Our January parish council meeting focussed on the budget for 2022-23 and setting the precept. The parish council agreed an increase of 20.68% which equates to an additional 46p/week on a Band D property. The Councillors consider in great detail the costs of providing/maintaining the services currently offered such as the play area, public toilets, streetlights, grounds maintenance, newsletter production and the Pavilion Community hub.  The Parish Council endeavour to provide value for money.  There is always the balance between the need to move forward and maintain the facilities/services that make this parish such a vibrant and thriving place to live, with keeping costs down.

Many costs such as energy, maintenance contract charges and materials are set to rise in the next 12 months and the precept needs to be set to accommodate these additional charges.  One of the main outgoings for the council is staffing costs in order to provide the range of services undertaken on behalf of the community and discharging the legal duties placed on a council.  The legal and financial framework that a public organisation operates within is increasingly complex and appropriately qualified and trained staff are necessary.  In addition, increased staff time has been involved in running a public building and the range of activities on offer.  The Pavilion is now being used daily to provide valuable support and cultural activities for local residents.  If you haven’t been in yet, please do come along to see what is on offer.  

If you have any questions/comments about the precept/2022-23 budget (available for viewing on the parish council website) please contact Cllr Duncan Fletcher (Chair) on dfletcher@ pontesburypc.org.uk  

or clerk@ pontesburypc.org.uk

Feelgood Friday events will be held regularly at this great new community building to promote the wide range of leisure, cultural and support organisations locally for the Rea Valley communities.

The first event is being held on Friday 19th November,  11am- 3pm.  Everyone Welcome!

The theme for this first Feel Good Friday is: Support for Older People & Carers

Come along and chat to people who can give guidance and support,  or just have a cuppa!  (Refreshments kindly provided by Pontesbury Co-op)

Solar Light Success

Working together Pontesbury and Minsterley Parish Councils have secured funding from Shropshire Council for improvements to the lighting along the pathway between the two villages.

Developed in response to safety concerns raised by residents, the project will involve the installation of 32 lighting columns with PIR activated solar powered lighting. 

Although already well used, it is the ambition of both Parish councils to encourage increased use of the path, reducing road journeys between the villages and providing a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists.  It is also hoped that parents will feel more confident in their children walking or cycling to and from school, particularly during darker winter months.

As well as improving safety increased use of the pathway will contribute to the carbon reduction ambitions of both councils; Cllr Duncan Fletcher, Chair of the joint working group said “the use of solar lighting is an integral part of achieving a sustainable, cost-effective solution to improving this essential route connecting the villages’.

Cllr Geoff Rogers, Chair of Minsterley Parish Council commented that he was delighted with the outcome after all the hard work undertaken by all those involved in the project.

Following a competitive process, the contract for installation has been awarded to Highline Electrical, work on the project will start during the first week of September and should take two weeks to complete.

Shropshire Councillor Nick Hignett, who is also a member of Minsterley and Pontesbury Parish Councils said, “I am extremely proud of the way Minsterley and Pontesbury parish councils’ have worked together to deliver a project which will benefit residents in both villages.”

NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 (Section 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for Pontesbury Ward of Pontesbury Parish Council, following the resignation of Councillor Paul Bradbury

Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the parish [ward] in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy.*  That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules,** of the date of this notice.  The fourteen-day period ends on 16 September 2021

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply.  The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.  If you are interested in applying to be a councillor please contact the Parish Clerk before 30/09/2021.

The Returning Officer’s address is:

Electoral Services, Shropshire Council,

The Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ND

The telephone number for further guidance is 0345 678 9015.

This notice is dated 26 August 2021.

Debbie Marais, Parish Clerk   clerk@pontesburypc.org.uk  01691 661157

*           There is no form of words for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as “We the undersigned being electors for the [Ward of] … Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the [death][resignation] of …”.  A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available to download from Shropshire Council’s website – www.shropshire.gov.uk - under “Current Council Vacancies”.  It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses. 

**             In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice. Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules, 2006 now applies.