Annual Parish Meetings

Annual Parish Meeting for Helpringham 11th May 2022

Held at Helpringham Memorial Hall at 7:30pm

Present: Cllr Mr G. Hotchkin – Chairman, Cllrs J Frizzell, G Frizzell, Cllr M Ternouth, Cllr W Watts, Councillor R Spencer  and the Clerk – Julie Dixon. Also joining the meeting were Cllr Sally Tarry and Cllr Andrew Key.

Cllr Mr G. Hotchkin opened the meeting at 7:30pm.

There were no members of the public present.

1. Welcome

The Chairman welcomed all present and thanked them for their attendance, also welcoming  County Councillor Andrew Key and District Councillor Sally Tarry.

2. Apologies.

There were no apologies for absence.

3. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 2021

The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting for 2021 were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Cllr J Frizzell and seconded by Cllr G Frizzell. All members in favour. Minutes signed by the Chairman.

4. Chairman’s Report

Chairman Cllr G Hotchkin reported that all in all it had been a good year, the conservation area where the pond has been cleared and there will be a bench placed behind the pond in due course.

The grass around the village and the general appearance looks better than it ever has done, thanks to CJP Garden Services; Thanks to Chris Pell who consistently goes above and beyond his contract.

Wooden benches have been replaced with recycled ones and thanks must go to the Chambers family for donating the bench outside of 15 High Street.

Dual purpose bins have been placed at strategic places around the village for general waste and dog poo; Many thanks to residents for using these and helping to keep our village clean.

Thanks to Councillor Malcolm Ternouth for continuing litter picking duties over the past year, also contributing to the appearance of the village and for being the Tree officer, arranging planting of the new trees and keeping an eye on the existing ones as well as being the Parish Council representative on the Queens Jubilee committee.

Following the terrible episode of the previous Clerk, which has thankfully now all been rectified and reimbursed, sincere  thanks to Councillor Julie Frizzell and Councillor William Watts for their tireless work at the time and following the fraud incident.

Thanks to Councillor George Frizzell for being the Cemetery Officer, Webmaster and Church Clock timekeeper amongst other duties.

Thanks to the Clerk, RFO and Proper Officer, Julie Dixon for her work throughout the year and to all Councillors for attending to Council duties.

The one disappointment for this year is that we are still awaiting the completion of the Station Road footpath. This has been deferred on several occasions. County Councillor Andrew Key has spoken to the head of Highways and has been promised a start date of 23rd September, we will wait and see and hopefully this will not be deferred again.

4.1 Vice Chairman’s Brief to the Annual Parish Meeting.

Please see attached to the minutes.

5. Presentation of reports by Village Organisations

None present, however District Councillor Sally Tarry has submitted a report as attached.

6. Comments from members of the public.

None present, however, speaking as a member of the public County Councillor Andrew Key observed that there have been many improvements to the village over the past years and reiterated that the contracting work by CJP Garden Services is second to none.

Cllr Key also remarked that it would be lovely if the Horticultural show that used to be held in the village hall could be revived – maybe something that the Gardening Club would be interested in?

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.55pm.