Two Dorset parishes will be combining next year under the control of one parish council.

 At the January meeting on Maiden Newton Parish Council the treasurer from Frome Vauchurch parish meeting said how pleased he was that the two parishes would be joining together in 2024. He asked for information and how this would be calculated.

 Maiden Newton's clerk, Mrs M. Harding, replied that a budget would be prepared for both parishes similar for the one carried out by the Maiden Newton council and this would be shared between all council tax papers in both parishes. Dorset Council would collect the council tax on behalf on the parish council and this would be paid in two payments in April and September.

 The precept for 2023-24 would be £33,000 and closer to the time a meeting would be held with both parishes to look at a budget so a precept figure could be agreed. This would be submitted to Dorset Council before January 30 2024.

Village party to celebrate coronation

 A number of parishioners used the democratic forum to express their support for an event to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III in May. Ideas included a party on the playing field or using the village hall for activities. A public meeting would be held to agree on a programme.

In his report Dorset councillor Anthony Alford reported that the Dorset council budget was £348 million. The council proposed to increase the budget by two per cent and to levy two per cent on the social care budget without having to go to a referendum. This would represent an extra £1.41on a Band D property.

 Cllr Alford said the setting up of Dorset Council and amalgamating with joining districts had saved £78 million.  Dorset was to receive £4.5 million over the next two years for key programmes, one of which was a new investment plan for Dorset for the provision of Low Carbon Dorset, the expansion of Healthy Homes Dorset and development of affordable transport especially for younger children

 Cllr Lawrie Goff reported on the condition of the village bus shelter. He said the complete removal of the shelter would cost in the region of £150,000,which the council could not afford.

 A quote of £1,072 had been obtained for repairing the shelter, including the removal of vegetation, repairing the ceiling, repainting the interior walls and laying new slabs at the bottom of the steps. 

 The users of the bus shelter were students of Kingston Mauward College as there were no service buses in the village. Councillor agreed to accept the quote for the work to be carried out.

 The meeting was informed tat Cecilia Falkingham, Professor of Demography and International Social Policy at Southampton University, the daughter of Cllr Sally Falkingham, had been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.

 The next full meeting of the council will take place on February 9.