Dale Abbey Parish Council will soon be considering its budgets and spending priorities for the coming financial year and would like to take into account residents’ views and suggestions on what community services they would like to see provided for in the future.

You may be aware that due to national public sector spending cuts, all local councils are facing financial pressures and areas for savings must be identified. We wish to consult with residents to gain their views on how our 2012-2013 budget can best be spent to benefit the whole community.

Councillors would also like to know if there is support for a modest increase in the Parish Precept to retain or improve our existing services if financial support from Erewash Borough Council is reduced in the coming year. For most households the Parish Precept is a very small percentage of their Council Tax bill.

The Parish Council has already sought to reduce its operational costs by conducting as much of its correspondence as possible electronically, bringing its day-to-day printing requirements in-house and arranging to pay bills by electronic transfer to eliminate the costs of stationery, postage and bank charges. Our recent purchase of LED Christmas lights for Kirk Hallam will reduce our energy costs.

The Parish Council’s overall budget for 2011-2012 is £21,441.70 of which the Precept element is £6916.70 this is being used to provide services including: in Dale Abbey; grass mowing in the Village, Grave Yard, Grave Yard Extension, and Moor Lane Playing Field and providing planting areas in two locations in the Village. In Kirk Hallam; grass mowing Wirksworth Road Play Area and planting on Ladywood Road.

In both locations the Parish Council provides summer hanging baskets, Christmas lights and switch on celebrations. We also insure both play areas and provide ongoing inspection and maintenance for the play areas and equipment and are responsible for the additional provision of winter grit bins and their refilling. A proportion of the budget also covers our essential administration costs and salaries.        

The Parish Council would like to know if you are satisfied with the services already provided or if you have any suggestions for improvements to our current service, also any facilities you would like to see if funding were available.  Please complete the questionnaire which has been (or soon will be) delivered to your home and drop it into one of the collection points indicated on the questionnaire.

Alternatively you can respond online by following this link.

PLEASE RESPOND BY MONDAY 12th DECEMBER 2011