www.littlewenlock.org

Parish Council News

Parish Councillors from 3rd May 2007 to present day

The Parish Council elections held on 3rd May 2007 resulted in a completely new team of councillors: none of the existing members stood for re election.

The successful candidates were: Jackie Whittle (Chair), Deborah Goodman, Pat Hutchings, Deborah Peace and Edward Roberts. This team had some difficult issues to resolve in their early days in office, including the contentious “Affordable Housing” which polarised village views.

Over time, a restructuring of the Parish Council took place. In May 2008, Pat Hutchings was elected as Chair and Deborah Goodman elected as Vice Chair. During August 2008 Jackie Whittle resigned, and Deborah Peace resigned in March 2009. The Parish Council wishes to convey its appreciation for the work that they had carried out during their time in office.

Following these resignations, two residents who had declared an interest in serving as a Parish Councillor were co-opted onto the Council.

During November 2008, Patrick Pietroni was co opted. Patrick and his wife Marilyn, who live at “Windhover” in Buildwas Lane, moved to Little Wenlock in 2006. Patrick has served as a member and chair on several national and international committees. Before moving here, Patrick was Dean of Postgraduate Medicine in London and Professor of Primary Health Care at the University of Westminster.

In May 2009, Alan Lees was co opted. Alan and his wife Norma retired and moved from Staffordshire to “Hillside House”, Clee Rise in 2000. They both play an active part in several village activities. Prior to retirement, Alan was employed in a large engineering company in middle management positions.

In May 2010 Patrick Pietroni handed in his resignation from the Parish Council, which was accepted. The Parish Council wishes to convey its appreciation for the work he had carried out during his time in office. This resignation has created a vacancy for the position of Councillor, and the process of filling this vacancy has commenced.

Parish Council Vacancy June 2010

Are you interested in our community? Are there particular things you’d really like to see happen (or not) locally? Are you keen to see our beautiful countryside and tranquil way of life preserved? The Parish Council played a major role in opposing the Huntington Lane Surface Mine. The Public Inquiry found in favour of UK Coal but since then the Parish Council has used it influence to reach agreements on rights of way in the area and two Parish Councillors, and the Clerk, are members of the Community Liaison Committee which the Parish Council did a lot to establish.

If you are then, do think about getting involved and joining our Parish Council this year. In recent years we’ve built one of the most active Councils in Shropshire. We’ve published an agreed parish plan to guide our community development (2003-2011) and a new one is being prepared. We secured coveted Quality status 4 years ago and that was renewed in 2008. In 2009 we qualified for the Power of Well-being. We’ve set up a very highly praised community website and newsletter which is now sent out six times a year. We’ve improved highway maintenance and gritting routes. We’ve saved many households considerable amounts of money with our oil buying scheme. We have just established one of the first outdoor gyms in the county. And we’ve taken the lead in raising The Wrekin high up the local public agenda. And there is lots more to do.

We now have a vacancy to be filled on the Parish Council by co-option following the resignation of Councillor Professor Patrick Pietroni.

So how about it? Would you consider putting yourself forward for our Council? Being a parish councillor is unpaid, but it isn’t an arduous task. It can be highly interesting and rewarding as well as influential. Besides attending monthly meetings, the amount of time and effort you put into the job is really up to you, with your involvement in local activities and initiatives very much depending on your particular interests and abilities.

The Shropshire Association of Local Councils provides excellent training and support for both existing and new councillors so you don’t need to worry about any lack of experience. None of our current members had any when they started!

What you do need, though, is an enthusiasm in doing something for our community. Of course, you must be at least 21 too. Otherwise, membership is open to anyone of whatever age, expertise or interest - the wider the better.

If you’d like to explore what being on Little Wenlock Parish Council involves and whether it might suit you do please contact Pat Hutchings (Chairman), Debbie Goodman (Vice Chairman), Ed Roberts, Alan Lees or John Marcham (Parish Clerk), (phone numbers on the back page) in complete confidence.

Once the Parish Clerk has received written letters of application (no forms) from parishioners who wish to be considered by the Parish Council for co-option then a decision will be made by the Parish Council as to who will be co-opted. Letters of application should be received by the Clerk no later than the 5th July 2010.

We very much look forward to hearing from you.

Our Parish Clerk

John Marcham, our Parish Clerk, was appointed to this position in October 2006 where he was warmly welcomed onto the Parish Council.

Having retired from a long career in education, John Marcham’s qualities and experience as a Headmaster, JP and School Governor are invaluable in keeping the Parish Council well organized and focused. John has a long standing interest in, knowledge and commitment to our community.

John is more than happy for anyone with specific parish issues, concerns or ideas to raise them directly with him at “Atalaya” in The Alley Tel 505734, so he can act as a further conduit to the Council and provide practical guidance and advice wherever possible.

Parish Council receives quality award - Dec 2008

QUALITY COUNCIL AWARD

On Monday 15th December 2008 the Parish Clerk presented to the County Accreditation Panel, at The Shire Hall in Shrewsbury, the Parish Council’s application and portfolio for re-accreditation of its Quality Status. Little Wenlock Parish Council had been one of the first Parish Councils in Shropshire to gain this status in 2004 and it has to be renewed every four years. The council is very pleased that its quality status was renewed in December 2008 and wishes to thank the clerk, John Marcham, for his hard work.

The Quality Parish Scheme is a national programme with national standards set by the stakeholders to the scheme. During the interview, and by looking at the portfolio, the County Accreditation Panel looks for evidence that the Parish Council is properly managed, that it is representative of, and actively involved with, the whole local community.

There are ten tests that the Parish Council has to pass:

The above is intended only as a brief summary but it is hoped that it gives a flavour of what is expected as the whole application filled a lever arch file!

Should anyone be interested in finding out more about the application the Clerk is willing to show them the full application and portfolio.

John Marcham
Clerk to Little Wenlock Parish Council
17th December 2008.

Donations 2008

During 2008 the Parish Council has given donations to support the following charities: County Air Ambulance, Severn Hospice, East Shropshire Talking Newspaper, The Samaritans and Hope House Children’s Hospice.

The Parish Council has also supported St. Lawrence’s Church and the summer play scheme with sports equipment.