Police Report
We are happy to report that there were no crimes reported in Wymeswold in December. There has, however, been an increase in the local area of thefts from vehicles that are left unlocked. The police would like to urge the public to lock their cars and keep valuables out of sight.
Church Street Splitter Island
Cllr Shepherd sent an update on the plans to install a splitter island at the top of Church Street. After reviewing the comments received during LCC’s informal consultation exercise they have decided to progress the scheme further and will arrange for a widespread consultation to be carried out. This is scheduled to take place in February and will give a four week period for local residents and other key stakeholders to comment on the proposal. Any comments received will be reviewed and a decision on the future of the scheme will be made in due course.
Clay Street Handrail
Plans to install a handrail on the path leading up to the old entrance to the Memorial Hall are underway and work should start on this at the end of January. This will hopefully assist our parishioners during icy conditions and keep them safe.
Precept 2014 – 2015
One of the items on the agenda for the Parish Council’s January meeting is the setting of the precept for the coming year. The budget is discussed in detail in December allowing the Councillors to make a decision on the amount of money required to fulfil all the services the Parish Council provides such as mowing, maintenance of the cemetery and churchyard, the Washdyke community area and the Burton Lane playing field.
While the Parish Council receives some income from the leasing of the playing field and the cemetery, the majority of the income comes from the precept which is the money received from Charnwood Borough Council via the Council Tax.
After careful consideration and budget planning we are pleased to report that the Parish Council is able to provide all the services in the village without increasing the precept. Therefore the precept for 2014-15 will remain at £18,700 which is the same rate as the previous five years.
This means there will not be an increase to your Council Tax bill for the amount which is allocated to Wymeswold.
We have also been able to include the maintenance of the hedges on the three main footpaths in the village – The Jitty, St Mary’s footpath, (running along the churchyard from The Stockwell to Church Street) and The Civic (which runs from the A6006 to Brook Street). The overgrown hedges are always are problem in the summer months and we are pleased to be able to include them in the village maintenance programme.
The Parish Council has also allocated funding towards the new War Memorial Plaque to be installed by the Memorial Hall, the installation of a new decorative railing over the River Mantle, and the possibility of a speed gun for the village.
We hope that you agree we are looking forward to a new year of exciting projects for the village.
The next meeting of Wymeswold Parish Council will held on Monday 3rd February 2014 in the Jubilee Room, Wymeswold Memorial Hall, Clay Street, Wymeswold, starting at 7:15pm. All parishioners are welcome to attend.
Alice Gardam
Clerk to Wymeswold Parish Council
wymeswoldpc@hotmail.co.uk