PARISH COUNCIL: The July meeting of the parish council, chaired by coun Tony Wilkins, heard from coun David Sabin that at the recent Shipston divisional panel meeting, Severn Trent had said that emergency arrangements had been made so that the next time there was a power cut in the village, the water would not go off as well.

The chairman reported that he had received a letter from the solicitor acting for one of the residents on the Upper Green about the access to properties over common land. The chairman had replied that the parish council could not take any action on this matter until they had received legal advice from the Warwickshire Association of Local Councils. It should be pointed out to WALC that a lot of accesses had been in existence for a long time, and they should be asked whether the parish council had to do anything about this, and if so what.

Coun Fred Edmunds reported that the Cricket Club now had public liability insurance. The provision of netting to protect the bowling green and other areas from cricket balls was being investigated, and there would be a meeting as soon as possible between the parish council and the bowls, cricket and footballs clubs to discuss the matter.

County coun Chris Saint reported that he had spoken to the county property services department about the chestnut trees in front of the school which were causing concern, and about the repairs required to the fence alongside the road at Mabels Farm, but with no success.

He agreed to pursue these matters. In the meantime the clerk would write to the director of property services on both subjects. She reported that the chestnut trees were all diseased anyway.

A letter had been received from Mr Angus Chambers, one of the church wardens, thanking the parish council for their donation after the theft of their churchyard mowers. He said that despite the new equipment they had not won any prize in the Diocese churchyard competition. Coun Sabin said that there was a lot of work which should be done on the churchyard apart from mowing, which was why they had not won any prize.

A notice of refusal had been received from the district council for developments at The Studio, Pear Tree Cottage, Frog Lane. The parish council had no representations to make on application for permission to fell approximately 30 leyland cypress at The Manor; for a side extension with pitched roof and dormer windows to front and rear at Primrose Bank, Grump Street; nor for a conservatory to the rear of Folly Farm Cottage, Back Street.

Coun Sabin reported that at the quarterly meeting of the Shipston divisional Panel, the new inspector at Stratford was present, and also Margaret Burrup, the sewer flooding manager from Severn Trent. Coun Sabin had outlined Ilmington's sewage problems to her and she said she would investigate and write to him. Coun Sabin also asked if the grass opposite the entrance to Armscote Road could be cut as a matter of urgency to improve visibility, and reported that the Ilmington sign by the playing field had been missing for a month.