Clerk’s Report 27th September 2022
BELSTONE PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Clerk Report for 27th September 2022
Completed Actions
Copies of all letters and emails will be available to view at the meeting.
- Email from Fell runners forwarded to Commoners.
- Zurich have notified us that they are transferring our insurance to another subsidiary because of Brexit.
- Burl site visit arranged
Agenda Items
2022/23-90 Mid-Year Budget
Estimates for end of year expenditure show savings of nearly £400 (coloured in green) due to lower increases in pay and charges than expected.
In November ’21 when the budget was approved it was assumed that we would be covering half the Jubilee costs (then estimated at £720) with grants, half from the precept. Only £100 was obtained from West Devon Borough Council, and £842 was spent, £360 was covered by the precept budget, leaving approximately £382 to come from the general reserves. However with the savings that we have made, and £107 VAT refund, we have covered that.
We were expecting to spend more than the precept this year, but it looks like we will not be doing so. Precept £3,408, total estimated income £3,616, total estimated expenditure £3,344. The general reserves currently stand at £3,227.73, with £610 in an election expenses reserve.
The general reserve is therefore quite healthy. The guidance on reserves is that the general reserve should be maintained at between 3 and 12 months Net Revenue Expenditure, with smaller councils at the 12-month end. Since our expenditure is currently estimated to be £3,344 we are at around the right level of reserves, even after the Jubilee expenditure.
The account balances are currently £1,584.33 in Current Account, £1,643.40 in Reserve Account.
2022/23-94 Road Problems
I logged the dip at the bottom of Skaigh Lane on the DCC system 30th July, and notified Josh Scillitoe our Neighbourhood Highways Officer. On 1st Aug Devon Highways replied:
“Thank you for your report. An assessment has been undertaken and the visiting inspector has potentially highlighted a wider area of surface deterioration, around which you may notice some spray markings to help determine the size of repair required. The information will now be looked at in more detail by our teams and where necessary the work will be ordered. Please note that in the short term, any actionable safety defects, in accordance with our Highway Safety Policy, will have been passed separately for repair.”
Josh replied 3rd August ” Update on W221529858 Skaigh Lane – I inspected yesterday and have asked for a patch repair to be completed asap as its quite big”
I could not find the boulder mentioned, but Sue has been informed that Highways have now removed it.
2022/23-97 Muddy Lane Sign
This was the email from Deborah Cunningham:
Hi Sally, I am not sure whether the parish council is the right contact for this but thought it was a good place to start. We live at Mowhay, Skaigh Lane and have footpath/ tracks passing either side of us. It is a relatively common occurrence to find vehicles attempting to drive down “Muddy Lane “ which passes beside our house and on past Pear Trees. These drivers are blindly following their sat navs and soon recognise the error of their ways, often after damaging their vehicles. Last night at about 11pm a bin lorry and a Tesco delivery van tried to go down there. We would very much like an official road sign warning mistaken drivers that it is unsuitable for vehicles. Can you help or point me in the right direction to whoever might be able to?
Yours Deborah Cunningham
I believe that although Devon Highways would be responsible for any signs, they have no budget for new signs, so would not be able to help. I believe that should Deborah wish to proceed with this she should contact Dartmoor National Park and Devon Highways to ask for advice. It is likely that she would need to provide the sign herself, and get their permission to put it up.
2022/23-99 DALC Conference
Further details of the schedule and topics to be discussed at the DALC Conference can be found at https://devonalc.org.uk/events/dalc-agm-conference-and-exhibition-2022/
2022/23-102 Topical Topics
The suggested topics this month are
Dream-A-Way – Dream-A-Way are an Exeter based charity helping to make dreams come true for Devon’s children and adults with disabilities or life affecting health conditions, including those with terminal prognosis. Making Dreams Come True for People in Devon – Dream-A-Way
Pop-Up Choir – Villages in Action is creating a pop-up choir and we are recruiting for choir members! The choir will sing original songs composed by professional writers & musicians who have responded to what local people have said they value in their community. This project is for different ages and abilities. All you need is a sense of fun! There are some expenses available towards participants’ travel if this might be a barrier to involvement.
Choir starts on Tues 13th September, with 4 x weekly sessions from 11am-12.30pm, plus a recording session to capture the songs learnt in the 5th week. FREE TO PARTICIPATE.
Location: Riverside Community Centre, Station Road, Bovey Tracey, TQ13 9AW
Free Digital Skills Sessions – Funded by the Community Renewal Fund, Digital Devon aims to support residents in gaining vital Digital skills in order for them to be able to use technology effectively and safely across both their working and personal lives. Since the COVID-19 pandemic this training is especially important for those who struggle to use online services, and those who have become more isolated than ever in rural communities. https://skillslaunchpad.org.uk/community-learning/ Thursdays at Okehampton Library.
Let’s Talk Teenagers – New course of highly popular Let’s Talk Teenagers sessions starts this Autumn. The second series of highly successful webinars for parents of teenagers is set to kick off this autumn, covering a range of new topics.
Let’s Talk Teenagers is a series of online support sessions and an opportunity for parents and carers of teenagers to hear about the challenges young people are facing today and discover ways to help them navigate their way through them.
West Devon Local Plan Consultation – New website ‘My Place, my views’ https://pshwd.commonplace.is/ easy to use to comment on things in West Devon outside the Dartmoor National Park. We are affected by Okehampton, e.g. the building of the new station, so can comment here.
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone – Avian influenza prevention zone declared in south-west England. The government has put Devon under avian flu restrictions, along with Cornwall and parts of Somerset. A number of avian influenza cases in poultry and wild and captive birds has been detected across the region, and it is hoped that the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will reduce the risk of further outbreaks of the disease occurring.
It is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size. Backyard owners with small numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese must take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals.