Registration and ID Required for 4th May Local Elections

Voters across Cotswold District are being encouraged to make sure they are registered, have applied for postal voting and applied for identification if needed ahead of the deadlines so that they can vote in the local elections on 4 May.
To take part in any election anyone over the age of 18 must be registered in the area they live in. Some people eligible to vote may not be registered and therefore will not be able to cast a vote. This may be because they have recently moved or are voting for the first time. 

Residents can make an application to register to vote through the Government website which takes only five minutes to complete. They must register by 17 April and can do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Some residents prefer to vote by post, by using a postal vote residents can make sure their voice is heard at the local elections from the safety of their home. They also will not be required to show ID to vote by post. Residents can apply to receive their vote by post, before the application deadline of 5pm on 18 April.

Electors may also choose to vote by proxy – where another individual casts a vote on a registered voter’s behalf when that individual can not vote themselves. To be able to use a proxy vote applications must be in by Tuesday 25 April by 5pm. 

For the first time this year, residents in Cotswold District will need to show photographic ID to vote in person at this year’s local elections. 

Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of photographic ID. 

Accepted forms of photographic ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo and the name on the ID should be the same name as appears on the Electoral Register.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form which is available from the Council.

More information is available on the Cotswold District Council website, including details about how to apply for the free ID. Anyone not able to visit the council website, or apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online, is being encouraged to contact the Council by calling 01285 623002 or emailing elections@cotswold.gov.uk. Residents must have applied for Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm Tuesday 25 April.

Open Letter to Residents About the Precept

Dear Resident,

When your Council Tax bill arrives in March, you will see that the Town Council element of the bill has increased. It will rise to £120.51 per year for an average Band D property, an increase of 38p per week compared to the year prior. An increase is never welcome, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis. With this in mind we wanted to write to residents to explain what we are doing and why.

Unlike higher tiers of local authority, the Town Council does not receive any central government funding. Most of its income is derived from the precept, which is collected from residents as part of their Council Tax bills. Typically, around one quarter of income is from other sources, such as service fees and charges from the community centre, cemetery, Charter Market, and allotments. We try to secure grants where possible.

Like our residents, the Town Council faces challenges in the cost of living crisis. Inflation is soaring, with staff wages rising by around 7% last year and a further pay award pending, grounds maintenance charges increasing by 15% and electricity by a massive 300%. These are the three largest lines of routine expenditure in the council’s budget.
Another expense this year will be the sports pavilion roof as it has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced at an estimated cost of around £40,000. Fortunately, the Town Council has built up some earmarked reserves for capital projects such as this, but they won’t cover the entire amount.

Taking all of these factors into account, the Town Council has been faced with a very real dilemma … raise the precept or cut back on local services at a time when our community may need us the most? Closing the sports pavilion is unimaginable, leaving local sports teams and the social clubs who run and use the bar area without a home.

The Town Council would like to reassure residents that the decision to raise the precept was taken after careful consideration. We will continue to strive to do the best for the town and deliver value for money to our residents. After the increase, the Town precept will account for just 5.8% of your Council Tax bill in 2023-34, as most of your tax goes to Gloucestershire County Council for services like health, education, and roads.

A breakdown of Town Council expenditure is given in the following table. If you have any questions, then please get in touch.

Cllrs Terry Morley-Blackwell (Chair), Andrew Wellman (Vice Chair), Gina Blackwell, Valerie Glynn, Sara Gorst, Byron Hadley, Brian Hulcup, Laura Kirkby, Caroline Saunders, and Adam Tattersall.

Northleach with Eastington Town Council
How your Council Tax will be spent in 2023-24:

Expenditure

Staffing £ 60,880
Admin, Civic & Democratic £ 11,046
Community & Grants £ 3,220
Property & Premises £ 20,609
Westwoods Centre £ 23,870
Projects (inc. pavilion roof) £ 44,340

Total gross expenditure £163,966

Less
Other income £ 31,813
Use of reserves £ 35,000

Budget requirement (Precept) £ 97,153

Worried about paying Council Tax?

We know that the cost of living crisis is causing genuine hardship for some. If you’re worried about paying your Council Tax bill then please get in touch with Cotswold District Council via their website www.cotswold.gov.uk or on 01285 623000.

Find out more:

The Town Council publishes its annual accounts and spending information on its website. To find out more please visit: www.northleach.gov.uk.

Tribute to Former Councillor Alan Wellman

The Town Council was saddened to hear that former Councillor and Mayor Alan Wellman passed away peacefully at the weekend.

Alan served on Northleach with Eastington Town Council continuously for 60 years which by any measure is an exceptional example of dedicated community service. He demonstrated a sustained willingness to lead by fulfilling the role of chairman for 12 years – his wise words diligently guiding the council of the time.

During his time as chairman, he oversaw significant events in the town, notably the building of the Westwoods Centre on the old grammar school site as well as the opening of the long-awaited bypass.  Even after his resignation at 89 years old he continued to offer support and advice. Staff and fellow councillors always knew a quick telephone call to Alan would help fill in a gap in their knowledge.

Last year Alan was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Parish for his loyal service to the people of Northleach, a richly deserved accolade for someone who was a true inspiration. It’s been a pleasure working alongside him and he will be sorely missed.  We offer our sincere condolences to Alan’s family at this sad time.

Job Opportunity Grants and Outreach Officer

Cotswolds National Landscape is advertising for an exciting new role; Grants & Outreach Officer. The role is perfect for someone looking to make their first step into the environmental sector. The successful candidate will co-lead Caring for the Cotswolds; their in house small grants scheme, work on improving access for communities inside and outside the Cotswolds and gain valuable skills and experience by working with their conservation and education teams. The job starts in April 2023 and is a one year fixed contract until March 2024.

The role is one of 70 new jobs nationwide and is part of the ‘New to Nature’ scheme led by Groundwork UK. The scheme aims to increase the diversity of young people (18-25) entering the environmental sector. As such, they are particularly interested in receiving applications from young people who are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, who are living with a disability, or are from low income households. This role requires no previous experience, as a full training programme will be offered.

Job advert, vacancy placement pack and application here: https://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/about-us/jobs-careers/

Photographic ID Will Be Required to Vote from May 2023

From May 2023 individuals who wish to vote in person, including those acting as a proxy on behalf of another individual, will be required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper. This is a national change implemented by the Government as part of the Elections Act 2022 which councils are required to follow when running elections.

This change will apply for the local elections taking place in the district on 4 May 2023. 

To vote in person, voters must be on the electoral register and bring a suitable form of photographic ID to their polling station. The most commonly used IDs include:

  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including provisional)
  • European Economic Area (EEA) photographic ID Card
  • UK Biometric Residence Permit
  • An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
  • A Blue Badge
  • A concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.

Voters who do not produce valid identification or a Voter Authority Certificate (more information below), will not be allowed to vote.

Only original documents will be accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted.For more information see here.

Permanent Traffic Order – Notice of Proposal Documents

Gloucestershire County Council Traffic Order 2017.  West End and Market Place. Northleach Variation Order 2023.  Rectification: 76546.

It is proposed, as an administrative exercise, to amend the extents of the existing No Waiting at Any Time restrictions along West End and Market Place on the legal Order and tiles to match what is marked on-street.

Reasons

There is currently an anomaly between the existing legal Order and tile and the waiting restrictions as marked on-street on West End and Market Place. No material changes will be made to the restrictions as marked on-street.

For further information please see below. 

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