West Devon businesses invited to have their say on upcoming council budget

Local businesses across West Devon, Dartmoor and South Hams are being invited to give their views on proposed council budgets for the 2026/27 financial year.

Both West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council have published draft revenue and capital budget proposals as part of their annual budget-setting process. 

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The proposals have been recommended to the Full Council by their respective decision-making bodies.

In West Devon, the Hub Committee considered the draft budget at its meeting on Tuesday 27 January. 

Councillors reviewed plans aimed at delivering a balanced budget while continuing to provide core services across the borough.

The council said the proposals were developed “to achieve a balanced budget for 2026/27 while focusing on continuing to deliver core services across the Borough.”

During the meeting, members discussed financial pressures facing the council, including rising costs linked to temporary accommodation and concerns about national funding arrangements for rural areas. 

Councillors also debated the impact of the cost-of-living crisis alongside the need to maintain council services.

As part of the recommendations, the Hub Committee agreed to recommend a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent for 2026/27. 

This would increase a Band D council tax bill from £269.41 to £277.46, an increase of £8.05 per year.

Members said the decision had not been taken lightly, with the committee noting that, despite pressures on household budgets, the financial position left the council with limited alternatives.

The Hub Committee also discussed support for local businesses, and while noting the loss of UK Shared Prosperity Funding, councillors welcomed proposals to continue funding business support schemes within the budget.

Separately, South Hams District Council has also published its 2026/27 budget proposals, which have been recommended to Full Council by the Executive. 

The council said its plans aim to balance the budget while maintaining key services across the district.

Both councils are seeking feedback specifically from businesses, each launching a short online questionnaire to gather views before the budgets are finalised.

West Devon Borough Council said it wants “to capture the views of businesses” and that responses will be shared with all councillors ahead of the final decision. 

The West Devon survey closes on Friday 13 February, with the final budget due to be approved by Full Council on Tuesday 17 February.

In South Hams, the business survey closes on Tuesday 10 February, with the final budget set to be agreed by councillors on Thursday 12 February.

Links to the full budget proposals and surveys are available on the South Hams and West Devon councils’ websites.