How is South Hams District Council helping to support local businesses in the current tough economic climate? ...
Paying our bills quickly
- We are helping small and medium businesses by aiming to pay invoices within ten days of receipt to assist their cash flow.
- We will resolve any invoice disputes as quickly as possible.
Buying local
- We are committed to supporting local businesses and encourage staff to shop locally wherever possible.
Business Rates
- Local businesses can contact us for advice on claiming business rate relief.
Economic Development
- Our Economic Development team can advise local businesses on a range of support services.
- The Council supports the Citizens’ Advice Bureau who can offer free advice to local residents experiencing financial or other problems.
- We are encouraging people to reduce food miles by shopping locally. Businesses can also support the South Hams economy by buying from local suppliers.
- We have recently made a concerted effort (in collaboration with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Job Centre Plus) to help the staff of the three local Woolworth outlets who have lost their jobs and for whom there was no other coordinated support.
Specifically, a drop-in session is taking place today at Follaton House to provide one-to-one sessions for those made redundant. Those agencies represented are - CAB, Job Centre +, South Devon College, Connexions, Next Steps, Business Link and the Council’s SHDC Housing and Council Tax Benefits team.
Major Projects
- We have made significant investment in local projects including:
1. £500,000 for the Watermark, Ivybridge;
2. £190,000 and £470,000 respectively for employment units in Totnes and Dartmouth;
3. £275,000 for the Kingswear passenger ferry pontoon.
- We are encouraging developers to deliver new employment and housing locally.
Attracting Investment
- The Council has helped win £3.6 million of European funding to support community-led projects across South Devon.
- We have negotiated contributions from developers to help the regeneration of Dartmouth and Ivybridge town centres.
We also work behind the scenes to lobby the Government and other agencies to:
- Attract infrastructure investment.
- Protect local communities and retain essential services such as the Post Office network and telephone boxes.
Review of Local Government
- The Council is working hard to ensure residents and local businesses do not lose out in the proposed reorganisation of local government.
- We believe the ‘local’ should be kept in local government.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact Customer Services in our main reception or on 01803 861234.
