Councillors Needed!

Co-opted Councillor Vacancies Available

Following the Parish Council Election in May 2023, when 3 councillors unable to stand for re-election, the uncontested election resulted in 3 Councillors, 1 Co-Opted leaving 3 vacancies. Whilst this leaves the Council quorate, it is far from ideal and the Council is seeking people who have ideas to help support and shape this community in the coming years, to join as Councillors.

Keresley Parish Council has been a modern, young and vibrant Council, with a strong team of Councillors whose aim was to increase the awareness of the Council and unite the existing and new community as the Sustainable Urban Extension progresses.

The Parish Council also has strong ties and enjoys good support from Coventry City Council.

The team has laid the foundations to ensure the Council can now grow its influence and connections within the Parish and is looking for people to take this groundwork and move forward. We are looking for someone who is passionate about their local community, proactive and can be a supportive member of the team.

To find out more about this role, please have a look at the job description and personal specification. You can also find out more about becoming a local Councillor at: Become a Councillor – Warwickshire & West Midlands ALC Ltd. (walc.org.uk)

To apply please request an application form from clerk@keresley-pc.gov.uk.

Completed application forms can be sent to the Clerk’s email address.

Annual Parish Assembly 2023

All Parish Councils in England are required by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting between March 1 and June 30 each year.

This year the Annual Parish Meeting for Keresley Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 18th April at Keresley Community Library.

This is NOT a Parish Council meeting, but will give the Council an opportunity to report what it has accomplished in the preceding year and what it has planned for next year.

Election Year
2023 is an election year and, following submission of Councillor nominations in April, there are not sufficient candidates to trigger an election and this is therefore ‘uncontested’. However there are at least two vacant seats on the Council, so if you have ideas for the Council’s contribution to this growing community and are interested in volunteering to join, please come along and meet the Council.

The Assembly will be followed by a brief Parish Council meeting to carry out a small number of business items.

The Agenda is available to view here

Local Litter-Pickers tidy up The Brook

Huge, huge thanks to the 20+ people who joined Keresley Parish Council today on our first Monthly Litter Pick for 2023.

It was a great turnout, with the weather holding out for a gorgeously crisp winter’s afternoon and there was an impressive collection of rubbish picked. A few photos below 🚮

We had local charity Lions Group join, alongside the Deputy Mayor, the Ward Councillors, a young student doing their Duke of Edinburgh activities, well-known local residents and an inspirational young litter picker motivated to litter pick after he saw a plastic bag flying in the wind at school.

It was fantastic to see so many local residents respond to our call and we hope it encourages many more to also get involved.

If you have any suggestions on where the Monthly Group should target next then do reach out to us by contacting our clerk. Just check out the Contact Us page for how to get in touch!

Next Jubilee Wood Action Day – 21 Jan 23

Do you live nearby, or enjoy using Jubilee Wood on Watery Lane?

Coventry Park Rangers, local schools, scout groups and volunteers have made fantastic progress with much needed maintenance in our previous sessions, but there is still much more that can be done!

We are looking for volunteers to support with maintenance activities to help rejuvenate this wonderful green space. Please send us a message on Facebook or email clerk@keresley-pc.gov.uk if you are interested in helping out or have any questions.

We would appreciate as little or as much time as you are able to give. Please wear good footwear and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, which gives protection from brambles/thorns.

Keresley Parish Council is collaborating with Coventry Park Rangers at Coventry City Council, who will provide guidance, tools, gloves, goggles and refreshment drinks – we would like to express our thanks to them for making this event possible.

We really look forward to the event and hope you can join us. Please also share with your friends and family and if you’re interested in attending RSVP via our Facebook Event, just click here.

Jubilee Wood, Watery Lane, Coventry, CV6 2GH

Friends of Keresley Parish

Community comes together to revamp Keresley Jubilee Wood

Keresley Parish Council have had the following article posted in the Coventry Observer. Thanks to Tristan Harris for promoting our work. The original article can be found at the link below.

https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/community-comes-together-to-revamp-keresley-jubilee-wood

HUGE progress was made on a ‘day of action’ last Wednesday as part of the project to restore Keresley Jubilee Wood to its former glory.

Grass was cut along the footpath and in the orchard and two new benches were installed, taking the total to three.

One of the benches is by entrance for those not able to walk around the whole wood but wanting to visit, and another on the far side provides a great spot to watch the sun set.

Litter picking was also carried out in the wood and along Watery Lane with new ‘No Litter, No Fouling’ signs.

Recently, plaques and signs have been reinstalled by the Coventry Park Rangers, replacing one which had become rotten and blown down and another for a tree planted by Keresley Parish Council in 2016 to commemorate The Queen’s 90th birthday.

The latter plaque had been vandalised and stolen, later recovered during a litter pick.

Coun Matthew Dille thanked everyone involved in the day of action, including volunteers, Bablake and Holbrook ward councillors and representatives from the Change Grow Live – Coventry charity.

“I am particularly grateful for the support Coventry Park Rangers has provided.

“Without them, these events would have not been possible, as they have provided all of the tools, guidance and PPE and kept us entertained during the hard work.

“There is only three in their team and they have the whole city to cover.”

Back in January, a vision to rejuvenate Keresley Jubilee Wood in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was set out.

“With the dedication of many local volunteers, local charities, local politicians, the

President Kennedy School and 13th Coventry Scout Group, I think we have achieved that over the last five months.

“However, we mustn’t stop here, there is always more to be done and we need continued support for Keresley Jubilee Wood.”

Coun Dille urged local people to visit and enjoy Keresley Jubilee Wood and all it has to offer.

Flytipping at Jubilee Wood

Less than 24 hours since hard working volunteers and Coventry Park Rangers laid tools down at the end of a fantastic Action Day, tidying up the lovely green space, Keresley Jubilee Wood has been subject to flytipping again. This is wholly unacceptable.

This has now been reported: FS-Case-430182767

Please report any flytipping using the following link, it’s very quick and easy: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/street-scene/flytipping

Planning Application Response: Land between Bennetts Road and Fivefield Road

Keresley Parish Council have written a response to Outline Application OUT/2022/0712 proposed by Richborough Estates.

Location: Land between Bennetts Road and Fivefield Road

Proposal: Outline application for the demolition of all existing buildings (save for Poddy Cottage) and the erection of up to 290 dwellings and creation of associated vehicular accesses to Bennetts Road and Fivefield Road, pedestrian/cycle accesses, diversion of public rights of way, highway improvements, parking, landscaping, drainage features, open space, and associated infrastructure, with all matters to be reserved except vehicular access points into the site.

There are several other applications current open for public consultation. The search results can be filtered to just display applications within Keresley Parish. Please do make the most of the opportunity to express your views on these applications.

https://planningsearch.coventry.gov.uk/Planning

Planning Application Response: Land off Watery Lane

Keresley Parish Council have written a response to the Full Planning Application FUL/2022/0669 proposed by O’Flanagan Homes.

Location: Land off Watery Lane, Coventry, CV7 8JA

Proposal: Erection of four dwellings houses (Use Class C3); associated access, landscaping and works.

There are several other applications current open for public consultation. The search results can be filtered to just display applications within Keresley Parish. Please do make the most of the opportunity to express your views on these applications.

https://planningsearch.coventry.gov.uk/Planning

Planning Application Response: Fivefield Road and Tamworth Road

Keresley Parish Council have written a response to Reserved Matters (Major) Application RMM/2022/0633 proposed by Bellway.

Location: Land at Fivefield Road and Tamworth Road, Coventry

Proposal: Submission of Reserved Matters for 284 dwellings off Fivefield Road, for all matters outstanding pursuant to permission OUT/2019/0022 granted on 07/02/2022 for the demolition of all existing buildings and the erection of up to 550 dwellings, and creation of associated vehicular accesses to Tamworth Road and Fivefield Road, pedestrian/cycle and emergency accesses, highway improvements to Fivefield Road, parking, landscaping, drainage features, open space and associated infrastructure, with all matters to be reserved except access points into the site.

There are several other applications current open for public consultation. The search results can be filtered to just display applications within Keresley Parish. Please do make the most of the opportunity to express your views on these applications.

https://planningsearch.coventry.gov.uk/Planning

Parish Assembly & Annual Parish Meeting

All Parish Councils in England are required by law to hold an Annual Parish Meeting between March 1 and June 30 each year.

This year the Annual Parish Meeting, Parish Assembly and Ordinary Parish Council Meeting for Keresley Parish Council took place on Tuesday 10th May at Keresley Community Library.

It was attended by Parish Councillors Fisher, Cllr Dille, Cllr Middleton; Ward Councillors Birdi, Cllr Jandu, Cllr Keogh and five members of the public. The meetings were Chaired by Councillor Gudgeon and administered by the Parish Clerk.

During the Parish Assembly, the Chair delivered the Chair’s Report for 2021-22, which can be found here. In the Public Forum, matters in relation to community engagement, contact with the local MP and new residents were raised.

During the Annual Parish Meeting, Councillor Gudgeon was re-elected as Chair and Councillor Fisher was re-elected as Vice-Chair. Congratulations to both on their re-elections to these Council Posts!

This was immediately followed by the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting, which took the standard agenda of the monthly Parish Council meeting.

During the Democratic Half-Hour, local development and planning dominated the questions with note made to the fact that the Planning Committee have been responding to several applications that have recently been released and also securing extensions where sufficient time has not been given to make a response.

Also referenced was the recent campaign to save a Cedar Tree within the local Parish. This continues to be a matter of great concern to local residents.

Minutes for the meeting can be found on the Meetings Page.

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on Tuesday 14th June.