Cllr Maria Bennett will take over the Chairmanship of Formby Parish Council tonight
A meeting of the Formby Parish Council will be held tonight at Formby Library from 7pm. Members of the press and public are welcome to attend.
Chairman of Formby Parish Council, Cllr Mike Coles handed in his resignation and Cllr Maria Bennett, who was Vice Chair, has now taken over as Chair.
Speaking to Formby Bubble, Cllr Bennett said: "It is an honour to become the Chair of the Parish Council, all be it by default as I was Vice Chair and it was a complete surprise when former Councillor Mike Coles resigned. Mike has personal reasons for wanting to leave so suddenly and I wish him well in his retirement and for the future."
"I will certainly try to continue the good work of the Parish Council, which has become very more active in recent times but it is very much a team effort and my tenure will only last until the AGM in May when a new Chair will be appointed. I am just focused on taking up the reins on what is becoming a necessary local organisation to represent the residents interests."
Parish Clerk to Formby Parish Council, Claire Jenkins said: "Cllr Mike Coles submitted his resignation from the Parish Council to allow for a vacancy to arise in time for the local government elections in May. He retired for personal reasons."
"Cllr Maria Bennett, as Vice Chairman of the parish council, has taken over the role of Chairman. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected each year in May at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council."
Councillor Maria Bennett was elected in 2015 to represent Ravenmeols Ward on the Parish Council. She was the Vice Chair of the Parish Council and Chair of the Finance Group and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. She is also part of the Environment Group and General Purposes Group.
Her working background is in Teaching and Law. She was born in Formby and moved away to Africa when she was very young but returned to Formby with her own family some 25 years ago. She has always been part of the community and for 10 years ran the Gild Hall Toddler Group on a voluntary basis. Her passion is Formby and ensuring that the community spirit lives on and is a safe and friendly environment for all who live and work here. She advocates democracy and open transparency.
Her main concerns are the Neighbourhood Plan and ensuring that this represents what the community want rather than what the Local Council want. In 2014 she was elected as a Borough Councillor to represent Ravenmeols Ward residents at Sefton Council.
Tonight, Maria Bennett will formerly take the Chair of the Parish Council.
Cllr Mike Coles
Cllr Mike Coles was one of the founding members of Formby Parish Council. He first came to live in Formby in 1974 and after working in Lincolnshire, returned in 1989. He has been a committed member of the council in its ten years, and having spent his career in the food industry, used those skills to set up the Finance and Environment Groups in the Council and managed the first Village Improvement Programme, which was completed this year.
His maxim – ‘In Formby, we make a difference’.
Formby Bubble would like to wish Mr Coles Good Luck in whatever you do in the future. You will be missed on the Formby Parish Council.
Thankyou for everything you did for Formby.
Notice of Meeting
All members of the Council are hereby summoned to attend the next Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council, which will be held at Formby Library, Duke Street, Formby, on Tuesday 6 March 2018, at 7.00pm.
Agenda
1.0 Chairman
1.1 To note the resignation, and standing down as Chairman, of Cllr Mike Coles.
1.2 To note the Vice Chairman, Cllr Maria Bennett will take over the Chairmanship of the Parish Council until the May Annual Meeting.
1.3 To nominate a Vice Chairman for the interim period until the May Annual Meeting.
2.0 To receive Apologies
3.0 To Receive Declarations of Interest
4.0 Public Forum (the meeting will be adjourned for this item)
5.0 Previous Minutes
5.1 To consider and approve the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 6 February 2018.
6.0 Matters of Report from Previous Meeting – for information only
7.0 Planning Applications – Sefton’s weekly list email, also available on Sefton Council’s website.
7.1 To note current position on Formby Development Sites in Sefton’s Local Plan.
8.0 To discuss and resolve the following:
8.1 To discuss the results of the survey on the Formby Market
8.2 To decide whether the Formby Market should return for 2018, with a proposed start date of 6 April till late Autumn (weather permitting)
8.3 To approve a donation of £500 towards setting up a junior park run in Formby
8.4 To approve a donation of £1000 towards the refurbishment of the First Formby Scout hut.
8.5 To discuss the report regarding the planned removal/ remedial work required for the Chapel Lane trees and approve the recommendation for funding of a further report when the trees are in leaf
8.6 To approve a cost estimate of £3,200 (plus vat) for planting new hedging to fill the gaps in the hedge around Duke Street Park and to provide wood fencing to support and protect the new plants.
8.7 To approve the purchase of 14 liners for the barrier baskets at a cost of £8.99 each and 74 wicks for the baskets and 3 tier planters at a cost of £1 each (plus vat).
8.8 To approve the quote for the planting and maintenance of the roundabouts, and the library garden maintenance for 2018 of £5045
8.9 To approve the quote for the watering of planters, baskets and roundabouts for 2018 of £2,100
8.10 To approve the quote for the planting of the barrier baskets, fitting of the baskets and storage out of season for 2018 of £687
8.11 To approve the quote for the planting of the planters with summer bedding in the village centre and Redgate and 4 maintenance visits for June to September £1,636
8.12 To approve the quote for removing the compost in the 3 tier planters (top 2 tiers), fitting the wicks and providing new compost £510.
8.13 To approve the quote for emptying the brick planters on Elbow Lane to a suitable level, re-composting and planting £560
8.14 To note the invitation by the Royal British Legion, and nomination of Cllr Bernie Prescott, to represent the Parish Council and the community at the Great Pilgrimage 90 in Ypres August 2018.
9.0 To authorise Payments (enclosed)
10.0 Chairman’s Report
11.0 To receive a report on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan
12.0 To receive the following reports – enclosed for information only
Clerk’s report
General Projects Group minutes
Finance Group minutes
13.0 Date of Next Ordinary Meeting – Tuesday 3 April 2018 to be held in the Meeting Room, Formby Library at 7pm
Members of the press and public are welcome to attend.
