Council Meeting – 31 July 2025

The business to be transacted at the meeting is as follows:

1. Apologies for Absence
2. Declaration of Interests: To receive any declarations of interests for items on the agenda and grant any requests for dispensations as appropriate.
3. County and District Council Reports
4. Public Forum: Members of the public are invited to address Council on any relevant matter for max. 3 minutes per person. 15 minutes in total is allocated to this item.
5. Confirmation of Minutes
   To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd July 2025.
6. Planning Applications:
   6.1 To report planning decisions at variance with the views of the Council.
   To agree responses to planning consultations:
   6.2 25/01643/TPO: 7 Manor Barns Middle Street Ilmington Shipston CV36 4LS -T1 & T2 Limes – Crown reduction by 30% overall resulting in an estimated height reduction of 10 metres and crown spread reduction of 6 metres. Expiry 29 Jul.
   6.3 25/01519/LDE: Blackwell Bushes Blackwell Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4JE – Use of land as domestic garden (Use Class C3)
   6.4 25/01499/TREE: Baytree Barn Front Street Ilmington Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4LN -T2, cherry x 4no. – Fell. -T3 fir – Remove deadwood. -T4 Scots pine – Fell (dead). -T5, Leyland cypress x 5no. – Reduce by 5metres. -T6 horse chestnut – Thin the crown by 20% and reduce branch length by a maximum of 1.5 metres. -T7 yew – reduce overall crown by 0.6 metres to re-shape. Expiry 13 Aug.
   6.5 To consider any applications notified since publication of the agenda.
7. Padel Court Proposal
   To receive an update from Ilmington Tennis Club on the Padel Court proposal.
8. Mobile Mast
   To consider the interim results of the consultation on a new mobile mast in Ilmington.
   Interim-consultation-response-Mobile-mast.pdf
9. Ilmington Playing Fields
   9.1 To note that the council’s application for a Community Orchard of up to 20 fruit trees at Ilmington Playing Fields has been successful and agree next steps.
   9.2 To approve a grant application to SDC’s Climate Nature Recovery Fund for ‘Bringing life back to our pond’.
   9.3 To consider quotations for cutting the perimeter hedge on Mickleton Road.
10. Grace’s Playground
    To receive the routine inspection report(s) and consider actions arising.
11. Biodiversity Action Plan
    11.1 To consider Ilmington Wildlife Group evaluation report for wildflower planting, and consider any actions arising.
    Evaluation-Report-re-Wildflower-Planting-Initiative-in-Ilmington-July-25-v2.pdf
    11.2 To consider the Wildlife Group proposal “Towards a Biodiversity Action Plan for Ilmington” and agree the way forward.
    Draft-Biodiversity-Action-Plan-27-Feb-2025.pdf
12. Civility & Respect Pledge
    12.1 To adopt a Dignity at Work Policy.
    Dignity-at-Work-Policy-2025-d1.pdf
    12.2 To pass a resolution to sign up to the Civility and Respect Pledge.
    Civility-and-Respect-Pledge-agenda.pdf
13. Conclusion of Audit 2024-25
    To receive and consider the external auditor’s report.
    Signed-External-Auditor-Report-2024-25_1829006.pdf
14. Finance & Admin:
    14.1 To note payment received of £125 (insurance excess) and £27.39 (wayleaves).
    14.2 To approve the bank reconciliation to 30 June 2025.
    Bank-Cash-and-Investment-Reconciliation-as-at-30-June-2025.pdf
    14.3 To receive the budget monitoring report for the year to date.
    Detailed-Receipts-Payments-by-Budget-Heading-27_07_2025.pdf
    14.4 To note payment of the data protection fee to ICO.
    14.5 To note the Local Government Services Pay Agreement effective April 2025.
    14.6 To approve payments as per the schedule.
15. Correspondence: To receive and consider any actions arising:
    15.1 Concerns regarding development of the Red Lion pub.
16. Member Reports (for information only)
    Report(s) by any members who attended any meeting or event on behalf of Council.
17. Future Agenda Items (for information): Already noted: Risk register, parking posts.
18. Closed Session:
    To exclude press and public in accordance with section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 owing to the confidential nature of the business.
    To discuss Clerk’s working hours and overtime.
    To appoint a councillor to carry out the Clerk’s annual appraisal.
19. Next Meeting: Thurs 28 August 2025, 7:30pm in Ilmington Community Shop Café.