AS winter approaches we are all very fearful of what our energy bills, our food bills and other expenditure will be.

It is no different for the three levels of councils town/parish, district or county.

You may have seen in the press a plea from councillor John Hart the leader of Devon County Council asking Central Government for better funding for counties.

Funding cascades from central government to county then district and then your parish or town council.

County and district council tax demands are capped which means that if those councils are to balance the books one of two things needs to happen, an increase to the limit, or the probable withdrawal of non-mandatory services.

Although parish and town councils are not capped they have fairly limited powers.

With all this doom and gloom I am pleased to announce that this morning I received an e-mail from the leader of Devon County Council to say that we can now start spending what remains of our Locality Fund.

I have just under £6,000 left! So I advise those community groups in my division who are looking to plan things for the community that they have a word with me and also check on the Devon County Council website to see what the criteria for a Locality Fund grant are.

I have been able to carry out my surgeries most Saturdays, only missing when I was away from the area.

So far the weather has not stopped me but I do have to say that with the advent of colder wetter weather it may be difficult for me to carry out my surgeries that are in the open so to speak. Here I am speaking of Cheriton Bishop and Copplestone.

All I can say is if I don’t appear and you have a problem do please email me or give me a call. Everybody has my details by now I am sure.

Cllr Frank Letch MBE