The Parish Council continues to deliver new services
The Parish Council owns and manages the allotments, two playparks, the cemetery, the Town Hall, some of the Village’s many green spaces and a car park. In addition to this, it assists with the management of the Churchyard and the Library. In this last financial year, the Parish Council also became the sole trustee of the Village Hall, in addition to facilitating a youth club and completing other projects such as: the bank clearance of Bathwell Lane; restoring and painting the railings around St John’s; rebuilding two walls (East Street & Wheathill Lane); installing further play equipment at Gainsborough; also at Gainsborough changing the direction of the entrance to make it safer for people entering/leaving; and an upgrade to the shelter so that it actually protects from the elements. At Springfield, there has been a £60k upgrade to the 5-aside/basketball court, this coming just a year after the double tennis courts were refitted, and a new set of swings is on order, due to be installed in the coming months.
Where the Community Plan is concerned, steering groups led by Councillors and working on improving village communications and emergency planning have been making great progress.
You might think that coming into the 26/27 financial year on April the 1st, there surely cannot be much more to do! Actually, there is… and the three large projects that the Parish Council is working on right now are…
- The Community Hub (or the new Library as some might call it):
This is in the process of being built by Redcliffe Homes at the front of the new estate in North Street/Station Road, and is due to be handed over to the Parish Council at some point this summer in a shell and core state, meaning that it will have a roof and walls, and that will be about it. It will be for the Parish Council to fund and manage the project to have the empty shell fitted out into a useable building. Planning is already under way, some grant funding has been obtained, and further funding is being sought, as well as sponsorship.
- The Village Hall Refit:
The Village Hall Committee has spent the last year getting professional advice as to how to make the Village Hall more energy efficient, but also just generally more attractive and smart. Significant amounts have been spent on the hall over the last year, much of it just carrying out necessary maintenance works to the electrics and replacing a fire door. Also, the ladies’ loos have also been refitted (£10,000) and the next project in the short term has to be the replacement of the lobby, as it is rotten (up to £18,000). Using the professional advice received and surveys carried out, a list of longer-term upgrades has been drawn up and costed at £83k+; we are now seeking grant funding and donations for this. The new management team will also be organising fundraising events. - Additional changing facilities for the Sports/Football Club:
While the club house doesn’t belong to the Parish Council, we are helping the Football club to try and achieve its ambition of creating additional changing facilities for Girls’ Football.
The Council Tax 2026/27:
When setting its budget for this coming year, the Parish Council and its Committees started discussions back in the Autumn (2025). Councillors looked very carefully at the cost of providing services and at what savings could be made, while also being realistic about rising costs. I fear it will not come as a surprise that, even by keeping things close to the bone, the Parish Council is to increase its share of the Council Tax from this April.
The increase will be just £4.21 per year, for a band D household – this is 35p per month – which will mean a Band D household will pay £172.79 per year for services and projects delivered by the Parish Council.
How do we compare?
| Bruton | £254.17 (25/26) |
| Langport | £359.54 (25/26) |
| Wincanton | £200.92 (25/26) |
| Henstridge | £115.40 (25/26) |
| Milborne Port | £172.79 (26/27) |
Simon Pritchard
Milborne Port Parish Clerk
‘The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.’ (Alfred Austin)
We have half and full plot allotments available for new tenants! If you have been contemplating a tenancy but never quite got round to it, now is the time! Here is a great little YouTube clip about the joys of having an allotment! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIGbVaB_mNk
March Meetings: Full Council – Tuesday 3rd; Planning Committee – Tuesday 17th.
Meetings take place in the Town Hall and start at 7 pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend and can address the meeting with questions or comments from 7-7.15 pm. If you would like to attend but would experience access difficulties, please let us know in advance and we will relocate to the Community Room downstairs.