APM – Chairman’s Report 2024-25

Belstone Parish Council – Chairman’s Report 2024-25

The Council has held seven ordinary meetings and three planning meetings

Members attendance at the meetings has been good. Representatives of WDBC, Highways, DCC, DNPA and members of the public have also attended. Councillors have also attended training meeting on various matters.

At the end of August, Sally Fullwood resigned as Clerk from the end of September. Cllr Jon Pike agreed to take over as Acting Clerk with the position being advertised in February 2025. This was duly done but received no response so Cllr Pike said he would stand down as a Councillor to take on the post on a permanent basis. This means that a new Councillor will be required.

Nine planning applications have been discussed. Six have been granted by DNPA and three are still ongoing.

The idea to reinstate a lamp on the Coronation stone has been dropped for the time being as many difficulties have been encountered.

Many Highways matters dealt with have included hedge cutting, blocked gutters and drains, potholes, cattle grid problems and much else besides.

Parking remains a problem throughout the village and as I said last year, there seems to be no answer to it.

Repairs will be undertaken to some of the village seats and new wood will be fitted to the stocks.

The precept for 2025-2026 has been set at £3,981, an increase of 6%

Much correspondence, together with various surveys have been dealt with and action taken as necessary.

Many thanks to Mrs Khun for arranging the maintenance of the Pound Garden and to Chris Walpole for acting as internal Auditor. Finally, my thanks to fellow Councillors for their help and interest in Council matters over the last year. To Sally Fullwood for her work as Clerk to September and to Jon Pike for stepping into the role.

MWJ Ash
Chairman. 18/4/2025