Click here to access the Business & Regeneration Information pages.

A summary of West Devon information is given below, for more detailed information from all Agencies down load the leaflet "Help in Tough Times" to be found under 'Useful Information'.

Help to Businesses

1. Business Advice

The Council works to ensure that there is relevant local provision of business support and advice to West Devon businesses, provided by specialist organisations. The Government has been concerned abut the confusing number of agencies involved nationally and has been running a business support simplification project. This has altered the way in which services are contracted locally. All initial contact for business support must be made through Business Link whose contact details are:
Tel: 0845 600 99 66
Web: www.businesslinksw.co.uk
Email: enquiry@businesslinksw.co.uk
The web site includes tools and guides providing advice that could help businesses during the economic slowdown.

2. Citizens Advice Bureaux

The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from offices at the Ockment Centre in Okehampton and Kingdon House in Tavistock. Contact details are:
Tavistock Tel: 01822 612359         Okehampton Tel: 01837 52574
Web: www.adviceguide.org.uk

3. South West Pound (formerly Devon Pound)

South West Pound offers a single place to go to find out more about local money related services. The services offered, including financial health checks, affordable loans, savings, and energy and fuel efficiency advice, have been designed to help improve financial security for the long-term.
Tel: 0800 316 92 96
Web: www.devonpound.co.uk

Business Rates

1. Small Business Rate Relief

Any small business that qualifies is able to gain rate relief on their non-domestic rates bill.

Eligible properties with a rateable value of up to and including £4,999 may be eligible for 50 per cent rate relief.

This relief will decrease on a sliding scale of 1% for every £100 of rateable value over £5,000 up to £9,999.

Eligible properties with rateable values of between £10,000 and £14,999 will not receive any relief as such; however, the business rates will be calculated using the small business non-domestic rating multiplier.

Currently 36% of businesses in West Devon receive Small Business Rate Relief, estimated to be over 75% of eligible businesses.
Tel: 01822 813751
Web: http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=10708&cat=3039
Email: revben@westdevon.gov.uk

2. Hardship Relief

Hardship relief is wholly discretionary upon application to the Council and may be any amount between 0% and 100%. An application form must be submitted together with the two most recent years annual accounts. A new business may be considered for hardship relief in its start-up phase (first three years) by submitting a business plan and trading projection in lieu of accounts. The Council's budget for hardship relief is £5,420. Each £1 of relief provided by the Council is matched by £3 from central government.
Tel: 01822 813751
Email: revben@westdevon.gov.uk

3. Rural Rate Relief

A sole general store, food store, post office, public house or petrol filling station trading from premises in a designated rural settlement with a rateable value of less than £7,000 for a store/post office or £10,500 for a public house or petrol filling station is eligible for 50% mandatory rate relief. Any business in a rural settlement with a rateable value of less than £14,000 can apply for discretionary rate relief.
Tel: 01822 813751
Email: revben@westdevon.gov.uk

Payment of invoices

The Council has a good track record in paying invoices promptly, with 57% paid within 10 days and 99% within 30 days (the best in Devon). The Council will work to increase the per centage paid within 10 days.

Housing

The Housing Advice Team will be assessing clients' eligibility for the new Mortgage Rescue package aimed at the most vulnerable homeowners facing repossession who are eligible for homelessness assistance. The scheme will help these households remain in their own home either through an equity loan, converting the property to shared ownership or the sale of the property in full to a Registered Social Landlord who will rent it back to the former owner at an affordable rent.

The Government's Mortgage Rescue Package only applies to a small number of the most vulnerable homeowners. Housing Advisors will also be offering advice, help and support to all homeowners in difficulty to try and help them stay in their homes.

Regulatory services

Environmental Health will continue to offer businesses (especially start-ups) advice and guidance on cost-effective compliance with legal requirements

Making homes warmer

1. Warm Up West Devon

Warm Up West Devon aims to help make homes in West Devon warmer and safer by offering loft and cavity wall insulation and safety works at low cost, or in some cases for free. Also on offer are free benefits health checks, chain and mirror door entry system installed at low cost, 2 free low energy light bulbs when insulation is installed, free Fire Home Safety Check from Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue.
Tel: Freephone 0800 512012
Web: www.westdevon.gov.uk/warmupwestdevon

2. Warm front grants

Warm Front makes homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. The Warm Front Grant provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended). To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be in receipt of certain benefits including Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance. It is a Government-funded initiative and the scheme is promoted by Customer Services and Environmental Health.
Tel: Freephone 0800 316 2805
Web: www.warmfront.co.uk/index.htm
Email: enquiry@eaga.com