SUPPORTING the vulnerable, investing in housing, job sites and key infrastructure and launching a new annual blue badge car parking permit are to be key elements of the next Teignbridge Council budget. 

The draft budget is due to be discussed by the council’s ruling executive in January. 

The proposals also propose continuing additional support for tackling climate change and for the scrutiny function of council activities as well as maintaining its 100 per cent council tax reduction scheme for those who need it most and the councillor community fund which supports small local good causes.

With rising costs and falling income, the council is looking to increase Teignbridge’s share of the council tax by 2.99 per cent, the equivalent of less than 11p per week for an average band D property. 

The council says the additional funding is needed to continue to provide core services such as waste and recycling, street cleaning, planning, licensing, car parking, environmental health, homelessness and election organisation.

Executive consideration of the proposals is the start of a series of council meetings to scrutinise the plans and to find the best way of using its current 8 per cent share of the overall council tax to deliver these essential services before a final decision is made by full council in March.

Before then, residents and businesses are encouraged to take part in our budget survey which provides an opportunity to comment on council priorities and which runs until noon on Friday 2 February.

The proposals to be considered by the Executive also highlight the ways the council is aiming to make savings over the coming months as well as increases in some fees and charges to help bridge the budget gap.

Executive member for corporate resources and deputy leader of the council, Cllr Richard Keeling said: ‘These early proposals reflect both the council’s priorities, decisions made over recent months to support local people and increased costs which we can anticipate in the coming year.

‘A huge amount of thought has gone into the proposals.  

‘These are not set in stone which is why it is really important that local people and businesses respond to our budget survey to let us know what they think of the priorities set out.’