All about the Ivybridge Town Council home page
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  • Ivybridge Viaduct

    Welcome to Ivybridge Town Council

  • Harrys Patch
  • Ivybridge Viaduct
  • A path through Longtimber Woods

Ivybridge is a bustling, friendly town set on the banks of the beautiful River Erme ideally situated as a base to visit Dartmoor and the South Hams, a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, all within easy reach.  The town is known as the 'Gateway to the Moor' and is the start/finish point of the long-distance walking path The Two Moors Way. Look north and visible high above the town is the Western Beacon and to the south, the South Devon coast with its stunning beaches, rolling green countryside and twisting Devon lanes waiting to be explored. In the heart of the town are the beautiful Longtimber Woods, Filham Park, Woodlands Park and Erme Playing Fields

The town enjoys both a magnificent natural setting and centuries of history as a mill town and a staging post on the London Road. Tumbling from the moors, the River Erme has formed the lifeblood of the town and provided power for three mills, one of which still stands today on Harford Road. You can read more about the town's history on our town heritage page. 

There are three tiers of local government with areas of responsibility in Ivybridge:-

Ivybridge is divided into 2 different wards: Ivybridge East and Ivybridge West. 

The Town Council comprises 16 elected members, 8 for each ward, who work for the town in a voluntary capacity. The person acting as Town Mayor is elected annually in May, and Town Council elections are held every four years. 

Visitors are welcome to call into both the Town Hall and into the town's Information Centre located in The Watermark nearby. The Watermark and Town Hall both have facilities that are available to hire for meetings, conferences, weddings etc.

12 June 2023

Planning and Infrastructure Committee

Ivybridge Town Hall Monday 6:00 pm View Details
12 June 2023

Parks and Open Spaces Committee

Ivybridge Town Hall Monday 6:45 pm View Details

Latest Town News

Elections 2023

23

March 2023
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All 16 Ivybridge Town Council and all 4 Ivybridge District Council seats are up for election on the 4th May 2023

Nominations have now closed for Town Council elections. You can see a list of candidates by clicking on the following links:

Ivybridge East (Town)

Ivybridge West (Town)

Nominations have also closed for the District Council elections. You can see a list of candidates by clicking on the following links:

Ivybridge East (District)

Ivybridge West (District)


Please see the Notice of Election documents attached below.

Alternatively, to see the Notice of Elections online click here for Town and Parish Councils and here for District Council
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Budget and Council Tax 2023-2024

06

March 2023
Oak trees at sunset in Filham Park

The household increase in council tax for the Town Council will be 4.8%, an increase of £6.66 per year, or 13p per week (Band D equivalent will now be £141.57 per year, lower bands pay less, higher bands pay more).In general, you can see what each council does for its proportion of the Council Tax here: https://www.ivybridge.gov.uk/councils

The Town Council has used its reserves where possible to minimise any increase, but some areas of Council expenditure have seen double digit inflation in areas which are unavoidable such as energy, but the Council worked hard to budget for an increase at around half the rate of inflation.

Other Councils, such as SHDC have many other sources of income including central government and other grants such as the New Homes Bonus and Rural Services Delivery Grant. They are also limited to a 2.9% or £5 increase else they have to go to a referendum, and so they have proposed to raise their element by the maximum level possible - £5 per year (Band D equivalent). They require more Council Tax per household than the Town Council at £185.42 per household (Band D equivalent).

The Town Council only has one source of income – the precept which is its share of the Council Tax. And so it must earn the rest of the money required to run the rest of its services through charges for those services and partnerships.

This coming year the residents should see:

- the results of investment in The Watermark to significantly reduce energy costs for lighting

- investment of up to £100,000 in Play Areas and more for upkeep

- funding of a new job to help groups and organisations to gain external funding (in partnership with Totnes Town Council who have successfully done this before)

- management and investment in around 100 acres of public parks and woodland for the benefit of all residents

- continued provision of access to arts, cinema and entertainment at The Watermark for residents, schools and other groups

- quality jobs for local people who put money back in to the local economy, the lowest paid of which are paid a living wage

- increase in the general community grants budget to help groups in the town deliver support to the community

- engagement and support of young people including through supporting new facilities with partners such as Skate South Devon

- support of Citizens Advice service to run a weekly session in the town

- provision free rooms to be used for community use such as English lessons for Ukrainian guests, group AGMs etc

- support of the creation of a community fridge

- on going work with the District and County Council to help them understand Ivybridge needs in the areas they are responsible for such as active travel, wellbeing, youth, economic development etc

- work with agencies with the power to reduce anti social behaviour

- increase the towns resilience to climate change and other emergencies

- protect and campaign for better care and improvement of our river and built environment- and much more.

Full details of the Council Budget can be found on the website here: https://www.ivybridge.gov.uk/reports-and-audits
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We treat everyone with courtesy and respect and ask for the same in return. We ask that you treat your councillors and council staff courteously without violence, abuse, or harassment. 

Councillors and council staff have the right to carry out their civic duties and work without fear of being attacked or abused. Any behaviour whether that be verbal, physical or in writing, which causes either councillors or council staff to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or threatened, is totally unacceptable. The zero-tolerance policy includes abuse, aggression or threats made in person, over the telephone or in written communication, including on social media. 

The council considers threatening behaviour to be:

  • Attempted or actual aggressive, or physical actions made towards any councillor or member of staff. 
  • The use of aggressive, or abusive language, (including raising of the voice, swearing, shouting or in writing) which threatens or intimidates councillors or council staff. 

This policy applies throughout all Council Meetings, but it also applies to any Councillor or Council Staff away from Council Meetings