Annual Town Meeting 2026
The Annual Team Meeting 2025 took place at The Lantern on Wednesday 30th April.
Mayor Ilfracombe – Annual Report 2026
Chair of Finance & General Purpose Committee – Annual Report 2026
Chair of Planning Committee – Annual Report 2026
Chair of Staffing Committee – Annual Report 2026
Ilfracombe Police Report – Inspector Joey Lester Devon & Cornwall Police
ITC Letter to Police & Crime Commissioner Alison Herandez
Devolution & LGR – Report 2026
The following questions were asked either during the meeting or raised using the online survey. The answer can be revealed by clicking on the question.
There were several other questions that were raised directly with Inspector Lester, the answers to which were all covered in the Ilfracombe Police Report.
If you require a hard copy of these Q&As please contact itc@northdevon.gov.uk, 01271 855300 or pop into the Ilfracombe Centre Tues-Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm – 5pm
Thank you to everyone who attended.
Mariners Haven development had agreed Section 106 of 38 affordable units. 28 affordable to rent and 10 affordable to buy (80% of market value). These units would be pepper potted around the site. I am unsure if any of those units have yet been built. It was announced on 21st April that NDH have also purchased an additional 4 houses (2 Beds) for social rent bringing the total to 42. Seascape development includes 8 social rented homes administered by North Devon Homes and 3 shared ownership. Current understanding is that some if not all have been built and some are already occupied. Building of 16 units of social affordable housing for rent has begun by the community Land trust and these will be for people with Ilfracombe connection through Devon Home Choice. That’s 55 units of either social housing, shared housing or discounted housing. On top of this North Devon District Council are renovating the old post office site in Ilfracombe to provide further social housing of 8 units.
From Cllr Sara Wilson (DCC) I’ve emailed the (interim) head of Inclusion and Learning at DCC with our concerns about the NEET youngsters who are now getting into criminal behaviour, to see if the DCC local teams are aware and what they are doing and who they are liaising with. Depending on the kids’ status in social care terms, this could be a corporate parenting issue, which is a shared responsibility between DCC, police, schools and NHS. No mean feat getting all of these agencies coordinated but critical to get proper intervention for them now before they seriously hurt someone or ruin their life chances. From ITC – We continue to stress the importance of official reporting of all criminal activity including ASB. Ilfracombe continues to suffer from under reporting which creates a false representation and results in a lack of resource allocation. Numerous schemes have been put in place to address this such as Ilfracombe Report It! and UKPAC (UK Partners Against Crime) reporting systems. Further updates and information can be found in the Ilfracombe Police Report.
ITC trialled leaving the St James’ and Brimlands open a few weeks back and on the first day St James’ was vandalised and ASB was reported at Brimlands hence the decision was made to lock these toilets overnight. At present all NDC owned and maintained toilets remain open overnight however these are also suffering from vandalism and ASB.
From Cllr Sara Wilson (DCC) I’ve emailed the ( interim ) head of Inclusion and Learning at DCC with our concerns about the NEET youngsters who are now getting into criminal behaviour, to see if the DCC local teams are aware and what they are doing and who they are liaising with . Depending on the kids’ status in social care terms, this could be a corporate parenting issue, which is a shared responsibility between DCC, police, schools and NHS. No mean feat getting all of these agencies coordinated but critical to get proper intervention for them now before they seriously hurt someone or ruin their life chances . From ITC – We continue to stress the importance of official reporting of all criminal activity including ASB. Ilfracombe continues to suffer form under reporting which creates a false representation and results in a lack of resource allocation. Numerous schemes have been put in pleace to address this such as Ilfracombe Report It! and UKPAC (UK Partners Against Crime) reporting systems. More details from D&CP to follow…
CCTV has been increased on the High Street at the Market Arches and above Webbers. New cameras are also in place covering Wildersmouth Beach and St James’ Place Toilet Block / Bus Stop. These are complimented by the extensive CCTV coverage that already exists in the Harbour, at The Lantern and on the Ilfracombe Centre. Plans are also in motion to install another CCTV system at the junction of Marlborough Road and the High St. The current block on this is procurement of the funding to make this happen.
From Cllr Sara Wilson (DCC) I’ve emailed the (interim) head of Inclusion and Learning at DCC with our concerns about the NEET youngsters who are now getting into criminal behaviour, to see if the DCC local teams are aware and what they are doing and who they are liaising with. Depending on the kids’ status in social care terms, this could be a corporate parenting issue, which is a shared responsibility between DCC, police, schools and NHS. No mean feat getting all of these agencies coordinated but critical to get proper intervention for them now before they seriously hurt someone or ruin their life chances. From ITC – We continue to stress the importance of official reporting of all criminal activity including ASB. Ilfracombe continues to suffer from under reporting which creates a false representation and results in a lack of resource allocation. Numerous schemes have been put in place to address this such as Ilfracombe Report It! and UKPAC (UK Partners Against Crime) reporting systems. Further updates and information can be found in the Ilfracombe Police Report.
From Cllr Sara Wilson (DCC) I’ve emailed the (interim) head of Inclusion and Learning at DCC with our concerns about the NEET youngsters who are now getting into criminal behaviour, to see if the DCC local teams are aware and what they are doing and who they are liaising with. Depending on the kids’ status in social care terms, this could be a corporate parenting issue, which is a shared responsibility between DCC, police, schools and NHS. No mean feat getting all of these agencies coordinated but critical to get proper intervention for them now before they seriously hurt someone or ruin their life chances. From ITC – We continue to stress the importance of official reporting of all criminal activity including ASB. Ilfracombe continues to suffer from under reporting which creates a false representation and results in a lack of resource allocation. Numerous schemes have been put in place to address this such as Ilfracombe Report It! and UKPAC (UK Partners Against Crime) reporting systems. Further updates and information can be found in the Ilfracombe Police Report.
From Cllr Sara Wilson (DCC) I’ve emailed the (interim) head of Inclusion and Learning at DCC with our concerns about the NEET youngsters who are now getting into criminal behaviour, to see if the DCC local teams are aware and what they are doing and who they are liaising with. Depending on the kids’ status in social care terms, this could be a corporate parenting issue, which is a shared responsibility between DCC, police, schools and NHS. No mean feat getting all of these agencies coordinated but critical to get proper intervention for them now before they seriously hurt someone or ruin their life chances. From ITC – We continue to stress the importance of official reporting of all criminal activity including ASB. Ilfracombe continues to suffer from under reporting which creates a false representation and results in a lack of resource allocation. Numerous schemes have been put in place to address this such as Ilfracombe Report It! and UKPAC (UK Partners Against Crime) reporting systems. Further updates and information can be found in the Ilfracombe Police Report.
The use of the Street Marshalls has been a huge success. ITC have also committed to contribute £8000 towards funding the Street Marshalls this year and a letter to the PCC Alison Hernandez relating to ASB in Ilfracombe will be going out this week once approved by Councillors.
Properties – These are reported and reviewed at every Ilfracombe Regeneration Board Meeting. See Ilfracombe Police report for ASB issues.
This is being investigated with NDC
This is not something that we were aware of. We have requested an update from NDC (22nd April)
We are working with our NDC partners to actively address this. Thus far signage has been increased, more high visibility and targeted patrols including the use of body cams are taking place alongside a #clearmessages social media campaign that encourages people to officially report instances of fouling. Targeted areas over the past few weeks have been Capstone, the War Memorial and Oxford Grove Play Park. The use of covert CCTV is also being considered as an option.
Reported to DCC via Ilfracombe Report It!
Jubilee Car Park is run by NDC and Ropery Road by ITC, both Councils have already set and promulgated their car park charges for 2026/2027. For the ITC run Ropery Road and High Street Car Parks the structure and rates for 2027/2028 will be discussed and decided upon late 2026 early 2027 where parking for residents and visitors in and out of the main tourist seasons will be one of the aspects to be considered.
A request to make the current 20mph signage on the High St more prominent has been submitted to DCC Highways.
Jubilee Car Park is run by NDC and Ropery Road by ITC, both Councils have already set and promulgated their car park charges for 2026/2027. For the ITC run Ropery Road and High Street Car Parks the structure and rates for 2027/2028 will be discussed and decided upon late 2026 early 2027 where parking for residents and visitors in and out of the main tourist seasons will be one of the aspects to be considered.
ITC continue to encourage the official reporting of potholes. As of 19th April there were only 8 reported potholes in and around Ilfracombe on the DCC system.
There are currently no plans to reinstall any of the benches that were removed to curb Anti Social Behaviour however street furniture, which includes bench locations, is an element that is included in the One Ilfracombe town centre regeneration project.
YES – We are working with Ilfracombe in Bloom and NDC to make this happen ASAP
YES – We are working with Ilfracombe in Bloom and NDC to make this happen ASAP
YES – We are working with Ilfracombe in Bloom and NDC to make this happen ASAP
In direct response to the standard of building fronts on the High St, the main obstacle to this is getting owners to take responsibility to maintain their properties. As part of the One Ilfracombe Town Centre Regeneration we are currently engaging with property and business owners to identify and then work together to discover what the barriers are for any works to be undertaken. Where there is either no communication or lack of co-operation those premises that fall short of the standards set by NDC Planning are then raised and monitored at the Ilfracombe Regeneration Board meetings. With ITC having no powers of enforcement the very worse of these properties are then served official and enforceable notice to make good by NDC. This can be a slow and frustrating process especially with owners that are not local to the area, or in certain cases the UK. The Spring Clean did address issues at some of the properties and it is intended to repeat events like this on a more regular basis instead of it being a one-off annual event.
Yes there is. Where possible these are removed however when they are posted inside the windows of occupied and vacant properties we do not have access to we are reliant on those owners removing them.
As part of the One Ilfracombe Town Centre regeneration project the ITC lead on this has begun to undertake a weekly walkaround of those areas and “grot spots” across the town which have been communicated to us either via Ilfracombe Report It!, the One Ilfracombe Town Team, your local Town, District or County Councillors and from our own ITC Facilities and Maintenance team. These issues are then flagged and followed up with the Council whose role it is to maintain that particular element of the public realm. This includes a monthly walk of the High St by an ITC Officer where images of every shop front are taken and uploaded to the database which is used to monitor the number of vacant properties and assess whether properties have improved or gotten worse. This database forms the foundation for any official escalation that is required to bring properties up to an acceptable standard.
YES. A bin request has been submitted to North Devon Council.
This will be raised with the IBTA as potential way to increase visitor awareness across the town however it will be reliant on individuals coming forward to volunteer.
A concept similar to this is already under way as part of the One Ilfracombe High Street regeneration project which is focused on local business premises. For other derelict or “untidy” sites, these are a standing agenda item at the Ilfracombe Regeneration Board where ITC feed in local information to NDC who have the powers of enforcement that ITC do not have.
With The Tunnels being privately owned there is nothing that ITC can do to improve this situation which was communicated to the general public in their statement issued earlier this year, which can be found HERE. Unfortunately, this does mean that the only local safe swimming/bathing options to date can be found at Larkstone Watersports Hub or at Hele.
With The Tunnels being privately owned there is nothing that ITC can do to improve this situation which was communicated to the general public in their statement issued earlier this year, which can be found HERE. Unfortunately, this does mean that the only local safe swimming/bathing options to date can be found at Larkstone Watersports Hub or at Hele.
From Cllr Terry Elliott: – One Ilfracombe advocated strongly against the removal of the Link Centre which supported people with chronic mental health. Unfortunately DCC decided to remove that service and replace it with a mixture of third sector provision (Devon Mind drop in every Friday and a peer to peer group) and referrals to community initiatives for mental well-being. DCC have provided no evaluation thus far as to how well these services are supporting people needing mental health support in Ilfracombe. I have asked Cllr Wilson (DCC) to follow this up. Ilfracombe Town Council wrote to challenge the removal of the minor injuries unit at the Tyrrell Hospital. Letters were written requesting an update on the Minor Injuries review apparently taking place across Devon from the Devon and Cornwall ICB. We asked for terms of reference and when it was taking place. The ICB has not provided these terms of reference to ITC or the League of Friends and failed to attend a public meeting in November 2025 to address the concerns over the loss of the MIU and other health services in the Town. I have asked the Board of the ICB for an update and the response I received in February will be published on the ITC website.
ITC continue to represent the Town and push for investment for the town at every opportunity
ITC continue to represent the Town and push for investment for the town at every opportunity.
In relation to the old Goast Coast site an enforcement notice has been served by North Devon Council. This specific area in included in the Derelict & Untidy Sites list which is discussed and updated at each Ilfracombe Regeneration Board meeting (next one is Weds 29th April)
Sorted. The water is now back flowing through the park.
There remains an aspiration to have a MUGA in Ilfracombe. Finding a suitable location will be essential to any plans to make this happen and we will add Bicclescome to our list of potential locations.
Private Gardens – If you believe that a build up of rubbish on a property has become an Environmental Health issue then this can be reported to North Devon District Council. Town overall – This is being addressed at One Ilfracombe Town Team Meetings, the Ilfracombe Regeneration Board, by the One Ilfracombe Town Centre regeneration project and by work being undertaken by the ITC facilities and maintenance team. The latter undertake a huge number of tasks that are the responsibility of NDC and DCC.
Dicussions are ongoing between NDC & DCC and the team that run The Landmark and the Queens Theatre.