How we are helping

• Beat the crunch
• How we are helping

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• We continue to publicise council vacancies on our website. We are also going to advertise all of our jobs on Heart Radio and other places that offer free advertising.   
• We are part of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) – which aims to improve voluntary and community services for growing numbers facing financial exclusion.
• We are increasing our support to CAB, CVS and other voluntary organisations by 5% in 09/10.
• We are using Local Authority Grant Business Incentive Scheme money to fund a part-time Citizens Advice Bureau Debt Counsellor and an additional Housing Options Advisor, each post for 12 months.
• We provide funding to Derbyshire Housing Aid.
• We are strengthening our Benefits Team (offsite processing) to cope with increased demand.
• We have issued press releases highlighting benefits to increase take-up.
• One member of the Debt Recovery Team is qualified to give debt advice under the Institute of Money Advisors, and the other members of the team are being trained to do the same.
• We are part of the Financial Inclusion Group led by Mark Todd MP. the group has recently produced a leaflet called "Surviving the Credit Crunch in South Derbyshire.
• We will pay invoices to local firms as quickly as possible. We have encouraged tenants in shops and industrial units to get in touch if they’re having problems.
• The reduction in subsidy on second homes Council Tax has had a noticeable effect on owners making productive use of property.
• As the squeeze on business income and increase in landfil tax prompts some to fly-tip waste, we are increasing fly-tipping enforcement and our deterrent publicity.
• We are attracting businesses and employment to the district by promoting the area and the available sites and properties, and providing assistance to poitential investors.
• We provide sites and premises for employment, thorugh our own commercial property as well as identifying sites for future employment development. 
• We attract visitors to South Derbyshire and The National Forest by promoting the area and securing improvements to visitor facilities in order to increase visitor spending with local businesses. 
• We provide direct support to local businesses and tourism enterprises and develop sector or issue-based structures and support networks. 
• Providing visitor information
• Providing services for delivering projects that enhance the local community, eg developing the workforce, overcoming barriers to employment or improving the environment of the district.
• We offer a competetive trade waste collection service, which is valuable to local traders but which also keeps the market from drifting to higher prices.
• For the second year running, we have set the lowest ever level of council tax increase. Proposals for a 2.5% increase were approved at a full council meetingon Thursday 26 February 2009. 

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