County leaders are calling on the Chancellor in his first Budget to reduce the cost of living, help struggling farmers and above all create training and job opportunities to keep Devon’s young people in Devon.
Devon County Council Leader Julian Brazil said: “The Prime Minister has talked of creating growth and opportunities in every postcode in the UK. Today, the Chancellor has to walk that talk with costed measures which will make a real difference to the futures of everyone in Devon and especially our young who desperately want to stay here.
“For decades, our youngest and brightest have been forced to seek opportunities elsewhere and we must reverse that outflow of talent. Youngsters tell us time and time again creating affordable housing, funding training opportunities which lead to real jobs and building a better public transport network are the keys to making that happen.
“Reducing the cost of living and doing business are on everyone’s wish list here and nationwide. Cutting energy costs for householders and making the taxation system work to boost our hospitality sector in Devon to create new jobs would be especially welcome.
“However in a still largely rural county like ours, the Chancellor also needs to protect the core public services thousands of Devonians rely on to live their lives.
“It’s a disgrace North Devon’s maternity unit in Barnstaple is still closed after 10 weeks, and we know to our cost how fragile many public services really are in rural and coastal areas. The Chancellor must act to stop the drift towards centralising services with sustained increased investment in healthcare, education, training and transport which can provide springboards for growth everywhere.
“Further helping councils like ours to reduce the financial burden of supporting the huge increase in children with special educational needs and tackling the funding gap which means pupils in Devon still receive thousands less for their education than those in urban areas would be great signs that this Government will walk its talk.
“Finally, please remember our farmers, whose livelihoods are on the brink due to extreme drought and the slow deadly spread of the Bluetongue virus.
“Devon needs new reservoirs plus modern water and sewerage networks truly run for the benefit of the public and the environment but Mr Chancellor, you really can save lives and businesses with properly targeted help for farmers now. Please do it.”
Cabinet Member for Finance County Councillor James Buczkowski added: “The Chancellor must also ensure council funding keeps pace with the rising cost of delivering essential services.
“For a large rural county like Devon, inflation compounds the additional costs of serving widely dispersed communities. Funding must properly recognise those pressures if rural residents are to receive the public services they deserve.”
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