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- Councillor Mrs M. Gilbert (Chair)
- Councillor Ms L. Hopkin
- Councillor J. Wilton
- Councillor K. Rigby
- Councillor K. Harrison
- Councillor Mrs E. Harrison
- Councillor D. Keating
- Councillor Mrs S. Keating
- Councillor J. Kiernan
- Two Members of the Public
Clerk
Mrs S.M. Bircumshaw
53/25 Election of Officers and Representatives
Chair – It was proposed by Councillor Ms Hopkin and seconded by Councillor Rigby that Councillor Mrs Gilbert be elected Chair. There was a show of hands and all were in favour. Councillor Mrs Gilbert accepted the position of Chair.
Vice-Chair – It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Gilbert and seconded by Councillor Mrs Harrison that Councillor Ms Hopkin be elected Vice-Chair. There was a show of hands and all were in favour. Councillor Ms Hopkin accepted the position of Vice-Chair.
Responsible Financial Officer – The Clerk will carry on as RFO.
Finance and General Purposes Committee/Standing Orders Committee – The representatives elected to Finance and General Purposes Committee/Standing Orders Committee are:-
Councillor Rigby, Councillor Harrison, Councillor Mrs Harrison, Councillor Keating, Councillor Ms Hopkin and Councillor Mrs Gilbert (ex-officio).
Planning Committee – All councillors will be members of this committee with Chair and Vice-Chair as ex-officio members.
54/25 Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs S. Wheatley, Councillor S. Pepper, Councillor Mrs L. Ball (Broxtowe Borough Council), Councillor D. Pringle (Broxtowe Borough Council), PC Harry Brown (Police) and PCSO Peter Keeley (Police).
55/25 Declaration of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest made.
56/25 Minutes of the last meeting
The Minutes of the meeting held on 15th April 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
57/25 Public participation
Two members of the public were present and raised concerns regarding the Industrial area on Robinettes Lane.
A new business has opened up and fork lift trucks are operating from very early in the morning. This has led to increased lorry movement (doubled/trebled) in the last few months, with some lorries mounting the pavement. This has also created extra noise on top of the extra vehicles.
Waste is being burnt giving off a bad smell and a quad bike with a large container of liquid, which is being sprayed, is also present on the site, chemicals, being used could possibly present a danger to children and animals.
Unfortunately if the lorries are there for a valid reason these cannot be stopped. It all depends on the original planning permission and what the site is approved for. Legislation for the lorries above 7.5 tonnes through Awsworth and Cossall is limited to those making deliveries and collections from properties on these roads.
It was advised to keep a diary of comings/goings/fires etc to discuss with the Borough Councillors, as this is a matter for them to look into. There could be environmental health issues involved.
58/25 Police report
No report.
59/25 County Councillor’s report
No report.
60/25 Borough Councillor’s report
No report.
Standing Orders commenced at 7.50pm
61/25 Items for discussion
a) Church matters
A price has been obtained from Slater Electrical for the fitting of the new LED floodlights to light the church at night – it is proposed to site them inside the old housings – £560 +VAT.
The bulb which has been tried out is a 50 watt (equal to 400 watt) costing £21.60 and saving 60p/hour/light. The next step up is a 100 watt bulb (800 watt) costing £33.60.
We need to look at the reasons why we want these LED lights – ie environmental issues and cost – if we go for the brighter bulb will there be more light pollution? It was suggested that we have the lower power at the top (50 watt) and the higher power at the bottom (100 watt).
It was felt that the project should go ahead as it will save money in the long run. Councillor Keirnan will order 1 x 100 watt and 4 x 50 watt.
Cllr Keirnan to order the lights
b) Footpaths and pavements
The phone box has been painted, one pot hole has been repaired and the other two pot holes – near Ken Wood’s old property – have been assessed for future repair.
With regards to the mud splattered pavement, we have been informed that this has been repaired, which is not the case. The County Council have been contacted and they have responded that this problem has been referred to Broxtowe Borough Council. The Borough Councillors and County Councillors will be contacted regarding this as the County Council owns all roads, pavements and verges. Broxtowe Borough Council cut verges under contract for the County Council –surely it is the County Council’s responsibility for repairs. Jan Tidewell at the Highways Department was previously contacted regarding this.
Cllrs Mrs Ball and Pringle plus Councy Councillors will be contacted
It was reported that the entirety of Church Lane, from Millennium Park up to the first house, needs to be cleaned and repaired as it is dirty with fallen vegetation and uneven (broken up) and is a safety issue.
This matter to be reported
There is encroaching hedgerow on Awsworth Lane (Trinity Farm side) but the land/hedgerow in question does not belong to Lewis Winter.
Encroaching hedge to be reported
c) Roads/Traffic/Bikers
The pavement on the corner of Church Lane, opposite the church, has been badly damaged this morning. This is due to a lorry knocking over a bollard ripping the pavement up, which can now no longer be walked on.
This damage to be reported
d) RCAN
Councillor Harrison reported that the application for funding to refurbish the church hall car park has moved on to the second stage. It was submitted on 9th May and now waiting to hear back. Three quotes have been obtained – £18,000, £15,000 and another one at £18,000 – these include the drains. Everything is quite positive at the moment.
e) CPRE
Nothing to report.
f) Defibrillators
Councillor Keirnan reported that he has checked the defibrillator at Trinity Farm. Councillor Wilton confirmed that he will do the check on the defibrillator in the phone box on Church Lane before the next meeting.
g) Floral displays
Councillor Mrs Harrison was thanked for the terrific work done on hanging the VE Day flowers. Thanks also to whoever took them down – John/Sandra Wheatley? The flowers lasted well for a week.
Councillor Mrs Harrison reported that they have been to Trowell and got half of the plants for the planters – geraniums. Trowell are waiting for more stock, which should hopefully be there by the end of the week. Need to get compost and clear the planters. It was proposed and seconded, there was a show of hands and all were in favour that Councillor Mrs Harrison purchase what is needed for the planters.
Cllr Mrs Harrison to sort out what is needed for planters
h) Approval of year end accounts
1) Annual Governance Statement 24/25
The Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 was presented to the Council. It was proposed and seconded, there was a show of hands and all were in favour. The Annual Governance Statement was duly signed by the Chair and the RFO (Clerk).
2) Accounting Statements 2024/25
The Accounting Statements 2024/25 were presented to the Council.
It was proposed and seconded, there was a show of hands and all were in favour.
The Accounting Statements were duly signed by the Chair – the RFO (Clerk) had signed these (as required) upon completion on 7th May 2025.
62/25 Correspondence
Email received from John Bonner who plans to visit Cossall in July, to visit where his grandfather was born. This has been passed on to John Wheatley and Councillor Harrison will help to find the appropriate information. They will start with Church records – Councillor Harrison will speak to Marilyn Reed as the Church records are not kept in the church.
Councillor Mrs Wheatley had passed on a letter she had received from the Gate Inn regarding a memorial for the young boy, Marley, who sadly passed away earlier this year. They are going to do a Sensory Memorial Garden and are asking for help and materials.
The £200 donation (cheque) we gave to the family last December has not been cashed, so Councillor Rigby will find out more about the project and report back on how we can help. He has seen the plans and it looks very good.
Cllr Rigby to find out how we can help towards this project
A letter of resignation has been received from Councillor Simon Pepper. He thanks all members of the Parish Council who have helped and supported him. We now have a casual vacancy on the Parish Council. This will be advertised in the usual way.
63/25 Planning topics and applications
Councillor Harrison reported on the last Liaison Meeting with Avant Homes. There were no complaints from Cossall residents, since the last meeting.
Access from Shilo Way is ongoing and scheduled to finish 13th June.
Village signs on the bypass are to be doubled-sided and funded.
There has been a recent structural change at Avant and the local office has closed down. Martin Pask is the new Technical Director and Tony Clarke is the new Construction Director.
There were the usual complaints about the lack of response from the Environment Agency with regards to the condition of the water in the canal. There are storm water exit issues and the Fishing Club have been given a monitor to monitor the condition of the water.
Avant expect to build 50 houses per year – they have already built 14 houses and expect to build a further 25 this year.
There will be a site visit with the Borough Councillors – probably in July.
With regards to HGVs accessing the building site by going through Awsworth,– signs will be re-instated at the end of Newtons Lane to direct the lorries to avoid this. The damage caused by construction traffic, at the end of Newtons Lane will be rectified once the entrance/exit on Shilo Way is operational.
There have been complaints about pile driving and there is still more to be done but residents will be given plenty of notice.
There were no problems foreseen with the planning application for 13 Awsworth Lane or the application for the Caravan Site on Trinity Farm.
64/25 Draft LNRS
Councillor Ms Hopkin reported that the County Council are still looking at worthy projects, but there is nothing in the north of the borough.
Councillor Ms Hopkin told the meeting that she has nominated Bennerley Fields and will send the link to the proposal to the Clerk to forward to everyone to read the proposal look at it and click “Like”. (Councillor Ms Hopkin has put the nomination through as a private person, not a Parish Councillor). It would be nice to see the area back to how it was. Nice schemes have been done in other parts of the county (look at the link).
65/25 Finance
The website Domain Name registration renewal is due on 17th June and needs to be renewed 15 days before that date. It was proposed that we pay for another 10 years. This proposal was seconded; show of hands and all were in favour. Russ will be asked to sort this out.
The date for next Finance meeting is to be Tuesday 24th June at 7.30pm. 66/25 Accounts for payment
66/25 Accounts for payment
Need to check if the donation of £275 has been made for the Open Gardens charity event and if not it will be added to tonight’s Accounts for Payment and the Clerk will make the payment tomorrow.
| The following accounts were approved for payment | ||
| Mrs S. Bircumshaw – Clerk’s Salary/Phone Rental (May) | £537.18 | (£503.58/£33.60) |
| Cossall PCC – Room Hire – 20/5/25 | £35.00 | |
| Mr R Heard – Website Administration | £70.00 | |
| Mrs T. Wilson – Hall Cleaning | £20.00 | |
| Mrs M. Gilbert – Pipe Repair – Drinking Fountain | £55.00 | |
| Jamie Cockram – Painting of the phone box | £500.00 | |
| Clear Councils – Annual Insurance | £563.45 | |
| Bank Charges and Fees | £8.00 | |
| TOTAL | £1,788.63 | |
| Income since 15/04/25 | ||
| Precept from Broxtowe Borough Council | £13,700.00 | |
| Bank Interest | £18.35 | |
| TOTAL | £13,718.35 | |
| Deposit Account | ||
| Reserve | £7,000.00 | |
| MTFS | £750.00 | |
| TOTAL | £7,750.00 | |
| Balances @ Bank – 30 April 2025 | ||
| Deposit A/C | £15,949.67 | (-Res/MTFS) |
| Current A/C | £492.66 | |
| TOTAL | £16,442.33 | (Available) |
| Balances @ Bank – 20 May 2025 | ||
| Deposit A/C | £13,949.67 | (Reserve/MTFS deducted) |
| Current A/C | £429.03 | |
| TOTAL | £14,378.70 | (Available to spend) |
66/25 Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 17th June 2025, commencing at 7.30pm in the Church Hall.
This meeting will be the Annual General Meeting. The meeting closed at 8.55pm.