The current Newsletter

David Bettoney

Clerk to the Council

High Cottage

Zeal Monachorum

Devon

EX17 6DH

Newsletter January/February 2008 [written by the Parish Clerk]

After a break due to distribution problems the Parish Council has decided to revive the newsletter, possibly at greater intervals. Thank you for your supportive remarks about it. If you would be prepared to assist with distribution of future issues please get in touch with me. (Of course, there is always the option of electronic delivery – see below)

The Parish Council is now:

• John K Welsby CBE - Higher Burston Farm –  as Chairman

• Nick Burgess – Higher Week –  as Deputy Chairman

• Mike Bostock – Yew Tree Cottage

• Howard Castle – Burstone Haven

• Erica Eden – 2 Hillside

• Bryan Hollingsworth – Wallens

• L H George Livingstone-Learmonth – Heron Court

The next meeting is Thursday 13th March 2007 at 7:30pm in the village hall. All members of the public are welcome and may address the council in Open Forum. I welcome ideas for anything to be included in the Newsletter

Website

There is a web-site for the village that has been recently improved, with links to the Parish Council, and eventually aims to be a “one-stop-shop” for all information relating to the parish. The web-master, Mike Bostock, asks for your contributions to help make this web-site a success.

www.zeal-monachorum.co.uk

Notices of future village events, personal successes or just an item of interest can all be placed on the site. Just click on “Hot Gossip”.

There is now a “Village Diary” page so you can see what events are planned. If you know of any that are not displayed then please contact Mike and he will ensure they feature.

Electronic Delivery

Rather than use paper and have this newsletter delivered through your door we will be placing it up on the web-site and can inform you by e-mail when there are new parish notices. To sign up for this service either e-mail the webmaster, or fill in the form at http://www.zeal-monachorum.co.uk/subscription.html

Electoral Register

The new register is now available and a copy is held by the clerk. You are urged to check that you are included and that your details are correct. The register is a public document and may be inspected by anyone but there are legal limits on what may be done with it. For example copies may not be made.

Recycling

Officers from Mid Devon attended a meeting of the Parish Council and explained that the system in use in the village worked well in general and that Mid Devon was well on the way to meeting government targets. The officers explained that despite perceived concerns there were few substantiated incidents of rats caused by fortnightly collections. They pointed out that food waste could be put out, in any event, weekly as it could go in black sacks and also – as long as it was not in plastic bags – into the alternate brown bins. There has been a change in practice in that now black bags and black recycling boxes are collected on the same day.

Police matters

Two members of the Police service from Crediton came to a Parish Council meeting and addressed concerns raised. They mentioned that they had a power [Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002] to deal with vehicles that are being driven in such a way as “to cause or being likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public”. An officer will warn the driver of the conduct and of the powers which, if the conduct continues, include simply seizing the vehicle. In general there is little of this nature in the village but it is interesting to know that this power exists. They explained that they were, at the time, the only officers on duty to cover the whole area dealt with by Crediton but that this was due to the fact that the area had a low crime rate and that response officers from other areas would attend emergencies if needed. Officers will, if their duties allow, attend other Parish Council meetings and also the Wednesday coffee mornings at 1030 in the village hall.

Precept

The Parish Council gets a sum of money each year by way of a precept on the council tax. This year it will be the same as last at £2000. To raise this sum each Band D taxpayer has to pay approximately £12 per year or some 25p per week. The council needs to spend a certain amount of money next year on repairs to the Jubilee seat and the bus shelter. Of course no one likes to pay tax but you may wish to ensure that you are getting all the benefits to which you are entitled.

Benefits, of course, depend on personal circumstances but please do not think that because you are in work and earning a reasonable amount there could be none for which you could qualify. Although Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are payable to those on lower incomes other benefits such as Working Tax Credits have a much higher limit. H M Revenue and Customs claims that “9 out of 10 families with children are eligible for tax credits”. Mid Devon have advisers who can be contacted on 01884 255255 as a starting point.

Devonshire Best Kept Village

The Parish Council would like to enter Zeal Monachorum in the “Best Kept Village” competition again this year. By and large, when no building works are in progress, the village tends to be kept neat and tidy and hedges and banks are normally well trimmed. With a regular litter picking round and home owners helping in this respect we also do well in keeping the village largely free of litter. This year we would like to focus on those areas viewed by the judges as they pass through the village - particularly fronts of houses and front gardens viewable from the road, and keeping the roads themselves and the car parks free of refuse, recycle and other plastic sacks and similar items. Such measures may all help to impress the judges and we hope everyone will support the Council in seeking to put ZM's best face forward.

Planning

There have been a number of planning issues of late, be assured that your Parish Council listens very carefully to your concerns and will discuss them fully before making their recommendations to the planners. To see what your Council has said on your behalf and to keep abreast of current issues you should, if you can, visit the Mid Devon Planning Department web pages – the link is on the ZM web-site “link” page.

Other Matters

Other issues in which Council members are currently engaged are:-

Survey of footpaths and bridleways – George – his excellent survey is up on the web-site.

Parish Emergency Plan – Nick and Mike – the fruits of their labours are enclosed with this newsletter where they are establishing, with this survey, the resources available to us and who may need assistance in the event of an emergency.

Village Archive – as always, Erica is the custodian of this treasure.