Best Kept Village Competitions 2020
Best Kept Village Poster and Photography Competition
As many of you may be aware, this year’s Best Kept Village Competition has been cancelled due to Covid-19. However, the Parish Council would still like to run some of the competitions as this is a great way to brighten up the village and will be fun for children and adults to take part.
Poster Competition
This year there will be three age categories for the poster competition:- 4-6, 7-9, 10-11. The theme will be “Things we love about Abbots Bromley”. Posters should be on A4 paper so that these can be scanned easily and printed. The closing date for the competition will be Friday, 15th May. Entries can be scanned and then emailed to the Parish Clerk at parish.council@abbotsbromley.com or posted to Abbots Bromley Parish Council, Marsh Farm, Uttoxeter Road, Abbots Bromley, Staffs, WS15 3EJ.
Prizes for the competition will be 1st prize £10 book token for each category and 2 runners up prizes of £5 book token for each category. The Parish Councillors will judge the posters and the winners will be contacted.
Wherever possible, the Parish Council will be print off and then display around the village on noticeboards, however, please feel free to display posters in your windows as well as they will look great around the village and everyone can enjoy them on their daily exercise.
Photography Competition
Parish Councillors have seen many fantastic photographs that have been taken while people are out and about on their daily exercise, so this year we have introduced a photographic competition for all those 12 years old and over. The theme for this competition is “Great Views of Abbots Bromley”.
Entries to be emailed to the Parish Clerk at parish.council@abbotsbromley.com Closing date for this competition will be Friday, 15th May. One entry per person.
Prizes for the competition will be 1st Prize £40 “Love to Shop” voucher 2nd Prize £25 “Love to Shop” voucher (to be used when things get back to normal!)
We do hope that many people will take part in this competition and celebrate the great village that we live in.
Parish Council Grants (April 2020)
There is an opportunity for local organisations and charities to apply to the Parish Council for a small grant. This could be to help fund some new equipment, improve facilities or generally help the organisation to keep operating, particularly during these difficult times of Covid-19.
If you would like to apply for a grant then please submit your request in writing to the Parish Clerk at parish.council@abbotsbromley.com or to the address below before 7th May 2020. Please include as much information as possible about the organisation, what the grant is required for, when the money will be spent and any supporting quotations.
All grant applications will be considered by the Parish Council and you will be notified if you have been successful. You will then be invited to a future Parish Council meeting to receive the grant. Applicants can only be accepted from non-profit making organisations.
Sarah Meads
Parish Clerk
Marsh Farm
Uttoxeter Road
Abbots Bromley
Staffs
WS15 3EJ
Victory in Europe 75
A number of local events have been planned, including toasts in our pubs, bell ringing, VE Dance, Afternoon tea with the AB choir, and a Commemoration service at the War Memorial on the Sunday.
Sadly, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the Government guidelines, these planned events can now no longer take place.
It is a poignant reminder that once again in the Prime Minister’s words,
“We are at war with the virus. A war that we will win”
We are sure that people will want to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day in their own way at home, through recalling the many sacrifices that the country made on our behalf during the 2nd World War.
Sid Slater
Abbots Bromley Branch – The Royal British Legion
Abbots Bromley Parish Neighbourhood Plan – April 2020
A Parish Neighbourhood Plan is currently being brought to the Draft stage for public consultation. This is being severely affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
At this time there is little that can be done to positively progress the production of the Plan. However, the Neighbourhood Planning Group are communicating and working from home to continue as best as possible with the process.
Please see below a directive recently received by the Parish Council in relation to referendum arrangements associated with Neighbourhood Plans, which will inform of the advice and guidance that we must follow:
Regulations linked to the Coronavirus Act 2020 mean that No elections or referendums can take place until 6 May 2021. This includes Neighbourhood Planning referendums. These provisions will be kept under review and may be amended or revoked in response to changing circumstances.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) recognises there will be delays in progressing Neighbourhood Plans due to the social distancing measures currently in place across the UK. The updated planning guidance also provides further advice on the implications for conducting publicity and consultation, and examinations.
MHCLG understands this will be frustrating for communities that have dedicated significant time and effort to the neighbourhood planning process and naturally want their plans to come into force as soon as possible. With this in mind, they have updated current planning guidance to set out that Neighbourhood Plans awaiting referendums can be given significant weight in decision-making.
Staffordshire County Council COVID-19 Support Fund
A co-ordinated effort across community and voluntary groups in our county is making a huge difference to isolated and vulnerable people. Local people are also stepping up to put projects together make a difference.
Now the new COVID-19 Support Fund has been set up to help keep this happening. It’s rapid, flexible funding to support communities to do their bit and to make sure that the voluntary sector continues to thrive now and after the crisis.
Each county councillor has £2,500 to support community groups in their area to be resilient, safe and connected. No match funding is required.
Funding can be used by:
community groups to support new community activity (individuals that have come together to run a project – individuals cannot be funded) to help:
- people self-isolating or in quarantine
- the community to be resilient against the wider impact of COVID-19
- develop community networks to support either of the above
existing volunteer/community groups to:
- keep activity running that is supporting people through the Covid-19 crisis
- keep running – e.g. if they have experienced a loss of income through a lack of participants and still need to pay overheads
Local groups can find the form and the guidance information at https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus/I-can-help/COVID-19-Support-Fund/COVID-19-support-fund.aspx – along with a range of other information for communities about the coronavirus and the work taking place.
