Each year, South Marston Parish Council completes both an internal and external audit to ensure it has sound financial processes and is compliant with legal requirements.

We have now received confirmation that the Council  has passed both audits for the last financial year 2018/19.  The notice of the conclusion of audit can be seen here.

Members of the public can view the Annual Return and the external auditor’s report here.

Yesterday Ward Councillor Russell Holland posted the following statement concerning the Keypoint development:

I regret to write that the Planning Inspectorate have allowed the developer’s appeal at Keypoint. This is extremely disappointing news because all Councillors voted against allowing this development and I know residents were opposed to this. We have only just received the decision but I am making sure that the Council obtains legal advice so that we can consider our options in respect of this. I will update more when I can.

The Parish Council would also like to express its disappointment at this decision – throughout the process it has supported the Borough in opposing the project and will be considering whether it is realistic to take any further action.

 

Matthew Sansum has taken some wonderfully detailed photographs of the allotments in South Marston. If you’d like to view more of them, they are available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SdxspxccbubYu8EcHcKoXSkodMHIIOZk?usp=sharing

Shoppers and businesses are set to benefit from a new Council policy which will see the introduction of free parking on Sundays.

From April, the Council’s town centre car parks will be free on Sundays. The aim is to help residents and businesses by ensuring that people get to enjoy one day a week where they do not have to pay to park.

In 2018, the Council invested £160,000 in its town centre car parks, ensuring they were safe and clean for everyone who uses them.

This programme of upgrades has now been extended to make the car parks free to use on Sundays to encourage more people to use the town centre at weekends.

The introduction of free parking on Sundays will be cost neutral. A small 10p per hour price increase, the smallest amount possible, from Monday through to Saturday will help cover the £390,000 cost of the free parking.

The policy will be rolled out in April and councillors have urged shoppers to take full advantage of the money saving scheme.

Councillor Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “This is great news for residents and businesses. To be able to park for free for a full day, especially at the weekend, will create new opportunities for everyone.

“We know that the rise of online shopping has posed a number of challenges for local businesses and we want to do as much as we possibly can to help them thrive. The free parking provision on Sundays will help to create an extra 52 days of trading for businesses, and I would encourage residents to take full advantage of it.”

The first free Sunday for the Council’s town centre car parks will be 7 April 2019.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said: “Free parking on Sundays is the big new town centre parking policy.

“I hope local residents and businesses use this opportunity to support our town centre, as we all wrestle with the challenge of online shopping and the changing high street.”

The Carpenters Arms are looking for an Apprentice Chef. Details can be seen here.

CV’s can be sent to Carol.Callam@remit.co.uk or online via http://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk  The vacancy reference is VAC091080565