CREDITON Hamlets Parish Council has been asked to respond to a consultation from Mid Devon District Council about grass cutting within the parish.

Devon County Council has decided to reduce the specification on cutting grass verges on land owned by DCC within the parish.

MDDC propose that Crediton Hamlets Parish Council could pay MDDC to do this work or find someone locally to cut it and pay for it themselves, or they can accept that the service may cease. Councillors were concerned that the map that accompanied the consultation was incorrect and deferred a decision until a more accurate map was provided.

The councillors resolved at this meeting to establish a Crediton Hamlets Parish Council website to comply with the Local Accountability and Audit Act 2014.

A website is a mandatory requirement for parish councils and the set up costs will be met by central government.

The website should be up and running by the end of March, 2016. If anyone locally has some photographs of the parish that could be placed on the website please contact the Clerk.

Councillors again expressed concern about the proposed closure of MDDC’s area office in Crediton and resolved that, if this was implemented, MDDC should be asked to provide a six month transition service whilst members of the parish became aware of alternative ways to access the services.

Councillors were advised that they had £2,987.66 monies available to them for funding capital improvements to land designated as public open spaces within the parish.

Any proposed project must be submitted to the parish council. If approved an application would go to MDDC. No work can be undertaken until MDDC has approved the project.

If any members of the parish would like a project considered please contact the clerk.

Councillors deferred decisions until January on a number of requests for grants including CAB, Crediton Transport and grants for churchyards.

At the January meeting councillors will determine their precept request for 2016/17, fully aware that the monies being provided by Central Government to the parish decline year-on-year.

One member of the public was present who raised concerns about the lease on the playground at Yeoford and the use of Section 106 monies for a drainage project in Yeoford.

Cllrs Coren and Heal (MDDC) said that they would look into these matters.

The draft minutes of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council are available on three noticeboards within the parish: Hookway, Westernlea and Yeoford.

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

Alan Quick