Village Improvement Committee Minutes May 2026
Minutes of Cherry Willingham Parish Council’s
Village Improvement Committee held on Thursday 21
st May 2026 at 10:00 in the Millennium Hall.
Chair of the Committee - Cllr A Burge
Vice-Chair of the Committee Cllr S Bates
Present; Cllr A Burge - Chairman, Cllr S Bates - Vice-chair, Cllr K Mellor
1. To elect a Chair.
RESOLVED unanimously to elect Cllr A Burge as Chair of the VIC committee
2. To elect a Vice-Chair
RESOLVED unanimously to elect Cllr S Bates as Vice-chair of the VIC committee.
3. To note and record apologies and absences.
Cllr B Robinson, Cllr J Betts
4. To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and consider any
requests for dispensations in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other interests as
outlined in the Council’s Code of Conduct.
None
5. To receive notes of the Village Improvement Committee Meeting held on Thursday 05
th March 2026
as a true record.
RESOLVED unanimously to approve the minutes from the Thursday 05
th March 2026 as a true
record
6. To elect a member on to the Finance & General Purposes Committee
RESOLVED unanimously to elect Cllr K Mellor, as a representative for the VIC meeting.
7. To discuss and approve any necessary action regarding a communication strategy.
DEFFERED
8. To discuss and approve any necessary action regarding the use of CIL
DEFFERED
9. To discuss options of a new office for the Parish Council.
DEFFERED
10. To discuss and approve any necessary actions concerning Millennium Hall.
i. Improvements within the office space
RESOLVED unanimously to spend upto £100 on lightbulbs for Millenium Hall.
The Clerk to obtain a quote for clearing the side of Millenium Hall
(ACTION - Clerk)
11. To discuss and approve any necessary action regarding a war memorial (near the tommies)
Nothing has progressed since this had been discussed, The Admin Assistant to review costings and
ideas and bring back to the VIC.
(ACTION - Admin Assistant)
12. Items in progress: to consider and agree any actions as appropriate:
i. Entrance gates
This is still with LCC The Clerk to follow up.
(ACTION - Admin Assistant)
ii. update on flags (union Jack and Village Flag)
iii. The Clerk and Cllr K Mellor to bring a design of the village flag to the next VIC meeting.
(ACTION - Cllr K Mellor & Clerk)
iv. update on banner
Completed
v. Gilbert Pond
Future maintenance work is scheduled for September/ October.
vi. Parish Office Sign.
This is now complete and been installed.
vii. Speed watch. (Cllr Bates)
Recent wet weather and a low number of available volunteers have limited activity. The aim
is to carry out 1–2 sessions per week where possible. The Clerk to put an Advert out for
volunteers.
(ACTION - Clerk)
viii. Litter picking. (Cllr Mrs Burge)
The student volunteering towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award has now completed the
required litter‐picking hours. Regular volunteer litter picking continues, and a new volunteer
has recently joined the group.
13. To discuss and resolve any items relating to the Allotments.
i. National Allotment Survey
Cllrs Burge to complete this
(ACTION - Cllr A Burge)
ii. Allotment Survey - Cllr S Bates and the Clerk.
A new report system has been put in place, with the Clerk and the Clerk to visit the allotment
to see the progress made in July before any other action is taken.
(ACTION - Clerk & Cllr S Bates)
14. To receive a report on Tanfaine.
Nothing new to report at this time.
15. To record and resolve any maintenance issues with regard to VIC assets.
Cleaning of the benches at the Parade.
16. Matters for report and future agenda items.
Nothing new at this time.
17. To confirm a date of the next VIC meeting.
RESOLVED unanimously to approve the 9th July 2026 for the next meeting date for the VIC
Committee
Meeting closed 10:48