Six ideas for Sidmouth in 2020 from East Devon District Council

This week East Devon District Council has released a 77 point plan for the area as we head into 2020.

Nub News and Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Clark have worked together to produce a list of the six priorities for Sidmouth, as set out in the council's plans.

The council's draft budget and key service plans and objectives will be discussed a joint meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday morning.

Councillors will get the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals that the Independent administration who run the council have put forward, with recommendations to be presented back to the Cabinet on February 5.

Documents with the agenda outline how the council plans to spend its budget in 2020/21 and also what the key objectives that they aim to achieve are.

Here are the six key proposals for Sidmouth:

1. Working with Devon Insight with support from Keith Owen Fund for £800 to develop programme of activity with adults with sight loss in Sidmouth at Twyford House.

1. Manor Pavilion theatre to improve its customer experience by secure Summer Season production and achieve target of £230,000 ticket sales its relationship with Ballet Theatre UK going from strength to strength with sell out performances and three new ballet's planned for 2020, and working with new production company – Complete Theatre Company – to produce high profile and commercially successful musical.

1. Apply for Green Flag awards at Connaught Gardens Sidmouth, Manor Gardens Exmouth and submit a new application for Seaton Seafield Gardens.

1. Apply for Blue Flag retention at Exmouth in 2020 and Seaside awards for Sidmouth, Seaton and Budleigh following another year of excellent water quality results.

1. Plan and deliver the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme. Identify appropriate partnership funding to bridge the circa £1.5mil funding gap with the Steering Group given an Aug 2020 shortstop deadline and Dec 2020 longstop deadline for this If the funding cannot be raised after Dec 2020 – review the project aims and possible management scheme options, with works to be tendered to start in 2021/22, subject to partnership funding being found.

1. Sidmouth Jacob's ladder repainting and structural repairs and Sidmouth seafront railings to be repainted with glass flake paint system to prolong lifespan.

The following are council priorities which are not specific to Sidmouth but will be of importance to residents:

-Continue to scope ways of increasing access to and understanding of reliable health information across East Devon.

-Subject to the outcome of the car parks Task and Finish Forum we propose to carry out a public consultation exercise on our car parking fees and charges during 2020.

-Implementation of a new banded discount scheme for council tax support in 2020/21.

-Implement e-billing across Council Tax and Business Rates so that customers can elect to have the bill emailed.

-Ensure that new developments are required to deliver appropriate levels of open space and promote walking and cycling to deliver better health and wellbeing outcomes.

-Ensure all major parks have an event or engagement activity during the year which offers opportunities for health & wellbeing.

-Continue to work to maintain and build on a recycling rate of 60% so it becomes our annual rate, enabling us to be in the top 10 Local Authorities in England for recycling.

-Continue to develop our successful Green Waste Service and effectively market it to customers to grow our customer base from 11,300 to 13,500; achieving an income of £98K.

For the latest on the Sidmouth and East Beach Management plan, click the red button below.