DODLESTON & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Council Newsletter - November 2003

Clerk

The present Clerk is retiring and we need a replacement. The Clerk is far more than just a secretary who takes minutes and writes letters (although you would do that too!). You would have the authority to act on behalf of the council and would be the Responsible Financial Officer, in charge of the accounts. You would be a paid Officer of the Council, earning about £1200 per year and working approximately 3½ hours per week. We only have 6 meetings per year, where you would take the minutes and note down what actions the Council want you to take on their behalf.

We are looking for someone who is literate and numerate ("O" Level/GCSE English and Maths passes), reliable, mature and most importantly who wants to try and improve the quality of life of the people of Dodleston, Lower Kinnerton and Marlston-cum-Lache. Ideally you should live locally.

The Parish Council cannot operate effectively without a Clerk - the Councillors only make decisions, it is the Clerk who acts on those decisions and gets things done. We need you to be our Chief Executive and make things happen in our community.

For more information or to apply, please contact:

      Liz Shanklin,                         This post is now filled
      Parish Council Chairman,       See Officers 2004 page
      Coachman's Cottage,
      Pulford Lane,
      Dodleston,
      CHESTER
      CH4 9NN

      or Phone 01244 661530

Newsletter

The village newsletter is being funded by the parish council, who have agreed to increase their subsidy of the newsletter to £200 per year. It was recognized that the newsletter is an important facet of the community and the organizers are to be congratulated on their work.

Notice-boards

The five notice-boards that belong to the parish council are going rotten and need replacing. Money towards this project will come from next year's budget. A grant has also been obtained from city council funds.

Rough Hill Bench

The council have agreed to fund a hard-standing for a bench to be sited opposite the caravan park in Rough Hill. When the replacement notice-board arrives, it will also be located on the new hard-standing.

Mobile Speed Warning Sign

The Council have applied for this to be sited at two danger spots in the parish: approaching Balderton from Gorstella on the Welsh Road and also at Rough Hill.

Welcome to Dodleston Sign

This was stolen by some mindless person last Easter. Despite appeals, neither the perpetrator nor the person's parents have seen fit to return the sign, which will cost Dodleston Parish taxpayers a significant proportion of the annual Parish precept. Theft of any property (including road signs) is a criminal act. If you pay Council tax, this theft has cost YOUR money. The Council agreed many months ago that the sign would be replaced. An initial quote of £250 was accepted by the Council and the Council had believed that this was being actioned. However, at the last meeting a new price of £385 was quoted, which the Council considered to be excessive and rejected. On further investigation, the initial quote was in fact already being actioned and a replacement for the sign is expected soon, and will cost about £150.

Parish Car Park Gate

More mindless individuals have been making life hell for residents near to the car park. Unfortunately rich enough to afford cars, the individuals have been wheel spinning, revving up their engines and playing loud music until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, keeping everyone awake and annoyed. A gate was put in place but was vandalised soon afterwards. Another gate is now in place and the car park is locked at night. The gate has been funded by the city council who have identified similar problems in many other local areas. Excessive speeding on village roads now seems to have slowed down.

Post Office Closure

The Post Office in Cliveden Road has been targeted for closure. The Parish Council has objected on the grounds that it serves residents on Lache Lane, some of whom live within the Parish boundary.

Budget

The annual budget (precept) was agreed. One main beneficiary is the DVF, which receives a grant towards grass cutting and playing field maintenance.

Clerk's salary Office expenses Insurance CATPC and LCR Cheshire Community Council CPRE Dodleston Community Association Church clock maintenance Clock winding Property repairs Audit fee Training Hall hire Car Park DVF Playing field maintenance Noticeboards Seats Councillors' expenses Contingencies TOTAL

1350 300 310 230 50 25 200 130 26 200 100 100 50 300 1000 300 500 200 1000 6371

CATPC=Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils
LCR=Local Council Review
CPRE=Council for the Protection of Rural England

However, due to the reserves in current and deposit accounts, the precept is to be held at £4500, the same as last year. Consideration was given to earmarking reserves for a future project of possibly tarmacing the car park, some years in the future, when funds permitted.

Increase in bus fares.

The Council agreed to make a strongly worded written complaint about the increase in bus fare from £2.55 to £2.75. The size of the increase and the fact that it had arrived unannounced was not acceptable.

Best Wishes

Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all the people of Dodleston, Lower Kinnerton and Marlston-cum-Lache, from your Parish Council.
Chairman: Liz Shanklin
Vice Chairman: Julie Vine
Dodleston councillors: Alan Fotheringham, Jon Goldie, John Hulmston, Derek Nuttall
Kinnerton councillors: Pam Eaves, Helen Evans
Marlston-cum-Lache councillors: John Blythin, Arthur Hughes

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the parish council will be held in Dodleston Village Hall on Monday 5th January 2004 at 7:30pm. All electors are welcome to attend the meeting to hear reports of the council's work and to put their views and raise questions.

Other News: Bus Fare Bargain

Persistent campaigning has extended the use of the `Stored Value' bus card to route 150. It works like this - money is paid in advance and the credited fare is stored on a plastic card (similar to a phone card). Application forms are available on most buses and the advantage is that for every £1 you pay you are credited with £1.10 of travel. A saving to you of 10% and you will not need to find the correct fare Try it - and help to ensure our local bus service is retained.

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