Press release -December 2011
PRESS REPORT CHEVELEY PARISH COUNCIL
A meeting of Cheveley Parish Council was held on Tuesday 13th December . As readers are probably aware the Council has been unable to transact business since August 2011 and therefore there have been no press reports. Whilst the Council has been quorate in number during this period it was considered unwise to undertake Parish business due to a highly questionable clause in its Standing Orders that, since May, required the presence of an individual Councillor –a problem highlighted after the May 2011 elections to residents of Cheveley.
Fortuitously this Councillor was able to attend the December meeting and the council was then able to move forward and as a direct consequence welcomed five new members to council. There remains one vacancy (South Ward). If you wish to become a volunteer or to be considered for this vacancy on the Council please contact the Clerk email cheveleyparishclerk@virginmedia.com or visit www.cheveley-pc.org.uk for more information.
The new council team has, due to this inability to meet, a significant number of outstanding and overdue issues that it genuinely hopes residents of Cheveley Parish will allow time to resolve and therefore appreciates continued patience in this matter. Notwithstanding these significant outstanding procedural burdens placed on the new council it remains committed to moving matters on positively in respect of comments complaints and requests received from parishioners at the annual parish meeting in May.
The Parish Council continues to seek engagement with, and encourage participation of, residents in respect of discussions and consultations in regards to the lack of use and amenities, state of repair as to antisocial behaviours at the pavilion and recreation ground. As a consequence of this ongoing work the parish council welcomes Su Shaw, David Cudby and Kirsty Durham to its expanding army of volunteers willing to assist the parish council in its aim to revitalise and reinvent the recreation ground and pavilion.
The Cheveley Pavilion Working Group continued to meet during the period that the Council was unable to undertake normal business and the Council takes this opportunity to thank them. A questionnaire was distributed to all parishioners concerning the ongoing use of the pavilion and recreation ground. It is hoped that this consultation exercise and the results obtained will assist the group in successful funding applications that it intends to pursue in 2012 and Cheveley Parish Council remains committed in its support.
The budget for 2012-13 has been drafted and may be viewed at www.cheveley-pc.org.uk or by requesting hard copy from the Clerk or at Cheveley village post office shop (tba). Parishioners will note that the precept request represents a £9.98 per elector per year increase. The increases are a reflection of the true costs related to employment and the creation of a part time grounds man/caretaker and maintenance contract within the Village, at the pavilion & recreation ground and cemetery. It should be noted that the Council has taken the opportunity to cap those costs which it feels unsustainable and unsupportable and these include capping capital and revenue expenditure at the pavilion and recreation ground at the 2010-11 level. It was agreed that a final payment from the Town Lands Charity and to eligible parishioners would be made in the New Year and thereafter this Charity due to lack of assets would cease to function.
It was agreed that Cheveley Parish Council like many other councils throughout the UK will be lighting a beacon as part of planned Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 10th January 2012 in the Community Room at Cheveley School at 7.30 pm.