• Introduction
• Part 1The County Council
• Part 2The County Councillor's Role
• Part 3Political Parties
• Part 4Independent Councillors
• Part 5Life as a Councillor
• Part 6Ethics and Standards
• Part 7Local Government in Devon
• Part 8Who Knows Where The Time Goes
• Part 9The Basics
• Part 10The County Hall Campus
• Part 11Services for Members of the Council

Part 11

Services for Members of the Council

Identification –

• All members of the Council will be given a smartcard (identity badge) which they will need to use when visiting Council premises. This will also be required to enter the car park via the barrier.

Members’ stationery

• A range of printed stationery is available through the Member Services Unit.

Document Reproduction

• A photocopier is available for the exclusive use of members in the Bellair lounge. Further services can also be obtained via the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Secretariat.

Computers and Email

• The Council is looking to provide its members with a windows device. Members can chose either a ‘laptop’ or ‘hybrid’ device . This will  have the Microsoft Office 365 software and any other systems required. For example the Council has the Modern.Gov committee management system which allows access to meetings papers . Each Councillor is offered an email address “@devon.gov.uk”.
• Councillors using the Councils ICT will receive basic training and may receive more specialist training and technical support from the Council’s staff, if this is required. Regular training will be provided as and when new systems are introduced.
• More and more of the Council’s business is being done via electronic communications. Microsoft Teams, Skype and   Email is the primary means of communication and, to keep themselves fully in the picture, Councillors must be able to take advantage of these systems, otherwise they may lose out on important information.
• Photographs, contact information and other details about members are posted on the Devon County Council public website for the benefit of the public. See the Councillor details. There is also the opportunity for Members to provide a link to their own websites, blogs and social media profiles if they so chose. However, the Council takes no responsibility for the content contained within such sites.
• There is a PC and photocopier in the Members’ Lounge which are exclusively for members’ use when at County Hall.

Travel and accommodation arrangements

• There may be instances when, in the course of attending meetings on behalf of the Council, members require assistance in making travel or other arrangements. Travel arrangements can be made through the Member Services Unit.

Telephone calls

• Members may contact staff at the majority of the County Council offices by ringing the Devon County Council Call Centre on: 0345 155 1015 (General Enquiries)
• Other phone numbers can be found on the contact page for Highways, schools, safeguarding, bus passes, care direct and consumer advice and much more.
• If Members are unsure of whom to speak to about a particular problem it is suggested that they contact the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Secretariat or Members Services Unit at County Hall who will be able to assist them on 01392 382264.
• The Council has a system where the number 01392 383000 can be called and you speak the name of the officer you wish to talk to and the system will connect you.

Members’ Information 

• Members can elect to receive daily updates from the Council’s press office on matters of importance, both locally and nationally and receive weekly updates Inside Devon. Information may also be made available on the Council’s intranet site, again called Inside Devon.

Members’ postal arrangements

• All outgoing mail to members is sent via the post room at County Hall. This is to prevent members receiving more than one package from County Hall through the post at any one time. Plastic re-usable envelopes are used when necessary.
• Urgent mail will be sent out on the required date. Non-urgent or routine mail will be sent out on a Wednesday and a Friday If you experience any difficulties with this arrangement please contact a member of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Secretariat & Member Services Unit.
• In addition to the normal post received through the Royal Mail the facility exists for “non-urgent material” to be left for members in the pigeon holes in the Committee Suite corridor. There is a large rack at the end of the corridor which contains a pigeon hole for each member. Members’ names appear at the top of their slot. These pigeon holes will only be used by Officers to leave non-urgent information items for collection or items requested by members. None of the items placed in these pigeon holes will normally be posted on. Items will remain until collected by members or until they are cleared out periodically by the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Secretariat & Member Services Unit.

Facts and Figures

Facts and Figures brings together a range of statistics, gleaned from a number of sources, about the people of Devon, their social, employment, and economic circumstances, and the commercial and natural environment in which they live. It is intended to be a starting point for informing the people of Devon and to help researchers, planners, policy makers, commerce and industry in their searches for data.

Information Governance Team

The Data Protection Act 1998 is legislation established to protect an individual’s privacy by regulating the way their personal data is processed. More information can be found on the Freedom of Information webpages.

Devon County Council is committed to upholding these principles and has a recognised Data Protection Officer with responsibility for that.