May 12th 2025 Minutes
BISHOP NORTON & ATTERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 12th May 2025 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
In attendance were Councillors: Cllr Suggit (Chairman,) Cllr Widdop, Cllr Townsend, Cllr Freeman, Cllr Dean, Cllr Guy, Cllr Thody and the Clerk, Jayne Moore.
There were no members of public in attendance.
Meeting commenced at 7.13pm.
1. Apologies for Absence: None.
2. Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting 2024: the minutes were approved as true record and duly signed.
3. Chairman’s report for 2024/25–
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 12 MAY 25
1. The Council has met regularly on schedule, with one extraordinary gathering to consider digestate issues. This is within a setting of a change of National Government and latterly, a restructuring of local administration and offices, the consequences of which remain to be seen.
2. The Parish has a number of continuing issues, but has thankfully experienced no emergencies. We have, effectively, one new dwelling erected in period.
3. Road Safety issues continue with the A15, noting 2 lorry driver fatalities along the Triangle stretch, but only one accident involving a parishioner and at the Atterby Lane junction. The matter has been raised repeatedly to County Highways, but has yet to gain any visible traction. However, 3 traffic surveys are known to have been undertaken since Dec 24. Of note, digestate tractor tanker movements have increased, slowing vehicle flows to 25-35 mph. This may have an outcome of further risky overtaking.
4. Local roads continue to have potholes filled in a reasonably timely manner, although quite quickly become damaged again. Stonepit Lane has seen resurfacing at long last. (Without tempting fate) field mud debris seems to be cleared on a more speedy basis, but digestate spillage evidence has increased at field entrances.
5. Digestate smells remain an issue and may increase as general household food waste is added to local treatment process facilities. Disappointingly, District and County Resilience staff have no evident associated ammonia policy or measurement capability. We have continued to research the matter.
6. Within Resilience, Norton Lane corner flooding continues at periods after 15mm+ rain. The matter has been referred again to County and MP. Warning roadsigns are now available, as are new 30mph ones. Digestate remains an issue, as does evidence of occasional Well St toilet debris, but the steps to obtaining an additional defibrilator (for Atterby siting) progress.
7. There has also been some progress with parking signs at the playing field, the procurement and fitment of amenity flower beds, grass cutting area clarification and delineation, public footpath improvement and recently playing field facility funding, for realisation in the coming year.
8. Fly tipping remains an issue, but parishioner cleanups still draw support. The Council continues to support the Triangle magazine and Church Clock maintenance.
I would like to record my appreciation and thanks to the Clerk and my fellow Councillors, for all effort and - notwithstanding our non-party political base - am heartened that Cllr Stephen Bunney remains on the County level council. He has well supported us as a group and parishioners as individuals, attending our gatherings as able and on separate site visits. I wish I could say the same for others.
Now, I need to tell you that after standing down in a few moments, I will not be offering myself for reelection as Chair and will be looking at resigning from the Council before our July gathering. After over 12 years, that time has come.
The chairman resigned and said he would not be wanting to stand for the position again.
Thanks were given to Jim for 12 years’ service as parish councillor and 4 as Chairman. Great appreciation was given to Cllr Suggit.
4. Financial report 2024/25 – See Appendix A.
A question was raised about the WLDC grant for play equipment that was received at the end of financial year 2024/25 and made up our carry forward for 2025/26. The clerk confirmed we have this financial year to spend that grant.
All accepted the RFO report.
5. Public Question Time: None.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and declared the Annual Parish Meeting closed and duly resigned the position of Chairman. The meeting closed at 7.34pm.
The Councillors wished to express their thanks to Cllr Suggit’s for his hard work and commitment as Chairperson for the last year.
Signed: ____________________________
Dated: ______________________________