An expenditure budget of £544,660 has been agreed by Dawlish Town Council for the 2021-22 financial year.

While acknowledging the shortage of income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the financial planners have worked hard to draw up the best possible spending programme for the town.

Plans for the 12 months include investment to revitalise the town for the visitor trade, continuing the £50,000 community grants scheme, maintaining and improving local facilities and attractions such as the Brook lights, paying for the rural skip service to continue, and providing good community events for local residents – within the Covid-19 guidelines.

The funding needed for some of these projects, including renovation of the Manor House and skatepark, is already held in reserve and earmarked for those purposes.

There will be a small increase in the element of council tax that pays for town council services; an average Band D property will now pay £89.94 for the coming year, an increase of £5.66 on last year.

Councillors at last week's budget meeting heard that the main source of income – room hire and office rental at the Manor House – had been hit hard by Covid and was down by 87 per cent on what would normally have been the predicted income, as at December 31 2020. Read more here: Council faces loss of income from room hire at its premises

With some Covid restrictions likely to be in place for the next few months, the council is expecting the income from the Manor House to be reduced by around 50 per cent for the first half of 2021.

However, it's not all bad news on the financial front. There have been 'significant savings' on the maintenance of decorative planters, thanks to more efficient planters that need less watering. Councillors also heard that the generosity of public donations to Dawlish's waterfowl means this particular income stream is only slightly below what would have normally been expected at the end of December.

Mayor of Dawlish, Councillor Alison Foden said: "The budget for 2021/22 has been carefully prepared considering the severe loss of income the council has experienced because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Whilst a small increase has had to be applied due to inflationary increases in utilities and regular expenses, this amounts to just 1.5 pence per property, per day.

"I am pleased that we have been able to offer another generous community grant scheme of £50,000.

"The budget demonstrates continued financial prudence, whilst ensuring our commitment to spending local council taxpayers' money wisely."

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