Ilmington

The Hockey Club would be asked to remove the goal posts to a safe place, and chain and lock them. District coun C J Saint reported that he had received a reply from the Community Service Committee to his questions about street cleansing and the clearance of weeds on footways. The sweeping should be carried out five times a year.

The district council up to autumn 2000 had never cleared any leaf fall in the district. However, since the start of autumn 2000 an agreement had been reached with the county council that the district council would clear leaf fall from pavements where clearance had been requested.

The district council would then recharge the county for the cost. A similar agreement had been made for the treatment of pavement weeds on a request basis only. According to the chart sweeping was last done in Ilmington on September 4. The district council should be contacted when the sweeping needed to be done again, and they would arrange it, and the same with pavement weeds.

Coun Saint reported that the ditch round Chilcroft would now be cleaned out. He also reported that South Warwickshire Housing Association would have to reconstruct the drains in the area of no's 10 and 11 Bennett Place, and that the residents of no 16 Armscote Road could claim for the cost of cleaning up the spillage of sewage in their garden. Coun David Sabin reported that he had photographic evidence of sewage coming up from the manhole at the entrance to Armscote Road. It was agreed that Mr Bilbrough of the district council should be told that sewage had come out on October 30 and November 2.

He should be asked for his advice about arranging a high level meeting with Severn Trent, which he had suggested. Mr Bilbrough had also suggested that the parish council should complain to Offwat, but it was agreed that this should only be done after a meeting with Severn Trent. Planning matters were then discussed. An application had been received for permission to replace a rusted corrugated steel lean-to roof, and to update the boiler with a vertical flue at Thatched Cottage, Upper Green. The parish council had no objections to this. There was an application for amendments in retrospect for the treatment of chimneys and an additional rooflight at Loreto Cottage, Campden Hill.

The parish council considered that the new chimney should be in stone to match the existing one and should not be rendered. They would point out that there was a prevalence of stone or brick chimneys in the conservation area.

Notices of permission with conditions had been received from the district council for the felling of one hornbeam at Little Owl Cottage, Ballards Lane; for development at The Paddocks, Armscote Road; for change of use to form one additional dwelling together with ancillary works at Pear Tree Cottage, Frog Lane; and for a single storey hall and cloaks at Norton Cottage, Campden Hill.

Coun Saint reported that the garage had not been built strictly according to the plan. However, no further action would be taken on this.

The chairman reported that at a recent planning meeting the application for the conversion and extension of a barn at Rivendell, Middle Street, had been refused.

Coun Edmunds reported that the bonfire site had still to be cleaned up and reseeded, and it would be done as soon as the ground was dry enough.

The clerk asked why the churchyard had not been mown for so long, and coun Sabin replied that the mower could not cope when the grass was so wet. Coun Judy Maguire said that the church should be buying a new mower soon. Coun Saint reported that owing to boundary reorganisation for the Tredington ward, parish council elections would be held in 2003 instead of 2004, giving present councillors a term of only three years. Thereafter elections would be held as at present every four years.

FETE COMMITTEE: At the Fete Committee AGM the chairman, Alan Wright, thanked the committee, the sponsors and all the volunteer helpers for their hard work, which had made this year's fete the best ever. He asked if there were any comments, and Gwen Sabin on behalf of the Ladies Bowls Club complained that they were not allowed to hold their white elephant stall in the usual place. It had to be in the car park with the car booters, which was not so good. The chairman said that the six-a-side football was very poor, but he hoped it would be better next year. The treasurer, Julia Brock, gave her report and said that the fete had made almost £1,000 more profit this year, thanks to the increased sponsorship and the successful raffle run by Tammy and Sean Clifford. There were also more visitors than last year. Some donations had already been handed over, £334 to the Ellen Badger Hospital, £150 to Stour Valley Lions as a thank-you for their help with the car parking, £110 for the insurance for the fireworks party, and £434 for the container to store fete equipment. A further £1,400 was handed out at the meeting to the playing field drainage project, the Cricket Club, St Mary's Church, Ilmington Primary School, Andrew Owen for the youth football, the Wednesday Club, the Village Hall, Ilmington Singers, the Bowling Club, Tiddlywinks, and Ilmington Pre-School. A vote of thanks was given to the treasurer for all her hard and efficient work.

The president, Peter Gardner, then said that the fete was run entirely for the clubs, so that it was up to them to make the most of the opportunity to raise some money for themselves. After having made all these donations there was still enough money in the bank to cover an unsuccessful year. He thanked the chairman, the treasurer, the secretary and all the committee for their work. Alan Wright was then re-elected chairman, with Paul Dakin vice-chairman, and Julia Brock treasurer. Hugh Beecham resigned as secretary, but as there were no volunteers for the post he agreed to stay on until the next meeting. Fred Edmunds and Tammy Clifford were re-elected onto the committee, and were joined by Rupert Wyles, who would help with the sponsorship.

BELLRINGERS: Ilmington Bellringers were successful in the Four Shires striking competition which took place at Great Wolford. They held off a strong challenge from Whichford to secure first place and retain the Newing Shield. The two new bells are settling down nicely in the ring. The first one is inscribed 'Given by the Ringers and People of Ilmington', and the second, which was donated in memory of a late parishioner, is inscribed 'In Memoriam'. Practice night is Tuesday.