Updates from our April meeting

• A resident raised that some people don’t know why the Parish Council’s portion of their Council Tax bill has gone up for 2026/27 (an increase of around £1.97 per month for a Band D household). Information on the budget setting and reasons are on our website: https://burlescombeparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/precept-update-following-january-meeting/ and will be reiterated in this meeting’s minutes on the noticeboards for those who are not online.
• At the recent Quarry liaison meeting, councillors had raised topics including damaged drain covers, wheel washing, lorry lights, nightworks, the asphalt plant relocation (a topic about which the Council has now written a formal letter to Holcim).
• Two councillors attended planning training, focussed on the National Planning Policy Framework. A key concern was that areas in the parish would likely be targeted for development to meet the new housing targets set by Government, and that these may not take supporting infrastructure and local need into account. This makes it extremely important that residents complete the independent Housing Needs Survey, as the data from this can be used to strengthen our voices in relation to local housing development. It can be completed online here until 19 May www.surveymonkey.com/r/middevonclusterHNS. Letters are being distributed across the parish with for those without internet access.
• The goal posts in Westleigh have been fixed by a volunteer and the Parish Council expressed their thanks. Since the meeting it’s been noted that some young people are climbing on the goalposts and nets. Parents are asked to ensure that their children are not damaging this property.
• A new ‘no dogs allowed’ sign has been ordered for the playpark.
• If anyone would be happy to have a ’20 is plenty’ sign on display outside their property, please email clerk@burlescombeparishcouncil.gov.uk.
• The Council is hoping to join the Joint Traffic Committee with neighbouring Councils of Halberton, Sampford Peverell, Uffculme and Willand.
• The public footpaths have all been checked, faults reported and paperwork submitted to obtain funding for their upkeep for the year.
• Our email newsletter is up and running. Anyone who fills in their email address needs to click the link in the confirmation email to complete the process – check your junk/spam in case it goes in there, to make sure you’re signed up! Sign up form: https://zcmp.eu/nheY.
• The Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (which believe it or not are slightly different things) will take place from 7pm on Wednesday 20 May at Burlescombe & Westleigh Community Hall. Please come along to talk to us about what matters to you, and to hear about our year and our current activities and plans.

The minutes will be uploaded soon.