Where Your Money’s Going in Kempsey? August Edition

Kempsey Parish Council meeting (11 August 2025), highlighting key decisions and areas that may raise concerns about public spending or inefficiency:

🏛️ Overview

The Parish Council met to discuss ongoing projects, grant applications, and maintenance issues around Kempsey. Several new spending commitments and funding applications were agreed upon — though some raise questions about value for money and whether priorities are being properly managed.

💰 Spending & Funding Headlines

1. Multiple Large Grant Applications
   • £80,000 for a “pump track” (bike/skate facility) – still awaiting planning approval.
   • £80,000 for an IT Hub / Youth Cabin – no planning application yet.
   • £40,000 for solar panels and insulation for the Youth Centre – further quotes needed.
   • £7,250 for a “Community Café” at Plovers Pavilion – waiting for a business case.
   🔹 Comment: Several of these projects are still at the “idea” stage, yet time and effort are being spent applying for large sums before key details (like planning, purpose, or quotes) are finalised.

2. £1,435 + VAT on a New Defibrillator
   • Agreed purchase of a replacement defibrillator outside the Sports Pavilion.
     🔹 Essential item, but no indication whether the existing one could have been repaired or upgraded more cheaply.

3. £1,500 on Gaming/IT Equipment for Youth Hub
   • Clerk authorised to buy new equipment; one councillor suggested buying refurbished to save money.
     🔹 Good idea to help young people, but again, no evidence of a cost-benefit review, or actual attendance

4. £900 Coffee Machine Debate
   • Council debated buying a secondhand coffee machine for £900 for a “Pop-Up Café”, but decided instead to buy new equipment, despite limited funding.
     🔹 This seems a questionable use of grant money – prioritising “new” over functional “used” equipment.

5. Community Builder Role
   • £6,500 extra public funding to extend this position for three months.
     🔹 Repeated short-term extensions may indicate unclear goals or lack of measurable outcomes.

🌳 Maintenance & Miscellaneous Spending

• Bus shelter repainting, raised beds, daffodil planting, and new shrubs continue — but thefts of plants and ongoing maintenance issues mean some spending may be wasted.
• Discussion about picnic area, tree swings, and village sign – none yet costed.
• Bridge and Sports Pavilion refurbishment projects being prepared for new grant applications.

🏗️ Planning & Infrastructure

• Still waiting for planning decisions on several projects.
• Persistent issues with damaged gates, electric fencing, and missing cricket nets on common land – all causing delays or extra costs.

🗣️ Public Concerns Raised

• Parish Path Warden criticised the Council for not recognising existing volunteer work, suggesting poor internal communication.
• Residents asked for better communication and updates (noticeboards and website).
• Suggestions for traffic calming measures (like 30mph bin stickers) were noted but not acted on.

⚠️ Summary of Waste & Inefficiency Risks

Issue	Concern
Multiple grant applications without confirmed plans	Risk of wasted officer/councillor time
Buying new over refurbished (coffee machine, IT kit)	Missed opportunity to save money
Repeated short-term funding of Community Builder	Lack of clear evaluation or accountability
Ongoing maintenance issues (plants, gates, fencing)	Poor asset management
Overlapping roles and miscommunication (Path Warden case)	Avoidable errors causing public frustration

🧾 In Short

The council is juggling many small projects and grant bids, but several lack clear planning or cost control. While most spending is well-intentioned, there’s a pattern of spending before strategy, and grants being chased without ensuring long-term value.

For local taxpayers, this means public money and officer time may not be used efficiently, and basic communication issues are adding unnecessary costs and confusion.