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FOR LYME REGIS, UPLYME, CHARMOUTH & THE AXE VALLEY ● FORTNIGHTLY ● DECEMBER 23 2022
PAGE 14
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Council ‘tying itself in knots’ over Mark Hix decking plans LYME Regis Town Council will be holding an urgent meeting in the New Year to come to a clear decision on the application to retain decking outside Mark Hix’s Oyster & Fish House in Lister Gardens. Town clerk John Wright made a strong statement last week, in which he said the council was “absolutely divided” and “tying itself in knots” over the matter. He called for the council to “sort it out”, saying that he was “sick to death of being stuck in the middle”. Lyme Regis Town Council has received public backlash and national press coverage after its Planning Committee recommended refusal of Mark Hix’s application to retain his decking, which he erected under relaxed licensing and planning rules during the coronavirus pandemic. REPORT, PAGE 4
Artisan Florist
Christmas with the community
Wild and Seasonal
Popular self-serve flower shed at 18 Woodmead Road, Lyme Regis DT7 3AD
■ THIS year’s build up to Christmas has been the first in three years with no Covid restrictions in place, and the Lyme Regis community has enjoyed returning to all its favourite festive events and spending time with friends, family and neighbours. Pictured above, the Lyme Regis Welcome Cafe enjoyed a Christmas afternoon tea this week. See pages 4, 6, 8 and 10 for photo coverage of the latest Christmas events.
Council’s £1.5m cash bonanza
Or order online for daily deliveries
Teresa Fowler
35 years experience
Tel: 01297 444743 07721 628 754
BUDGET SET FOR COMING YEAR AFTER ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON
ANOTHER hectic summer in which car parks were overflowing and beach amenities were in great demand, Lyme Regis Town Council expect to finish the current financial year with reserves of £1,552,584.
This represents an increase on the previous year of £226,015, which will enable the council to embark on an ambitious programme of improvements and new projects, some of which were suggested by residents in a public
PHILIP EVANS
philip@lyme-online.co.uk
consultation. At a recent meeting of the council’s Strategy and Finance Committee councillors decided to keep the precept (the town’s contribution from council tax) at £132,779 for the year 2023-24, or the equivalent of £64.41 a year for the average Band D property. Councillors approved up to £671,800 for projects in 2023-24 and earmarked £552,584
from forecast reserves towards the funding of these projects, reducing the 2023-24 budget reserves to £1million, down from £1.3 million at the beginning of the financial year. For 2023-24 members approved an income budget estimate of £1,893,658 and an expenditure budget estimate of £1,666,431, a surplus of £227,226 and allocated £119,216 from the surplus to the funding of projects. Officers have prepared a three priority list of projects for councillors to consider. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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