We’ve set the 2013/14 Council Tax

Capture 2013-14 Tax Rates

 

Last Friday (1st March) I had the honour of chairing the Council Tax Setting Committee of South Somerset District Council. This doesn’t happen often (indeed ever), but the Police were so late setting their budget that it wasn’t available at the normal Council Meeting. Hence my sitting on a sub-committee with 5 colleagues (in political balance, of course).

As you see, Brympton’s precept was among the lowest. Indeed most parishes went for an increase in tax. Various good reasons, but this is probably the last uncapped year for parishes and I worry we may have missed out – Lufton’s new village hall won’t build itself and it would be better, in my view, to spread the cost collecting over many years rather than borrowing.

The trouble with a low precept is the taxpayer ends up paying for paperwork instead of projects. Ah well.

South Somerset fly-tipping figures fall

Fly-tipping figures released today [15 October 2013] by the government show incidents county-wide have dropped by 497 or 8.7% from 5,687 to 5,190.

South Somerset’s fall has carried on into the first three months of this financial year, down by 114 to 338 on the same period last year, and down by 94 on January-March 2013. All Somerset districts saw improved figures in 2012/13; as well as South Somerset, Mendip was down 73 to 1,631, Sedgemoor down 306 to 1,161, Taunton Deane down 42 to 646, and West Somerset down 71 to 93.

The improvements were first reported to the Somerset Waste Board four months ago in June, and follows a path previously predicted by board chairman Cllr Derek Yeomans. The fall has coincided with greater efforts to deter fly-tippers, through new equipment, warning signs and further training for district enforcement officers, backed by Somerset County Council.

South Somerset and other councils are moving to reduce the fly-tipping “supply” by urging residents and businesses to check if those removing rubbish – such as builders – have the correct waste carrier’s licence. Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economic Development said, “Building on this good news, this district will continue to fight fly-tipping, with our enforcement staff leading the way in tackling this crime. You can play a vital role by reporting suspicious activity and giving evidence, as this remains a tough crime to deter or prosecute. We must ensure that our countryside is kept looking beautiful. One thing we can all do is to ensure our own household or business rubbish is not fly-tipped; just ask anyone taking it away – builders, gardeners and other tradespeople – for their waste carrier licence.”

Clearing up Somerset’s fly-tipping costs South Somerset and the other district councils a total of around £150,000 a year, with the County Council contributing about £36,000 in 2012/13.

New YTFC Traffic Page

Your local councillors (Parish, District and County) are working together with YTFC to try to reduce the match day problems, but we recognise that any fix is dependent on help from the Police and from County Highways. The councils’ main concerns are:

  • safety for pedestrians,
  • getting the bus route roads working and
  • allowing residents to get in and out.

The key messages to supporters are:

  • Walk if you can, car share if you can’t
  • Try to park at the ground
  • Park well clear of bus stops, crossings and junctions so that the roads can work

The new page (click here) explains all.

SSDC 2012-13 Budget

SSDC’s net revenue budget is £16,577,000, a cut of £768,400 (or 4.4%) from 2011/12. This has been achieved in the face of significant cost inflation (e.g. fuel) and without any significant loss of front-line services. The Council’s share of the total Council Tax (for a Band D property) will remain at £150.74; which is 10 % of your total tax bill.

The full budget book can be downloaded from here. Alongside each service heading, it is made clear how the service is funded (business rates, council tax, grant, etc).

Dial “101” for non-emergency calls

NON EMERGENCY telephone calls to police the number are now made by dialling “101”.

There will be flyers and posters going up soon but I thought you might find this useful, please feel free to pass it on.

Remember, 101 is for non emergency calls ……………999 in an emergency situation remains unchanged. Click on the blue graphic for the police web page on this.