What’s happened, what’s been done, and what’s been spent
The Parish Council met on Monday 8 December 2025 at Kempsey Community Centre. Below is a clear summary of the key discussions, decisions, progress updates and financial commitments from the meeting.
Councillor allowances: discussed, but not supported
One of the longest discussions of the evening centred on whether elected parish councillors should receive an allowance.
Following guidance issued by Worcestershire CALC, councillors were advised that allowances can be paid and would need to be budgeted for in 2026/27. Several councillors declared pecuniary interests and were granted dispensations so they could take part in the discussion.
Outcome:
While no formal vote was taken, the discussion indicated that a majority of councillors do not support paying allowances. A formal proposal reflecting this position will be brought to the January 2026 meeting, with the item deferred until then. No allowances have been approved or paid.
2026/27 budget and precept
The Council agreed a preliminary budget for consultation:
- Total proposed budget: £270,920
- Proposed precept: £186,172 (provisional)
This will now be displayed on the Council website and noticeboards to allow public comment, before the final budget is agreed in January 2026.
Pavilion Community Café: progress underway
The Pavilion Community Café project continues to move forward:
- The new kitchen has been ordered
- Refurbishment remains on track to meet grant funding requirements
- Additional café equipment is expected to be required, including a coffee machine, grinder, water filter, fridges, thermometer and card payment system
Expected additional cost: approximately £3,930
Youth Centre and IT / Youth Hub
Several updates were provided on projects supported through MHDC Legacy Grant funding:
- Youth Centre energy efficiency works are progressing, including:
- Solar panels (export licence approved)
- Cavity wall insulation
- Tree works to reduce shading
- Planning officers have confirmed permitted development rights apply to the proposed IT / Youth Hub cabin
- A revised site layout has been developed, which will require moving existing containers
- Further discussions with clubs are planned before Christmas
Pump track at Pixham Ferry Lane / Old Road South
The pump track project remains a key focus, but continues to be delayed by external factors:
- No response has yet been received from Worcestershire County Council Highways to earlier correspondence
- The Council is still awaiting clarity from the MHDC Legacy Grant Scheme on compliance and timelines
- Despite this, councillors agreed to progress towards tendering
Agreed actions:
- Issue a tender for the design and construction of the pump track
- Planned tender launch: 5 January 2026
- Tender results to be considered by Full Council in February 2026
Community Centre issues
- Ongoing water ingress concerns at the Community Centre were discussed
- A professional damp inspection has been approved to establish an action plan
Approved cost:
- £600 + VAT for a damp inspection by Clarke & Jay
The Safer Neighbourhood Team will also begin holding monthly surgeries at the Community Centre.
Planning and infrastructure updates
Key points included:
- Continued work on the Community & Sports Centre planning application, including responses to multiple consultees
- Ongoing discussions with Exolum regarding pipeline safety conditions
- Highways delays remain unresolved
- Planning comments were submitted on several local applications, including:
- Affordable housing at Broomhall
- Boundary wall works at the Talbot Inn
- Café/community hub use at Kempsey Eco Business Park
- The long-standing footpath diversion issue at The Grove development was noted and supported for correction
Freedom of Information and transparency
- The Council received five Freedom of Information requests in November
- It was resolved that responses would be handled at the sole discretion of the Clerk
- A new Internal Review Policy for information requests was formally adopted
- Appointment of the Internal Review Panel was deferred to January
Parts of the discussion were held in confidential session, which prompted questions from parishioners during Public Question Time.
Community and events
- The Christmas Tree Lighting event was described as very successful, only 8 people attended, as it wasn’t advertised anywhere
- Ordering of daffodil bulbs for 2026 was agreed to be delayed until after the Daffodil Event
- Follow-up action was agreed regarding damaged or missing bulbs near the bus stop
Summary: the key takeaways
- No councillor allowances approved, with a strong indication they will be rejected
- Pump track project still delayed, but tendering is now being pushed forward
- Real progress and spending is happening on the Community Café and Youth Centre
- £600 + VAT approved for a Community Centre damp inspection
- ~£3,930 additional café equipment costs expected
- Budget and precept are now open for public consultation
As always, residents are encouraged to review published information and take part in the consultation process ahead of the January 2026 meeting.