Essington Parish Council EP976
Minutes
Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held at Essington Community Centre, Hobnock Road on the 27th of July 2026 in the Council Chamber, commencing at 7pm.
Present Councillors: Chris Steel – Chairman, Warren Fisher – Vice-Chair, Annie Phillips, Gill Kelly, Hilary Southern Dibble, James Parker, Joy Markievizc, and Ken Moseley – from 7:05pm.
Also Present: Kate Roberts – RFO.
1. Apologies – None received, all Councillors were present.
2. Declarations of Interest – None received.
3. Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 29th of June 2026.
Proposed by Hilary, Seconded by Joy, all in favour that the Full Council Minutes were approved as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4. Public Participation Maximum of 15 minutes – No Members of the Public were in attendance.
5. Chair to re-open the Meeting
6. Reports
6.1 Chairman’s Report – The chairman mentioned an Inpost System that had recently been installed. This would be added as an agenda item for further discussion at the next Management Committee Meeting to be held in September.
6.2 RFO’s Report – A notification of a small decrease in interest rate from 3.8% to 3.65% AER had been received from Redwood Bank.
6.3 District Councillor’s Report – The Government had made a decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). A new unitary council would cover the south of Staffordshire with 16 Unitary Councillors replacing the 50 existing District and County Councillors.
A successful meeting had been held with the owner of Essington Cemetery.
The Local Plan was yet to be made sound and adopted. The Government had committed to having 1.5 million new homes built in England by 2029. A speculative development at High Hill was mentioned.
EP977
6.4 Councillors Report – There was nothing further to report.
7. Finance
Relevant documents had been forwarded to Councillors prior to the meeting.
7.1 Approval of the Schedule of Payments – July 2026. Proposed by Ken seconded by Warren, all in favour that the Schedule of Payments be agreed and accepted.
7.2 Approval of the Income and Expenditure Report – June 2026. Proposed by Chris seconded by Hilary, all in favour that the Income and Expenditure Report be agreed and accepted.
7.3 Approval of the Bank Reconciliations (all accounts) – June 2026. Proposed by Chris seconded by Joy, all in favour that the Banc Reconciliations be agreed and accepted. Joy signed the bank reconciliations.
7.4 Ratify quote of £2,910 for drainage works at EPC. Proposed by Chris seconded by Warren, all in favour to approve the quote.
7.5 Ratify financial assistance for First Responders. It was recommended that Featherstone & District Community First Responders complete a grant application. Approval of a grant application was agreed in principle.
8. Tree Maintenance Regime/Tree Policy
8.1 Ratify quote to carry out a Tree Survey at the Nicket at £850 + VAT. Proposed by Ken seconded by Gill, all in favour to approve the quote.
9. Community and Business Investment Fund
Councillors reviewed quotes received for new play equipment at Swan Park and selected a quote of £21,861.45 to apply for £20,000 of funding.
The Council was waiting for the decision on a planning application which had been submitted for a Miners Monument on the Village Green.
Quotes were in the process of being obtained for new doors, CCTV and lighting at Essington Community Centre.
10. Confidential Business – No members of the press or public were in attendance.
11. Medical Centre Lease
The Council had agreed an extension of time for completion of the lease.
12. Date, time and venue of the next meeting – 28th of September 2026 at 7pm in the Council Chamber.
13. Closure by the Chairman – The Chairman closed the meeting at 20:08pm.

EP978

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Signed by Chris Steel – Chairman
28th of September 2026