Bewholme Parish Council Minutes of the Meeting held on the 11 th February 2025
in the John the Baptist Church, Bewholme.
Present: Cllr Graham Staples, Cllr Mike Butler, Jim Froud (clerk), Cllr Brenda Aylott, Cllr Steve Arnott,
Cllr Phil Elliott, Cllr Ed Neilson, Ward Cllr Barbara Jefferson, Ward Cllr John Whittle.
1 Member of the public.
Apologies: None
Declaration of Interest: None.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting: Minutes from the December 2024 meeting were agreed.
Matters Arising: Cllr Mike Butler asked about the progress with Pothole repairs as there doesn’t seem to be any movement. All of the problems have been reported to the ERYC.
The letter about the speeding signs funding was sent to the Police Commissioner, as yet there has been no response
Cllr Phil Elliott asked if the Parish Council could just erect a sign of there own. The Parish Council has already been down this route several years ago, and were told that the problem had to be proved.
The article about funding for Speed Warning Signs by the new Police Commissioner was in the ERYC Magazine, it was thought that this could be seen as making noises to the public.
The planings opposite the church still need spreading, Malcolm Ives has said that he doesn’t want to do the job.Cllr Mike Butler has asked Pete Gawthorpe for a price, once this has been agreed, then the work will be done.
Ward Councillors Report: Ward Cllr Barbara Jefferson didn’t have much to report. It is budget season at
County Hall, this means looking at the state of the Council Funds. The budget is balanced, and the ERYC will not be going into debt
There are very few Councils that haven’t gone into debt.
The balance includes things that are in the pipeline, were money might have to be borrowed over a longer
period of time. With the Devolution going forward, there will be the chance to vote for the new Mayor, who
will be in charge of a small committee, that will be combined from both Councils, HCC and ERYC. There
should be a chance of more money coming into the area.
Council Tax is to go up by 4.99%, this could have been up to 10% as stated by the current government.
Adult Social Services will take 2% of the increase in Council Tax, as this important service has to be paid for.
Barbara and John have worked hard to maintain the present standard of service. There will be some small cut
backs on Grass Cutting, but if there is a problem, this must be reported and something will be done.
The Parish Councillors spoke about their concerns with the standard of repairs being made to Potholes, and in
some cases thought that the finished job was worse than when it was started. Their thoughts also included the
automated road repair wagon, and wondered if it was being operated correctly.
The number 1 bridge has still not been repaired, Jim Froud to remind Patrick Wharram.
Barbara and John will do their best to service the Parishes, and have been a little perplexed by the comments
made by other officers and officials, throughout this budget process.
Police Report: No one present.
Planning: Nothing.
Parish Website: Cllr Staples reported that the website is up to date.
Playing Field: No one present. Cllr Brenda Aylott reported that the Woodland Trust have granted 165
sapling trees to be delivered in March 2025. A planting party will be needed.
They have been successful in securing a £2,000.00 grant from SSE. A grant for tree bark and flowers to be
sited around the seating area has been passed.
Bewholme PC 11-2-202/JF
Highways: Already covered in Ward Councillors report.
Finance: The following invoices were agreed, £1,606.78 for grass cutting 2024
The grass cutting prices were discussed and agreed for 2025. North Road Playing Field £794.00 plus VAT,
Nunkeeling Priory £744.43 plus VAT, this was agreed.
Neighbourhood Watch: News about the latest scam have been circulated around the area. A card is pushed
through the letter box saying that you have a parcel that couldn’t be delivered, then asking you to scan the QR
code.
Defibrillator: The Defibrillator at Magdelin Cottage, Nunkeeling has been installed and is registered to the
national website. Cllr Graham Staples has checked the other 3 defibrillators in the Parish and they are all live
and their locations registered.
Correspondence: Nothing.
Any Other Business: Jim Froud asked if the June meeting could be brought forward to the 3rd of June 2025.
This was agreed, Pat Trender to be notified.
Parishioners Questions: nothing
Date of next meeting: Tuesday the 8th April 2025.
Meeting closed at 8.25 pm.
Signed as a true and correct record of what took place. 1
1
Bewholme PC 11-2-202/JF