What We Do

When you telephone us

Staff in our Contact Centre are trained to answer a wide range of questions people have about council services. As well as putting you through to the right department, our contact centre staff can provide simple advice and help on:

  • Refuse and Recycling - We can give advice, book collections of special items and pass on service requests to the Council's Waste Services, such as missed collections, arranging clinical waste collections, etc.
  • Environmental Health -We can help with reports of lost and found dogs, pest control take reports of fly tipping and abandoned vehicles, and many other services supported by our district officers.
  • Planning - We can update on current planning applications without the need to refer you to a planning officer
  • Complaints, Compliments and Comments - We can tell you about the Council's complaints, compliments and comments procedure, register what you tell us and pass it on to the right person to investigate.

When you visit us

Staff in our reception areas have many roles. As well as ensuring visitors are directed to the right department, they issue visitor passes where needed and provide health and safety information about your visit. They can also deal with a host of other issues.

  • General queries - We will help you with basic questions if we can, and when we cannot, we will put you in touch with the right person to help. We will give you any forms that we have, if you need them, and we will also pass forms on to the right department.
  • Planning - We can search for old planning applications and ask for prints for you. We will tell you how much you will need to pay for copies. We can provide application forms if you need to apply for planning permission. If you are not sure if you need planning permission, we can arrange an appointment for you with the duty planning officer. We can help you find current planning applications on the internet and provide leaflets about planning and building control laws.
  • Benefits - We can advise on how to claim housing and council tax benefits and any forms you need. We can check your claim and tell you what paperwork you will need to give us, answer questions about your claim or any payments we are making. We can pass your claim or information on to the people who will work out your housing and council tax benefits. We will give you proof of benefit if you need it for someone else; copy any papers or proof you've been asked to give us.
  • Council Tax - We will take any change of details to pass on to the people who will change your account, give you information about your account, offer advice if you fall behind, and where possible work out a payment plan to help you get back on track.
  • Payments - We can take payments for all funds due to EDDC, in cash, cheque or by credit/debit card.
  • Schedule of Charges – this is available on our website and at our reception desk.
  • Housing - As well as rent payments, we can help with tenancy enquiries, register new properties, collection of keys and taking details of changes in circumstances.

When you e-mail us

We receive emails sent to: csc@eastdevon.gov.uk

We will automatically confirm that we've received the email, reply where we can, or forward any emails on to the right department.

What you can expect:

We try to give you the best possible service at all times and have set ourselves targets which aim to give you a better service.

  • Letters - We aim to reply to all letters within 5 working days of receiving them.
  • Emails - We aim to answer all emails within 5 working days. If we have to pass your email on, we will tell you.
  • Phones - We aim to answer 80 per cent of calls.
  • Reception Points - We aim to see you within 15 minutes.

Page last updated on 17 August 2011