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Please follow the link to view the above road closure; https://one.network/?tm=136196350 and the link for the Notice 2: https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1111/03-notice-2_136196350_3671815_387dab29de.pdf        The works are expected to commence on 29th January 2024 and last for 5 days (09:00-17:00) to enable Teign Trees to carry out tree safety works on behalf of Forestry England.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Teign Trees on 0162 677 349, quoting reference: ttro966573W(WS).

PILATES CLASSES.

FRIDAYS  7PM – 8PM

TIMBERSCOMBE VILLAGE HALL

SUITABLE FOR ALL ABILITIES.

£6 PER SESSION. FIRST TRIAL SESSION FREE.

Just come along and give it a try. Bring a mat, or rug for floor work.

With the festive season in full swing, Somerset Council is reminding everyone to put recycling the Christmas tree onto their list. The best option is to compost it at home or turn it into a wildlife corner, though we appreciate that will not be possible for many people.

Garden Waste Service subscribers can leave their decoration-free tree out with their first collection of the year, so long as its smaller than 2 metres (or 6ft). The service will resume from Monday 8 January.

Trees will not be collected from the kerbside unless you subscribe to the Garden Waste Service.

Many charities, community organisations and groups are running tree collection or drop-off services, raising money for good causes.

These include St Margarets Hospice and Dorothy House Hospice Care. Please check online for details.

Trees can also be taken to any of Somerset’s recycling sites and put it in the garden waste skip.

Recycling sites will be closed on Bank Holidays but will be open for their usual hours at other times, check online for details: www.somerset.gov.uk/waste.

For more tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle at this time of year visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/SeasonalWaste

On Thursday 4th January the weekly Warm Welcome resumes in St Petrock’s Church between 10am and 12 noon. You are so welcome to come along and join in with a very friendly group and may only stay for a quick cuppa, and a slice of home-made cake, but it will be a pleasure to see you. There are no charges and no agendas, simply a place to be warm, have a chat with others, and enjoy some Timberscombe hospitality! We look forward to seeing you there.

Marion Jeffrey and Kate Hart

A public consultation on the Council’s budget has been launched. It will offer a chance for people to have their say in light of the financial emergency, which was called in November. It’s open to all, and we are encouraging our Somerset communities, residents, businesses, stakeholders, and partners to take part.

The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced, or even stopped.

It goes live from 11 December and will close on 22 January.

The link can be found at: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2024-2025/

It can also be completed in libraries and council offices across Somerset.

Financial Emergency

The in-year overspend for 2023/24 is £27m. The projected budget gap for 2024/25 is £100m.

To close the gap and balance the budget next year a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including Council Tax, will need to be considered. It is clear that this alone will not close the budget gap. Plans to fundamentally change the council’s systems and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up to reduce the size of the council in future.

Communications Lead – Members and Stakeholders

Ally Laing , Somerset Council

+447989 078188

ally.laing@somerset.gov.uk

……………………………………..

Response from Katy Attwater, Chair of Timberscombe Parish Council

Part of the strategy of Somerset Council to make up their £100m budget shortfall for 2024 is for the Parish Councils to take on provision of some of the services that the Council currently provide. To pay for taking on these services we would need to raise the Timberscombe precept for this coming financial year. This will be reflected in a rise in your Council Tax.

Timberscombe PC’s initial response when this was announced at the last Exmoor LCN meeting in November 2023 was;  “We do not have the resources (people and time), or the skills to manage the contracts and services the Council are proposing we could take on. We also do not want to raise our precept or use our reserves for this purpose”.

You may want to comment on this in the Consultation.

I would encourage you to participate in the Consultation which closes on 22nd January.

Katy Attwater