PILL PAPER COPY FOR MARCH 2009

 

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

 

The Budget for 2009/10  In the present economic climate the Parish Council felt it would not be appropriate to ask North Somerset for an increase in the Precept – the amount of money provided from Council Tax, which is the main source of income for the Parish. This means that there will be considerably less expenditure next year. Details of the implications of this on your Council Tax and plans for next year will be given in next month’s Pill Paper and at the Annual Parish Meeting (see below).

 

The Library  North Somerset Council has asked for comments on the library service, both the permanent Library at Crockerne House and the Mobile Library. Anyone who wishes to make any comments should hand them into the Parish Clerk at the Resource Centre.

 

Cardboard Recycling  North Somerset have also asked us to remind people that corrugated card must not be put with paper recycling, but should be put out with green waste. Ordinary cardboard of all types should be put out with paper for recycling.

 

Dog News 

1. For dog owners who don’t like their dogs getting wet while they’re shopping, two rings for tying dogs to have now been provided under the tunnelled part of the precinct next to NISA.

2. We have now asked for Brookside Playing Field to become subject to a formal dog ban order, except of course for the footpath around the perimeter. This is in line with common advice for playing fields where children play.

 

Police News  The next bi-monthly Public Meeting for people to raise appropriate matters with our local police officers is on Thursday, 5^th March in the Community Centre at 7.30 p.m. Please note that the police are now in regular attendance and available to the public each Thursday between 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. at the Resource Centre.

 

Freedom of Information  The Council has produced a leaflet outlining details of its workings and listing all the appropriate information available to the public. Copies of this leaflet can be obtained for 50p from the Parish Council office at the Resource Centre.

 

Annual Parish Meeting – Advance Notice  This year’s Annual Parish Meeting will take place at 7.30 p.m. on Monday, 28^th April at the Community Centre. This is the opportunity for the Parish Council to report on its work over the previous year and outline its plans for the following year, together with information from bodies with whom the Council is in partnership, including the Resource Centre, the Community Forum, the Friends of Watchhouse Hill, Pill in Bloom and the Community Centre.

 

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Dear Jo

 

I was very gratified to receive this letter from a local resident recently:-

 

“Yesterday I was taking my regular walk through the wood along the Bottoms and up towards Failand. I had noticed how the wood has suffered somewhat over the past few seasons due to lack of management. In particular the recent bad weather has caused problems on the footpath as a result of fallen and overhanging trees.

 

I was most pleasantly surprised to meet two Parish Councillors busily giving their time and effort to clearing some of the damage. I would just like you to pass on my thanks as a member of the public to these gentlemen. I know that there are many other occasions when members of the Council give their time in other aspects of Parish involvement and too often we just take it all for granted”.

 

I passed on this message to the two councillors involved – Derek Waters and Arthur Taylor – who were pleased at the sentiments expressed. It is always good to receive appreciation for one’s efforts. It can be very difficult sometimes to work within the constraints (especially financial) that we are under, and frustrating when we are criticised for things that are not our responsibility, especially when we have to make decisions which we know will not please everyone.

 

We do feel that, as a Council, we have made and do have a positive effect on our community. We shall welcome the opportunity to talk about this and answer questions at the Annual Parish Meeting on 28^th April (see Parish Council News).

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Gerry Hunt. Chair of the Parish Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PARISH COUNCIL AND THE RESOURCE CENTRE

 

The Parish Council office is now firmly established in the Resource Centre and, from the Council’s point of view, the new arrangement is working very successfully. The Council is glad to have been able to enable the Resource Centre to continue by entering into this arrangement, which will prove mutually beneficial and of value to the community.

 

The Parish Council office is open, with Julie Smart, the Clerk, in attendance, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9.30 – 12.30 and from 1.30 – 3.30, and on Thursday from 9.30 – 12.30 and from 3.30 – 5.30. Volunteers for the Resource Centre are also available to provide general information at these times and also on Thursday afternoons from 1.30 – 3.30. The Centre is also open on Saturday mornings from 10.00 – 12.00 with a rota of Parish Clerk, Parish Councillors or volunteers.

 

All the previous outside agencies are still in attendance at the Resource Centre, together with the Youth Drop-in. Details of these are available at the Centre. In addition the Police are in attendance on Thursday afternoons between 4.00 and 5.30 p.m.