Ilam Parish Council Meeting

ILAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday 7 May 2024 @7pm Ilam School

Present C Sellers, L Oulsnam, (Clerk) N Taylor, V Nottage, K Warrington, R Wain, Cllr E Wain, G Nottage, I Frith

Cllr E Wain

Apologies C Hibbert -Foy

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12 March 2024 were read and signed as true and correct.

National Trust

Reporting the blocked highway drain at the entrance to Home Farm seems to have worked, as it has now been cleared.
We have installed some additional parking at our offices, reducing need for our staff and volunteers to park in the village.
We have undertaken some careful pruning of the trees by the phone box. Hopefully, sightlines and the phone line are now much clear whilst protecting the nice character of the treeline by the bridge.
The first phase of the accessible paths at Ilam Park is now complete, the contractor needs to come back to seed the bare areas of soil when it has dried out, should be in the next couple of weeks.
Tenders have been received back for phase 2 of the accessible path works which is mostly to improve the existing surface finish, create rest points with benches and improve gradients for people using pushchairs and wheelchairs. The work will be completed around Autumn this year. The work area starts at the end of the new paths by the boil holes, along paradise walk, takes a right by the battle stone, and continues in front of the tearoom and down to the stable yard area.
The Hinckley bridge replacement is being progressed and we have appointed Beaver Bridges to carry out initial survey work and progress the implementation.
The planning application for the woodland play area at Ilam is being progressed, we have been given a decision date of 03/06/2024. Thanks to PC members for their supportive comments during the consultation period, much appreciated.

Upcoming events at Ilam Park and Dovedale:
11^th May- Canihike bookable event. A chance to bond with your dog and get some fun training on how to work with your dog on a lead. Canihike is the sport of hiking or running with your dog and yourself on a harness.

25^th May- 2^nd June - half term is themed around Hidden Wildlife. At Ilam there will be a ‘Zoom into Ilam’ self-led trail encouraging families to slow down and look for hidden wildlife at Ilam - £3 for a trail sheet and wooden magnifying glass they can colour in. At Dovedale there will be a self-led trail sheet for ‘Dovedale Bingo’ encouraging families at Dovedale to think about the kinds of wildlife that lives there in different habitats. - £2 self-led trail sheet

29^th May - Pop up Insect Exhibition at Ilam Park. We will conduct a humane moth trap the night before and then display the moths and insects the next day to families to see what wildlife comes out at night.

31^st May – Geology Guided Walk. A fantastic family friendly geology walk led through Ilam Park and through time! Free to attend. Book via our website.

Improving Village Environment

Thank you to The National Trust for the new church footpath and to everyone who contributed towards the Ilam Church Path fund which raised £2164.00p towards the cost of the path. We would like to thank Paul Rochfort from Rights of Way Environment and Countryside at Staffordshire County Council for the contribution of £5000.00p towards the church footpath.
Plants and bushes will be purchased for the monument and village for summer and bulbs for later in the year .

Highways

C Sellers met with Mark Deauville from highways to discuss potholes, lines and highway issues in Ilam and Cllr e Wain has raised issues about Blore Road
C Sellers and L Oulsnam are composing a letter regarding yellow lines in Ilam and highway issues for the village

Finance

Balance in account: £1624.71p
Parish insurance will £301.00p this year which has increased from last year. The council agreed on the price and the policy to be renewed .

AOB

R Wain enquired about the cleaning of village and monument sign and has volunteered to clean the signs.
I Frith suggested a working party to clean and tidy the village update to follow.
D Day 80 Commerative event will be organised and update and invites to follow.