May 2025 Chair's Report
ANWICK PARISH COUNCIL
CHAIRS REPORT 2024-2025
1. The Community Centre
The Parish Council continues to have full responsibility of the running and maintenance of the building, its contents and the grounds. The centre has had improved bookings from the previous year, which has helped greatly with the upkeep of the centre. These include Taekwondo weekly sessions, coffee mornings for the church held every month, over 60’s meetings also held monthly, plus other raising events held throughout the year. The Community Fundraisers have raised a significant amount of money for the centre. Events such as regular bingo sessions which are very well attended, a 1940’s event held in August, winter market, craft markets to name just a few of the events arranged. The group have very kindly purchased new tables for the centre and are in the process of renovating the other kitchen. A ‘warm space’ area has been developed which includes a library, refreshments and a place to meet and chat. These are held fortnightly and is a get together for residents. A big thank you to the volunteers of the group and not forgetting the FILL project.
Martin continues to provide an excellent service as caretaker of the centre he can always be relied on to ensure that the centre is always ready for all the events booked. Thank you Martin for the care and pride you take in your work. I don’t know what we would do without you.
2. Grass Cutting
Martin undertakes the grass cutting for the public footpaths, the path on River Lane, the cemetery and has also taken on the role of cutting the grass in the playground.
We did have a contract with a local company; however, it would appear they have ceased trading and thankfully Martin came to our aid. We now have a contract with another company to cut the playing field grass.
3. Contributions
The Parish made its yearly contribution to Citizens Advice.
4. Grants
The Parish Council was faced with replacing part of the roof which financially amounted to a very large amount of money. Thankfully we were successful in obtaining two grants towards the cost of a new roof. This was completed in June 2024. We continue to look for grants that are readily available, but not always easy to source.
5. Purchases
As the new kitchen is now installed and various purchases were made to improve the use of the kitchen including new appliances, clock, bin, cutlery, kitchen blind. Tiling all around the kitchen was undertaken voluntarily to complete the look and use of the kitchen.
Outside purchases included garden waste bins, an outside canopy and outside ashtray, defib and notice boards. We have also added WI-FI to the Community Centre.
Thank you again to all the volunteers who contributed towards this.
6. Outside area of the Centre
Anwick Garden Centre very kindly donated and helped with the planting of new trees and shrubs around the pumping station adjacent to the centre, which will give a much improved look. They also donated a very large amount of spring bulbs which were planted by volunteers in the village.
The yearly inspection of the play park equipment undertaken by RoSPA, the report came back with a few minor issues which were easily dealt with.
7. Local Councillors
Cllr. Andrew Key for Lincs County Council continued to support us throughout the year with valuable information. However, he has decided to step down as at 1st May 2025. We wished him all the best for the future and a thank you card was sent with our expressions of thanks.
Thanks were also expressed to Cllr. Mervyn Head as District Councillor for NKDC. Mervyn has such a wealth of very useful and informative knowledge. He is a very valuable asset to all of us.
8. Parish Councillors
We have new newly appointed Councillors join our team – Cllr. Maureen Corbett and Cllr. Michelle Robertson. They are both very enthusiastic and bring different skills to the Parish Council.
9. Finance
The Parish Council reluctantly increased the Precept for this financial year, partly due to the increase in costs running the Community Centre. Residents were advised in advance of the increase.
10. The Future
Well – we all know what our biggest battle over the next few months are:-
(Terry must have known what was going to happen when he decided to resign down last year)
This is however, a village wide battle and since March everyone has been exceptional in providing guidance and support to the PC which is much appreciated and vital. There are many clever people who have risen to the challenge to prove to Stream BioEnergy and LCC that this is not as done deal and we are not the ‘sleepy’ village they thought we were.
We have to continue in the same vein and plan our strategy so we defeat this blot on the landscape and get to normality.
Normal business still has to continue, so keep an eye open for future events which will be published shortly.
We will always need volunteers to help us, so whatever you can do will help the village tp thrive.
Anwick belongs to all of us and everyone can contribute to its success, let us be united not only in defeating the Biogas threat, but also in making this village the best it can be.
Here’s to another year and don’t forget there is still a vacancy to another councillor.
Signed Dated
E Coulson Chair