Your council
South Hams: what’s happening where you live
What the council itself has published on the five things it most shapes for a household: homes, getting about, the bill, the local environment and schools. Each line is quoted from the council’s own document, with the link. This page says what was decided or proposed; it never says whether it was right.
South Hams District Council: Non-metropolitan district (lower tier), England, South West; within the county of DEV. GOV.UK lists it as a district council, within Devon County Council.
Do it online
- Household waste collection: Providing information
- Household waste collection: Reporting
- Bulky household waste collections: Applications for service
- Household garden waste: Providing information
- Recycling bags and containers: Providing information
- Flytipping: Reporting
- Noise pollution: Reporting
- Council tax annual notification: Providing information
- Council tax annual notification: Collecting revenue
- Council tax discount: Applications for service
- Council tax benefit new claim: Applications for service
- Housing benefit new claim: Providing information
- Electoral register: Providing information
- Electoral register: Applications for service
- Parking permits: Providing information
- Planning decision notices: Providing information
- Councillors directory: Providing information
- Complaints procedure: Providing information
Housing
We haven't read this council's own publications yet. The council’s website
Transport
We haven't read this council's own publications yet. The council’s website
Council tax
Band D set by South Hams for 2026–27: £202.54 of a £2,615.22 total bill in the area.
We haven't read this council's own publications yet. The council’s website
Environment
We haven't read this council's own publications yet. The council’s website
Education
We haven't read this council's own publications yet. The council’s website
Changes to schools in this area recorded by the Department for Education Updated automatically
No school here is currently recorded as proposed to open or close.
In the last twelve months: 1 opened (1 new provision), 1 closed (1 closure)
- Shaugh Prior Primary School (primary) — closed; reason recorded: closure, 31 August 2026
- Redwood River School — open; reason recorded: new provision, 17 October 2025
What the council plans to spend, 2026–27
| Service | Budget |
|---|---|
| Education services | none budgeted |
| Highways and transport services | −£2.5 million |
| Children's social care | none budgeted |
| Adult social care | none budgeted |
| Public health | none budgeted |
| Housing services (general fund only) | £2.1 million |
| Cultural and related services | £1.1 million |
| Environmental and regulatory services | £9.8 million |
| Planning and development services | £2.7 million |
| Police services | none budgeted |
| Fire and rescue services | none budgeted |
| Central services | £3.6 million |
| Other services | none budgeted |
| Total service expenditure | £16.9 million |
South Hams in numbers
- Total population
- 92,148 people
- Median age
- 51 years
- Gross disposable household income per head
- £30,368
- Gross median weekly pay
- £570
- Children in relative poverty after housing costs
- 19.9%
- Claimant Count
- 2.0%
- Average house price
- £355,483
- Housing affordability ratio (residence-based)
- 9.5 affordability ratio
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- 6.5 tCO2e per capita
- Gigabit capable broadband
- 58.7%
- Public electric vehicle chargers
- 145.4 per 100,000 population
- Active businesses
- 4,705 number of enterprises
Who runs the council
31 seats in 2026. Run by: Liberal Democrats, with a majority.
Councillors by party: Liberal Democrats 19, Conservative and Unionist 7, Green Party (E&W) 3, Labour Party 1, Independent / Other 1.
Next scheduled council election: 6 May 2027.
All 31 councillors, by ward
- Laurel Lawford (Liberal Democrats) — Allington & Strete
- Chris Oram (Liberal Democrats) — Bickleigh & Cornwood
- Simon Rake (Liberal Democrats) — Blackawton & Stoke Fleming
- Bernard Taylor (Conservative and Unionist) — Charterlands
- Jacqi Hodgson (Green Party (E&W)) — Dartington & Staverton
- Ben Cooper (Labour Party) — Dartmouth & East Dart
- Ged Yardy (Liberal Democrats) — Dartmouth & East Dart
- Jonathan Hawkins (Conservative and Unionist) — Dartmouth & East Dart
- Alison Dewynter (Liberal Democrats) — Ermington & Ugborough
- Matt Steele (Liberal Democrats) — Ivybridge East
- Victor Abbott (Liberal Democrats) — Ivybridge East
- Nadine Dommett (Liberal Democrats) — Ivybridge West
- Pablo Munoz (Liberal Democrats) — Ivybridge West
- Denise O'Callaghan (Liberal Democrats) — Kingsbridge
- Susan Jackson (Liberal Democrats) — Kingsbridge
- Lee Bonham (Liberal Democrats) — Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford
- Sam Penfold (Conservative and Unionist) — Marldon & Littlehempston
- Dan Thomas (Liberal Democrats) — Newton & Yealmpton
- Tom Edie (Liberal Democrats) — Newton & Yealmpton
- Mark Long (Independent / Other) — Salcombe & Thurlestone
- Samantha Dennis (Conservative and Unionist) — Salcombe & Thurlestone
- David Hancock (Liberal Democrats) — South Brent
- Guy Pannell (Liberal Democrats) — South Brent
- Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrats) — Stokenham
- Anna Presswell (Green Party (E&W)) — Totnes
- Georgina Allen (Green Party (E&W)) — Totnes
- John Birch (Liberal Democrats) — Totnes
- Alison Nix (Conservative and Unionist) — Wembury & Brixton
- Julie Carson (Conservative and Unionist) — Wembury & Brixton
- John McKay (Liberal Democrats) — West Dart
- Nicky Hopwood (Conservative and Unionist) — Woolwell