Press Officer Rick Purnell writes ….

Teignmouth Town Clerk, Iain Wedlake was this month’s speaker for Teignmouth Mens Probus Club.

Iain, a local man from Dawlish, explained he came to local government later in life after a career in Civil Service – P.O. Telephones, then as BT management, retiring to self employed Security and Facilities Management part time for Teignmouth Town Council. He has no one boss but was responsible to ‘the body corporate’ being the 12 town councillors. (Dawlish has 16 Councillors). He represents the lowest level of local government with District (Teignbridge) then County (Devon) up the ladder. Some Counties are removing the Middle District level. (Somerset & Cornwall). The respective responsibilities of each of the 3 levels were explained, what function the Councillors provided and where income was generated. Mention was made of the financial impact of central government cutbacks not to mention inflation. Indeed some Councils are effectively bankrupt and are restricted to providing ‘essential statutory services’ until the ratepayers provide enabling funds. All ‘non-statutory’ elements cease such as Youth & Public Toilets. The Government does not bail out local government overspends, us, ‘the ratepayers’ must cough up and pay through the Council Tax precept.

Teignmouth’s annual precept raises about £863,000 from a population of 20,000 or so and reaching an agreed budget has proven most difficult and then keeping projects to budget proving difficult, particularly building projects as inflation is way exceeding the average. Teignmouth is aiming to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2030. Every level is fighting for funding and having to make difficult decisions.

Bitton House is firmly in the plans as Teignmouth Town Council H.Q. aiming soon to becoming self funded from occupancy rentals, share of car parking revenue and the like.

Teignbridge’s needs to save a further £4 million will have an impact on Town Councils particularly with the provision of adequate public toileting.

After a very lively Q & A session, the Vote of Thanks was given by Member Keith Underhill (Teignmouth Traders Assn.)