Tuesday 21 June 2022

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly - 2022 May

 

Leigh Annual Parish Assembly held on Monday 9th May 2022 at 7.00pm

At Leigh Village Hall

 

Meeting chaired by Councillor John Beaman – Chairman of the Parish Council

 

Notes of the Meeting

 

Present:          Councillors      Andy Raby, Bruce Barker, John Beaman, Toby Collins, Ernie Durose,                      David Wilson

 

                        Parishioners    Wendy Lewis, Arthur Langridge, Jan Tarr, Mary Allen

 

                        Clerk                Katherine Parkinson

 

                        Apologies        Councillor Colin Whittaker, Lionel Ingram, Mike Snowden

 

1                    Annual Report of Leigh Parish Council for year ending 31st March 2022

 

·         The Chairman welcomed everyone and thanked the Councillors for their support throughout the year.

·         First Annual Parish Assembly since May 2019 due to COVID.

·         Emma Beaman resigned as Councillor and Lionel Ingram and David Wilson were appointed as Councillors.

·         District Councillor Colin Whittaker has attended some of the meetings over the past year representing the Borough.

·         Main issues raised have been potholes and blocked gullies, usage of the ESBC App has been good.

·         Brian Boughey resigned as Clerk in 2020 and Becky Garland took over but resigned in December 2021.  John Beaman has been filling the role since but Katherine Parkinson started as the Clerk in April 2022.

·         There were 22 Planning Applications - mainly agricultural related or extensions or conversions.

·         Screening has commenced for two Solar Farms that encroach into Leigh Parish.

·         No litter picking has taken place and verge cutting has taken place today.

·         Continued support of the Village Hall by the PC.

·         Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner was cancelled however will be reinstated for 2022.

 

 

2                    Statement of the Parish Council’s Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2022

 

·         Chairman presented the Accounts, main expenses for the year have been grass cutting, defibrillators, Village Hall meetings, Clerk’s salary and work to the trees at end of Lime Close

 

 

 

3                    Statement of the Parish Council’s Income and Expenditure Estimates for 2022/2023

 

·         To be issued by the Clerk

 

4                    Report from the County Councillor for Uttoxeter Rural Division

 

·         Not present, no report presented

           

5                    Report from the District Councillor for Abbey Ward

 

·         Not present, no report presented

 

 

6          To receive reports from Village Organisations :

 

6.1       Village Hall – Wendy Lewis

 

Very little to report due to COVID, however the hall is starting to get booked again.  Refurbishment of Toilets is planned.  Received government grants that covered the loss of income.  Grass at back of VH is being cut by Croppers now and paid for by Village Hall

 

6.2       Recreation Field – John Beaman

 

Main issue has been play area closed due to H&S issues.  John Beaman able to get someone to repair the surface of the play areas and pay for it – Cole Demolition of Birmingham as an employee has a child in the school.  Football team have had 13 matches.  Copper Beech provided by WI had to be felled but WI contributing towards replacing it.  Cradle seats for swings have been delivered – part funded via Colin Whittaker

 

6.3       United Charities – Arthur Langridge

 

Done two Christmas doles – these need to be applied for but anyone over age of 65 and has lived in the Parish for more than 5 years can apply.  Vacancy for a Secretary since Mrs Smallwood left.  There was an issue with access to one of their pieces of land when a property was sold, however NFU intervened and this has now been resolved by owners leaving the gate open.  Andy Raby is keen to join the organization.  Going to arrange a visit to the 3 pieces of land owned by the charities - The Bents – over the railway line – 2 pieces of land and another piece of land farmed by the Whitehouses.  There are 3 tenants who all pay their rent promptly.  There has been good support from the committee

 

6.4       Spencer Trust – report provided by Linda Orchard

 

After a series of Zoom meetings due to COVID, the Trustees finally met F2F at the Village Hall in October 2021.  The Farm tenancy was renewed, Mr Andrew Backhouse will continue with this for the next 5 years.  The income from the rent supports any funding offered to students.  Ten students successfully applied for retrospective financial support, 4 existing beneficiaries and 6 new applicants, each receiving £200.

 

There will be an advert inviting new applicants in the next two Parish Magazines.

Annual inspection on Saturday 23rd July 2022.

 

6.5       All Saints School – report provided by Andrea Cairns

 

See attached report for full details.

 

Toby Collins advised the meeting that Andrea is now a joint Head Teacher of both All Saints School, Leigh and Bramshall Meadows First School opening in September 2022.

 

6.6       May Ball – Katherine Parkinson

 

Event took place on Saturday 30th April 2022 after two years of cancelling.  Really good event and well attended and supported.  New band performed who were very popular.  Final accounts being reconciled however some of the proceeds are going to be used to support the Ukranian families living in the Parish.

 

6.7       WI – Jan Tarr

 

See attached report for full details.

 

7          Resolutions of which written notice has been given         -           None

 

8          To deal with any other business raised by Parishioners

 

8.1       PC were asked for their views on the Solar Farm applications – John Beaman stated that it is down to the individuals in the Parish to express their concerns and to do it separately as will have more of an impact.  Both applications are currently in Scoping and have not applied for Planning Permission yet.  SCC do not have joined up approach to the Solar Farms unfortunately and treat each one individually with no holistic view across the county.

 

 

                                               

The meeting concluded at 7.50pm

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