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PARISH COUNCIL RETIRING

(statement by Pam Tunbridge | Parish Clerk)

Unfortunately Harkstead parish did not have enough nominees for Parish Council to make a quorum, by the deadline of midday on Wednesday April 3rd. The only nomination was William Wrinch. Parishioners who were willing to stand for PC again were Brian Rooke, Nigel Boon, Margaret Harward and James Day, which still left 2 vacancies.

The existing Parish Councillors will have to retire on the fourth day after the election, i.e. May 7th and a new election will take place within 35 working days of the original election (May 3rd). This second election will have to be paid for by the parish.

Between May 7 and the new election day there will be no business transacted, that would normally have fallen to the Parish Council, e.g planning applications.

There will be a normal Parish Council meeting on April 16 at 8pm and a speaker – Guy Ackers, will be coming to talk about hedgerow surveys and the role of any forthcoming volunteers, for it.

There was a Parish Council meeting booked for May 14, when speaker Gavin Hodge was to talk about the Good Neighbourhood Scheme. A meeting can take place but not as a PC.

The Annual Parish Meeting was booked for 8pm on Monday May 21, following the village hall’s AGM, and the usual charity reports etc. can be made, but I’m checking whether PC minutes or accounts can be dealt with. There is also a speaker from Babergh D.C. coming to talk about re-cycling and what to put in blue bins.

Please let me know if you are willing to stand for Parish Council. There are vacancies for 6 people as I’m assuming William will already remain as a PC. The sooner I know the better, I’m moving away from the area and may have a different ‘phone number.

Just for the record Harkstead was one of four parishes who missed the deadline, something almost unheard of in Babergh!

Pam Tunbridge, Parish Clerk, ‘phone 01473 328738,

email: pam@ptunbridge.wanadoo.co.uk