There was no Whitminster Parish Council (WPC) meeting in April, for obvious reasons; however, Councillors are keeping in touch with each other, and the Clerk, by email and telephone. Parish Council business will still be carried on with as is necessary, with a video/virtual meeting set up for May 4th. Please watch for notices on the website and the village notice boards.
As we know, all elections for District Council and Parish Council have been postponed until May of next year, with all Members staying in Office until then. The next Term of Office will only last for 3 years, instead of the usual four..There is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor on Whitminster Parish Council, Cllr Nick Peters having tendered his retirement from the Council. Information coming from Government sources suggests that any elections to fill such casual vacancies will be held over until next May. Confirmation of this, or otherwise, will be published as soon as it becomes available.
News from Ebley Mill says that the District Council will do it’s utmost to keep waste and recycling collections operating as normal, through this emergency situation. However, in order to do this, some other operations have had to be suspended, including some street cleaning and grass cutting on District Council administered land. Crews that would normally be out and about with grass mowers have been diverted to the waste collection service, to make up shortages caused by either illness or self-isolation.
WPC is extremely grateful for the response to the appeal to set up a volunteer group to help housebound residents during the current pandemic. Special thanks go to Cllrs Paynter and Hay for organising delivery of leaflets around the village, and setting up the communications needed to take the volunteer group forward. Our group is registered on the County Council/Stroud District Council emergency hub, which can be accessed via www.stroud.gov.uk The group must also take full credit for organising and delivery of the Easter chocolate goodies around the village. It was very difficult to make the decision as to who received them, and apologies go to anyone inadvertently missed out. Sincere thanks also to the shop in Gloucester Quays that donated the chocolates. Feedback received from those receiving them has made enjoyable reading.
The defibrillator located on the end wall of the pavilion on the playing field is available for access via the pedestrian gate at the start of the driveway to the playing field. Following Government instructions, the children’s play area and the playing field have had to be closed until restrictions are lifted, to try to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. [UPDATE: the playing equipment remains out of bounds, the playing fields are re-opened]
More Parish Council notes will follow in due course. Any PC meetings held will be advertised as soon as they become necessary.