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September 2019 September 2019

have a list of volunteers who we can allocate to certain areas. If you wish to be DORSET TRADING STANDARDS
involved with the Village Tidy, please contact Cathryne Packham on
cathrynep@outlook.com. Closer to the time we will announce further details of
timings and areas being worked on and people will be able to just turn up on the Dorset Council Trading Standards Service check and approve
day to help out for as much or little time as they have. businesses so you don’t have to.
For more information visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or
Bryan Benjafield
call 08454 040506.
To report or seek advice about problems you have
experienced when dealing with a trader call 08454 040506.

BERE REGIS PARISH COUNCIL FINANCES
Understanding your food dates
In general food law requires pre packed food to have a date mark. Depending
The Parish Council’s financial year came to an end on 31 March at which point on the food type this is either a ‘use by’ date or a ‘best before’ date.
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the accounts were passed to, in the first instance, an internal auditor, before
being passed on to an auditor chosen by Central Government. The use by date is about safety and is the most important date to remember!
Food with a use by date goes off quickly even if it is stored correctly and looks
The accounts have now been audited and they are available in full for your and smells fine. You find it on food such as meat products or ready-prepared
inspection on the Parish Council website. salads. Food can be eaten up until the use by date but should not be eaten after
the date has passed. Most food, including meat and milk, can be frozen up until
However, in order to give you a picture of how the Precept has been spent over
the last year, the income and expenditure for the year to 31 March 2019 is set out the use by date too. The food can then be defrosted and eaten at a later date.
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below in a simplified format: In these circumstances the use by date will no longer apply, but the food will still
be a type of food that goes off quickly so should be eaten quickly once

defrosted. For the use by to be a valid guide you must carefully follow storage
Income: instructions.
Precept (the money claimed from your Council tax) 55,010.77 The best before date is about quality and not
Other income, including donations, grants, cemetery income 16,606.23 safety. The food will be safe to eat after this
date but the food may no longer be at its
Total income 71,617.00 best. Its flavour and texture for example
might not be as good. The best before date

appears on a wide range of frozen, dried,
Expenditure: tinned and other foods. The best before date
will only be accurate if the food is stored
Play area maintenance 4,412.93
according to the instructions on the label.
Cemetery maintenance 6,872.75
Shops can sell food once the ‘best before’
Other maintenance by the Lengthsman 13,267.11
date has passed, however selling food past
Administration costs 16,881.48
its ‘use by’ date is a criminal offence and
Grants, Xmas trees, benches 4,797.05 can lead to prosecution. Dorset Council Trading Standards would like to know if
Community Hall preparatory costs 740.00 you find someone selling food past its use by date.
Neighbourhood Plan – advertising, printing, fees 3,041.55
To report something to Trading Standards or for advice about goods or services
Remembrance Service costs – wreaths, Silent Soldiers, service 838.97 you have bought then please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on
03454 040506.
Total expenditure 50,851.84

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