Please find below the minutes for the Formby Parish Council Annual meeting. A copy of the minutes is available to download at the bottom of the page.
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
19 May 2025
Present: Maria Bennett (Chairman), Colin Appleton, Derek Baxter, Sandra Baxter, Dawn Brodie, Luke Brodie, Jill Butler, Karen Cavanagh, Fraser Hunt, Dave Irving, Yvonne Irving and Paul Wiencke.
In Attendance: Claire Jenkins (Clerk) and 0 members of the public
1.0 To elect a Chairman for 2025-26, who will then sign the “Declaration of Acceptance of Office”.
Nominations were received for Cllr M Bennett.
It was resolved that Cllr M Bennett be elected as Chairman.
Cllr Bennett signed The Declaration of Acceptance of Office, and this was witnessed by the Proper Officer.
2.0 To elect a Vice Chairman for 2025-26, who will then sign the “Declaration of Acceptance of Office”.
Nominations were received for Cllr D Brodie.
It was resolved that Cllr D Brodie be elected as Vice Chairman.
Cllr D Brodie signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, and this was witnessed by the Proper Officer.
3.0 Apologies for Absence
There were apologies received from Cllrs Millington, Riley and Weild.
4.0 Members Declaration of Interest
4.1 There were no declarations of interest.
5.0 Public Forum
The meeting was adjourned for this item.
There were no members of the public in attendance.
The meeting was reconvened.
6.0 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
6.1 Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 14 April 2025
It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2025 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
7.0 Matters of Report from Previous Meeting
There were no matters of report.
8.0 To receive the retiring Chairman’s Annual Report
The Parish Council have been very busy over the last year with the Christmas Hampers for vulnerable families in Formby, the Christmas Lights Switch On, Remembrance Sunday, Pride of Formby and the VE Day 80 Anniversary events. The Chairman would like to express her thanks to everyone involved in the VE Day 80 Anniversary tea dance at the Gild Hall with special thanks to the volunteers from Formby High School who were very polite and extremely helpful. Special thanks to Cllr Irving for organising the VE Day 80 Anniversary Party in the Park and to Debbie Jones for compering at the event and to Formby Little Theatre for their support.
Both events were a huge success and enjoyed by all in attendance.
9.0 To appoint representatives to the following:
- National Trust Stakeholder meeting – Cllrs Y Irving and Weild
- Merseyside Association of Local Councils (MALC) – Cllr Wiencke
10.0 To agree Cllrs role in respect of:
- Finance and General Purposes Group – Cllrs D Brodie, D Baxter, S Baxter, Butler, D Irving, Bennett, Wiencke and Weild
- Environment Group – Cllrs S Baxter, D Baxter, Cavanagh, Y Irving, Wiencke and Weild.
- Planning – Cllrs D Irving, D Baxter, and Butler
- Raising and lowering of the flags – Cllr Weild
- Fertilising and weeding of village trees – Resident volunteer.
- Newsletter – Cllr D Baxter
- To organise a Friends of Platinum Jubilee Park Group – a notice will be put up asking for volunteers.
11.0 Annual Return
11.1 To receive the Internal Auditors Report
It was resolved to approve the Internal Auditors Report
11.2 To approve the annual governance statement section 1.
Cllrs answered yes to questions 1-8 (question 9 not applicable) detailed on the governance statement and this was recorded on the Annual Return, which will be published on the website.
It was resolved that the governance statement section 1 to be approved.
11.3 To approve the accounting statements section 2.
It was resolved that the accounting statements section 2 be approved.
11.4 To note the dates set for the exercise of public rights: Tuesday 3 June to Monday 14 July 2025.
Cllrs noted the dates set for the exercise of public rights.
12.0 Planning Applications
12.1 43 Bushbys Lane – on 18 January, it was reported to Sefton Council that the trees were being removed from the front garden of the property. Sefton Council visited the property and installed a TPO on the trees in the front garden which stopped the works on the property. It was estimated that 60-70 trees were removed from the back garden without an ecological survey or environmental check being done and destroying the habitats for squirrels, bats, hedgehogs and other wildlife living in the trees. A complaint will be submitted to the Police under the offence against wildlife act and a copy will be sent to the planning department, Lancashire Wildlife and National Trust.
13.0 To discuss and approve the following.
13.1 To approve the quote for the renewal of the Insurance at £2,441.46 including vat.
It was resolved to approve the quote of £2,441.46 including vat for the insurance.
13.2 To approve the Risk Assessment for 2025-2026.
It was resolved to approve the Risk Assessment for 2025-2026.
13.3 To approve the payment dates for staff salaries for the year to 31 May 2026.
It was resolved to approve the payment dates for staff salaries for the year to 31 May 2026.
13.4 To approve the schedule of meeting dates for the year to 30 April 2026.
It was resolved to approve the schedule of meeting dates for the year.
14.0 Payments
- Employer expenses – £1,983.90
- Office lease, Sefton MBC – £291.66
- Office phone and broadband, BT – £77.90
- Google one subscription, Google Commerce Ltd – £15.99
- Lancs association of local council subscription, LALC – £2,279.78
- Website domain renewal, Krystal Hosting Ltd – £132.00
- Digit counter, named person – £6.35
- Internal audit, Sefton CVS – £63.00
- Insurance renewal, Gallagher Insurance – £2,441.46
Total – £7,292.04
It was resolved to make the payments as listed above.
15.0 The following reports were noted (circulated with the agenda):
- Minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Group Meeting
- Minutes of the Environment Group Meeting
16.0 Date of Next Meeting:
The next Ordinary meeting of Formby Parish Council will be held on Monday 16 June 2025, 7pm, at Formby Library, Duke Street, Formby.
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