Case studies

North Devon is a primarily rural area, peripheral in geography and with an ageing population. The council recognises that a more ambitious and interlinked approach to growth is required to sustain North Devon into the future. This project looked to develop and pursue North Devon Council’s corporate objective to grow North Devon, as part of our Productivity Experts programme.

As part of a transformation project, the council set about exploring ways in which it could operate regulatory activity more effectively and efficiently. This case study forms part of the productivity experts resource.

The assignment was to review the planning (development management) and enforcement service, advise on best practice, the potential for productivity gains and any other improvements that could be made to realise efficiency gains – in order that these could be embedded within any new managerial approach or operational structure adopted within the service. 

This would help to make them more sustainable services in an economy where budgets are ever becoming tighter. It would also help regulatory services to become better integrated with wider economic development activities and make an even stronger contribution towards business growth.

Our Deane Helpline is a service which has been providing a lifeline and response package to people for over 30 years, along with associated monitoring of Lifeline alarms across the South West. Its purpose is to support people to live as independently as possible within their own homes and to prolong their quality of life.

Support from the Productivity Experts Programme was secured to assist with the design and delivery of a new joint approach to regeneration and economic growth for the recently established shared Regeneration service of Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council.

Green living and working is important to Wealden. To ensure sensitive, sustainable economic growth, the council sought to consider the development of a renewable energy centre and encourage the take up of green energy options.