Meeting Minutes 2025 to 2026
Meeting Minutes 4 September
Minutes of a Meeting of Thrybergh Parish Council, Thursday 4 September 2025.
Held At the Parish Hall, Park Lane, Thrybergh
Present
Councillors G Trickett (Chair), A Martin, J Parsons, Rachael Thomas (part-time) & Nicola Jackson.
Also present, Ward Councillor Bennett-Sylvester.
There were no members of the public in attendance.
The chair began the meeting with the sad news that our much-respected former councillor Dennis Bates had sadly passed away on 6 August and a minute’s silence was held in his memory. His funeral took place at Rotherham Crematorium on 27 August with several members of the Parish Council in attendance.
081/25. Apologies For Absence
Apologies received from Councillors J Chambers & M Reeves.
082/25. Approval of Reason Given for Absence
Mover: Councillor R Thomas
Seconder: Councillor A Martin
Resolved: That the apologies be accepted by the Parish Council.
083/25. Declaration Of Interest
Councillor N Jackson declared an interest in agenda item 13 – DEHT Greenspaces Seated Exercise Classes.
084/25. Questions From The Public
There were no questions from members of the public.
085/25. Minutes of the Previous Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 3 July 2025
Mover: Councillor N Jackson
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons
Resolved: That the minutes of the previous meeting of Thrybergh Parish Council held on Thursday 3 July be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
086/25. Matters Arising from Previous Meetings of the Parish Council
075/25 - Use of Parish Council land for joint sports use by RMBC and Trustees of Titans Community Foundation was passed free of charge at the July meeting. The event was held on Friday 4 August, was very well attended and deemed a success by all.
073/25 - Planning Application RB2025/0743 referring to the new Country Park café, the application has been conditionally granted by RMBC.
074/25 - Planning Application RB2025/0828 referring to two storey, first floor & single storey front/side extension and single storey rear extension at 137 Doncaster Road has been conditionally granted by RMBC.
087/25 - Police Report
The latest local crime statistics are for May and June. May shows Rotherham North at 753 and Thrybergh at 39 incidents with June showing Rotherham North at 743 and Thrybergh at 46 incidents. These months are an increase on the last figures reported for April and very much reflect summer/lighter nights with the subsequent increased outdoor crime.
088/25. Fire Safety Specialists
The hall inspection was carried out 18 June and we have now received the report and the new Fire Emergency Plan for the hall. We now need to approve the invoice at £590.00 with VAT at £118.00 for total £708.00. There were a couple of issues that need addressing following new changes in fire legislation and accordingly new fire detectors were fitted 3 September by Trust Fire % Safety at a cost of £621.50, VAT £124.30 for total £745.80. The invoice has not yet been received and will be on the October agenda for acceptance by the council.
Some of the fire doors also need adjustment and this will be done shortly and will be reported at the October meeting.
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor N Jackson
Resolved: That the council accept the invoice for the inspection at £590.00 with VAT at £118.00 for total £708.00.
089/25. Trust Fire & Safety
The 6-monthly inspection, testing and certification of the alarm system, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers has now taken place. The cost of inspection is £205.00 with VAT at £41.00 for total £246.00. There was some rectification work required with a new LED bulkhead emergency light fitted and 2 new extinguishers put in place. This led to further costs of £317.50 with VAT at £63.50 for total £381.00. The total cost of both invoices is therefore £522.50 with VAT at £104.50 for total £627.00.
Mover: Councillor R Thomas
Seconder: Councillor N Jackson
Resolved: That the council accept the invoices from Trust Fire & Safety at total of £522.50 with VAT at £104.50 for total £627.00.
090/25. New Union Flag for Cenotaph
The current Union Flag is showing increasing signs of repair and needs replacement and the cost is £132.45 plus VAT at £26.49 for total £158.94,
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor R Thomas
Resolved: That the council approve purchase of a new Union Flag from Flagpole Express at a cost of £132.45 plus VAT at £26.49 for total £158.94.
091/25. New Goalposts for Hollings Lane Football Pitch
It was reported at the July meeting that our goalposts for Hollings Lane needed replacing and this has been discussed by the clerk and RMBC. New posts have now been supplied and the original cost quoted at £1956.53 has been reduced to £1665.07 with VAT £333.01 for total £1998.08. The clerk has been in touch with Sports England and the Football Trust for grant availability but both have turned us down.
Mover: Councillor R Thomas
Seconder: Councillor N Jackson
Resolved: That the council approve purchase of the new goalposts from RMBC at a cost of £1665.07 with VAT £333.01 for total £1998.08.
092/25. Tree Work on Fullerton Field
We have been cutting back some trees and bushes on Fullerton field, Vale Road following complaints from residents about ASB behaviour/noise nuisance from youths congregating in the trees as well as a request from RMBC to cut back trees overgrowing onto Vale Road. We now have the final invoice to pass from Treeworkx at a cost of £620 (no VAT).
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor N Jackson
Resolved: That the council approve the invoice from Treeworkx at £620 (no VAT).
093/25. DEHT Greenspaces Seated Exercise Classes
DEHT Greenspaces have a fully funded 16-week seated exercise course starting September 4 at 2:30pm with the 1-hour class free to Thrybergh residents. Thrybergh Parish Council to approve free use of the hall for the duration of the course.
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons
Resolved: That the council approve use of the hall free of charge for the seated exercise classes.
094/25. Remembrance Sunday
The service at Thrybergh Parish Hall will be on Sunday 9 November and will be taken by Revd John Hibberd. The service in the hall will start at 10:20am before moving to the Cenotaph for the 2-minute silence at 11am. The poppies will be put up around the village the week before Remembrance Sunday and the usual refreshments will be served afterwards.
095/25. Correspondence
The following items of correspondence were made available to the parish councillors:-
- YLCA White Rose Bulletin including Training
- YLCA Law & Governance Briefing
- NALC Chief Executive’s Bulletin
- Dalton & Thrybergh Newsletter
- Neighbourhood Watch Newsletters
096/25. Items of Report
The hall secretary reported that enquiries and bookings for the bar are very healthy and the usual bookings for use of the hall are at a high level.
Ward Councillor Bennett-Sylvesters Report
Dennis Bates - I would like to place on record my sadness at the death of former Thrybergh Parish councillor Dennis Bates. Dennis was a source of encouragement and friendly challenge when needed, a committed socialist who like all on the council left his party card at the door and worked for the good of the community. Our village is the poorer for his loss.
Christmas Trees - Councillor Ryalls and I have explored the idea of a Christmas Tree for the village but due to the costs of establishing a site, especially the electrical requirements, coming in at nearly £6,000 we couldn’t justify taking anything out of our capital budget which is fully committed to the refurbishment of the Bill Winder play area.
Bill Winder Play Area - This continues to be frustrated by a lack of capacity in greenspaces and an especially bureaucratic new approach to consultations. I’ve had the following today from the relevant director ‘Confirming that the ODR will be published on Monday and that the consultation can take place after that. Subject to team capacity, that should be this month’. Hopefully we’ll be talking to parents and children before the October parish meeting.
Thrybergh Country Park - Work is now well underway with the café refurbishment with the play area construction set to start as the café approaches completion. A bid is being prepared for the dam top path, unfortunately due to vandalism to fresh laid sections of the path costs increased due to sections having to be re-laid. I’m sorry to report that Martin the manager is leaving alongside Harry one of the senior rangers which I’m afraid will affect an already stretched team.
Plan For Neighbourhoods - Thrybergh is missing out on a share of £20m of government funding over the next 10 years. This is due to the government using what is known as the ‘Rotherham built up area’ rather than deprivation. Vigorous discussions are being held regards what can be done to bridge the gap.
Our Places Fund - In better news Thrybergh has been selected for support to improve sites around war and other memorials, I only got the news yesterday and am waiting for specifics and what this may mean for supporting the parish with the war memorial.
Thank you - To the parish council for the assistance with hosting the sports taster session on Fullerton Field on August 4 and community skip on the 7 on the parish hall car park.
15 children with great feedback on parents on what we need to do for a holiday sports programme that is free for all not just free school meals, the next trick is finding the funding! These tasters were paid for from Cllr Ryalls’ community leadership fund.
The skip was filled in 50 minutes with many struggling tenants helped
Devolved Budgets - I’ve made grants to South Yorkshire Performing Arts for hire of the parish hall. Last year the clerk and I worked to bring the group which works with young people aged 10 to 25 often with special needs to develop performing arts skills and they love the venue.
Rotherham Skate Academy, I’ve funded hall hire at Thrybergh Sports Hall to bring them to Thrybergh giving young people the chance to try roller hockey.
BFriend have received a grant to fund coach travel for a day out for 20 lonely older residents across Dalton, East Herringthorpe and Thrybergh.
Exercise for all, starting in October funded from the ward housing fund, will see Memo Fitness CIC working in Wooton Court Neighbourhood Centre on low impact exercise classes. The aim is for residents in the bungalows and wider neighbourhood who struggle with mobility or lack of access to gyms to develop exercise routines to improve their quality of life.
Engagement Day - As it was in the summer we thought let’s hold our quarterly engagement day with police and housing next to the premier on St Leonard’s Avenue rather than in a centre and we were rewarded with one of the biggest downpours of the summer! We were, though, able to talk to some residents who prefer in face discussion rather than over the phone dealing with issues from housing repairs to nitrous oxide canisters found on the Plantation.
Parish Clerk’s Report - Attended the Clerk’s Meeting 13 July which was on-line and is a talking shop for issues of the day and any matters concerning clerks and parish councils.
The latest CAP meeting was held Wednesday 13 August in Thrybergh Parish Hall. The latest crime figures show our area comparing very favourably with other areas in Rotherham North and almost all categories show a decline compared to last year. No issues relating to the country park have been raised although it seems that members of the travelling community have been checking out the area. In general, nothing major to report and even off-road issues seem to have declined. The next meeting will be in our hall on Wed 29 October.
Attended the Parish Councils Network Meeting in Aston Tuesday 2 September, Cllr Senior also attended the meeting. Topics discussed were Community Infrastructure Levy, how it is raised and how it can be spent. There was also a round table discussion about how parish councils can work together.
097/25. Matters Requested by Councillors and/or AOB
The 2025/26 national pay deal for clerks (NJC) has now been finalised with the increase agreed at 3.2% backdated to 1 April.
A new Deputy Leader for Rotherham is now in post, Cllr Victoria Cusworth. They plan to restart the Parish Council Tour from September this year and it is likely to continue until the end of next year and possibly longer. Not sure if they will come back to Thrybergh as we were visited at the very beginning by Cllr Sheppard in his capacity as Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.
We currently pay £50 per month for window cleaning. We have discussed the brown cladding with the window cleaner as this gets very dirty and muddy and he has said he can wash it every other month at an additional cost of £10. The council agreed that this was a good idea and this should be done, it will be on the October agenda for formal approval.
We have received several complaints about rubbish on Fullerton field which is now visible given that we have removed some trees and bushes, this consists of fencing, concrete posts, general litter and garden waste. Not sure how long it has been there but I suspect it has been several years. The rubbish is far too big, heavy and bulky for our litter pickers to sort so I have requested a quote from RMBC to move it as it will need a flatbed with grabber on the field. They have been out to view and advised that there is approx. 6 tonnes of rubble and debris plus approx. 1 tonne brambles/dumped grass clippings. Cost to remove is £1734.98 which is expensive but it’s going to be almost impossible to get anyone else to do it and there is then the possibility that it ends up as a fly tip. It was agreed by the council to go ahead with the rubbish removal and this will be on the October agenda for formal approval.
THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WERE THEN INVITED TO LEAVE THE MEETING.
098/25 - Appointment of New Parish Council Clerk
The chair advised the council on the recent selection process and interviews for the new clerk.
Mover: Councillor J Parsons
Seconder: Councillor R Thomas
Resolved: That the position of Parish Clerk be offered to Claire Cooper based on 20 hours per week and with 6-month period of probation with the first3 months working alongside the outgoing clerk.
099/25 - Reduction of Current Clerk’s Working Hours from 1 October
The clerk is currently on 25 hours per week and it was agreed that this be reduced to 20 hours for the training period with the new clerk.
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor R Thomas
Resolved: That the currents clerk’s working hours be reduced to 20 hours per week from 1 October.
Councillor R Thomas then left the meeting.
100/25. YLCA Training Date, 16 October 2025
It was reported to council that the YLCA is running a full day training course on 16 October in Thirsk at a cost of £105 and this may be of interest to the new clerk should they wish to attend.
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons
Resolved: That the council agree to the new clerk attending the course.
101/25. Parish Accounts for 2024/25 – External Audit Invoice
The AGAR and annual accounts for Thrybergh Parish Council have been approved and signed off by the external auditors, PKF Littlejohn and no issues were raised and we now have their invoice to approve.
Mover: Councillor N Jackson
Seconder: Councillor A Martin
Resolved: That the invoice from PKF Littlejohn for £420 plus VAT at £84 for a total of £504 be approved.
102/25. Parish Accounts for 2024/25 – Internal Audit Invoice
The invoice from the internal auditor has now been received which is £360 (no VAT).
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons
Resolved: That the invoice from Richard Bellamy for £360 (no VAT) be approved.
103/25. Grant Request from St Leonard’s Church
The Parish Council has received a grant request from St Leonard’s Church for cemetery upkeep work on Thrybergh Lane.
Mover: Councillor A Martin
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons
Resolved: That Thrybergh Parish Council approve a grant of £500.
104/25. Accounts For Payment
The Council considered the schedule of accounts for payment for July.
Mover: Councillor N Jackson
Seconder: Councillor A Martin
Resolved: That the schedule of accounts for payment be approved and signed by the Chair.
105/25. Accounts For Payment
The Council considered the schedule of accounts for payment for August.
Mover: Councillor N Jackson
Seconder: Councillor J Parsons.
Resolved: That the schedule of accounts for payment be approved and signed by the Chair.
106/25. To notify the Clerk of matters for inclusion on the agenda of the next meeting
No items raised.
Date Of Next Meeting
The date of the next parish council meeting will be Thursday 2 October 2025 at 6:30pm.
Closure of Meeting at 8:10pm.
Councillor G Trickett
Chairman