Following the directive of central Government, the full council was suspended at the end of March but continued to operate under a business continuity motion with the overall day to day responsibilities falling to the chairman, vice-chairman and clerk. The emergency planning committee also continued to function with weekly meetings being held via Zoom video conference.

This enabled the council to play a part in supporting the volunteer network and opening up a Hardship Fund to help support those who found themselves in hardship due to lockdown.

The Hardship Fund has been a huge success with more than £5,000 raised. The council would like to thank all those who have contributed so generously.

Anyone facing hardship or is aware of anyone who may be struggling financially should contact, in confidence: Cat Sweatman, village agent – [email protected]; Clare Winter, parish clerk – [email protected]; or Rev Helen Stainer – 01823 400305.

A council meeting was held on Monday, July 27, via Zoom video conference, and it was agreed the business continuity motion would cease and power return to the full council.

Cllr Ainsworth-Smith was re-elected as chairman and Cllr Young was elected as vice-chairman. Thanks were expressed to Cllr Phelps for his time as vice-chairman.

The annual summary of receipts and payments and annual governance were unanimously approved and will be available for public viewing from September 1-October 10 on the council website.

Exciting projects are in place with the renovation of the public toilets set to start in the next few months and several initiatives to help reduce speeding in the parish.

The council is modernising its website to make it more user friendly and up-to-date. Anyone with interesting photos of the village that they are happy to be used on the website, should email them to the clerk at [email protected]

The council currently has two vacancies to be filled by co-option. Anyone who would like to take a role in this interesting and varied aspect of village life, should contact council chairman Cllr Ian Ainsworth-Smith on 01823 400365 for an informal discussion.

The grant application window is open from September 1-31. To apply for funding, email the clerk at [email protected], in the first instance, for an application pack.

The next meeting is on Monday, September 7, at 7pm. Anyone who would like to attend should email the clerk at [email protected] for log in details, since this meeting will be a Zoom video conference.