Devon blueprint gets the go-ahead

4:21pm Monday 30th June 2008

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THE blueprint that describes how public services across Devon are set to improve over the next three years was today signed off by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears.

Public sector authorities working closely with the private, community and voluntary sectors, will now get on with the business of meeting the 38 all-encompassing targets; a key priority being to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6% per person in Devon.

One of the initiatives that will help in reaching this target will be the Devon Warm Zones project, which will target households who could benefit from home insulation, either free or at a heavily subsidised cost. The project will offer help particularly to older people, families with young children and households on benefits by referring to energy efficiency schemes funded either by district councils or the Government’s Warmfront scheme.

The project will target 51,000 households. It aims to remove 10% of the estimated 60,000 households in Devon in fuel poverty – households where more than 10% of total income is spent on heating the home to a safe and comfortable level. And it aims to ‘fuel poverty proof’ a further 15,000 households by increasing the energy efficiency with their homes.

Other targets identified within the three year agreement, signed up to by Devon authorities and agreed by the Government, include: Economy – partner authorities will work to improve the economy in deprived areas of the county.

Housing – local authorities, the Housing Corporation, developers and registered social landlords will increase the number of affordable homes, particularly in rural areas.