At its meeting in January the Parish Council approved its budget for the financial year 2020-21, which in turn sets the annual ‘precept’ – the amount that the taxpayers of Martock are collectively charged as part of their council tax payments.
This year the Parish Council made no increase to the precept due to the current climate but will continue to deliver the services that it provides, many of them not available in other parishes. In many cases we have brought these in due to the reduction or withdrawal of services previously provided by higher authorities and the need to address the resultant needs in our own community. Such services include:
- litter and debris clearing on our streets and public spaces
- minor maintenance and improvement of roads, pathways, signs, verges and drainage
- our very successful Job Club, which has now helped over 350 people into paid employment, and many more into training or voluntary positions
- youth services providing evening clubs, drop-in sessions, outreach, one-to-one support, work in schools, and holiday activities
- services for our senior residents, including active living groups, inclusive and social activities, befriending of the socially isolated
- new services designed to cater for those most in need in our community, to better coordinate and enhance the support provided to them by statutory and charitable services, and to improve our overall health and wellbeing.
This has included the enhancement of our dedicated staff team and the recruitment and support of many volunteers, all now working as an integrated team to achieve the Martock vision:
“To work together to build a safe, vibrant, fully inclusive and thriving community in which we are all proud to live and work”.
Other new initiatives include:
- the development of a Neighbourhood Plan for Martock that will have a real influence on the planning system – how we want our village to develop and look in the future – its size, shape, homes, businesses and infrastructure;
- funding towards the preservation of our local Library services;
- funding towards the maintenance of our highways;
- creation of the WW1 memorial copse in the recreation ground;
- safer community through the installation of CCTV in the recreation ground, Church Street and the Moorlands Precinct;
- creation of a new parish council website.
The resultant 0% increase in the Parish Council’s budget in real will result in a rise in the council tax for an average Band D household of £6.07 per year.
Given this commitment that we have made to deliver projects and services that will improve our environment, facilities, health and wellbeing for all, Martock’s precept will remain one of the highest per head in South Somerset. However, we hope residents will agree that the payback in terms of direct benefit to the community is worth your continued investment.
A copy of the Parish Council’s 2020/21 budget and precept forecast is available to download below.
Sylvia Williams
Chair of Finance & Resources
Martock Parish Council