A short and if councillors can manage the budget, a sweet possibility of keeping the precept unchanged, was the outcome of the regular Radstock Town Council meeting.

Councillors discussed the on-going transfer of the Tom Huyton play park, which could be completed in 2021, and how this could be one of the places chosen to be part of what is going to be a national tree planting project.

Other sites discussed including planting trees up at Southfields and possibly some on Haydon Batch.

In February 2022 the Queen will be marking her Platinum Jubilee and is encouraging the public to plant trees to celebrate 70 years of her reign.

It has been dubbed 'The Queen's Green Canopy' and councillors were told that there are already local plans to engage in tree planting in Radstock and elsewhere in the Somer Valley.

Earlier the on-line meeting was given a brief update on how B&NES is bringing its budget together by Cllr Chris Dando. He told councillors: " It is going to be a difficult budget year... B&NES is losing revenues from visitors and parking, and lots of big retail names have gone bust, so it will not be getting those rents. Added to which the increased costs of Covid. In fact trying to recoup money is going to be a long term, over time issue. To be honest it is going to be a difficult five or six years, and that will have a knock on effect on us (in Radstock)."

However it was intimated at the Radstock Town Council meeting, that at an earlier finance meeting, even though not all the costs and revenues had come in, they were hoping to keep the precept unchanged, or even bring in a reduction. Councillors were told no final decision could be made until all the figures from the tax base were available. " We are not there yet," councillors were warned.

In other news, councillors heard that B&NES is making a full review of all traffic issues in and around Radstock. They are reviewing potential zebra crossings, looking at traffic calming measures, and how to make the town safer, with councillors being urged to bring all the issues that they think needing looking at to the attention of the Town Clerk. Cllr Bruce Shearn told councillors: " This is not (another ) meeting. What we will have in the New Year is a report about Radstock looking across all the highways, looking at the crossing points, at all of the issues and pulling it all together."

During the Zoom meeting, the Radstock Mayor, Cllr Rupert Bevan, took the opportunity to thank councillors for all their work for the town. He told them: " I would just like to say that its highly appreciated even if you might not think so from some of the comments that are made. I really appreciate how much you all do." He added that he also wanted to single out the Town Clerk, who has been in post for one year, for all her work ; a sentiment echoed by all of the councillors present.

The next full meeting of Radstock Town Council will be January 18, 2021.