THREE Teignbridge county councillors have yet to dip into their budget to support local organisations and initiatives.

They are among just five of the total of 60 Devon councillors who have yet to spend a penny of their £8,000 ‘locality budget’ which is given to every member which they can use to help groups or events in their division.

That’s a total of £480,000 across all the councillors combined.

Of the five councillors, the three Teignbridge members are Cllr Heather Horner (Reform UK, Ipplepen and The Kerswells), Cllr Stuart Rogers (Conservative, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh), and Cllr Tony Dempster (Reform UK, Kingsteignton and Teign Estuary).

Since the current crop of councillors were elected in May, £153,000 has been either spent or pledged via 207 applications, some of which are still being assessed.

Any unspent money does usually roll-over into the next financial year, however, around £55,000 that was unspent by councillors last year is being redirected into two community pots.

That’s because the unspent locality budget cash doesn’t transfer to new councillors following a local election.

But Devon’s new cohort of councillors who emerged successful in May’s election has quickly started spending out of their locality budget.

It is possible that these councillors have not yet received any applications by groups or organisations in their division, or they could be in the process of agreeing to grant some of the cash but those requests are being finalised.

The locality budget spending data is correct as of September 1, according to Devon County Council’s website.

Teignmouth Lib Dem member Cllr David Cox is one of the fastest spenders and has spent £6,700 so far, meaning he has just £1,300 left.

He has donated £1,000 towards the installation of an accessible toilet at Kingsway Community Enterprises, and £1,000 for children’s activities for Teignmouth Carnival.