Document Date
17/04/2025
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
Wollaston Parish Council
Wollaston Parish Council
Document Date
17/04/2025
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
WOLLASTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARISH HELD ON
THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2025, 7.00pm
HELD AT THE OASIS BUILDING, WOLLASTON
PRESENT: Councillors Alvis, Atkinson, Alms, Carter, Goldsmith, Jones, Milroy, Mitchell, Savage, Threadgold. Clerk – Mrs S Grant
IN ATTENDANCE: No attendance from Village organisations.
APOLOGIES: No response from Cllr Hodson.
MINUTES: RESOLVED that the minutes of the Annual Assembly of the Parish held on Thursday 18th April 2024 were read and signed as correct.
MATTERS ARISING: There were no matters arising from the 2024 Annual Assembly.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
I begin this report by informing you the village of the sad loss of two members of this Council. Richard Talbot passed away in his sleep about 4 weeks ago and Philip Boycott passed away in hospital last week. On behalf of the Parish Council, I have visited both families to express our regret on their loss and have left my contact details should they require any help or assistance.
Moving on, we have now entered what is known as Purdah during which time no Government business will take place. This means that we will get very limited information from the Children and Young People Service and the S106 Team at NNC, this is the team that will hand over, if appropriate, payments received from developers to enhance the facilities in the village, until the NNC election is over.
Communication between the members of the Pre School development group and these two bodies has been very difficult due in part to the reducing birth rate in the County and reflected across the UK. Be that as it may, I would like to thank Councillors Mitchell, Goldsmith and Carter for the time and effort that they have put in while trying to move this project forward.
The Parish Council’s proposal has been delivered to the above teams and rejected by them, as not offering what they believe is the current need for parent support and children development in the future. It would appear that there is less need for a Pre School, however, there appears to be a great need for infant support. Needless to say, that this would bring a whole new set of challenges and a review of the allocated space in the plans for the redevelopment of the Village Hall. Be that as it may, the Parish Council has now put the ball into NNC’s court and asked them what the village needs to do to ensure that the S106 monies allocated to Child Care, is fully utilised to the benefit of parents in Wollaston.
On the plus side, the Playing Fields Committee, which is made up by Parish Councillors and members of the Community, were successful in applying for S106 monies allocated to Community Sport. These funds were used to purchase and lay the new MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) pitches at the playing fields.
That aside the past year has seen little change. The Parish Council has been fortunate to have been able to co-opt Councillors to replace those who have stepped down due to other commitments. The loss of Callum Boddington in particular has been unfortunate and brought its own challenge as Callum’s drive, supported by Cllr Michelle Milroy was the push behind a number of Community events which served to unite the Community and show that there is life after Covid!
Cllr Milroy has also sadly now decided that she will step down from the Parish Council, however she has very kindly offered to continue to manage the Wollaston Together village magazine.
As previously stated, the Parish and the NNC elections will take place on the 1st of May 2025. The parish Council has lost two sitting Councillors, who have decided not to stand again. So may I take this opportunity to thank Michelle Milroy and Jonny Alms for their support and involvement during the years that they have been active members of the Wollaston Parish Council.
The Clerk put a call out for members of the Community to step up and support the future of Wollaston and I am pleased to report that we have nominations from four new members of the Community who wish to take on the role of a Parish Councillor. As the Council remains at 13 there is no need to hold an election to the Wollaston Parish Council this year.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cllrs Savage, Threadgold, Jones, Boycott and Talbutt for their active roles in the Parish Working parties and in particular making sure that the Village is kept clean and tidy, and the interests of the Community are at the forefront of all that the Parish Council does.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Suzanne our Clerk, for her steadfast efforts in ensuring that the standards demanded for local Government institutions are properly managed and regularly updated. I have enjoyed working with Suzanne who has been very supportive of myself as Chair and prompts and guides as required.
In closing, this Parish Council is coming to the end of its term, and I would like to offer my thanks to all Councillors, past and present, for all their efforts in promoting strong values to show a lead to the Community and take Wollaston forward.
Lindsay Alvis
Chair
Wollaston Parish Council
REPORTS FROM VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS:
None received.
There being no further business the meeting terminated at 7.10pm.
Chair ………………………………………….
Date ……………………………………………..