West Down - North Devon village community website

Parish Council

Braunton Neighbourhood Police Newsletter October 2020 (click here)

CO-OPTION ONTO PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council comprises of up to 8 Councillors.  Following the resignation of one of the Parish Councillors there is now a vacancy for co-option onto the Parish Council.

Apply by writing a short letter to the Parish Council Chairman at London House, West Down, giving reasons why you would like to be co-opted onto the Council.

For more information about becoming a Parish Councillor, please speak to an existing Parish Councillor or the Parish Clerk.  Thank you.

Qualifications for Candidature

To be qualified to be elected a member of a parish council a person must be 21 years of age or over, and a British subject or citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and either: –
(i)     be a local government elector of the parish, or
(ii)    have during the whole of the twelve months preceding the day on which he is nominated as a candidate occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish; or
(iii)   his principal or only place of work in the twelve months preceding the day on which he is nominated as a candidate have been in the area of the parish; or
(iv)   have resided either in the parish or within 3 miles thereof during the whole of the 12 months preceding the day on which he is nominated as a candidate.

There are certain disqualifications for election, of which the main are: –
(a)   holding a paid office under the local authority;
(b)   bankruptcy;
(c)   having been sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) of not less than three months, without the option of a fine during the five years preceding the election; and
(d)  being disqualified under any enactment relating to corrupt or illegal practices.

Parish Councillors:
Chair Carole King, Vice Chair Sue Ayre,
Roy Drew, Keith Oades, Mike Reeves, Sue Squire and Tony Verney.
Parish Clerk:  Vanessa Hunt.

Tender for Grass Cutting and Bus Shelter Cleaning 2021

please click above for details.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

If you have any problems accessing the information on the West Down Parish Council pages, please contact the Parish Clerk, Vanessa Hunt by email v.huntwdparishclerk@gmail.com who will provide a format suitable for your needs.

West Down Parish Council (WDPC) – Small Grant Fund

Each year West Down Parish Council allocates an expenditure budget from the annual precept in order to support local groups and organisations.  The Council’s guidelines for grant applications are now available.  This process will ensure access, openness and fairness to the groups and organisations we aim to support.  WDPC grants run within a financial year April – March.

Application forms and our Grant Fund Policy can be obtained by contacting the Parish Clerk, Vanessa Hunt, at v.huntwdparishclerk@gmail.com (or by phoning 01271 863799).  Alternatively, the forms can be downloaded here:

WDPC Grant Fund Policy
WDPC Grant Fund Application Form

Completed application forms for the 2021/22 financial year must be received by the Parish Clerk by 15^th October 2020.

West Down Parish Council Statement
from Chair Carole King and Vice Chair Sue Ayre

Due to the Coronavirus, the West Down Parish Council will not be meeting in the usual way.
We are awaiting legal information on alternative ways of carrying out our duties. In the meantime, we are forwarding information on the current situation to those who are updating the various community websites and social media outlets. Our contact details are on the village website, please let us know if you have any concerns and we will deal with them to the best of our ability.
We are liaising with Deb Hayes who is co-ordinating the West Down Volunteer Group, and as a community, we are all very grateful to her and her team. There is some finance support available from the Devon County Council and the Fullabrook CIC to support this initiative.
Our Community Shop has been working really hard to keep us all supplied and are to be congratulated. Sue Bond and her team have put in long hours and still remain cheerful and helpful. It is great that so many new volunteers have stepped up to take over from those regulars who are over 70. There are a number of NHS workers in our community and we are sure that everyone applauds them and wishes them well.
We are a strong, vibrant community and we will come through this. We will have found new strengths and made new friends. The West Down After the Virus Party will be quite something! Stay safe!

Parish Council – Ash dieback

Ash die-back is becoming increasingly prevalent and landowners are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure public safety. Dead or diseased trees need to be removed or made safe where they could fall across roads or pathways. Advice and information can be found on
https://www.devon.gov.uk/environment/ash-dieback

About our Parish Council

West Down Parish Council meets in Room 2000 of the Parish Hall on the first Wednesday in the month at 7.30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings.

Public Speaking/Question Time

 The Parish Council’s Standing Orders for Agenda Item ‘Public Speaking/Question Time’ are as follows:

1.  People wishing to speak should advise the Parish Clerk or Chair at least 24 hours before the start of the meeting in writing or by email.
2.  A 15-minute period will be allowed at the start of every meeting where members of the Public may speak to issue a statement and/or ask a question to the Parish Council. Speaking/Question Time be limited to 2 minutes per person but may be extended at the Chair’s discretion.  A maximum of two questions be allowed per person.  In the event of no one wishing to speak, the meeting may proceed immediately.
3. Questions are to be brought back into the meeting for consideration under Agenda item ‘Unresolved Questions’. This item to be scheduled before ‘Any Other Business’.
4. Parishioners may also raise issues without attending the meeting, but these must be submitted to the Parish Council in writing or by email (see below).

Parish Council Minutes

Minutes of  the meetings are posted here after approval – usually one month after the meeting is held.

The Parish Council team

Councillors and officials are:

Councillors and Officials

Parish Clerk   Vanessa Hunt  – London House, West Down (01271) 863799 – v.huntwdparishclerk@gmail.com

County Councillor – Andrea Davis – andrea.davis@devon.gov.uk

District Councillor – Malcolm Wilkinson – Malcolm.wilkinson@northdevon.gov.uk

Police Representative – PCSO Andy Frisby – Andy.Frisby@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk