APM Minutes 2023
WILLINGHAM BY STOW PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
held in the Village Hall on Thursday 13st April 2023 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllr D Bingham (Chairman), L Brooks-Sleight (Clerk) and 7 residents
1. Apologies
Received from 2 residents.
2. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 2022
The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 21st April 2022 were approved & signed
as a true and correct record Resolved
3. Chairman’s Report – presented by Cllr D Bingham (Chairman)
Firstly I would like to thank my fellow councillors that have served with me in that time and
welcome our new councillors and work they have put in and to our clerk for her hard work
Last year we opened the parish field with the help of grants and councillor initiative funds. We have been able to hard a hard pathway around the pond and a couple of benches and I’m pleased to say this has been well used. A meeting with WLDC grant team recently and they were impressed with what had been started and were keen to improve more. The next stage is possibly put a picnic table in and maybe a canopy over. We also planted an apple tree to commemorate the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
Around the village we have replaced some of the old wooden benches with longer lasting recycled plastic ones, also purchased 2 bench seats to go in the bus shelters on Stow Rd after several requests for them. Solar panels to run the speed devices as the batteries were only lasting a few days.
In the cemetery we had to have the main tree pruned and dead wood removed and the church wall near the gate needed repair.
On planning this year, we had outline planning passed for a new build in Grange Lane and others just small alterations. The solar farms are still a big concern with 2 out of the 3 in final stages. They will have a big impact on the village with traffic at one site at over 10,000 vehicles mostly HGV and the roads are going to be widened to get the large vehicles especially Cotgarth Lane.
Around the village I would like to thank the homeowners for cutting their grass verges and keeping the village tidy; our litter pickers and village gardener for looking after the planter on the bottom green. The events committee for organising village events and those that run the village Facebook pages and village website keeping us all up to date.
Lastly, can I remind residents to please park sensibly on the High St and leave room for emergency vehicles. And, dog walkers 99% of you do a great job and use the bins provided.
4. Parish Council Accounts 2022/23 – presented by the clerk
Balance brought forward from 31st March 2022 was £15,518.12
- Expenditure consists of the General Admin, the grass cutting contract, insurance, office equipment, audits etc. Grants of financial support were given to the village hall and playing field committees & for the Christmas Lights at the St Helens
Ground & property Maintenance including the Parish Field Development
Total expenditure was £19609.52
- The main part of the Parish Councils Income comes from the precept at £14,000. Income from cemetery fees has been £760.00, Other income of from rental of the parish field, grant funding & VAT refund
Total income was £19011.98
We ended the year with £14920.58 31st March 2023 Resolved
5. Reports for Village Organisations
Reports were received from the following groups, updating the meeting of their groups last year’s news and future intentions – Village website, Twining, St Helens Church, the Village Hall Committee, Foxy Ladies and the Willingham & District Relief in Sickness Charity. Emails received of reports from Bell Ringers, Horticultural Society and Friendship group.
6. Open Forum for public participation
An enquiry from a resident about the amount of money held within the PC bank accounts at
the end of the financial year was noted, the Chair informed the meeting that reserves were
held for future expenditure and plans cemetery extension, layby at the cemetery entrance
and at the doctor’s surgery.
Meeting Ended 8.10pm