Denton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 13th May 2025.
at 7.00pm at Denton Village Hall
Parish Councillors Present: Terry Hanner, Melissa Bunn, Ken Ashton, Robert Fearnley, Helen Sida-Page, Christine Kerr, Meghan Stopper.
Also Present: District Councillor Chris Brown, Jackie Ellis (Clerk), 6 members of the public.
1. Welcome by Terry Hanner, Chairman.
Apologies
None.
2. To confirm the minutes of the annual parish meeting 2024
These were confirmed as a true record and signed by Terry Hanner, Chairman.
3. Guest Speaker: District Councillor Chris Brown to talk on Local Government Reorganisation.
Government has said they want to reorganise local government across England by replacing county and district councils, consolidating the services they provide, with unitary authorities. This will be the largest reorganisation since 1974. Parish and town councils will not be affected by the changes.
Final plans to be submitted in September 2025.
Devolution: There will be a new Mayor elected for Norfolk and Suffolk expected in May 2026.
4. Chairman’s report and Financial Report
Terry Hanner reported:
Quite a quiet year, Thanks to all councillors and the clerk for all their help.
All 3 Finger posts have been done, thanks to all who helped.
Playing field cutting; Sarah Fearnley is now cutting the grass.
John Chapman took on the strimming voluntarily. He now has a bad leg so Sarah is doing the strimming as well.
Nick Wilby has helped out on a lot of jobs, thanks to him.
The Community Grant has paid for a new fence on car park.
Playing field rent: we are paying catch up and paying 2 years in one.
All the village events are well supported. Thanks to all who helped.
Highways are now coming out to do pot holes.
Thanks was given by all councillors to Terry for all the work he does.
The accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 were presented and confirmed as a true record.
5. District and County Councillor reports
Barry Stone, County Councillor emailed in the attached report.
Chris Brown, District Councillor reported:
It has been a busy year on the council, things have moved positively on the environment.
New conservation fund offering grants for conservation projects.
Council budgets are in a fairly good position.
Temporary accommodation is the biggest challenge, the demand has grown very quickly.
6. Reports from Community Organisations/Groups
Garden Club
Art Group
W.I.
St Mary's Church
Alburgh & Denton Parish Magazine
Reports attached.
Variety Club - It has been a successful year for the club. The production of Cinderella was a great show and was a sell out every night. A great time was had by all.
Village Hall & Bar
Last year a big celebration was held as the village hall was 100 years old.
Terry Hanner reported:
- New seats around the patio were purchased with money left over from the Coronation.
- Outside lighting and electric points put in.
- Some Bike Racks were donated and have been installed.
- We now have Wi Fi and Solar Panels.
- Still in a good financial state.
- Re-started bowls club on a Monday night.
- Tuesday and Friday food still going well.
7. Public Participation
Request for the hedge on the playing field to be re-instated.
The bridge in ‘The Walk’ has a middle plank missing. Concerns about children falling through.
It appears that the fire service do not know where the fire hydrants are in the village. We will check this with the Fire Service.
New environmental pond has been cleaned out.
Terry Hanner thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 7.55pm.
NB – Full copies of all reports are available from the clerk on request.