Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish held at the Villages Hall, Bishampton on Wednesday 1 May 2002.

Members of the Parish Council present were: Mr Terry Hall (Chairman), Mr Malcolm Argyle (District Councillor), Mr Nigel Smith, Mr Michael Holden, Mrs Annette Bufton (from 8.00 pm) and Mr Stephen Osborne.

Also present: Mrs Liz Tucker (County Councillor) and Mrs A Belcher (Clerk to the Parish Council)

1. Apologies

Apologies had been received from Mr Derry Granville-Jolly, Mr Chris Austen and Mr and Mrs Peter Averis.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2001

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2001 were proposed by Mr Michael Johnes and seconded by Mr Peter Jesson and were approved and signed.

3. Matters arising from the minutes

There were no matters arising.

4. Report by Mrs E Tucker, County Councillor

Mrs Tucker reported that the 8.2% increase in the Council Tax had received all party agreement.
With regard to education, the area schools review had been delayed because of urgent problems which needed addressing in the Wyre Forest area. Pershore High School had had a good OfSTED report and had received permission to become a technology college.
An extra £1 million had been put into this year's budget for road maintenance, of which £800,000 was to be targeted at unclassified roads.
Councillor Tucker reported on the results of last May's elections and on the current political make-up of the Council.
Councillor Tucker reported the existence of the Burial Site Liaison Group which had been formed to monitor the Foot and Mouth burial site and on the Four Parishes Archaeology Group which had been set up in the summer of 2001.

5. Report by Mr M Argyle, District Councillor

Councillor Argyle reported on the review of electoral arrangements in Wychavon which was being undertaken by the Local Government Commission for England. The Commission was reviewing ward boundaries to achieve electoral equality between wards. Wychavon District Council had initially proposed dividing the landfill site between two wards and had later amended this to a proposal which would have put Bishampton into a ward with the Lenches and Inkberrow, and brought Peopleton into Pinvin ward. The Parish Council had written objecting to this proposal and many letters had been written in support of the retention of Pinvin ward in its current form. In its draft recommendations the Commission accepted the representations which had been made, but the District Council were still urging the Commission to redraft the proposals so as to put Bishampton into the Lenches and Inkberrow ward. Cllr Argyle urged parishioners to write in support of the draft proposals.
Cllr Argyle reported on the review of the Local Plan and on proposed changes to the area in Throckmorton identified for high-tech employment use, which would now include the hangars on the airfield site. He explained that the policy would be worded so as to limit the industrial use to the floor area of the hangars. There was as yet no planning permission for a road access to the site from the Wyre Piddle by-pass although permission had been granted for a link from the by-pass to the landfill site. A decision on the possible designation of the excavated part of the airfield site as an ancient monument was still awaited. The County Council had expressed support for the plan to create a memorial to the Canadian airmen who flew from the airfield during the war but so far agreement had not been reached with the owners of the land, Qinetiq, about this.

6. Report by Mr T Hall, Chairman of the Parish Council

Mr Hall opened his report by explaining that this was his second year on the Parish Council and his first full year as Chairman. There had been three resignations from the Parish Council during the year: Mr Mark Hartshorne, who had resigned for business reasons and Mr Michael Johnes and Mrs Sheila Marchant who had both been Councillors for several years. There had also been two new members on the Parish Council : Mr Stephen Osborne, and Ms Toni Gilligan who represented Tilesford and a new Clerk, Mrs Ann Belcher.
Last year the Council was facing the use of Throckmorton airfield as a Foot and Mouth burial site; this year there was the proposal to build an asylum seekers' accommodation centre on the site. A consortium had been set up of the four parishes surrounding the site - Wyre Piddle, Pinvin, Lower Moor and Bishampton and Throckmorton. A bank account had been set up to work as a fighting fund and Peter Luff MP and Sir Michael Spicer MP had both been fighting the proposal at Westminster. Both Liz Tucker and Malcolm Argyle were keeping the Parish Council informed of developments.
Mr Hall stated that his aim had been to maintain a healthy credit balance in the Council's account in order to make sure that no services suffered. At the end of the previous year the Council's balance had been £14,238; this year it was £11,635.60. The Council's main item of expenditure was the mowing contract which had been renewed for a further year with Limebridge Rural Services, who had given good service. The Villages Hall had had another good year, having recently been re-plastered and the car park finished. The Chairman thanked Michael Holden, Steve Osborne and Roger Ockenden for their hard work in bringing this about and Mr Richard Weaver for supplying the block paving at cost.
The Chairman then read through the reports from various organisations in the village.

Bishampton Tiddlers

The report from the new Chairman Mrs Becky Weaver confirmed that the Tiddlers were continuing to meet on Tuesday and Friday mornings with good attendance, particularly on a Tuesday. The group had purchased quite a lot of new equipment to replace old or broken items and additional educational toys for the older children attending the sessions. The group were hoping to purchase a new playhouse for the outdoor play area with the aid of a grant from the Parish Council.

Silver Circle

The report from Mrs Marjorie Mills stated that the club had had a good year. There were now 17 members who had enjoyed hearing speakers during the winter months and outings in summer, including to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham and the Butterfly Park in Stratford. Their Christmas lunch had been enjoyed at the Boot Inn in Flyford Flavell.

The Stoneland Charity

The Hon Secretary of the charity, Mr Peter Averis reported that the Trustees had recently made a donation of £420 to the Villages Hall Committee towards the redecoration of the hall, following major repair work to the floor.

Bishampton , Abberton and Throckmorton Villages Hall Trust

The Chairman of the Trust, Mr Roger Ockenden, had supplied a report giving details of clubs using the Hall, including three new clubs set up during the year: a table tennis club, a Bridge Club and a Gardening Club. Mr Ockenden also outlined work undertaken to the hall with the aid of grants from the Parish Council, nPower, Wychavon District Council and donations from Mr Jerry McIlwaine and Mr A Weaver. The work included: block paving to the rear of the hall; provision of gates; gardens; kerbing and construction of retaining walls to the car park; grading and surfacing to the access road and main car park; pedestrian walkway and footpath from highway footpath to provide disabled access; construction of a brick practice wall; plastering to the interior of the hall; redecoration of the hall; and installation of a store, wash hand basin and toilet upstairs. Mr Ockenden's report gave details of the level of use of the outdoor facilities and of vandalism which had occurred recently. Future plans for the improvement of the hall and its facilities included the construction of a skateboard ramp and a rear corridor for the hall. A claim was being assessed by insurers for the carrying out of remedial work to the hall floor.

Neighbourhood Watch

Ann Jesson, Village Co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Watch reported a number of incidents during the year requiring police presence. P.C. Charlie Cavendish holds regular surgeries at the village shop where there is also a police box for messages. All neighbourhood watch signs at village entry points are now in place.
P.C. Cavendish also gave an oral report to the meeting. He explained that the police were putting more money into night patrols between midnight and 4 a.m. in a response to recent thefts of high value motor vehicles. He advised that it was worth getting tracking devices fitted to cars to enable them to be recovered if they are stolen. P.C. Cavendish also reported on a scheme for Parish Councils to borrow a portable speed sign which would work by laser directed at a speeding vehicle. The Parish Council could apply to the Highways Partnership Unit at Wychavon District Council for advice on how to use it. Crime figures for the 12 months to 30 April showed 19 crimes recorded as against 12 in the previous year, but since all crimes were now recorded this increase was not significant. P.C. Cavendish was congratulated on an award he had received for his work in setting up youth clubs and a farm watch scheme.

Bishampton Relief in Need Charity

Reverend Hassell, Chairman of this charity reported that income from rent and interest amounted to £395.14. £700 had been distributed in grants during the year, giving a loss for the year of £304.86. The value of the fund at 31 March was £7093.70.

Nature Conservation Area

Mr Bob Averis reported on work in managing the nature reserve which included removing dead elms and clearing bramble on the boundaries. With more sunlight, the ground flora was flourishing this spring. The pond was in good condition with average water level for the time of year. Oaks planted in past years were looking healthy and other species introduced such as Guelder Rose and hazel were doing well. Work to clear the ditches on the east and south boundaries was required and the District Council was looking to the Parish Council to do this. Thanks were given to Peter and Mary Averis fro the provision of bird boxes, weather data and help. Pleas were made for other volunteers to take an interest in the reserve and help during the winter months and for visitors not to introduce any species into the reserve without consultation nor to take dogs there.

Bishampton Barnstormers

Louise Ford, Secretary of the Bishampton Barnstormers gave a report of performances held since January 2001. The possibility of using the Villages Hall for the Worcestershire Theatre Festival was reported. New members would be welcomed, as would suggestions for future productions.

The Chairman indicated that he was likely to stand down at the next Parish Council meeting due to increased business commitments.

7. Open session

The problem of vehicles parking on the pavement in Main Street was raised. P.C. Cavendish confirmed that he had spoken to one offender and would issue tickets if the problem continued. The Chairman agreed to mention the matter in the newssheet and to remind people to park considerately.
Also raised was the problem of rubbish bags piled on footways. Malcom Argyle said that he had spoken to the refuse collectors and had also brought the matter to the attention of Sharon Caswell at Wychavon District Council. A question was put about plans for recycling and it was reported by Malcolm Argyle that although the District Council was currently operating a scheme of sorted refuse collection, this was unlikely to come out to the villages. Discussions were still going on in the Parish Council about the possibility of putting re-cycling facilities in the village and Crowle Parish Council had been approached for information about the mini recycling centre which was being tried in their village.

8. Any other business

Mr Peter Jesson advised the meeting that he had been appointed Vice-Chairman of the Police and Community Consultative Group for the south Wychavon district. The group exists to keep up pressure on the police to deal with problems faced by the local community and he urged people to bring their concerns to the group who can take matters up with the police at regular liaison meetings.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.00 pm.

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Chairman Date