HAVE YOUR SAY - Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in England

On 13^th September 2011, the Boundary Commission for England published its initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituencies in England.

A public consultation on the proposals has now opened and you are invited to have your say and submit comments by 5^th December 2011.

It is proposed for a Liskeard constituency to be formed from the existing South East Cornwall, North Cornwall and St Austell and Newquay constituencies.

You can view the proposals via the Boundary Commission's website www.independent.gov.uk/boundarycommissionforengland

OR

In person at the following venues local to St Dominick:

• Callington Library, Launceston, PL17 7DR
• Guildhall (Saltash Town Council), Lower Fore Street, Saltash, PL12 6JX
• Council Offices, Luxestowe House, Liskeard, PL14 3DZ 

Cornwall residents urged to register now to vote in 2012

Cornwall Council is encouraging local people to register now to make sure they can vote in 2012. Police Commissioner Elections are expected to take place in 2012 and local by-elections could also occur at short notice, so it is important to register now.

The Council is required to produce a new and accurate list of voters each year which then stays in force for the following twelve months.

Electoral registration forms were posted before the August bank holiday weekend to over 250,000 households in Cornwall to enable the new electoral register to be compiled for use in 2012.

“The new electoral register will be published on 1 December and only people who are on the register will be able to vote“ explained Denise Holwill, Cornwall’s Electoral Services Manager. “It is vital that people complete and return the form as soon as possible so their names can be included on the register and tax payers’ money can be spent most efficiently.”

The forms contain the details of all the people who are currently registered to vote at that address. If none of the details on the form have changed, the householder can either sign the form and return it in the pre paid envelope provided or register electronically by:

• Phone
• Registering online via a website
• Sending a text message

Further details, including the security code that householders need to quote, are given on the form. Registering electronically is not only the quickest and easiest method, but also helps the Council to save taxpayers money.

If any details on the form have changed, people should cross through the names of anyone who no longer lives at the address, amend any mistakes or add the names of anyone new who is eligible to vote. They then need to sign the form and return it – either in the pre paid envelope or by dropping it into any Council office or one stop shop.

Denise and her team hope that as many people as possible will complete and return their forms as soon as they receive them. If the Council receives a response by 22 September, this will prevent a reminder form being sent out. Any households who do not reply by then will be sent a reminder form at the beginning of October – which will cost the Council additional money.

In addition a team of over 100 canvassers will then visit any households who have still not registered between 21 October and 14 November to help people fill in their forms.

“People are required by law to provide the information which is asked for in the forms“ said Denise. “While most people respond quickly, we always have a number of households who do not return their forms.

“Based on last year’s response we anticipate having to send out around 80,000 reminders in October and subsequently visit around 30,000 of those homes which have not previously responded to our forms. If people look out for the forms and respond promptly then they can help to make savings which can go towards other essential services”.

Anyone who does not received their form can telephone Cornwall Council Electoral Services to request a replacement on 0300 123 1115.

Why a zero increase on council tax and an increase in Parish Council Precept?

In these cash-strapped times, it was good news for council taxpayers in Cornwall when Cornwall Council announced, back in February this year, its plans to freeze council tax for the next two years.

Good news indeed but how was this going to be achieved when Cornwall Council like every other local authority in the UK were looking for ways to seriously slash its expenditure and increase revenue?

It’s all due to a financial incentive from Central Government - if a local authority froze the level of council tax paid out by residents, it can claim 2.5% of the total council tax collected. This Government subsidy is worth almost £6 million pounds to Cornwall alone.

Unlike Cornwall Council, Central Government does not subsidise Parish and Town Councils whose main source of funding is limited to only the Precept (funds collected from parishioners via council tax) and applying for grants for specific things e.g. the new play area at Lovell’s Park has been paid for entirely from play grants and not from the Precept. However, Parish Councils being local government can often be excluded from applying for many types of grants.

Sadly, Parish and Town Councils all over the country are experiencing increases in their expenditure as the costs of the services they provide go up. As the current Government is pushing through its Big Society plans, it is inevitable that more and more will be devolved to Parish Council level - we have seen this already with Cornwall Council passing responsibility of grit bins and public toilets downwards. With no Central Government subsidies, Parish Councils have no choice but to rely on the Precept to ensure that the parish is not left without.

Be warned though, it is likely that Cornwall Council will increase council tax for financial year 2013-2014.

PARISH CLERK VACANCY - Deadline for applications now expired

Due to the current Parish Clerk’s recent resignation, St Dominic Parish Council is now seeking to recruit a replacement.

The ideal candidate will have strong administrative and organisational skills, sound experience of accounts and budgets and be a good communicator. Fluent IT skills are essential and knowledge of local government procedures is desirable.

The successful candidate will have a positive approach to playing a key role in Council’s work within the community and ideally have an interest in the parish of St Dominick.

The post is home-based for 15 hours per month (expenses given) which includes attendance at one evening public meeting every month (except January and August). Duties include publishing meeting agendas, producing minutes, ensuring proper procedures in accordance with statutory laws and guidelines, liaising with contractors and outside bodies, communicating Council decisions and managing the finances of the Council.

Training will be given by the outgoing Clerk though the Parish Council may fund further training if required. Salary is according to the National Agreement for Local Government Employees, with the scale point based on relevant experience.

For further details on how to apply and job description, please contact Debbie Ashton (Parish Clerk) on 01822 841173 or stdompc@yahoo.co.uk or click on the links below.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 14^th September 2011


Letter to Applicant


What is a Parish Clerk?


About the Parish Council


Person Specification


Job Description


The Essential Clerk

Haye Farm and Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship scheme - public drop-in event

View over Haye Farm 'mash'

Friday 22nd 2011 July will see a public drop-in event at the Parish Hall in which members of the parish will be able to see and ask questions on what is proposed for Haye Marsh under Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship scheme. 

The Parish Council and SODITT are urging as many parishioners as possible to attend and give their views following the huge support in parish in recent times in the campaign to protect this precious area. The Parish Council will be attending the event en masse at 6.30pm as there is a concern over the future of Haye Marsh.

Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship is a 10 year land management programme where that programme of management must meet at least one of eight themes such as securing the recovery of nationally important species of native species or reversing the decline of farmyard birds. Farmers can apply to join in order to receive funding to help achieve these themes.

Do you support the Parish Council’s project to ease the local parking blackspot? (15 May 2011)

For quite a time now, there has been an issue with cars parking at the junction and on road bend next to the Church and opposite Post Office whilst people use the village facilities.

The parked cars have caused difficulties for the local bus and other long vehicles when passing that stretch of the road to the point where sometimes bus drivers have had to call out for cars to be moved so they can pass. Being a bit of blind bend too, there’s also a serious danger to other oncoming road users as vehicles try to pass the parked cars.

The Parish Council has long recognised that something needs to be done to help ease this situation and keep that area safe as well as providing a convenient facility for parishioners for them to be able to pop in and use the village services.

The Parish Council is proposing to buy a small corner of Glebe land opposite the Post Office from the Diocese and put in four car parking spaces.

Councillor Jim Flashman has invited the Parish Council to apply for another grant from the Cornwall Community Chest Fund, and it was agreed by Council at the 10^th May meeting that the grant should be applied for to help with the costs of this layby project.

In order to apply for the grant, letters or support are required from parishioners. If you do support the plans proposed by Council, please write to the Parish Clerk (36 Marythorne Road, Bere Alston, PL20 7BZ) or e-mail stdompc@yahoo.co.uk

You can see the planning application (PA11/02686) online via Cornwall Council’s online planning service.

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING on Wed 4th May 2011

Parish Council Precept 2011-2012 (12 Apr 2011)

In response to concerns from parishioners regarding the increase of this year’s precept, Members felt it was only right and proper for an explanation to be issued.

The 2011-2012 budget was agreed at the 1^st Dec 2010 meeting which was open for parishioners to attend. Analysis of the 2010-2011 expenditure showed an overall increase in expenditure above what was originally predicted at budget setting time in 2009. Parish Council responsibilities have also increased since the precept was last set. For example:

• For 2010-2011, the budget for maintenance of the Recreation Ground had been set at £80. In reality, £1000 had been spent just on grass cutting.

• As there is more play equipment to insure which resulted in the premium doubling in the past year increasing from £411 to £1020. It looks likely that premium will be again higher for this year.

Parish Councils are also obliged by law to have emergency funds (known as ‘General Reserves’) equating to at least 6 months of expenditure set aside.

The Parish Council is entitled to apply for a refund from HMRC of VAT monies paid for purchases. This has been done for play items purchased from grant funding. However, grant funders have stipulated that it must be re-invested back into play and recreation only. A grant of £2000 has already been pledged to the football club from VAT monies received. The remaining VAT refund and additional VAT monies to be applied for will go to the construction of a BMX track plus two more items of kit for the playing field.  

The Parish Council is keen to ensure that their procedures are transparent and that information is publically available. Our new website helps make information more accessible plus the Parish News and its Roving Reporter, Post Office noticeboard and Parish Hall noticeboards are valuable outlets for posting Parish Council information (when space allows) for which Council is most grateful.

All meetings of the Parish Council are open to the public and have a session at the start of every meeting where you can come and tell us of your concerns. St Dominick residents are very welcome at every meeting. 

D&C Police Community Messages (31 Mar 2011)

Several distraction burglaries have been committed in the Devon area in the last few days.In some incidents, the offender claims to be from the Water board in others the Gas board, these are thought to be being carried out by one male. This male is described as in his 20's, 5ft 6ins tall with short black hair. Please be suspicious of any cold callers, ask for identification and let no one into your house you do not know, however plausible, until you are certain they are legitimate. Cold callers should expect to be challenged these days. 

Please phone 08452 777 444 with any information.

Clean Cornwall Week 2nd April to 10th April (23 Mar 2011)

Saturday 2nd April sees the start of the first 'Clean Cornwall Week' for 2011 and this year also sees the scheme's 5th birthday. Clean Cornwall Week is organised by Cornwall Council's Waste and Environment Service.

Lots of individuals and community groups are already registering their events but Cornwall Council hopes that as many people and groups as possible go out and about within their community and organise a litter event. 

Organiser Stephanie Tiplady says 'it could be a litter pick, either big or small, handing out car litter bags from your local shop/post office or even a ‘rubbish’ quiz in your local pub or village hall…..entirely up to you, as long as it raises the profile of litter awareness in and around your village or town'.

Click here for more info....