WESTLEIGH PARISH
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Minutes of Westleigh Parish & Parish Council Meeting AGM 2025 – Wednesday 21st May


Attendees – Cllrs Heard, Moores, Gear, Saxby, & Parish Clerk


Min 1 AGM 2025 - Apologies – DCCllr Biederman, NDCllr Coombs, Cllrs Fairbrother & Stewart

Min 2 AGM 2025 - Declaration of Interests – none

Min 3 AGM 2025 - Chairman’s report – see appendix 1

Min 4 AGM 2025 – Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman 2025/26. As Cllr Fairbrother had indicated that he wanted to stand down as Chair, it was proposed and carried unanimously that Cllr Moores stand as Chair – duly elected. Cllr Heard indicated his willingness to remain as Vice-Chair, which was carried unanimously,

Min 5 AGM 2025 – Approval of the minutes of the AGM held on the 22nd  May 2024 had already been given in June’s 2024 meeting

Min 6 AGM 2025 – To nominate representatives as follows:- The Parish Clerk would continue as contact point for the Village Hall, and St Peter’s Church, Internal Auditor subject to his acceptance, Michael Green, Solar Farm liaison Cllr Saxby. It was felt that there was no need for a representative to be appointed to the TTEF Forum, and that Environment responsibilities would be shared by the whole Council

Min 7 AGM 2025 – Approval of 2024/25 accounts – Cllr Heard proposed and Cllr Gear seconded the motion that the accounts be accepted as a true and accurate representation. Unanimously approved – see appendix 2. A complete breakdown of income and expenditure is on the Parish website

Min 8 AGM 2025 – Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2024/25 can be approved and signed by the Chairman once prepared. All agreed

Min 9 AGM 2025 – A provisional date for the 2025/26 AGM was agreed as May 22nd . (This is of course dependent on many outside factors as yet unknown)

Min 10 AGM 2025 – The AGM closed at 7.20pm


Appendix 1 – Chairman’s report

Introduction

Welcome to my fifth and final Annual report for Westleigh Parish council for the year ending 31st March 2025.  After 6 years as Chairman, I have decided to hand over the reins to someone else and I would like to put on record my thanks to the other councillors and Roger for their unwavering support over the years.

We have had two councillors leave us this year and I would like to thank Colin and Lesley for their hard work over the years.

On the upside we have three new councillors, Brian Moores who is already an experienced councillor having previously served as District councillor, Chic Stewart who has previously served on Instow parish council and last but certainly not least, Selaine Saxby our former MP.

Regarding the last year of business, I would like to mention the following;

Finance - Year-end accounts have been provided which show we have a bank balance of £3397.05 which is slightly down on the balance last year which at 31st march 2024 was £3433.71. Further details can be found on the finance report.

Environmental issues

The new solar farm at Lovacott is now operational with the first monies having been due for a number of months now however delays have occurred due to Infinis changing the way they wish to administer the grant monies. This is frustrating as all the administrative procedures on our side had been completed involving a great deal of work from Victoria at Fremington Parish Council

There also now looks to be a further 49.9MW Solar Farm being planned at Bulworthy at the time of writing we have no further details but watch this space

Planning

The proposed development by Christie Estates below the village hall is still on hold at the moment, due to other priorities.

And Finally

And finally, thanks again to our previous councillors Lesley and Colin for all their hard work over the years, to our recently re-elected County Councillor Frank Biederman, to all our Councillors for their hard work this past year and particularly our Clerk Roger Levick.


Appendix 2 – Finance

Bank Reconciliation

Balance as at 31st March 2024    £3433.71

Precept          £5388

    Total     £8821.71

Cheques paid out and presented    £5145.12

Cheques outstanding      £279.54

    Total     £5424.66

Balance allowing for outstanding cheques  £3397.05