Earning money from investments, sharing services with South Hams District Council, restructuring senior management, savings from new contracts and prudent financial management: these are just some of the ways West Devon Borough Council says it has managed to balance its budget this year.

The council said that balancing the budget has been a constant challenge over the past few years because of unprecedented cuts in core government funding.

Yet this year the council has said it has not only managed to present a balanced budget and close a predicted budget gap of £440,000, but has also put money aside for key projects that support the health and well-being of the borough.

West Devon’s element of council tax bills will be increased by £5 per year – or 2.16%. This means that a Band D property which would have paid £231.63 last year for West Devon’s element of the council tax, will pay £236.63 this year.

Leader of the council Cllr Neil Jory explained: ‘Our core funding has been reduced by around £3- million over the last few years. We now no longer receive any core government grant funding (known as Revenue Support Grant).

‘But I am delighted to be able to say that the hard work is now paying off and that this year, we are able to invest in some vitally important projects.

‘This year we have been able to allocate £4.3-million for two community housing schemes which we hope will provide around 30 new homes in West Devon.

‘The council is also allocating £780,000 for disabled facilities grants to enable less able residents to live independently within their own home.

‘In recognition of the climate change and biodiversity emergency we have created a new two-year temporary post in the organisation for a climate change officer.

‘To support our economic aims and drive forward our work under the theme of enterprise, we are creating a new job for an economy officer. Both posts are shared equally with South Hams District Council.

‘We are also mindful of the increasing pressures on the town and parish council precepts. After some debate we have agreed to defer a proposed increase to the cost of emptying dog waste and litter bins until next year. A consultation will take place with those communities to work out the way of recovering the costs of this service.’

The council continues to make an annual saving of at least £2.2-million by sharing its workforce and services with South Hams. Collaborating with them, and other councils in Devon, on major contracts has also enabled the council to make savings through economies of scale that entering into contracts on their own would not create.

The contract with Fusion Leisure for example, who now manage all of the leisure centres in West Devon and South Hams, has not only enabled the councils to make savings but has also seen improvements to the leisure facilities in all of the centres.

A recently renegotiated joint contract with FCC Environmental also saw the council make savings of around £2-million during the lifetime of the new contract. Recently through that contract, the council and FCC have rolled out a new and improved waste and recycling service with more materials now collected from the kerbside. Other initiatives to address the climate change and biodiversity emergency will follow.

‘The council is increasingly taking a commercial approach to address much needed economic regeneration,’ added Cllr Jory. ‘Our commercial strategy is to develop our assets, or acquire new assets, with the aims of providing economic benefit as well as an ancillary revenue return to the council, where possible. Our four commercial property acquisitions purchased in 2018/19 are now generating a net income stream for the council of around £280,000 every year.’

Also a recent review and restructure of the senior staff at the council has resulted in an additional saving of just under £100,000 per year.

Cllr Jory concluded: ‘When you look at your council tax bill please remember that for every pound we collect, West Devon Borough Council only keeps 12 pence in every pound.

‘This is because your council tax also funds your town or parish council, Devon County Council, the police and fire services. When you look at it this way, the proportion of council tax we keep is small in comparison to the other services, and every penny we collect makes a big difference to our budget, and ultimately the services we are able to provide.’