(The meeting started at 7.07pm and finished at 8.07pm)
Present: Cllrs. M. Barlow, M. Beazley, C. Bryan, R. Gudgin, I. McEachran, A. Wilson (Chair), P. Wregg, and J. Wroughton
In Attendance: Clerk, Cllr. N. Clarke N.C.C. and 2 residents
Apologies Approved
471. Cllr. Allison – Hospital
Declarations of Interest & Confirmation of Agenda
472. Declarations of Non-Pecuniary Interest: Cllrs. A. Wilson, P. Wregg and Cllr. Clarke – Agenda Item 8 – Memorial Hall; and Cllr. Wroughton – Agenda Item 10b).
The agenda was confirmed.
473. Standing Orders were suspended at 7.08pm to allow the order of business to be amended to enable attendees to speak to the meeting.
Parishioners’ Question Time & Policing Report
No questions.
Crime Figures
No crime figures available.
474. Standing Orders reinstated at 7.09pm.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
475. Cllr. Wroughton proposed the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 3rd March 2026 were a true record, Cllr. Wregg seconded – all agreed.
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 3rd March 2026 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman”.
Progress
476. No items to report in this matter.
Planning Matters & Applications
477. RBC New Application: 26/00402/FUL – Construction of dropped kerb – 48 Fern Road, Cropwell Bishop NG12 3BU
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “No Objection”
Finance
478. a) Financial Statement up to 31st March 2026
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To approve the financial statement & signed by Cllrs. Wilson & Wregg.”
479. b) Payments made March 31st 2026 and Awaiting April 2026
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To approve all payments as reproduced on payments document 213 & signed by Cllrs. Wilson & Wregg”.
480. c) Receipts & Payments Reports April 2025 – March 2026
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To approve the receipts and payments reports.”
481. d) VAT Summary – April 2025 to March 2026
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To approve the VAT Summary as produced on the report and noted VAT Qtr. 3 Error has been corrected”
482. e) Financial Summary April 2025 to March 2026
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To approve the Financial Summary as produced on the report.”
Correspondence for Action
483. a) To Consider attendance to RSVCSG 29th April 11 to 12.30pm at Rushcliffe Arena
No attendees on this occasion.
To Consider Future Picnic In The Park Events
484. Discussion took place regarding future Picnic In The Park Events. Cllr. Gudgin proposed that the event be run on 1st July 2028. Cllr. Gudgin will form a sub-committee with Cllr. I. McEachran and Cllr. P. Wregg and other village volunteers. Cllr. McEachran seconded – all agreed.
It Was Unanimously:
RESOLVED: “To continue with Picnic In The Park on 1st July 2028, source DJ, bands, PA, trailer staging etc., well in advance of the event date.”
The Memorial Hall
485. a) Update on The Memorial Hall
A report was put to the meeting from the Memorial Hall (copy attached at the end of minutes). Cllr. Wregg wanted to thank Mel and Bob Stanley for the sponsored pink hair dye and Cllr. Birch for playing Easter Bunny at the Easter event.
486. b) The Launch Field
A report was put to the meeting from the Memorial Hall (copy attached to the end of minutes).
Cllr. Wregg reported that they are waiting to speak to Hollie regarding the future of the Launch Field and advised that they need some help to support the Coach. A DofE volunteer was suggested and Cllr. Wroughton will pass on some contact details for DofE volunteers.
Village Ranger/Lengthsman Inspections
487. The Ranger/Lengthsman has passed the training course for weed spraying.
The Ranger/Lengthsman has sprayed the wooden storage facility with 2 coats of clear wood preserve and has started painting the bus shelters. The grass has been cut twice in the village and weed spraying has commenced.
Reporting of pothole and pavement damage has been carried out over the month by the Ranger.
The Old School
488. a) Entertainments, Activities & User Update
Live music event on 11th April with the Shantyfolk playing; this is a sell-out event with 60 people attending.
Upcoming cinema showings are The Choral on 17th April, Song Sung Blue in May and Hamnet in June.
489. b) CKOB Club Update
The last CKOB had 50 children in attendance, slightly lower than normal due to the Easter half term.
Cllr. Wroughton will be asking Cllr. Clarke for a grant from his divisional fund for walkie-talkies.
Transport
490. The Clerk advised there had been no problems reported since the last meeting. Residents have been advised about the change of bus route whilst Rookery Corner in Cropwell Butler is closed.
Highways & Footpaths Defects/Issues
491. a) Sunken Road Surface – Fern Road
Cllr. Clarke advised this had been reported back to Highways who in turn have reported it to the adherence team who deal with utilities; the adherence team will follow this up with Severn Trent.
492. b) To Consider Obstruction Issues – Corner of Kendall Road & Salvin Close
Complaints have been received by the Clerk regarding obstruction issues on Kendall Road due to parked vehicles. Bin lorries could not easily gain access/egress to Salvin Close and the top of Kendall Road due to double parked vehicles, vehicles opposite the junction and vehicles on the corners of Kendall Road and Salvin Close. Residents have phoned the Clerk regarding the issue and safety in this area. Bin lorries and emergency services will really struggle to get through.
Cllr. Clarke advised that this is not a Highways matter but a police matter, as it is obstruction of the highway. Cars that are taxed, MOT’d and insured are entitled to park on the highway. Cllr. Clarke did not feel that white or yellow lines in this area would be the answer.
Action: Cllr. Clarke will speak with Sergeant Brett Price to ask him to visit the area and see if any action can be taken. The Clerk will write to Darryl Birch and Laura Trussler to advise of the issues.
493. Cllr. Wilson reported that the blue grit bin had been placed on Simpson Drive but unfortunately it is on the wrong side of the roundabout.
Action: Cllr. Clarke will speak to Highways to get the bin moved to the correct side of the roundabout in the location advised in the original instance.
494. Cllr. Wilson advised that the car park on Simpson Drive has now been transferred to the ownership of the school. The car park has now been fenced off.
495. Cllr. Wroughton raised an issue with the diversion signs at the end of Church Street. It is dangerous that the signs are in the road on the corner of this junction, making it unsafe for egress/access from Nottingham Road onto Church Street.
Action: Cllr. Clarke will speak to VIA East Midlands to see if the signs can be moved at all.
496. c) Speed Watch
Cllr. Wregg advised a session had taken place on Nottingham Road on 12th March between 8.40am and 9.30am – 351 cars were recorded of which 6 cars were exceeding 36mph. The Police Speed Van has been on Nottingham Road twice in recent weeks.
The Environment/Biodiversity
497. It was noted that there are hedgehogs out and about around the village.
Councillors Reports
498. Cllr. Wregg advised that if anyone wished to sponsor Bob and Mel Stanley for the hair dye, she had a SumUp machine and could take donations on it.
499. Cllr. Wilson asked for attendees to the April Saturday Café – Cllr. Wilson and Cllr. Clarke would be in attendance.
Correspondence for Information
500. There is no folder for circulation; any information has been circulated by email through the month.
Date of Next Meeting
501. 15th April 2026 Annual Meeting of the Electorate, 7.00pm at The Old School
5th May 2026 Annual Parish Council Meeting, 6.45pm at The Old School followed by the full council meeting at 7.00pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.07pm.
Chairman’s Signature:
Date:
Agenda Item 8a) & b)
CMBH Chairman’s Monthly Report – March 2026
New Building Progress & Fundraising
We await comment from RBC on the Pre-Application to Planning for the New Build in readiness for a Full Planning Application to follow.
We are hoping to create a form of public exhibition where plans are presented and conversation with the architects can take place in order to engage with the village on the whole project.
Mel & Bob Stanley have exceeded all expectations with their “Sponsored Hair Colouring” event and have had over £1,000.00 already pledged. A great big thank you from CBMH for their continued efforts and support.
A “Hop into Easter” event is being organised to incorporate both children and adult activities on the same day along with the ubiquitous “Bric a Brac”, raffle and food/drink offers.
Due to the cancellation of Picnic in the Park 2026, CBMH have taken the opportunity to investigate the possibility of a late summer event to fill the gap but not replicate the Picnic in the Park format or duplicate the Summer Fete format.
General
Basic maintenance continues around both the building and site wherever required to keep the current usable structures viably sound.
New infra-red heaters have been purchased to wall-mount in the meeting room and kitchen, hopefully to make those areas more readily usable during the cold spells. Thanks go to Cllr. Neil Clarke for his financial assistance with these.
We will be keeping an eye on the in-filled section of ground by the top entrance as the spoil that was tipped is predominantly clay, but hopefully the grass will eventually grow through and reinforce the flatter area.
Thanks to CBPC for tidying up the old goal area with topsoil and seeding.
The hedging whips that were planted last year are now showing through with a loss of probably 25%, which isn’t too bad, and we will soon see the Nottingham Road hedgerow flourishing in the coming years.
Petanque
The new season will be about to commence in April, subject to the temperature, and we look forward to some new faces in 2026. We have found that this activity has become as much a social gathering as an easy laid-back “sport.”
TLF
Better weather has helped with Saturday morning attendances for both sessions and fewer cancellations, giving the kitchen a little boost in turnover.
There will be a two-week break for Easter and hopefully a vigorous return.
J. J. Lacey – 31/03/2026