Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Torbay Weekly and you can read the latest edition (Published on Thursday 6th October 2022) below:
Energy
Over recent months, I have been hearing from residents and businesses who were asking the simple question: “How will I cope this winter in the face of soaring energy prices?”.
Several businesses with fixed term price deals coming to an end, were only being offered rates which were 10 or even 12 times their current price for a new gas contract. All this due to the price shock seen in the energy markets over recent months now translating into increased bills for consumers. In short, only a few weeks ago the outlook was bleak for the months ahead if further action had not been taken.
The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) now in place means many businesses in our bay will now survive, with possibly thousands of jobs saved which would have been lost before Christmas without it. This is on top of the impact for households of not seeing bills rise even further, which would have hit those on low incomes the hardest
To put the scale of support for energy bills into perspective, the UK Government is now providing support to households and businesses equivalent to about 6.5% of our GDP. In contrast Germany's package is worth just under 3% and France 2%. The EPG along has a budget of up to £60bn.
Despite some of the wider media commentary on other measures in his statement, I am grateful to the Chancellor for having listened to the need for action on energy costs. If he had not, then the news on jobs in our bay may have made the weeks ahead much darker.
Investment Zones
I have called for a bid to be made for Torquay and Paignton Town Centres to become Investment Zones, after the first 38 were unveiled recently.
Investment Zones will benefit from streamlined planning rules and time limited tax cuts to boost growth in areas which need it most. Torquay Town Centre is already set to benefit from the Government’s £21.9m Torquay Town Deal, whilst Paignton Town Centre is seeing a £13.4m government funding package for its Future High Streets Fund. Yet an investment zone could help drive the change desperately needed to not only revive the retail and commercial offer in our Town Centres, but to also create new homes.
Each investment zone bid must be for a defined geographical area, so we can select the Town Centres and the areas around them in need of regeneration. We do not need to bid based on the entire area covered by Torbay Council and can exclude sensitive locations where development would not be appropriate, eg a neighbouring park or greenfield site.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 7th October 10am till 12Noon at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD and Saturday 15th October 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB.
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, rather than a wider policy debate. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
