MID Devon District Council has continued to make improvements across the district as it successfully delivers against its corporate plan.

The achievements were laid out during the leader’s annual report. The council has a four-year corporate plan which sets outs its aims and priorities across a range of services and showcases achievements made on a yearly basis, as well as sharing a performance dashboard for residents to view each month.

Notable achievements in 2024- 2025 include:

Resident satisfaction with the council has risen by 11 per cent, reaching 52 per cent, with 60 per cent of residents now feeling well informed which is a 15 per cent increase.

Overall satisfaction from housing tenants sits at 70 per cent, with 79 per cent feeling safe in their homes and 72 per cent happy with the repairs service.

The council sits in the top five per cent of districts nationally for recycling, 11th out of 197 councils, with residual waste reduction placing it ninth. It has been recognised as one of the fastest improving councils for recycling, and shortlisted for a national Local Government Chronical Environmental Services Award.

The rebranded Active Mid Devon service has cut operating costs by around £500,000, and memberships are at a record 7,000 members. The council is supporting care leavers, carers, and low-income households with free and discounted memberships — ensuring health and wellbeing are not a luxury, but something that is accessible to all.

The leisure centres themselves are improving too with new facilities, accessible toilets, and major energy efficiency upgrades thanks to additional grant funding.

Across the district, there are more electric vehicle chargers, more trees, and greater biodiversity, showing real action to support the council’s climate ambitions.

On infrastructure, the £33.5 million Cullompton Relief Road funding was secured in February with work starting in 2026. This, alongside the railway station announcement, shows the enormous effort by officers and members to deliver what communities have been waiting for. Planning application decision times are also well above national targets.

Economically, the council attracted more than £1 million in project funding to be invested into communities — including the Tiverton Work Hub.

The council was 11th nationally for business rates collection in 2023/24 and has now surged to second place in 2024/25, hitting 99.83 per cent. Council tax collection continues to improve, even in tough times, alongside continued support for those who most need it.

£250,000 in food and energy vouchers has been distributed through the Household Support Fund to those who need it most.

Cllr Luke Taylor, Leader of the Council, said: “We have faced many challenges over the past few years and there are some big hurdles ahead, particularly around government funding and changes to national targets.

“These changes will affect our housing targets and planning service particularly, while a lack of clarity over large scale projects such as improvements to Junction 28 and the Local Government Reorganisation programme causes uncertainty for us all.

“But the progress we have already made together is real, measurable, and nationally recognised.

“We are a council delivering on its promises, adapting to change, and placing residents at the heart of everything we do.”