COLEBROOKE Parish Council met on March 15 and congratulated the Clerk on achieving the Certificate in Local Council Administration.

The council learnt that it now met the requirements for the General Power of Competence which allows a council to do anything an individual could do unless specifically prohibited by law.

It gives councils the freedom to work together and to act more innovatively. The council resolved to assume this power.

It was pleased to note that there had been a very successful public meeting to discuss the draft parish plan. The completed plan will be launched at an event in June and then focus groups will be established to deliver specific aspects.

The council has initiated a focus group to work on improving access to effective broadband services within the parish. The group has links with other councils and now awaits the Phase Two roll out to see whether the specification will meet the needs of residents.

The council heard details of a new Wiser Money Project funded by the British Gas Energy Trust which is designed to help and support people especially in rural communities with a free money and debt advisory service.

Residents can telephone 01823 461099 or 01271 343111 to access the service.

The council continues to support the refurbishment of the Village Hall and was pleased to hear of the increasing range of activities there including the new short mat bowls club.

The next event in the Hall was the annual Village Concert on March 19 and the next concert will be Miranda Sykes and Reg Preston on April 8.

The monthly walking group continues on Sunday, March 27 at 1pm. The new and revised parish council website will be launched in April.

The council met Devon Air Ambulance Trust to discuss a night landing site within the parish. A suitable site could not be identified but the council was keen to support a site if identified in a neighbouring parish.

The council continued to be very concerned about the state of some of the roads in the parish and is seeking urgent action from Devon County Council.

It heard from the police that no crime had been reported in the parish since their last meeting.

The full draft minutes of Colebrooke Parish Council are available on the council noticeboard in Coleford and on the website: www.colebrookeparishcouncil.org.uk

If you have any comments or queries the Clerk, Diane Shepherd can be contacted on 01363 85051 or email: [email protected] .

DS