At the Annual Parish Meeting, held on 13 May 2024, the Chairman presented the Council's annual report.

1. Changes on the Council

Ightfield Parish Council had a full complement of members for most of the last financial year. However, at the end of the year there were some changes when the Chair Mark Astley resigned from the Council as did our Clerk, James Howard. We are once again using a temporary locum Clerk but are confident that we will appoint a new permanent Clerk very shortly. I would like to thank Mark and James for their invaluable contribution to the work of the Council and wish them both well in the future.

2. Strategic Vision

Since 2019, the Parish Council has focused its efforts within a Strategic Vision that has three goals: securing and improving our local infrastructure, representing the Parish in planning and development, and supporting/enabling our local communities.

3. Spending Summary

Opening Balance: £16,452

Income: £21,438

Expenditure: £46,836

Closing Balance:£5,644

4. Additional Funding

In addition to our precept, we received funding from the Neighbourhood Fund, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the War Memorials Trust. We will continue to seek sources of external funding for our future projects.

5. How Our Money Has Been Spend

A proportion of our money is spent on those things we have to do in order to function as a Council. This includes staffing and administration costs. In addition:

• We gave £1,100 in grants to local organisations – Calverhall in Bloom, the Village Hall Committee, the Maurice Chandler Centre and North Salop Wheelers.
• We have entered a grounds maintenance contract to ensure that our open spaces are safe and well maintained.

The remainder of our funds have been spent on managing, maintaining, and improving our physical assets.

6. Investment in Local Assets

Over recent years the Council has invested much of its reserves and council tax funding into improving assets and infrastructure including the Platinum Jubilee Pathway and the upgrade of both playgrounds. Last year, as well as the work at Ightfield playground, we have now completed the retro-fitting of LED units to our streetlights, repaired the retaining wall at the war memorial and purchased a second vehicle activated sign.

7. Keeping Residents Informed

This is an important part of what we do, and parishioners are always welcome to attend our meetings and raise issues with us. Information is always available on our website which is currently our main way of communicating with parishioners.

8. The Future

Our task going forward is two-fold:

Firstly, we need to manage and maintain our existing assets well and to build up our financial reserves to deliver a long-term asset management strategy.

Secondly, and equally as important, we intend to work with our new Clerk to ensure that our systems and procedures are efficient and that we as a Council consider the needs of local residents in everything we do.