council would like to hear from residents and businesses on which priorities matter to them and how the council has performed.

The consultation is now open, and closes on June 4. The survey should take about five minutes to complete, with questions relating to the annual performance plan and a few about the participant.

The results will be published following the consultation and will be presented to the council's strategy and resources committee on July 7.

NDC head of governance Adam Tape, said: “We adopted a refreshed corporate plan for 2023-2027 which set out the our vision and key corporate priorities for this four year period.

“Our vision is that we want North Devon to be a sustainable, inclusive community; fostering prosperity and well-being for all.

“We feel we are making good progress, and the annual report highlights what we have achieved, but we would really like to hear from residents too. We hope as many people as possible can take the time to look at the report and complete the short survey.”

The consultation, as well as the annual performance report and the corporate plan, are available on the Let's Talk North Devon website at https://letstalk.northdevon.gov.uk/

Paper copies of the consultation survey are available from Lynton House in Barnstaple (open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am until 1pm); Ilfracombe Community Office, (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am until 5pm; closed 1pm to 2pm); Amory Centre, South Molton (Thursday 9 m until 5pm - closed 1pm to 2pm).

Large print copies of the consultation survey can be requested by emailing the council's Corporate and Community Services Team at consultation@northdevon.gov.uk or by calling 01271 388253.