This will be my final report as Chairman of the Parish Council and as a Councillor, for I do not intend to stand in the 2027 elections. My reason for this is that and I believe we need younger people to come forward with fresh energy to accept the challenge that the Governments’ Local Government Reorganisation will bring. I hope the people that this Parish Council needs to oversee the challenges to come will begin to put themselves forward.
Many people are worrying about the rising cost of fuel and food with greater increases to come, and maybe even some rationing due to the war in the middle east, this war will unfortunately affect us all one way or another. Due to television, it all seems far removed and most remain immune to the many thousands killed and injured in this middle eastern conflict. The Parish Council’s thoughts remain with those affected.
I believe this Government is contributing damage to this country’s economy with its discredited Net Zero Scheme. This is adding to the soaring energy prices because of their continued commitment to renewable energy, and their refusal to open up the North Sea Oil companies. Other damaging factors to the economy is the rise in National Insurance and the minimum wage.
These costs I have been talking about can be seen in the Parish Council budgets, with the increases to gas, electric and Water bills together with increased employment costs, which in turn increases the Parish Councils Precept.
These increases will not affect our Parish Council too much due to our Clerks judicious use of reserves to our spending plans. The new Zip wire in the Playing Field for example cost more than the original but will need little maintenance over the next few years, as well as the new seating and tables which will be almost maintenance free.
We again will not be having Picnic in the park this year, unfortunately, this is due to the companies that supply the staging and the public address system, DJ and bands not responding or confirming there availability in time for the event.
Following a Parish Council meeting on the 7th April 2026, it was agreed that Cllrs Reed Gudgin, Iain McEachran and Pam Wregg would form a sub- committee with any village volunteers to source DJ, Stage, Bands and a PA system well in advance to enable us to run the event on the 1st July 2028.
My thanks go to Jacques Lacey following the resignation of the Chairman of the Memorial Hall committee Shahid Mian due to his work commitments at the beginning of the year. Jacques Lacey stepped in and was appointed as the new Chairman and will lead the committee going forward.
The building of a new Village Hall project is moving ahead, with the Pre- Planning Advice Application being submitted by Welham Architects to Rushcliffe Borough Council Planners. Over the past year the various staged developments have had to be set in place before the application could be submitted, but now the hard work begins with the sourcing of the grants.
During and since the Covid Lockdown Tony Jarrow has written The Street Stories of Cropwell Bishop. This is a wonderful piece of written History on our village streets. Tony is in the process of turning these stories into a book which will be available for residents to buy – I am sure like me you will enjoy reading all about our street’s history.
My thanks go out to the many helpers on the entertainment committee who give their time to creating the activities that many of the villagers enjoy over the year.
Thanks to the ladies who run the Luncheon Club, and the Saturday Café, to Hilary and Tony Jarrow who started the Jigsaw and the book exchange, and to Tony for running the Village Plan and who is always on hand to photograph the different events.
Thanks to Mel and Robert Stanley who like the colour purple, raising over £1000 for the new Hall funds with their dyed hair.
Thanks to Jo Wroughton and her team for the many hours of hard work running the CKOB Club – our village youth club. We as a village are very privileged to have this facility and without Jo and her team this would not be possible.
My main thanks go to Jan Towndrow our Parish Clerk for over the years she has shown enormous patience when dealing with Parish Council issues. Lots of issues are not within our remit to solve, but she goes above and beyond to help our residents, and of course, she has had to put up with me for the past 13 years. My thanks also to Darrel Towndrow who is always quick to sort out my computer problems as well as the IT for the Parish Council.
I must give my special thanks to my colleges on the Parish Council who all give up so many hours of their time. We decided a long time ago to all stand as independents’ that way we have an open mind on the decisions we take.
I started this report by saying I shall not be standing in 2027. This is because I believe that I shall become too old during the following 4 years, and I truly believe that we need younger vigorous councillors to drive forward what is coming.
I believe that Rushcliffe Borough Council have made the right decision not to be joined with the Nottingham City Council, but to join Nottinghamshire County Council, Rushcliffe, Newark & Sherwood, Ashfield, Mansfield and Bassetlaw. However, I dread to think what cost to the tax payer this will mean with the redundancies and early retirement of surplus staff and the redirection of Government grants to what this Government consider to the more deprived areas.
Alan Wilson,
Chairman Cropwell Bishop Parish Council
15/4/2026