PARISH COUNCIL - The first meeting of the newly-formed Belmont Rural Parish Council took place on Monday April 3. The meeting was opened by Neil Pringle as returning officer, who presided over the election of Councillor Phil Edwards as chairman. Also in attendance were Councillors Jim Harman, Ian Robinson, Richard Jones and Pauline Stallard, all of whom were councillors for the West ward of Clehonger Parish Council. Elections for the nine vacancies as parish councillor will take place on 4th May 4, but in the interim, the first meeting was to deal with the administrative requirements of the new parish, such as opening the bank account and the appointment of the parish clerk. One planning application was considered, an amendment to plans submitted by Westbury Homes for its development on the Lewis Land at Belmont. The other important task was to consider the precept requirement for the parish. After some consideration, and taking the recommendations of a working party formed for the purpose of considering the budget requirements of the new council, the parish council resolved to request a precept of £12,000 for the year 2000/1. The next meeting of Belmont Rural parish council will be the annual parish council meeting, which will take place on the same evening as the annual parish meeting, on Monday, May 15, at Eastholme Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue, Belmont, commencing at 7.30pm.