Clerk’s Report September 2024
Parish Clerk Report for 9th September 2024
Completed Actions
Copies of all letters and emails will be available to view at the meeting.
- I have contacted SLCC and DNPA regarding a possible contractor to fix the lamp. Both came back with suggestions that Cllr Pike is following up.
- I have contacted a parishioner with experience in grant applications, but she was unable to provide any suggestions.
- I have facilitated a conversation between Cllr Pike and the Lighting department regarding the lamp.
- The External Auditors have written to confirm our exemption from external audit.
- I have consulted with the councillors regarding information on ticks and 6A bus changes which I had been sent which could be of interest to parishioners and whether it should go on the website. There was no conclusive answer, so I didn’t put them up.
- I have also consulted with the councillors about a pre-consultation for a road closure at Fatherford. Only one councillor responded so I used his opinion as the response to go ahead.
- I filled in a feedback form from the bank.
- I would like to thank Cllr Pike for covering the Clerk’s emails during my holiday.
New Hedgerow Regulations
In one of the NALC newsletters there was the following information about a new law which has come into effect, which may be of interest to some land owners:
New regulations on maintaining hedgerows have recently came into force (The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024) which cover agricultural land including allotments. The rules relate to hedges which are 20 metres long (or more) or which join a hedge at either end. The rules do not apply to hedges around a house and garden. A relevant hedge (there are exemptions) must not be cut or trimmed in the period March to August inclusive.
Website
I have added the following posts and pages:
- Minutes and Documents from July Meeting
- Minutes from July Planning Meeting
- New Financial Regulations
- New Risk Register
- New Asset Register
- Additional section on main council page with links to external information
Agenda Item
The draft budget for 2025/26 will be sent out in October for discussion at the November meeting. If any councillors have ideas for projects that they would like included in that budget, this is the time to raise them to the Council. Our precept for the next financial year is set in January, based on the budget that we decide. Extra expenditure would have to be delayed until April 2026 if it is not included in this budget.
Sally Fullwood
Belstone Parish Clerk