‘Positive’ response to East Devon District Council-run event.

The big issues facing communities across East Devon - including the Government’s localism agenda and health and welfare reforms - were on the agenda during a meeting of the district’s voluntary and community groups.

Town and parish councils were represented at the event, which was hosted by East Devon District Council at Knowle.

The aim was to get everybody working together to give East Devon a better future.

Councillor Jill Elson, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Homes and Communities, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to come along and make their views known in the workshops.

“We are collating all those views, feeding them into the budget and the new Council Plan.

“It was great to see so many people.

“Attendees were so positive about the event that we are already planning to organise a similar event next year.

“East Devon knows ‘Big Society’ and is doing it for the benefit or our residents, which is valued by all. Thank you”.

Delegates had an opportunity to discuss and suggest changes to what the district council plans to do over the next four years in its strategies for housing and communities, economy, and environment, as contained in the authority’s Shaping Our Future document.

Guest speakers included representatives from Locality, the UK’s leading network for community organisations, East Devon Citizens’ Advice Bureau and NHS Devon.