New Council – New Direction – A Community Powered Council

I would like to thank the residents of Teignbridge for coming out to vote on a cold and rainy-day last week.  I am both delighted and humbled to have been returned to represent Dawlish, and by my colleagues choosing me to lead the majority Liberal Democrat Group – and to become leader of the council.

As the new council is starting to settle in, we will be setting up a new direction and new ways of working for Teignbridge District Council.

Putting community first is a key element for a modern council.  Our manifesto promised that we would transform the council from its traditional model to a modern Community Powered Council.  This means working much more in partnership with town and parish councils, with community groups and interest groups in the area.

Along with protecting our environment, we have also pledged to support our fantastic voluntary and charitable sector and to increase the number of council homes. 

After 30 years, Teignbridge has started building modern, warm council homes - with 21 occupied so far, and another 25 underway – we need many more.  In Teignbridge we have over 1,000 households that need better housing.  While the new developments provide some, it isn’t enough. We want to build council homes so that our young people can live in the area they grew up, expanding families can have the space that they need, and our older residents can have homes suitable to their needs.

Local government is under huge pressure.  Central government has removed huge amounts of funding and still – despite what ministers may say publicly – impose the number of new build houses that must be set out in our local plan.  To react to this, we have to do things differently, and changing Teignbridge to a Community Powered Council is a vital step.

Martin Wrigley