PARISH COUNCIL: Members, chaired by Councillor Tony Wilkins, heard that several blocked gullies round the village which were in need of jetting had been reported to the divisional surveyor.

The divisional surveyor had reported that the county council appeared to own the strip of land between the wharf and the sewerage works, and he would therefore arrange for this section of ditch to be cleaned out.

Coun Fred Edmunds reported that the drainage to the playing field had been completed, and he thanked those who had turned up in the evenings to fill and consolidate the final six inch of topsoil.

He said that it would have to be filled again, and that they might have to get more top soil and agreed to organise this.

Extra lengths of pipe were laid to the bowls and tennis clubs, for which both clubs had agreed to pay.

It was agreed that £3,000, to include the £1,000 already promised for last year, should be given by the parish council towards the drainage costs. Coun Edmunds also reported that the field had been sprayed with selective weedkiller.

The clerk reported that she had spoken to South Warwickshire Housing Association about the flooding in Keyte Road, and had been told that someone would go out to look at the problem.

A letter had been received from County Highways saying that there were not resources available to grit Armscote Road in the winter in addition to Campden Hill, Stratford Road and Darlingscott Road.

The chairman reported that he had cleared the shrubs from land in Back Street which were overhanging and encroaching on to the footway.

He also reported that he had put up two dog fouling signs in the churchyard and that three dog bins had been delivered and he had to find some means of fixing them to poles.

The chairman reported that two strips either side of the Wimpstone Road had been repaired, leaving a strip in the middle.

The surface was not good, and the whole road needed resurfacing.

The Shipston/Darlingscott Road was now being repaired, and it was noted that the chipping dump had been tarmaced to a very high standard. The county councillor should be asked why money had been wasted on this.

The chairman reported that various grassy areas in the village which had been missed the last time had now been cut.

Mr Bob Green of the district technical and amenities department had been asked if the vegetation encroaching on the footway from the school down to Mabels Farm on Back Street, and the area opposite the school adjacent to Berry Orchard could be cut on a regular basis.

A letter had been received from the district electoral and administrative services manager saying that, due to new warding arrangements, Ilmington Parish Council would retire in 2003 and be re-elected then and every four years thereafter.

Notices of planning permission with conditions had been received from the district council for a conservatory at 5, Cross Leys; for additional living accommodation at Myrtle Cottage, Front Street; and for change of vehicular access and a new drive at Caleys Field Farm. The planning application for an extension to Bray Cottage, Front Street, was considered at the Stour Area Planning Committee meeting on July 17, but was deferred. A site visit had been arranged for July 30, and the decision would probably be made at the next meeting of the Area Planning Committee on August 21.

Coun Edmunds reported that the road in Washbrook Place was sinking and bulging in various places, and was particularly bad in front of the telephone exchange.

Councillors congratulated Mr Dickie Sumners on reaching 100 on August 1 and being the oldest person in the village.

Coun Rob Hawkins reported that he had entered Ilmington in the Village of the Year Competition, and that it had been selected by Warwickshire Rural Community Council as the county's representative.

The competition was now down to the last 24 villages in the country.

The entry had to be resubmitted, and Mr Stephen Wright was helping Coun Hawkins to put the entry on disk.

There would be a two-hour presentation in October, and Coun Hawkins wanted as many people as possible in the village hall for this, as they had counted up as many as 69 organisations in the village, all of which needed to be explained to the judges.

Afterwards a complete list would be produced of everything going on in the village.