CONTACTS

COUNCILLORS

Chairman: John Pritchett
Vice Chair: Trish Delaney

Bonnie Beck - 507190
Dick Broady - 482517
Graham Broom - 501482
Jo Carr - 482016
Derek Cooper - 485931
Ron Cussons - 508518
Trish Delaney - 487519
Linda Francis - 485885
Sandra Fullman - 508634
Jim Gleeson - 482684
Ray Ingram - 508634
Colin Laycock - 487904
Christina Lynn - 487514
John Martin - 506384
Fran Pritchett - 485415
John Pritchett - 485415
Yvonne Puttee - 486023
Daniel Shing - 489265
Stephen Shing - 489265

PARISH CLERK
Carol Adams - 489603

ASSISTANT CLERK AND FINANCIAL OFFICER
Lin Baxter

Office opening hours 9.00 a.m. - 12 noon Monday to Friday

Telephone 01323 489603 or visit 3 Gorringe Valley Road, Lower Willingdon

At a recent meeting of the Parish Council, the Council set its budget for the 2008/2009 financial year. Overall, the Council has planned its expenditure to be in the region of £225,000. This is after taking into account income from sources other than the annual precept which is provided by Wealden District Council from Council Tax payments received from residents. The level of precept for 2008/2009 has been set at £170,000, which means that the Council will be funding the difference of approximately £55,000 from existing reserves.

In previous years, reserves have, unfortunately, been used to a much greater extent to fund the operating expenditure of the Council. Using reserves to fund an operating deficit is a situation that cannot continue indefinitely as it will mean that the Council will eventually exhaust those funds which need to be maintained to cover emergency expenditure as well as providing the means to make longer term improvements to the Parish. Overall the increase in precept for 2008/2009 will add approximately 23 pence (23p) per week to a home in Council Tax Band 'D'. This means that Band 'D' residents will be paying £1.03 per week in 2008/2009 compared to £0.80 per week this year. The table below shows what the average Band 'D' resident in Willingdon and Jevington is paying in 2007/2008 and where the money goes. Please let the council know if you have any views on the level of tax you will be paying in 2008/2009 and what additional services you would like to see introduced in the Parish.

Where the money will be spent
During the 2008/2009 financial year our expenditure will be concentrated in the following areas
£000's
Finance & Policy
Including administration and the Parish Office - 137.6
Recreation Grounds 29.5
Amenities - 66.9
Cemetery - 9.7
Total 2008/2009 - 224

HUGGETTS LANE RECREATION GROUND
It has been suggested that we could perhaps use Huggetts Lane Recreation ground for a Summer Brass Band Concert. We obviously need to gauge residents' views on such an idea so would welcome feedback please as to whether you would support such an event. Please drop any comments into the Parish Office or phone them through to the Clerk on 01323 4868603. It obviously won't happen this year but is an idea for future years.

WILLINGDON IN BLOOM
We will, as usual, be holding a Willingdon in Bloom competition this year which we hope to extend to include, not only residents' front gardens, but also shops and businesses in the village who we hope will join in by decorating their premises with hanging baskets and/or flower troughs. As previously there will be three prizes in the residents' gardens category and three prizes for shops and businesses. We do hope you will all join in and try to make Willingdon even more picturesque than at present with all the glorious daffodils gently blowing in the wind!

DOG FOULING
We have been concerned to learn from our cricket and football teams, and members of the public, that dog fouling has been increasing at the Huggetts Lane Recreation Ground. As this is also used extensively by young children, we would be most grateful if dog owners could use the bins provided.

NO COLD CALLING ZONE FOR WILLINGDON
Residents of Willingdon are giving cold callers the cold shoulder by setting up a designated 'no cold calling' zone in the Parish.

East Sussex County Council's Trading Standards Service, the Safer Wealden Partnership, Wealden Crime Prevention Panel, Sussex Police, Willingdon and Jevington Parish Council and Willingdon Neighbourhood Watch have teamed up to set up the scheme.

The Willingdon No Cold Calling Zone will be officially launched at 2pm on 24th March 2008 at Willingdon Library Coppice Avenue Willingdon.

Setting up a zone is a warning to cold callers to keep out. Residents attending the launch will have the opportunity to hear more information about the scheme. They will be able to talk to people about crime prevention and home security and will also be able to get advice from the County Council's Trading Standards Service.

No Cold Calling Zones (the Zones) are about local residents or communities having the confidence to say NO to uninvited salespeople and to warn rogue traders and cold callers that they are not welcome in an area.

However, the Zones have no legal status and it would NOT be illegal for traders to continue to cold call. Several signs will be fixed in key positions in the area to advise cold callers are not welcome in the area.

Residents are encouraged to report doorstep sellers. Please call Trading Standards 01323 418228.

DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Your District Councillors are: Stephen and Daniel Shing and Ron Cussens, and your County Councillor Stephen Shing.

We all continue to work hard on your behalf but if you do have any concerns, do not hesitate to contact us or call in and see Carol Adams who will be very pleased to help.

With very best wishes

John Pritchett

Chairman, Willingdon and Jevington Parish Council

Parish Clerk: Carol Adams; Assistant Clerk and Financial Officer: Lin Baxter, Telephone 01323 489603 or visit 3 Gorringe Valley Road, Lower Willingdon between the opening hours of 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon Monday to Friday.