Abbots Bromley News

Published 12 August 2020

The annual Abbots Bromley Horn Dance was due to take place on Monday 7th September 2020.

However this year the Horn Dancers have taken the difficult decision to cancel the event due to the challenges in ensuring the safety of both participants and onlookers due to Covid-19.

It is hoped that the Horn Dance can return in 2021. Usually this annual event attracts visitors from around the world to view this spectacular and unusual display.

Published 1 August 2020

In accordance with the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 234), a formal notice has been issued by the Parish Council announcing the dates when the accounts may be inspected.

Exercise of Public Rights – 2020

Published 27 July 2020

Regular visitors to these pages may notice that some changes were made over the weekend of 25/26th July 2020. These revisions were the culmination of several months of planning and preparation and intended to:

• Refresh the appearance of the web pages
• Make navigation around the pages easier
• Tidy up out-of-date and obsolete content
• Remove advertising
• Update the underlying technology that delivers the web pages
• Improve support for mobile devices
• Improve accessibility

In particular it was this last item of improving accessibility that provided the impetus to make the changes at this time so that the Parish Council pages could be brought into line with the requirements of the “Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018”.

We are aware that some of the content relating to clubs and businesses may still be out-of-date and your feedback in helping to keep these entries accurate would be invaluable. Please send any suggested changes to the Parish Clerk.

Published 24 July 2020

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence
2. Declarations of Interests
3. Minutes of Previous Meetings
4. Neighbourhood Plan Update
5. Matters of Report
6. Planning
7. Financial Matters
8. Correspondence, bulletins and reports
9. Agenda items for next meeting
10. Date, time and place of future meetings
September Parish Council Meeting 7.00pm Wed, 30th Sept 2020 TBC

Due to Covid-19 Parish Council Meetings are currently being held virtually via Microsoft Teams. If you would like to attend the meeting then please contact the Parish Clerk at parish.council@abbotsbromley.com to request a meeting invite. Requests to attend meeting to be received by Monday, 27th July at 5.00pm

You can view the full agenda and related documents: Parish Council Agenda for 29 July 2020

Published 18 June 2020

Members of the public wishing to attend a virtual meeting of the Parish Council at 7pm on Wednesday 24 June 2020 will need to contact the Parish Clerk for connection details

Summary agenda:
1. Apologies for absence
2. Declarations of Interests
3. Minutes of Previous Meetings
4. Neighbourhood Plan Update
5. Matters of report
6. Planning
7. Financial Matters
8. Correspondence, bulletins and reports
9. Agenda items for next meeting
12. HS2
13. Date, time and place of next meetings
– 7.00pm Wednesday, 29th July 2020 at tbc

The full meeting notice and draft minutes of the last meeting are available on these pages

Published 20 May 2020

I’m sure the majority of parishioners would support the Parish Council in condemning this mindless vandalism to the wooden gate at the top of Millennium Green, particularly at a time when we should all be pulling together to do the very best we can to fight the spread of Covid19 and protect everyone’s health. Considerable costs will be incurred upon the Parish Council’s budget; funds that could have been utilised elsewhere. These costs will ultimately be borne by all parishioners through the precept levied on each household. That is unless the person or persons responsible for this damage are found by the Police or have the decency to come forward and admit to their wrongdoing. Importantly, the antisocial acts of a tiny minority should not detract from the amazing community spirit in Abbots Bromley and the hard work of all those volunteering to ensure the village remains a fantastic place to live. Thanks go to everyone who volunteers in this village, often giving up a great deal of time and at personal expense.

The Nuttery, the Millennium Green Playground and the football pitch by the village hall have been closed for some time. The Parish Council, as Trustees of these facilities have done so in line with clear government guidance and regulations. We understand this will not be universally popular but it has been done in the interests of safety. We are fortunate to be in the heart of the countryside with plenty of fields and open spaces nearby should people wish to visit them. We are simply discouraging illegal gatherings within communal village spaces, as we have been advised to do. Unfortunately on several occasions people have chosen to disregard the closure of these facilities and there has been damage done to several of the gates which has resulted in more stringent security measures, all of which come at a cost.

Cllr Dr C Whorwood, Chair of the Parish Council

Published 28 April 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.

Published 21 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

Published 16 April 2020

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

Published 16 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.

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.

• 2020 Horn Dance Cancelled
• Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2020
• Abbots Bromley web pages updated – July 2020
• Parish Council Meeting – 29 July 2020
• Parish Council Meeting – 24 June 2020
• Message From the Parish Council – May 2020
• Best Kept Village Competitions 2020
• Parish Council Grants (April 2020)
• Victory in Europe 75
• Abbots Bromley Parish Neighbourhood Plan – April 2020

Do you have some news that would be of interest to the residents of Abbots Bromley?

If so, send us details and if we agree we will add your update to the on-line news. You will need to provide the following information:

• Title of update
• Text of the update (in the email or attached Word document)
• Your name and telephone number if we need to contact you – not for publication

If you have a relevant image or logo, then do attach that to your email and we will use it if we can.

Send email to the Parish Clerk.