West Hill Parish Council 2018-19 budget and precept agreed

West Hill Parish Council has agreed its 2018-19 budget. The Parish Council has submitted a precept request for £56,375 to East Devon District Council, a below-inflation increase of 2.5%.

For a household in a Band D property, the Parish Council precept will decrease from £50 in 2017-18 to £49.71 in 2018-19.

This has been achieved despite East Devon District Council gradually phasing out the Council Tax Support Grant awarded to Town and Parish Councils to supplement the precept.

West Hill Parish Council was created on 1st April 2017. The Parish Council is firmly committed to working with West Hill residents to ensure West Hill remains a pleasant and desirable place to live. To fulfil this ambition, it has supported a number of local groups by providing grants. Councillors approved grants to West Hill Wasps Junior FC, West Hill Short Mat Bowls Club, the Village Hall, Royal British Legion West Hill Branch, West Hill Pre-School and the West Hill Primary School PTFA. A survey of residents in 2017 demonstrated backing for a variety of projects to improve the village that the Parish Council hopes to take forward this year. A public realm survey is currently being undertaken to identify projects that will improve the everyday experience residents have of outdoor spaces in the village. The Parish Council has also invested in a new website (still under development) to improve communication with local residents and has a Twitter feed @WestHillPC.

The Parish Council will be holding its first Annual Parish Meeting on Monday 23rd April 2018 at 7.30pm in West Hill Village Hall when residents will be able to find out what the Parish Council has done over the past year, its plans for the future, and how the grants have helped West Hill organisations.