075 9559 8995

clerk@chd-pc.gov.uk

CORSCOMBE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING MINUTES

CORSCOMBE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday 13th May 2025

Corscombe Village Hall

 

The meeting started and 7.30pm and was chaired by Cllr.  Henry Lovegrove

Additionally 2 members of the public and 2 councillors were present

 

  1. INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME 
  1. APOLOGIES

Apologies from Rosemary Lovegrove 

  1. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE 2024 MEETING

Proposed Mark Caddick, seconded Henry Lovegrove

Approved

  1. MATTERS ARISING

None 

  1. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

See Appendix 1

No matters arising were noted 

  1. REPORTS FROM CORSCOMBE ORGANISATIONS

See appendix 2 

  1. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Lovegrove mentioned the new Fox Inn instrumental music sessions on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm

The issue of communication with residents was raised.  How can we better encourage attendance at the Parish meeting and also dissemination of information including of groups and clubs?   There was also concern raised over the fact that some groups were finding it hard to attract new members and had subsequently shut.  Others were looking for further support.

It was acknowledged that while the Chimes, Corscombe Website (Corscombe.org.uk), noticeboards and social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp were being used to disseminate information these did not reach everyone.  The Parish Council Clerk will look at the Corscombe website this year to try and approve coverage of clubs, groups and events but it was acknowledged that the website was only as good as the information it received, and groups and clubs were to be encouraged to make more of this facility to promote their activities.

The meeting closed at 8.30pm 

Appendix 1

 

Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council

Annual Report 2024/25

This has been an eventful year. The Dorset Council elections in May 2024 provided four new parish councillors, two from Corscombe and two from Halstock, once again giving us a full complement of twelve councillors.  The Parish Council voted to accept Power of Competence at the Parish Council meeting on 21stMay 2024 and we later gained a STAR AWARD for Training from the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils.  We have increased the number of defibrillator sites by providing one at the Fox Inn at Corscombe. This now gives us a total of six across the parish – three in Corscombe, two in Halstock and one in West Chelborough. Many thanks to Friends of First Responders and a matched grant from the Department of Health and Social Care.

We have provided a grant towards the upkeep of the Sticklands School swimming pool in Evershot where a number of our children attend and purchased a Speed Indicator Device that will shortly be available for use at two locations within Halstock to help alleviate speeding. Most recently we have assisted with the service and repair or the Halstock Church Organ to enable it to again be used for church services and musical fund raising activity. We had Stands at both the Corscombe and Halstock Fetes last summer as well as one at the Big Breakfast – to let parishioners meet the Clerk, learn more about the PC and to propose ideas and areas that the PC should look at. The Clerk has attended a number of Networking events such as Clerks’ Conference and Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils Western Area meetings. She is currently trialing the use of SCRIBE accounting software to assist the Council.

We have revamped the Parish Council Notice Board outside the Halstock Village Shop and helped purchased a further gate to continue the work of the Public Rights of Way group to convert styles to self closing gates.  Councillor Nigel Clarke has kindly given his time freely to renovate another Red Finger Post and councillors have supported the Great Big Hedge Survey and been involved in Climate and ecology issues.  We have created a store for sandbags at Corscombe Village Hall and two new grit bins in Halstock. We have provided ongoing support for residents’ concerns over road signs, road closures, potholes, gritting, planning issues and liaised with Wessex Water and Wessex Internet. We continue to investigate options for a playground in Halstock.

Finally, we have been able to work more closely with our new local Dorset Councillor, Chris Kippax on a number of topical issues.

 

 

Appendix 2

 

Corscombe reports 2025

Corscombe Village Coffee Morning

The village coffee morning continues to meet broadly on a monthly basis.  It is an informal gathering where villagers meet in a neighbour’s house for tea/coffee and a chat/catch up.  Everyone from the village is welcome to attend.  It is particularly beneficial for newcomers as a means of establishing contacts and other useful information.  You can pop in for 30 minutes or stay for the full 2 hours.  Details are put into The Chimes and onto the Village WhatsApp group.

Attendees pay £1, with the proceeds going to the upkeep of the village hall.  There is usually a raffle and attendees are asked to bring a small gift (approx £1 in value)to put into the raffle, should they wish to participate in it.  Overall, it is a relaxed way of getting to know neighbours, catching up on local news or just having a chat.

Liz Southern

THE CORSCOMBE CHARITY OF GEORGE HENRY HAWKINS

(or George Hawkins Trust for Corscombe – charity number 232643)

George Henry Hawkins was born in Corscombe in 1860. His mother was a widow who remarried when George was young and they moved from the village.  He went to Sticklands School. On leaving school he ran away to sea and joined the Royal Navy where he served with distinction for some years. He ‘retired’ to live on a smallholding at East Stoke near Wareham with his wife and daughter.

George died in 1951 at the ripe old age of 90. His will included charity foundations for Corscombe, Sticklands and East Stoke. The arrangements took some time to set up. The first funds were received in 1964.

The aim of the charity is to relieve “either generally or individually persons resident in the Parish of Corscombe who are in condition of need, hardship or distress by making grants of money or providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons”.

We’re happy to discreetly assist in cases of need with one off grants and advertise this monthly in the Chimes.  If you are in need, or know someone who is, please do contact us.

Trustees: Henry Lovegrove (891415), Mel Harper (892439), Debbie Rix (07977 487072).

Parish Rights of Way Group

The group is currently dormant and has not met during  the year 2024 – 2025. However, members continue to monitor local footpaths and bridleways and to report on problems. Parishioners can also report directly on the Dorset Council website (search for “Dorset Council report a problem on a right of way” on Google).

A few copies of the Walks Guide are still available in Halstock Community Room and the routes can be downloaded from the village websites.

Two self closing gates to replace stiles are still available for installation at suitable locations. If anyone has a suggestion for a possible site, which must be agreed with the landowner, contact Diana Staines,  distaines19@gmail.com

Diana Staines

For the Rights of way group.

Bellringers     St. Mary’s  Parish Church. 

It’s been a busy year for we bellringers, thanks to our training programme, we now comprise nine bellringers plus one novice in training. This has helped us to ring all six bells, as required for special festivals, Easter, Christmas etc. and for weddings. This year we were asked to ring for a funeral service, without muffles, which was appreciated and which prompted a request to do the same for a another funeral in Corscombe later in the year. We also rang the bells at the church of St Juthware and St. Mary’s in Halstock, two practice sessions followed by  the Wedding of Lucinda and Matthew, their special day. VE Day was celebrated with a good ring on May 8th., by bells rung Nationwide , and it was good that Corscombe was part of that memorable event. As ever, new recruits – novice or expert are always welcome, phone 891127.

Charles Gaskell  Tower Captain.

The Friends of Corscombe & Halstock Community First Responders

  1. The Friends’ Group full title ‘Friends of Corscombe and Halstock Community First Responders,’ was formally known as The Friends Group. The objectives of the Friends Group, as stated in its constitution are as follows:

The Friends of Corscombe and Halstock Community First Responders is established for charitable purposes only, in particular the Friends of Corscombe and Halstock Community First Responders is established to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the Corscombe and Halstock area, specifically the advancement of emergency health care. To provide training sessions to the community so that the people we serve become systematically better equipped to provide elements of Community first-line support whilst waiting for the emergency service to arrive.

  1. The Friends Group historically raised funds to meet the expenses incurred in running the First Responders.
  2. 3. The First Responder Team no longer exists, so the Friends Group has adopted the following policy:
  3. To use its funds, in partnership with the Corscombe, Halstock, and District Parish Council to provide public access defibrillators for the local community
  4. Provide awareness training on the use of the defibrillators

       iii. Investigate the provision of basic life support first aid training, so that the community is better equipped to give vital support until an ambulance arrives on the scene

  1. The Parish Council has resolved to:
  2. Collaborate with the Friends Group in support of this initiative
  3. Take over responsibility for the scheme once the Friends Group funds are exhausted
  4. The accounts for the period 2024 show that we had an income of £853, which relates to contributions from Corscombe (£453) and Halstock (£400) Fetes.
  5. The Parish Council applied to London Hearts for funding towards a Public Access Defibrillator and Box outside The Fox Public House. The bid was successful. The outstanding balance of £826.78 came from The Friends Group, as the project is aligned with The Friends Group stated policy. 
  6. Given the need to provide heated cabinets for the defibrillators, replacement consumables, and the need to replace the defibrillators and cabinets as they reach the end of their life this annual expense will grow as the various elements reach the end of their life.
  7. The current audited balance is £ 6221.65 with these funds expected to depreciate when demands are made.
  8. This report is produced for the information of the Parish Council Annual Meeting.

Knit and Stitch

Strawberry scones and Prosecco for VE Day were enjoyed all round last week. Unfortunately the bunting didn’t arrive in time! There are around ten of us who meet at Wareham Cottage each fortnight to enjoy tea, cake and company and share our skills in craft. These include knitting, crochet, quilting and embroidery. We continue to make a small donation of £2 each session which soon adds up, enabling us to donate to various worthy causes: the   last donation of £100 was to Crisis, the charity supporting those currently homeless. Dates for each session are published ahead of time in the Chimes magazine. All welcome.

 Lynne Caddick

 

Reports were not received from The Village Hall or Parochial Church Council.

 

Appendix