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Clive Turner takes over as chairman of Holbeach Parish Council




A new chairman is at the helm of a parish council and is putting together a plan to deliver improvements for the community.

Coun Clive Turner was unopposed when he was elected chairman of Holbeach Parish Council during a tense meeting on Monday.

He has taken over the reins from Coun Sophie Hutchinson - while Coun Rick Stevens has again been elected as vice-chairman.

Coun Clive Turner is the new chairman of Holbeach Parish Council
Coun Clive Turner is the new chairman of Holbeach Parish Council

Coun Turner, who joined last year, is compiling a four year plan for the council and asked members to contribute to it after circulating the terms of reference at the meeting.

He told the meeting that he would like to come up with priorities and what the council’s vision would be.

Coun Turner said: “What is our mission statement as a parish council. I want to roll back to basics. Do we do the core elements of what a parish council has to deliver and do we do that well? Arguably yes and arguably no.

“What is the value added? What does the parish council bring to the parish but also the individuals around this table. What are you going to contribute to the success of the parish council over the next four years?”

The new chairman has asked for meetings to be arranged to discuss the subject.

He went onto say: “What I want to work out, apart from the vision and mission statement, is the top three or five things that we as a council care about.

“What are we going to deliver and get moving on that. What are the other things that we want to deliver in a short time frame. We have got to be mindful that we are serving the parish.”

Coun Turner had to use his casting vote to agree to co-opt a new member onto the council which currently has seven vacancies.

Holbeach St Marks man Peter Savoury, who had served on the council for eight years previously, was chosen with a vote of four in favour and four against. He was co-opted after Coun Turner used his casting vote.

Speaking prior to the vote, Coun Isabel Hutchinson said that Peter was a good candidate but added: “I don’t believe we should be co-opting at this stage as we have just had an election.”

The council also agreed which members would join the committees, which also created a few problems.

Coun Isabel Hutchinson and Coun Tim Wiltshire had been nominated to be chairman of the events committee – but neither could get a seconder.

Coun Hutchinson said: “Clearly there is an issue with me being the chairman. If anyone would like to take over feel free but be mindful that me and Sophie are the ones doing all the work.

“If we don’t have a chairman, we don’t have events.”

- The clerk reported that a letter had been sent to Sir John Hayes and South Holland District Council’s monitoring officer to raise concerns about the localism act. This act governs parish councils.

She also stated that Carter’s Park had been closed on April 13 due to staff shortages.

A process is now in place to stop this happening again.



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