ASHMORE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council
held at Ashmore Village Hall
on Thursday May15th 2025 at 7pm
Chairman – Richard Coplan, Councillors – Philippa Kelway-Bamber ( PKB) James Grazebrook (JG), Angie Newnham(AN), Colin Elford (CE)
Clerk Vivian Hitchmough
There were 4 members of the public
2025.20 Apologies Cllr Gilly Forge, Cllr John Ball and Dorset Councillor Jane Somper
2025.21 The minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 16th May 2024 were agreed and duly signed.
2025.22 Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman
Position / Name / Proposed / Seconded
Chairman / Richard Coplan / PKB / CE
Vice-Chair / Philippa Kelway-Bamber / RC / JG
2025.23 Election of Officers
Position / Name / Proposed / Seconded
Planning Officer / Angie Newnham / RC / JG
Tree Officer / Gilly Forge / PKB / RC
Airfield Officer / John Ball / RC / PKB
Defibrillator and telephone box / Richard Coplan / AN / JG
Pond / John Ball / RC / PKB
Playground / John Ball / RC / JG
Footpaths / Colin Elford / RC / PKB
2025.24 Election of Representatives
Playground / Paul Whetham / RC / AN
Pond / Constantine Lyndsey / RC / CE
2025.25
Declarations of interest were duly signed and witnessed by the Clerk
2025.26
Chairman’s Report 2024/25
Finance
We told Dorset Council that our precept for 2025/26 should be £4,000 remaining the same as the previous year. Planning
In 2024/25 there was one planning application that we were consulted on for the change of use at Souths Farm. This was approved.
Filly Loo
The Filly Loo was held in 2024 on 21st June and was a great success.
Pond
Constantine Lyndsey continued working on the pond keeping the weed under control and adding Aquaplancton that helps clear the water and stimulates beneficial bacteria consuming rotting matter and reducing the silt.
Playground
Paul Whetham has continued to look after the playground. We agreed with the Village Hall Committee to replace the litter bin which was installed in 2024. We now have a working arrangement for this bin to be emptied by the Village Hall cleaner. This arrangement is working well.
Thanks
As in previous years I am grateful for the help and support I have received during the year from parish councillors and our Dorset Councillor, Jane Somper. I am greateful also for the work councillors and representatives do for their responsibilities. Again, our Clerk, Vivian Hitchmough, has been a great help to me and I am very grateful to her for all she does.
2025.27 Annual Return and draft accounts for the year to 31.3.2025
The draft accounts had been prepared and circulated and the internal audit had been completed successfully. The Annual return and Governance Statement was agreed and duly signed and approved to be published on the web site. The certificate of exemption AGAR 2024/25 Part 2 was duly signed and will be returned to auditors. The Chairman asked if there were any questions in this regard. There were none.
Proposed RC Seconded JG
2025.28 Asset Risk Assessment
The Chairman reported no new assets had been acquired with no greater risk.
2025.29 Date of next meeting Thursday May 14th 2026
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.15 pm