A YEAR of successful ventures in 2000-2001 was reported by Parish Council chairman George Waugh at last week's annual parish meeting on Monday.

Highlights included praise for the new owners of the shop and Post Office businesses which changed hands during the year. Other points were continuing progress on the Community Woodland project, and a highly satisfactory outcome to the Millennium Mug scheme which had resulted in every village child receiving a mug at a cost to the Council of just over £50, thanks to profitable sales of extra mugs.

Two guest speakers from MHDC addressed the small but keenly interested audience. Parish Initiatives Officer James Hassett explained key points from the Government's recent Rural White Paper - incidentally raising again the vexed question of whether West Malvern is actually rural or not! He was followed by MHDC Secretary Kevin Douglas who described the various options open to County and District Councils under the Local Government Act 2000, aimed at improving efficiency and accountability. Mr Douglas stressed that "no change" was not one of the options available. So it was a case of choosing from the following options offered by Govern-ment:- a directly elected Mayor and Cabinet; a Mayor and Council Manager; a Leader chosen by elected Councillors with a Cabinet chosen by the Leader; or (in the case of the District Council only) an improved committee system.

Mr Douglas also revealed that the local public consultation period, originally due to close last month, had been extended until September.

Electors wishing to record their views on the "options for change" can still take part: forms are available from the Council House.

After many delays, mainly due to the wet weather of recent months, scaffolding has finally started to go up around St James's Church as work begins on the long-awaited restoration of the roof. This may make it necessary to keep the church locked for a time, but the message from the clergy is that it will be "business as usual" - even if the Wednesday service has to move to a different part of the church!