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April 2024 April 2024

standing as councillors NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
can bring a wealth of
k n o w l e d g e a n d The Chancellor has recently presented his Spring
c o m m u n i t y Budget. There is further information on my website
understanding into the about the detail of what has been announced, but I
local team. wanted to highlight a few things.
If you are interested in State Pensions are rising by 8.5% in April, as previously
becoming a councillor announced, and these recent pledges demonstrate
now is the time to act, the Chancellor’s intention to support everyone in our
get the forms and send communities.
them off (nominations
deadline 5 April). Promoting Jobs and Investment is one of my priorities,
th
Further details can be found on the following web address :- and there’s help for small businesses in the Budget.
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/parish-and-town-councils-within-the-dorset- At the moment businesses have to pay VAT once their turnover is more than
council-area-election-on-2-may-2024-information-for-candidates £85,000. The VAT threshold is now being increased to £90,000, meaning that
fewer businesses will have to register for VAT.

Annual Parish Meeting Fuel duty has been frozen again, helping both individuals and businesses with
their costs.
The Annual Parish Meeting is not a Parish Council Meeting it is an opportunity for
discussion about issues that interest or concern Parishioners. The Meeting is National Insurance is being reduced by 2p, which for someone on the average
chaired by the Parish Council Chairman and the Parish Clerk will take the Minutes. wage in our area is worth £450 a year. We have a very low unemployment rate
This year the Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 10 at 6:30pm in the here in Dorset, at around half the national average, and I am pleased that the
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Briantspuddle Village Hall. Government is supporting people in work with this change.
It is customary for organisations in the village to come to the meeting to inform Supporting families and communities is also one of my key priorities:
residents about what has happened over the last year and as well as looking to One in five residents of Mid Dorset and North Poole are under 18, and I know
the future. In past years the following organisations have kindly offered reports for from conversations with and correspondence from constituents, how significant
the Meeting and it is hoped they will do so again: Child Benefit is to those with the important responsibility of bringing up our
 Affpuddle & Turnerspuddle Parish Council children and young people. Child Benefit used to be a universal benefit, but
 Bladen Social Club since 2013 families with a parent earning over £50,000 had to pay some of it
back, and families with anyone earning over £60,000 not being eligible for it at
 Briantspuddle Community Group all. This has meant that some families earning almost £100,000 could get child
 Briantspuddle Village Hall Committee benefit if both parents earned equally, whilst families with one higher earner, and
 Briantspuddle Village Shop and Post Office perhaps one stay-at-home parent on the same overall family income, received
nothing. I’m pleased that the Chancellor is addressing this issue, and is making
 Erica Trust changes which will particularly benefit single earner families. In the next two
 St Laurence Church (Affpuddle PCC) years there are planned overall changes, so that Child Benefit will be awarded
This is an opportunity for Parishioners to hear more about what is going on in the based on household, rather than individual income. This is fairer for everyone.
Parish and all residents are most welcome to attend. The Household Support Fund is also continuing for another six months, which
helps low-income households in our area with the cost of living. This support is
available for all low-income households – including households without children
and pensioners.

Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle website: www.briantspuddle.info

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