Minutes 07/2025
Present: Cllrs Martin Willingale (Chair), Jacqueline Allum, Martyn Walton & Richard Whitlow
In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk)
Parishioners: 0
- Chairman’s Welcome & Announcements
Chairman, Cllr Martin Willingale, welcomed the Councillors.
- Election of a Vice-Chairman
It was unanimously RESOLVED to elect Cllr Richard Whitlow as Vice Chairman for the 2025/26 municipal year.
- Apologies for absence
District Cllr Ben Hurdman and Cllr Terry Bennett (Cookhill Parish Council) sent apologies.
- Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
- Register of Interests
Noted.
- Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
None.
- Other Disclosable Interests
None.
- Dispensations
None.
- Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
- District Councillors
Cllr Ben Hurdman provided the following report to be shared at the meeting:
Rural Matters Advisory Panel
The Rural Matters Advisory Panel received a presentation from Robert Stepniewski, Portfolio Lead in the Broadband and Connectivity Team and Ste Ashton, Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity Manager, Worcestershire Council on broadband speed and mobile reception in the rural areas and some of the innovative projects they have been involved in. I am pushing for them to improve both mobile signal and broadband connectivity in the villages and will continue to do so.
Round Two: Wychavon Rural Fund applications now open
Rural businesses and communities can now apply for funding of up to £25,000 with Round Two of the Wychavon Rural Fund.
The Wychavon Rural Fund aims to support valuable new capital projects that promote the growth and development of start-ups and small businesses. The funding is intended for physical projects, such as new equipment or machinery and aims to support farm diversification outside of agriculture.
Grants ranging from £2,500 to £25,000 are available, with recipients required to match 50% of the total project costs. This shared investment reflects our commitment to community involvement and economic resilience.
Key dates for Wychavon Rural Fund: Round Two
- Expression of interest deadline – Midday, Monday, 7 July 2025
- Full Application deadline – Midday, Monday, 18 August 2025
- Funding decision – end of September 2025
All projects from both rounds one and two must be completed by Saturday, 31 January 2026.
Two Wychavon projects that previously benefited from the fund are the Inkberrow Cricket Club and Church Lench Village Hall. Inkberrow Cricket Club received over £11,000 to invest in the future of cricket by helping fund the building of a dedicated junior cricket square. This enables the Club to provide better facilities for more children from diverse backgrounds and from further afield, encouraging them to participate in sports throughout the summer months. A grant of over £7,500 was allocated to Church Lench Village Hall to install a solar panel and storage battery system, bringing a projected energy saving of £79,000 over 25 years.
New rules for postal voters
Many residents who usually vote by post are being asked to reapply by Wychavon. This is because the law around postal votes has changed, and they will now expire every three years.
Residents are being advised that if they are a long-term postal voter and their postal vote was granted before 31 January 2024, they will need to reapply before 31 January 2026.
Please encourage your residents to reapply online, it only takes a couple of minutes.
The Electoral Services team has also contacted affected electors.
Wychavon businesses coaching
The latest round of fully funded business coaching through the Enterprising Worcestershire programme is now open for registration.
Business owners will gain access to up to 10 hours of one-to-one coaching with an experienced Business Coach, designed to help you develop a focused, actionable growth strategy aligned with your business, professional, and personal goals.
- Start with a 6-hour strategy day to shape your roadmap for long-term success
- Follow up with up to 4 hours of tailored support to stay on track and build momentum
Whether the business is scaling up or looking for a change in direction, this expert support will help you unlock business’s full potential.
To learn more on this visit https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ or visit the website of our specialist provider, Real World Consultancy at EWBCP — RWC
Clerk to ask Cllr Ben Hurdman about the match funding required for the Wychavon Rural Fund.
- County Councillor
No report was provided.
- Village Hall Committee
Cllr Martin Willingale (Parish Council representative to the Village Hall Committee) provided the following update:
Chair and Treasurer needed urgently.
Booking Officer Report: Tai Chi classes are doing well and booked through to next year. Arty Farky is not going ahead during the summer but should resume in September. A Pilates class will be starting on a Wednesday evening from 23rd July for 6 weeks, there will be no charge for these classes initially.
Building, maintenance and development: Friends of the village hall have been asked to help with a work party on Thursday 16th July at 7pm.
Future Events: The pub night, although not well attended, was very enjoyable. A quiz night is organised for Friday 11th July at 7.30pm. Attendees will bring their own refreshments with a charge of £5 per person (including nibbles), there will be a raffle and a pre-quiz ‘Heads and Tails’. There will be some fizz for the winning team.
It was felt more research was needed for a Car Show.
There will be a Vinyl Night on Friday 3rd October – people bring their own vinyls, play them and explain why they mean so much to them.
Local group, Songbirds (a group of ladies that sing popular songs) could be a pre-Christmas event.
The next Village Hall Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 26th August at 12pm.
- Footpaths Officer
Footpaths Officer, Ann Clayden provided the following report to be shared at the meeting:
- I have now walked every path in the parish and revisited some I first walked earlier in the year.
- Vegetation clearance work (mainly round gates and stiles) and replacement of faded, damaged or missing waymarks continues.
- The fallen tree across the bridleway through Slade Wood has been cleared as promised.
- An issue was raised with the Parish Clerk recently about the state of path 500(B) towards Inkberrow. There is an enclosed stretch between two stiles which is very overgrown. The County Council’s contractors have it on their list to strim this summer, but unfortunately because of the way they work, we’re not in a position to give any timescales. I notice some kind person had tackled some of the blackthorn with secateurs, and I did a bit more, but it is quite difficult to get through at present.
- A couple of ‘Beware of the bull’ signs have appeared recently on stiles. The PROW officer at the County Council will be contacting the landowners concerned.
(Ann Clayden, June 2025)
Clerk to clarify with the Footpaths Officer what the issue is with the ‘Beware of the bull’ signs.
- Public participation
0 parishioners in attendance.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
- To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 22nd May 2025
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.
- Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
- W/25/01264/HP Associated Ref: W/25/01265/LB: Tudor Cottage, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton Worcester, WR7 4NA. Proposed extension, replacement of dormer coverings to North elevation. Councillors discussed the application and had no objections.
- W/25/01265/LB Associated Ref: W/25/01264/HP: Tudor Cottage, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Proposed extension, replacement of dormer coverings to North elevation and internal alterations (Listed Building Consent). Councillors discussed the application and had no objections.
- Public Rights of Way and Highways
- PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.
Covered under agenda item 5.4: Footpath’s Officer.
- Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.
No additional items for the Lengthman’s work schedule. The Clerk reported that the Lengthsman had tried to fix the Neighbourhood Watch sign which was broken but this would need further attention. Clerk to check with Cllr Terry Bennett about repair or new Neighbourhood Watch sign.
- Flooding: Update on the flooding issues within the Parish.
No updates due a dry period in the weather.
- Progress reports
- Speeding & Road Safety
Cllr Martin Willingale to send the petition numbers to the Clerk. Clerk to follow up with Barry Barnes at Worcestershire County Council and County Cllr Bell.
- Devolution/Unitary Authority
Cllr Martin Willingale had attended the ‘Shape Worcestershire’ – Parish & Town Council Event hosted by Wychavon District Council. There was very little definitive information to update. There was uncertainty about the continuation of the Lengthsman Scheme. Clerk to research the Village Green as this is a Wychavon District Council owned asset.
- Litterpick
It was AGREED to arrange a community litterpick on 14th September at 10.30am to meet outside the Village Hall. Clerk to arrange the equipment and rubbish collection.
- .gov.uk Email and Website Domain
The Clerk had received a quote from Eyelid Productions (AMPC’s current website host and support provider) to transfer the website and email to a .gov.uk domain. It was RESOLVED to proceed with the conversion to a .gov.uk email and website domain.
- Parish matters for discussion/decision
- Neighbourhood Plans Funding Withdrawal: The motion and resolution (from CALC) calling on the Government to provide dedicated funding for Neighbourhood Plans was NOTED.
- West Mercia Police Smartwater Scheme: The Clerk provided the costings for the Smartwater scheme for Abbots Morton. It was RESOLVED to not pursue the Smartwater Scheme due to the costs involved.
- Finance
- 2024-25 Accounts: To receive an update on the end of year accounts.
The Clerk had completed all the end of year accounts and audit work, and it was all published on the Council’s website.
- Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
- Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
- Bank mandate: To review bank signatory arrangements.
Cllr Richard Whitlow AGREED to become a bank signatory. Clerk to investigate adding Cllr Richard Whitlow to the bank mandate.
- Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
- Kerry Williamson (salary and expenses): £845.43
- HMRC PAYE: £40.47 (credit used)
- Jeremy Moore (Lengthsman): £176
- Abbots Morton Village Hall (meeting room booking): £23
- Graham Hobbs (Village planters): £157.97
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices via internet banking.
- Correspondence
- Worcestershire CALC:
The above correspondence was NOTED. The Clerk reminded Councillors that there are a series of Health and Wellbeing sessions being run over the summer by CALC.
- Worcestershire CALC: AGM & Quarterly Meeting of Wychavon Area of CALC.
Cllr Martin Willingale had attended this meeting, there was low attendance.
- Worcestershire CALC: Newsletter, Neighbourhood Plans & Training.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire CALC: 20’s Plenty Presentation & Training.
Cllr Martin Willingale would like to attend this presentation, Clerk to make the booking.
- Wychavon District Council: ‘Shape Worcestershire’ – Parish & Town Council Event.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 9.2.
- Wychavon District Council: Neighbourhood Planning Update.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 10.1.
- West Mercia Police: ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ Smartwater Scheme.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 10.2.
- Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
Cllr Jacqueline Allum asked if the Parish Council can make regular donations to local organisations and charities. The Clerk clarified that Parish Councils should not make regular donations – local groups can apply to the Parish Council for a grant for a specific project as specified in the Grants & Donations Policy.
Councillors discussed the recent Flower Festival at the Church, Councillors felt that an Open Garden event could be part of the Flower Festival in future years like other local villages hold.
- Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting would be on 25th September 2025.
Owing to the confidential nature of the following agenda items it was RESOLVED “that in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting owing to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted” i.e.: agenda item, 16, Permitted Development Enquiry.
- Permitted Development Enquiry
It was RESOLVED not to take any further action due to associated costs.
The meeting closed at 9.25PM.