AS we came to the end of October councils at all three levels (County, District, Town or Parish) will start looking at how much they have spent, how much is left in the kitty and how they can plan the budget for 2024/25.

We councillors have already had a first look at a draft budget for county and district and I'm sure that the same will be happening in the towns and parishes.

The top tier councils have their council tax capped at 2.99 per cent.

As we know inflation is well above that figure and so we can only expect some changes in the services provided.

At county level this has already been seen at the proposed disbanding of the mobile library service, and I hear that the council is also going to reduce the payments to foster carers!

The Local Government Association has undertaken some investigations and finds that the county councils throughout England have the potential of a huge debt!

It is encouraging the government to increase the support it gives the counties; we can only hope that this does not fall on deaf ears!

As we all know roads are a considerable problem in Devon.

The people of Copplestone have become totally fed up with the condition of the two A-roads that run through the village.

Despite what some people think I have been working very hard on this particular project but have come up against the usual wall of budget controls!

We have got together a petition which I shall present to full council at its next meeting asking county highways to prioritise these two key roads for repair.

As a member of the children's scrutiny committee and an ex-teacher I am concerned at the level of education in Devon and in particular the overspend in provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

In enquiring mode I have asked the portfolio holder for SEND for a breakdown of the overspend over the past 18 months, it is currently well over £140 million.

I have asked for a progression of the overspending and for the plan to not only decrease it but paid off by March 2026, which is the cut-off point!

Amongst all this doom and gloom there are two areas of encouragement.

Figures in from the care sector shows that there has been increasing recruitment, which means that it is becoming easier for the county to find care packages for those people who are either in hospital or in need of care at home.

The other piece of good news is for those who travel.

The county is retaining the £2 fare for buses until December 2024.

I hope that enough people take up the offer to keep some traffic off the roads and encourage this road congestion solution to continue for even longer.

As winter approaches I shall not be out in the cold holding my surgeries.

For those who have problems and would like to contact me I leave you the usual details.

My home telephone number is 01363 775739 or you can email me on: f[email protected] .

Cllr Frank Letch MBE

Crediton Rural (DCC)