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Parish Council

 

The date of the next scheduled meeting is Monday 11 May 2026 from 7.30pm in the village hall; this is the date for the Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council meeting.

 

 

The members of your Parish Council are: 

Harriet Bowes,

Chairperson

harrietbowes@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk

 

Amanda Noller

Vice Chairperson

Amanda.noler@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk

  

Richard Palmer

Richard.palmer@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk

 

Thomas Rowe

Thomas.Rowe@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk

 

Tamsin Little

Tamsin.little@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk 

 

VACANCY

VACANCY

 

Parish Clerk

Tina Newell 07767 163706

clerk@wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk     

Meadow View, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham IP14 5TE

 

District Councillor

Rowland Warboys

Rowland.warboys@midsuffolk.gov.uk

 

County Councillor

Andrew Stringer

Andrew.stringer@suffolkcc.gov.uk                                                                                                

 

To view the Register of Interests for Parish Councillors, please go to the Babergh and Mid-Suffolk District Council Self Service form.  This is the link: Parish Councillors Register of Interests. 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

 

All residents of the village are cordially invited to attend the

Annual Parish Meeting

from 7.00pm on Monday 11 May 2026

In the Village Hall, Wickham Skeith.

This is a meeting for the residents to hear information

and receive updates from the many groups, clubs and societies

that are active in the village.

AGENDA

1. Welcome.

2. To receive and consider apologies for absence.

3. To note there are no minutes of the previous meeting.

4. To receive reports from local groups, clubs and societies.

5. To receive a report from the Chairman of the Parish Council covering the past year and plans     for the forthcoming year.

6. To receive reports from the County and District Councillors.

7. Public open forum.

8. To agree a date for the next meeting.

 




 ~ W I C K H A M   S K E I T H   P A R I S H   C O U N C I L~

 






Councillors: You are hereby summoned, and members of the press and public are hereby invited, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council on Monday 11th May 2026 immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting. Full Agenda is on the Village website and will be posted on the Village Noticeboard.

Draft Agenda includes:

  1. Appointment of Chairperson:
  2. Appointment of Vice Chairperson:
  3. Co-option: To receive application/s for the post of Parish Councillor
  4. Apologies for absence:  
  5. Declarations of Interest and Dispensation considerations:  
  6. Minutes of previous meeting: Councillors to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2026 as a true record of the decisions made.
  7. Public Forum: 
    1. Councillors are asked to raise any questions resulting from the receipt of Rowland Warboys’ District Councillor monthly report.
    2. Councillors are invited to ask Andrew Stringer County Councillor questions further to the receipt of his monthly report.
    3. To receive comments of questions from members of the public.
  8. To receive reports from groups/Councillors and consider any action:
    1. Biodiversity: 
    2. Community Emergency Plan (CEP): To receive an update on the production of a CEP.
    3. Community Infrastructure Levy: To receive recommendations from the working group.
    4. Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)
    5. Neighbourhood Plan:
    6. Road Safety
    7. Tree Safety
  9. Planning:

10. Finance 

11. Governance

 

 

 
Wickham Skeith Parish Clerk

Could you be our next Parish Clerk?

Due to the retirement of our current Clerk, the Parish Council would like to recruit a Clerk, preferably from Wickham Skeith. No experience needed although some admin skills would be helpful and training will be available The time requirement is about 3 hours a week with five evening meetings through the year and the post is paid.

Duties include:   

·        minute taking and setting up/publishing agendas

·        recording and managing payments and receipts

·        bringing planning applications to the attention of the council for consideration

·        preparing documents for audit, the draft budget and precept documents

 Skills:

·        Computer literate, particularly in Word and Excel.

·        Organised, numerate, a good communicator

·         Must have internet and phone access.  The council has a dedicated laptop and printer that can be loaned to the clerk for council business.  

 

Parish Councillor Vacancy.

To be considered at the May meeting. The Parish Council still has a vacancy for a Parish Councillor. Council meets on Monday evenings around 5 or 6 times a year, the meetings last for around 2 hours. Councillors are asked to read the agenda pack and be actively involved in discussions at the meeting. After the meeting, councillors read the draft minutes for accuracy and, depending on commitments, may also  undertake other parish priorities outside formal meetings. If you would like more information, please contact the Parish Clerk or one of the serving Councillors (details available here).  

 

The last meeting of the Parish Council was 2nd March 2026. Draft Minutes are available on the website at: https://wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk/assets/Parish-Council/PC-Minutes/2025-26/March-2-Minutes-2026.pdf

Highlights include:

Mid Suffolk District Council published a map showing sites put forward for development following their recent ‘call for sites;’ this is a formal, periodic consultation where landowners, developers and the public are invited to suggest land for potential future development. Two sites in Wickham Skeith were put forward: - one off Kitchen Close and another off Rose Lane. Currently these sites do not have any official planning status. The map allows communities to see what has been submitted. Further publicity and consultations will happen before any site is included for future development in the District Council’s Local Plan. The Parish Council will advertise all updates as and when available.

Further to a recent survey produced by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) working group, it was agreed by Councillors to request applications for funding from the ‘CIL Neighbourhood pot’ from individual groups/clubs and organisations. The response was very low. It was agreed no conclusions from this could be supported. The current ‘pot’ has £19,243.83 available (as at 24 February 2026).

A resident, with experience in data analysis, presented a summary of the recent speed survey.  23,663 traffic movements in the two-week period were recorded; this averages to 1,820 per day with an alarming 54.2% travelling at or above 35mph. It was agreed to hold an urgent meeting with County Councillor Stringer and senior traffic officers from Suffolk County Council. Sincere thanks were given to the resident for producing such a comprehensive report. A copy is available in the Village Hall.

A working party carried out successful clearance of scrub around The Grimmer and thanks were given to all who assisted. Councillors noted that ownership of the Grimmer was first considered for registering with the Land Registry in 2001. It was agreed that Councillor Parker will consider pros and cons of owning this land and report to May meeting.

Councillors agreed the Parish Council is in a strong financial position with funds available of £25,733.51 as at 24 February 2026 and the general reserve (working capital) sitting at 60% of the precept.

The Parish Council wishes to thank all villagers for their input and support during the last financial year and look forward to welcome you all to the Annual Meeting.

 

Village Website

 

For information about Wickham Skeith, Parish Council, and updates on events, visit the village website at https://wickhamskeith-pc.gov.uk/

 

 

 

Latest agenda

The latest public agenda appears here