MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
held on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 7.30pm (following the Annual Parish Meeting held at 7.00pm)
in the Committee Room, Thornwick Village Hall, High Street, Thornwick St Mary
- Present
- Cllr M. Pearson (Chairman), Cllr D. Whitfield (Vice-Chairman), Cllr S. Iqbal, Cllr A. Foxton, Cllr D. Marsh, Cllr P. Hollis, Cllr R. Yeoman, Cllr K. Ashworth
- In attendance
- Mrs L. Carrow (Clerk & RFO), approx. 25 electors at the preceding Annual Parish Meeting
- Apologies
- none
Annual Parish Meeting (7.00pm)
Ahead of the Council's own business, the Annual Parish Meeting was held and was well attended by approximately 25 electors. The Chairman reviewed the Council's activities over the past year, including the completion of the new playground roundabout and the churchyard boundary wall rebuild. As part of the evening, the new roundabout was formally opened with a short ribbon-cutting performed by a young village resident, to warm applause. Short reports were also received from the Village Hall Management Committee, the Women's Institute and St Mary's Church. No formal decisions were taken at the Annual Parish Meeting, and the meeting closed at 7.28pm.
Council Business (7.30pm)
- Election of Chairman
It was RESOLVED that Cllr Pearson be re-elected Chairman for 2026/27. The Chairman signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. - Election of Vice-Chairman
It was RESOLVED that Cllr Whitfield be re-elected Vice-Chairman for 2026/27. - Apologies for Absence
All members were present. - Declarations of Interest
None. - Review of Register of Members' Interests
Members were reminded of their obligation to keep their entry on the Register of Interests up to date. - Appointments to Outside Bodies and Working Groups
It was RESOLVED to make the following appointments for the year: Village Hall liaison – Cllr Marsh; Playing Field and Playground – Cllr Hollis; Footpaths – Cllrs Iqbal and Ashworth (Cllr Yeoman having stepped back from this group as notified in November 2025; the Council recorded its thanks to her for her work on the footpaths group); Planning working group – Cllrs Pearson, Whitfield and Foxton; Churchyard/burial ground liaison – Cllr Yeoman; Neighbourhood Plan working group – lead Cllr Foxton, together with resident volunteers to be confirmed following the June drop-in meeting. - Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2026 were RESOLVED as a true record and signed. - Matters Arising
None not otherwise covered on the agenda. - Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2025/26
The internal auditor's report for the year ended 31 March 2026 was noted, with no matters of concern raised. It was RESOLVED to approve the Annual Governance Statement and the Accounting Statements, both to be signed by the Chairman and the Clerk. The Council again qualified for the certificate of exemption from external audit, and agreed that the Notice of Public Rights be published in accordance with the regulations. - Finance
Item Amount Balance brought forward £57,940.98 Clerk's salary (May) £412.60 HMRC – PAYE/NI £58.40 Room hire £15.00 Zurich Municipal – annual insurance renewal £510.00 Internal audit fee 2025/26 £75.00 Balance carried forward £56,869.98 - Planning
No new applications had been received. - Correspondence
None requiring discussion. - Any Other Business
None raised. - Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 7.30pm, Thornwick Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.24pm.
Signed (Chairman) Date: ____________________
Thornwick St Mary Parish Council — Clerk to the Council: Mrs L. Carrow — clerk@thornwickstmarypc-demo.org.uk — These minutes are draft until formally approved and signed at the next meeting of the Council.