Please find below the minutes for the latest Formby Parish Council meeting. A copy of the minutes is available to download at the bottom of the page.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
15 September 2025
Present: Maria Bennett (Chairman), Colin Appleton, Derek Baxter, Sandra Baxter, Luke Brodie, Jill Butler, Karen Cavanagh, Fraser Hunt, Dave Irving, Yvonne Irving, Mike Weild and Paul Wiencke.
In Attendance: Claire Jenkins (Clerk) and 10 members of the public.
39.0 Apologies for Absence
39.1 There were apologies received from Cllrs D Brodie and Riley.
It was resolved to approve the reason for absence for Cllr Riley.
39.2 It was noted that Cllr Millington has resigned from the Council due to work commitments.
Post meeting note: Cllr Hunt announced his resignation at the end of the meeting due to a move out of the area. Chairman and Cllrs wished him well.
40.0 Members Declaration of Interest
40.1 There were no declarations of interest.
41.0 Public Forum
The meeting was adjourned for this item.
41.1 Rage Against Rubbish
A member from Rage Against Rubbish addressed the Council. The organisation was set up a few months ago by residents in response to the amounts of rubbish, illegal parking and increase in traffic by visitors coming to the area. This has led to antisocial behaviour, driveways being blocked and residents sometimes missing medical appointments, or afraid to go out in case they can’t get back. The objective of the group is to create a strategy with the local stakeholders in the area to stop this happening in the future. They have met with National Trust, Community Police and Cllr Cavanagh and a meeting with MP Bill Esterson will take place in November. They have started a bag scheme with the National Trust and have handed out 500 bin bags on the last 2 hot weekends of the summer which have helped with the collection of the rubbish. They asked if the Parish Council could help to stop the number of visitors.
Cllrs responded by saying the parish council can’t stop visitors coming to the area and this problem has been ongoing during hot spells for many years. They discussed advantages and disadvantages of tow away zones and double yellow lines. It was suggested that extra bins in the area and signage to take rubbish away with you would be helpful. Cllr Cavanagh has asked the National Trust to bring back the rubbish bins that they had in place before Covid. The Cllrs thanked the volunteers from Rage Against Rubbish, and Formby Beach Angels who were in attendance, for clearing away the rubbish that is left on the beach.
41.2 West Lane Development
A resident from West Lane, adjacent to the Redrow development site addressed the Council. Police have been called out many times due to antisocial behaviour including vandalism, a young girl being trapped in a building on the site, youths climbing over residents’ properties, breaking fences and a major fire last week at Clarence House. There are YouTube videos from urban explorers featuring an outbuilding on the site with easy access to the rest of the site. Cllrs agreed to write to Redrow to address the problem, and Cllr Cavanagh will contact the Enforcement Officer at Sefton Council to see what help they can provide.
41.3 Gild Hall
A resident addressed the Council regarding the closure of the Gild Hall. He is upset about the closure without any notice to the residents and the removal of the furniture from the building. The Cllrs are in the process of writing to the Archdiocese and the Weld Blundel Estate for further information on the plans for the site and an application for a community asset is being applied for.
The meeting was reconvened.
42.0 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
42.1 Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 21 July 2025
It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
43.0 Matters of Report from Previous Meeting
There were no matters of report.
44.0 Chairman’s Report
44.1 The Chairman reminded Cllrs of the Christmas Lights Switch on Event that will take place on Thursday 20 November 2025 and asked for volunteers to help with the Christmas Hampers which will be packed and distributed on 15 and 16 December.
45.0 Planning Applications
45.1 West Lane
Cllr D Baxter discussed the piling at West Lane and noted that the developer will be asked to explain their methods of piling and why they haven’t gone for the quietest method.
45.2 Formby Convenience Store Shop Front.
Following complaints to Planning Enforcement and Trading Standards, the advertisement showing a young girl vaping has now been removed.
45.3 Shorrocks Hill
Cllr D Irving has sent a letter to the Ombudsman and has been advised to put in a stage 1 complaint to Sefton Council.
46.0 To Discuss and Resolve the following.
46.1 To discuss the request from the tennis and sports club at Rosemary Lane to have an access gate into the park at Lonsdale Road for the purpose of retrieving tennis balls.
It was resolved to decline the request.
46.2 To approve a grant of £1,500 for the family space after school club, run by Compassion Acts, for equipment and supplies and training for volunteers.
It was resolved to approve the grant £1,500 for the family space after school club.
46.3 To approve a grant of £4,000 plus vat for the set-up cost of a Junior Parkrun to be held in Formby, subject to approval of the location by Parkrun UK.
It was resolved to approve a grant of £4,000 plus vat subject to approval of a location in Formby by Parkrun UK.
46.4 To approve the removal of the earmarked reserve of £20,000 for a VE Day Memorial
It was resolved to remove the earmarked reserve of £20,000 for a VE Day Memorial.
46.5 To approve an earmarked reserve of £20,000 for a Chindit Memorial
It was resolved to approve the earmarked reserve of £20,000 for a Chindit Memorial.
46.6 To approve the allocated budget expenditure for the Christmas Lights Switch on Event
It was resolved to approve the allocated budget expenditure for the Christmas Lights Switch on Event.
46.7 To receive the External Auditor report for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and to note that there were no matters brought to the attention of the Parish Council.
Members received the External Auditor report.
46.8 To note the Local Government Services Pay Agreement for 2025-2025
Members noted the Local Government Services Pay Agreement.
47.0 Payments
August 2025
- employer expenses – £2244.07
- office lease, Sefton MBC – £291.66
- office phone and broadband, BT – £77.90
- grant, Formby Befriending Scheme – £1,000.00
- postage, Post Office – £3.60
Total – £3,617.23
September 2025
- employer expenses – £2,048.94
- office lease, Sefton MBC – £291.66
- office phone and broadband, BT – £77.90
- domain renewal LAPC, Krystal Hosting Ltd – £12.00
- external audit, PKF Littlejohn LLP – £504.00
- planting, watering, grounds maintenance, JC Landscape & Horticulture – £18,522.96
- additional park maintenance, JC Landscape & Horticulture – £2,014.32
Total – £23,471.78
It was resolved to make the payments as listed above.
48.0 The following reports were noted (circulated with the agenda):
- Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Group Meeting
- Minutes of the Environment Group Meeting
49.0 Date of Next Meeting:
The next Ordinary meeting of Formby Parish Council will be held on Monday 20 October 2025, 7pm, at Formby Library, Duke Street, Formby.
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