IPC Chairman’s Report May 2024 – May 2025

This year has been one of re-building a full strength council and actively seeking opportunities to deploy IPC resources to the benefit of the Parish.

Key achievements since the last AGM have been:

· Growing the council to full strength of 11 councillors.

· Grants of over £60k to support the new Playpark, tennis club car park and paths, and Village hall lighting upgrade and donations over £9k to support various Parish initiatives

· A further £50k conditional grant for completing the West wing changing room project at the Sports and Social Club is on hold pending confirmation of plans and funding

· A license for the installation of 4 Speed Indicator Devices at critical points around the Parish has been issued and work commenced on purchasing the units for installation later in 2025

· A new ‘Greener Barns Green’ sub-group focussed on environmental projects around the village has been set up

· Refreshing the relationship between IPC and other key Parish stakeholders to facilitate more effective planning and funding of Parish projects.

· 44 planning applications considered over the past year; a significant workload for the planning officer.

A significant disappointment has been issues arising between local residents and the Sumners Field Development despite the best efforts of the Parish Council at facilitation and mediation.

Looking to the future our focus will be:

· Continuing to build the Parish Council capabilities

· Execution of existing planned projects and identification of strategic opportunities for enhancement of the Parish over a 5 year timeframe

· Continued vigilance in planning matters including the possibility of new developments around the Parish

· Adoption of our neighbourhood plan

· Continued focus on Highways and Drainage to improve the state of repair of roads, minimise flooding and increase safety

· Ensuring footpath maintenance issues are communicated and addressed

Generation of a plan for Environmental projects around the Parish

In closing the Chairman thanks the Clerk, Parish, District and County Councillors for all their efforts on behalf of the Parish and looks forward to building on the achievements to date. Thanks are also extended to Ian Walker (Lead of the Neighbourhood Planning Group) for his diligent work on behalf of the Parish.