At its meeting on Monday, 6th February, Westfield Parish Council decided to freeze its precept for the coming year, meaning that residents with a Band D equivalent household will face no rise in the sum paid for the Parish as part of their Council Tax for 2017-18.

A precept sum of £181,953 has been budgeted for the year, representing a cost of £98.72 to a Band D equivalent household.

This is the fourth time in its six-year existence that Westfield Parish Council has not increased the precept. The Parish Council faces the same inflationary increases in the cost of products and services as all organisations. However, conscious of the financial strain on households at the current time and with the likely rise in other costs, the Parish Council wanted the precept cost to residents to be one of the few that did not increase. This is achieved through careful monitoring of its expenditure and healthy reserves, as a result of careful spending and investment in previous years.

However, the Parish Council says the freeze in precept does not in any way signify a reduction in the activities and services planned for the year ahead. It continues to

manage sports and leisure facilities at Norton Hill and Westhill Recreation Grounds, to support local groups and organisations with grant funding and to enhance the Parish environment with flowers through the spring and summer and Christmas lights in the winter.

With the Neighbourhood Plan now in its second year, the working group will be drawing up policies and aspirations for the Parish, culminating in a public consultation on the draft plan ahead of the Inspector’s examination and finally, a Parish referendum to approve the Plan.

The Environment and Development committee is working on a Heritage Walk for Westfield to incorporate interpretative signage and maps and the Parish Council is also very keen to continue to support youth provision.

The popular community events and initiatives, such as the Fun Day, the Christmas Lights Switch-On and the Front Garden Competition, will continue to grow as they

establish their place in the Parish calendar.

Westfield Parish Council positively encourages views and suggestions for the future of the Parish and is very happy to hear from residents. Contact: 01761 410669, email: