Willersey Parish, Other Councils
and Representatives

Willersey Parish, Other Councils and Representatives

Parish Council

Parish Councillor Vacancies

The Parish Council is the first tier of local government and is financed by part of the council tax. It consists of 9 residents who either take decisions or must be consulted on most matters that affect the village. It is supported by a Clerk whose office is in the village hall.
Councillors are either elected or co-opted onto the council and the council now wishes to co-opt 2 further members.

Duties will be to attend the monthly council meeting and help take decisions on a variety of isssues including planning applications, highway matters and upkeep of the village.
The Council owns and administers the village greens, recreation ground, the village quarry, Pool Orchard and the cemetery.
In 2020 year the council updated the village hall and in 2022 plans include renovating the recreation ground and Pool Orchard and following archaeological investigation, to extend the cemetery.
Councillors should be team players and willing to participate via email, telephone and face to face on a regular basis.
Full support will be available to bring new councillors up to speed.

If you would like to know more please contact the Clerk.
Kevin O’Donoghue,      email: willerseyparishcouncil@btconnect.com      tel: 01386 853635

The official Willersey Parish Council web site.

After the uncontested elections in May 2023 our Parish Councillors are :-

Phil Bennett	Paul Clark	Neville Jelfs
Brian Lawrence	Warren McDivitt	Heather Rothwell
	Jane Rintoul

Here is a map of Willersey and Saintbury with roads, footpaths etc.
Scroll in at the top right hand corner of Gloucestershire to find the Willersey detail.

The Parish Council office has its own entrance at the back of the village hall.
It is open from 9:30am to midday on Mondays only (not bank holidays). There is a postbox for it there. Our parish clerk Kevin O’Donoghue is usually in the office every Monday morning to help, answer any queries if he can, or pass on concerns or questions to the Parish Council for formal discussion. Our telephone number is 01386 853635 and email address is    Parish Council meetings normally take place on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm. The role of chairperson is on a rota. Parish Councils are the lowest tier of government in England, corporate bodies with a legal existence which has been granted powers by Parliament. Whilst the powers granted are limited, they do include the authority to raise money through taxation (the Precept) for expenditure on closely defined local matters. All the members of the Council are volunteers with a common aim to do something positive and hopefully, make a difference by influencing decisions that affect our community. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings. There is usually a short question and answer session before the formal council meeting commences.

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The Annual Parish Meeting for 2022 was held in Willersey Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 23^rd May. The agenda was:-

1. Welcome by Chairman
2. Apologies for absence
3. Minutes of last meeting
4. Parish Council Report – Chairman
- Parish Council accounts (unaudited)
5. Reports from village organizations
6. Questions from the floor
7. Any other business

The Annual Parish Meeting for 2019 took place on Monday 29^th April at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.
The Annual Parish Meeting for 2018 was held on Monday 21^st May at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. This is the meeting report.
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The Parish council has three notice boards in the Village. One is on the side of the Village Hall as you approach from Main Street, a second is on the right near the postbox as you go down Church Street and there is a third by the bus stop at the Pike roundabout.

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Cotswold District Council Cabinet has agreed to defer a decision on the proposals to fund local elections to its next meeting on 10^th January 2022 to allow time to discuss them with town & parish councillors and clerks to hear their concerns and answer their questions. We are considering charging town and parish councils for two reasons:
(i) the overall financial position of the Council means we need to look to make savings and increase revenue and (ii) elections are of direct benefit to the relevant parishes and towns so it can be argued should be paid for by their councils rather than the District Council.
Our officers have prepared a table showing indicative costs that towns and parishes may be charged should they hold contested elections for the whole council or in a stand-alone by-election. We've attached it below. These estimated costs will vary depending on the number of candidates, postal votes and polling stations in a particular area. They are also based on our election process that accords with legislation and is in line with guidance issued by the Electoral Commission. These indicative figures provide a prudent basis to use when considering how you will make provision for funding election costs from 2023 onwards should the proposals go ahead. This proposal would not affect parish meetings and therefore they are not listed in the table. The proposals, if enacted, would come into effect on 1^st April 2023 meaning the first charge for contested town and parish council elections would be for the four-yearly full council elections in May 2023. We have scheduled virtual meetings for town and parish councillors and clerks to meet with me, the Leader, our Chief Executive, who is the Returning Officer for elections in the District, and other relevant officers to answer questions and listen to your concerns about the proposals. We have set up two meetings to provide a choice of dates. The content and format of the meetings will be the same. The meetings will be held online using Google Meet on:
• Thursday 16^th December between 6pm and 7:30pm • Wednesday 22^nd December between 6pm and 7:30pm
If you follow the joining details below at the relevant time shown above for the meeting you wish to attend, you will join the online meeting. There's no need to register. I hope to see many of you at one of the meetings. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read the Cabinet paper which sets out all the background and detail of this proposal. You can download it below. With kind regards, Cllr Mike Evemy - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance

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Meeting Details to join the engagement sessions (meeting held on Google Meet) To join the video meeting online, click this link : into your browser:.
Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +44 20 3956 5260 and enter this PIN: 990 567 760# . To view more phone numbers, use this link: https://tel.meet/fsq-rtyu-ihp?hs=5

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Map of Campden and Vale District (Although not marked, Willersey is just beneath Saintbury.)

Information for Voters

In order to be able to vote at any election, you must be included on the electoral register.
If you are not sure whether you are on the register, or if you have moved house recently and have not let us know, then take a few minutes to check, and make sure nothing stops you from having your say on election day. Contact our Elections Team to check if you are registered - elections@cotswold.gov.uk
If you are not already on the register of electors, and wish to vote at these elections, we must receive your application/registration by Friday 12^th April 2019. The easiest way to register is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or contact the Elections Team for a paper form.

Can't make it to the Polling Station on Polling Day? Then choose postal or proxy voting.
If you will be away or won't be able to get to the polling station on election day, you can apply to vote by post.
To vote by post on 2 May, you will need to complete an application form and return it to us by 5 pm on Monday 15^th April.
The same deadline applies if you want to make changes to an existing postal vote arrangement in time for the 2^nd May elections.
Postal votes will be issued no later than 17^th April.
Proxy voting is an option if you can't vote in person and do not want a postal vote - under this arrangement, you appoint someone you trust to vote for you at your polling station.
If you want to apply to vote by proxy at the elections on 2^nd May, then we must receive your completed form by 5 pm on Wednesday 24^th April.
If, however, you want to make changes to your existing proxy voting arrangements, then we must receive your completed application by 5 pm on Monday 15^th April.
Useful Contact Details

The Elections Team will be available to provide help and assistance throughout the election process. Contact details are as follows:-
Telephone Helpline 01285 623002      E-mail elections@cotswold.gov.uk      Website www.cotswold.gov.uk

Further information about the elections and voting can be found at the following websites
www.electoralcommission.org.uk       www.yourvotematters.co.uk

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Willersey Parish Council Auditors Report 2017-2018

Auditors Report & Certificate   Auditors Right to Inspect   Annual Governance Certificate

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Willersey Parish Council Financial Report 2017-2018

The Exercise of Public Rights   Explanation of Variances   Bank Reconciliation
Accounting Statement   Another Accounting Statement   Audit Report   Annual Governance

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At the Annual Parish Meeting in 2017, Cllr Lynden Stowe paid tribute to Mrs Jean Moore for her 26 years continuous service on Willersey Parish Council. Cllr Stowe presented the late Mrs Moore with a silver picture frame from the Parish to mark her stepping down from the council.

What powers and duties do parish councils have?
Parish councils have a variety of powers and duties, all of which impact directly on the community.

Allotments Burial Grounds, Cemeteries, Churchyards and Crematoria Bus Shelters Bye-laws – the power to make bye-laws concerning:baths and washhouses (swimming pools), cycle parks, mortuaries and pleasure grounds Clocks – public clocks can be provided and must be maintained Community Centres, Conference Centres, Halls, Public Buildings Drainage – of ditches and ponds Entertainment and the Arts Footpaths General Spending – parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community that is not covered by the other specific responsibilities described in this list Gifts – parish councils may accept gifts Highways – lighting, parking places, right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening. Consent of Parish Council required for diversion or discontinuation of highway, traffic signs and other notices, tree planting and verge maintenance Land – acquisition and sale of Legal proceedings – power to prosecute and defend any legal proceedings in the interests of the community. Power to take part in any public enquiry Litter - provision of litter-bins and support for any anti-litter campaigns Planning – parish councils must be notified of, and display for residents, any planning applications for the area. Any comments submitted to the planning authority by the parish council must be taken into account Postal and Telecommunication Facilities – power to pay a public telecommunications operator any loss sustained in providing services in that area Public conveniences – provision and maintenance of public toilets Recreation – provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and boating ponds Rights of Way – footpath and bridleway maintenance Seats (public) Signs – danger signs, place names and bus stops signs Tourism – financial contributions to any local tourist organisations allowed Traffic Calming War Memorials Water Supply – power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use

How to contact our Parish Council.   This map and this map show the extent of our Village Greens (both are large files) and here are Willersey Parish Council village greens bye-Laws.
Do report to the police any antisocial behaviour in the Parish.     Here are some academic thoughts about the optimum English village size.
Although dated 2003 most of the issues and comments in this Parish Plan are still relevant today.

Willersey Parish Council is a member of the Gloucestershire Association of Parish & Town Councils.

Been out yesterday and this morning 19th March 2023, Justine Steventon, Colin Beard and Sarah Arthey have also been out and so far Broadway Road, Hayes and parts of Collin Lane cleared. Have also done from Saintbury to half way back to the village and collected 4 bags just in that bit. It hasn't been done for years se we were collecting very old litter with a total of 7 bags collected so far. There is still plenty more to do though. Full Litter bags have been left by the church.

Councillors turned out in force for this event and they were delighted with the numbers of people who came to help with the “rubbish pick up party” held on 11th April 2018. There were 19 people who turned up and within an hour they had collected a total of 12 bags full of rubbish from around the village. A hearty thank you and well done from WPC to all who rallied to the call.

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Willersey Parochial Church Council

As of 2011, Saintbury joined the Willersey Parochial Church Council.
The Chairman was Rev Scott Watts. The 2019 annual meeting was on Wednesday 24^th April at 7:00pm in the Church.

The Members of the PCC are:-

Robert McNeill-Wilson	Rachael Barker
Gillian Beale	David Kelley	Judith McNeill-Wilson

The minutes secretary is Sylvia Schambri.

The PCC meets approximately bi-monthly and endeavour regularly to focus on ways of reaching out to (and drawing in) members of the wider community. The local PCCs have all met their commitment in recent years to pay the Parish Share in full.

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Cotswold District Council

Willersey is represented by two district councillors for Campden-Vale ward.
They are     Mr Tom Stowe     and     Gina Blomefield.
The Council Updates are here and here are the latest news and events from Cotswold District Council (CDC).

Cotswold District Council has many functions it carries out including:

Benefits - Housing and Council Tax Car Parking Concessionary Travel Council Tax - Administration and Collection Elections and Electoral Registration Environmental Health (includes Domestic and Commercial Premises) Food Safety and Hygiene Complaints Noise Pollution and Pest Control Housing Administration Licensing Caravan Sites Planning, including Planning Applications, Advice and Appeals Building Control Public Conveniences (in some locales) Health and Leisure Centres Refuse Collection Recycling Tourism and Visitor Information Cotswold District Council receives only 7 pence in every £1 of your Council Tax to provide the services it is responsible for, including: Waste collection and recycling Street cleaning Parking and public toilets Planning and building control Promoting economic growth and regeneration Leisure services Environmental health and licensing services Housing and council tax support Election administration Social housing and support for homeless people Alongside funding these essential services to the high standards you expect, we plan to invest in the Council's priorities as follows: £750,000 towards addressing climate change This funding will kick-start the action plan to make the Cotswold District “green to the core”. Actions include: encouraging residents to switch to electric vehicles by delivering charging points across the District; reviewing our use of offices and buildings as large numbers of staff continue working from home; identifying opportunities to use our assets to support our climate strategy; £740,000 towards reviewing the local plan. The updated plan needs to be the right fit for our communities and protects the District's landscapes and heritage. £400,000 for investment in feasibility studies and other work to support the provision of social housing built to carbon zero. £200,000 to improve the cleanliness and appearance of the District through the Clean and Green Cotswolds Programme. £100,000 to plan and develop better, greener transport options in the District, including cycle and walking routes and innovative bus options. £35,000 each year to continue to fight against fly-tipping. £25,000 towards a review of open space on new developments, working with builders and residents on new public open space. £23,000 towards helping individuals with complex needs, who are facing homelessness to access secure accommodation and support. £350,000 to fund the Recovery Investment Strategy which aims to make the Council's money go further and maximise support for the District in its recovery from Covid-19. Investments include: specialist skills and expert advice on how we can invest in the economic recovery of the district; giving our workforce access to training to build skills and knowledge fit for the new working environment created by Covid-19; enabling the production of new truly green energy supplies in the District; and delivering additional social housing built to carbon zero. £30,000 to engage with communities and encourage change in line with the Council's climate change emergency declaration. £30,000 to develop the Council's Leisure Strategy

Do fill in the CDC Survey.

Most of Cotswold District Council staff are employed by the Publica Group.

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Gloucestershire
Willersey is represented by the county councillor for Campden-Vale division Cllr Lynden Stowe at Gloucestershire County Council.

Cotswold AONB Conservation Board
The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Board conserves and enhances the natural beauty of the Cotswolds AONB. It also increases understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB. In fulfilling these roles, the board seeks to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the AONB.

Member of Parliament
Our MP is Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP (Conservative).
Here is his latest news and contact details on his website. He also writes an occasional extensive news section in the Chipping Campden Bulletin.
Telephone:- 01452 371630       email cliftonbrowng@parliament.uk or cliftonbrowng1@gmail.com

Member of the European Parliament
One of our South West Region MEPs is Ann Widdecombe MEP (Brexit).
There are six MEPs in the South West region of the UK.