Sutton Bonington
COUNCIL. Despite the difficult conditions created by the continuing coronavirus pandemic situation, Sutton Bonington parish council is still well managing its work, despite having to continue to meet using the Zoom online system rather than meeting in the more conventional face-to-face way.
Parish clerk Helen Chadwick has had to get used to talking to her members at their monthly meetings on the Zoom system from the comfort of her own home but instead of being with them in their usual meeting room venue at the village hall.
Her job as clerk is always busy and one which brings up a changing list of challenges, , and now, alongside the councillors, she has had to take on the added responsibility of the electronic system.
There are 11 members of the council, which this year is headed by Coun. Julie McMullen-Kerr in her first year as chairman and Coun. Duncan Bembridge as vice chairman.
The council usually meets on the first Monday of each month unless there is a Bank Holiday when it moves to the second week. Details of all its meeting can be found on the council website. All parishioners are welcome to attend meetings of the council and can ask prior to them taking place for permission to speak during special ‘public’ item on the agenda.
The clerk can be contacted on 07827 785836 or at clerk@ suttonboningtonparishcouncil. org.uk
HARVEST CELEBRATION. Harvest celebrations with a difference were the order of the day at Sutton Bonington Primary School because of the Covid social distancing regulations.
In a normal year a harvest assembly takes place with a collection of Harvest contributions for the Joseph’s Storehouse at the Carpenter’s Arms in Loughborough.
Headteacher Mr. Lee Shilton explained that the school still wished to support the community but would not be able to have a Harvest Festival with a large gathering of children, parents and friends of the school.
A table was set up in the school where contributions could be dropped off and parents were asked to make contributions by the middle of October when the Harvest gifts were to be collected.
PLANS. Rushcliffe Borough Council are considering a number of planning applications for Sutton Bonington involving several parts of the village.
A plan for the erection of attached single storey front garage.at 33 Landcroft Lane is to be considered as is one for the change of use of agricultural building to flexible commercial use at 40 Melton Lane. An application for Prior Approval for the part change of use from an Agricultural Barn to form a C3 dwelling use 40 Melton Lane as well as one construction of single storey side extensions and rear extension with rendered walls and New front porch with cladding at 37 Landcroft Lane.
The enlargement of two existing windows in the south west side elevation at 3 Pasture Close is another ap-plication to be considered along with one seeking the construction of two storey side extension with rear dormer window and single storey front extension at 72A Melton Lane.
LIBRARIES. Notts County Council are proud that most of their libraries - including Sutton Bonington - are open, albeit on a restricted basis to normal. And that position remains unchanged despite the new high tier three lockdown which is now in being in Nottinghamshire
A spokesman for the County says they have worked hard to reopen the libraries and archives with the priority of keeping customers and staff safe.
“We’ve reviewed our service and reorganised our spaces, introduced social distancing and hygiene measures.”
Mobile Libraries have started again, offering a Click & Collect service only.
Since 17 August 2020, items borrowed from the library no longer automatically renew, and overdue charges are back into effect.
Most items except DVD and one-week loans are due back three weeks from the date they borrowed the item. Sutton Bonington is open on a Monday from 10am to 12 noon.
RESIGNATION. Sutton Bonington still doesn’t currently have a representative on Rushcliffe Borough Council following the resignation of former Borough Mayor Coun. Ron Hetherington.
Cllr Ron Hetherington has resigned from his position as Councillor for Sutton Bonington ward after 17 years of public service at the Council representing both East Leake and Sutton Bonington wards.
He spent several years on the Borough Cabinet, and also became Mayor in 2015 when his late wife Glynnis ably assisted him as both Mayor’s consort and his Chaplain. Councillors and officers alike will miss him and wish him all the best for the future.
The Borough says normally in this situation they would advertise the vacancy on the website and a by-election would be held if requested by two residents.
In the current circumstances, the by-election can be requested, but the Borough says it could not hold it until May 6, 2021 unless governments advises of changes to the relevant acts are reviewed before that date.
If no by-election is requested, the seat will remain vacant until the next ordinary election in May 2023.
A by-election can be requested at any point from 6 May 2021 to October 2022. If there is less than 6 months left
before the next ordinary election, a by-election is not held.
“We will therefore have a vacant seat on the Council, but it is designated as a vacant conservative seat until an election is held.”
This vacancy does not therefore affect the calculations of the seats allocated for meeting places. The residents of Sutton Bonington will be represented by the Leader of the Council supported by the Cabinet in the interim period. FRUIT. Fruit is now given to all of the children in Key Stage One and Reception classes at Sutton Bonington Primary School.
Headteacher Mr. Lee Shilton says that as the children are given fruit, no other snack should be brought in from home.
Mr. Shilton has told parents in a newsletter: “If your child would like to bring in an alternative piece of fruit, this is fine, but no other snack is encouraged.”
In Key Stage 2 classes at the school, the only snack that is permissible is fruit.
WESTERN POWER WORK. Western Power are to carry out work in Sutton Bonington to introduce a reinforcement scheme. Originally it was due to start in the summer but there had been delays. It is understood the work will include a lengthy section of new underground cabling, the first element involving at the Landcroft Lane / Melton Lane junction, and continuing on to the University campus site entrance on Landcroft Lane and where good progress was made.
There will be a major project to carry out a cable lay exercise from St Michael’s Church, to involve going along Main Street and Park Lane.
It is accepted the work will cause some disruption to traffic and to property entrances.
DESIGN CONTEST. Children from Sutton Bonington Primary School entered a competition to design a pizza and ice-cream pudding which was actually enjoyed by all children.
There were many entries which were judged by the Head Teacher Lee Shilton and School Cook Supervisor Miss Vanessa Brown
The decision was “mightily tough” but the winners were: In Key Stage One Ciara Lahiff (aged four) for her heartshaped pizza consisting of pepperoni and ham and Poppy Parker (aged four) for her raspberry, strawberry and vanilla ice cream with grapes.
In Key Stage Two Lewis Buckley (aged seven) for his pepperoni, bacon and basil pizza design) and Ida Allison (aged seven) for her ‘Star Sprinkles’ ice-cream.
FARMERS’ MARKET. The ever-popular farmers’ market at the Nottingham University campus at Sutton Bonington will take place today, Wednesday, November 4.
The market will be held from 11 am until 3 pm. Dogs on leads are welcome and there is free parking.
Visitors are asked to respect social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic and wear masks if they go inside the campus building.
SERVICE. Admission to the Remembrance Sunday Service at St. Michael’s Church in Sutton Bonington on Sunday, November 8 will be by ticket only, as numbers are required to be limited due to Covid-19 regulations.
Masks must be worn, wreaths will be laid, the two minutes silence will be observed at 11 am and, at the end of the service, poppy petals will be scattered from the church tower.
There will be a retiring collection which will be divided as usual between the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress.