A new year, a moment for change? The Parish Council meeting on Monday 12th January at 7pm is open to all village residents and will be held at Kempsey Community Centre at the top of the village.
This meeting marks the first Kempsey Parish Council meeting of 2026, and with the start of a new year comes a reasonable expectation of reflection and improvement.
Many residents will be asking whether 2026 will bring:
- A more transparent and open approach from KPC
- Greater honesty and clarity around spending, projects, and decisions
- A renewed commitment to the parish and the people who live here, not just internal processes
The agenda itself suggests that recent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests have already prompted internal changes, including:
- Formal recognition of multiple FOI requests
- Proposals to change how information complaints are reviewed
- Moves toward stronger financial controls and statutory compliance
These are positive signals, but the year ahead will be judged on actions, not intentions – particularly whether KPC moves from reacting to scrutiny to embracing transparency as standard practice.
2026 presents an opportunity to rebuild confidence and trust between the council and the community it serves.
Agenda summary – what’s being discussed
Governance & formalities
- Apologies for absence
- Declarations of interest (including reminders of legal obligations)
- Requests for dispensations under the Localism Act
- Adoption of minutes from the December 2025 meeting
Public participation
- Public Question Time (up to 30 minutes, 3 minutes per speaker)
- County and District Councillor reports
Correspondence & information (notable)
- FOI request: Chairman’s allowances / expenses
- FOI request: Community Café invoices
- FOI request: Architects’ costs (Pixham Ferry Lane)
- Parishioner request: maintenance of parish noticeboards
- Kempsey Tennis Club: lantern replacement works
- MHDC community recognition scheme
- South Worcestershire Development Plan review consultation
Finance & statutory matters
- Authorisation of payments
- Proposal to open two new savings accounts and transfer £240k for FSCS protection
- Proposal to move parish council emails to a .gov.uk domain
- Bank reconciliation (for information)
- Capital budget review
- Budget monitoring (Quarter 3)
- Proposal not to pay councillor allowances for 2026/27
- Final budget approval for 2026/27
- Precept request to MHDC for 2026/27
Information governance
- Proposal to appoint an Internal Review Panel (Deputy Clerk + two councillors) for complaints relating to information and FOI requests
Grants, projects & delegation
- Pump track tender update and appointment of authorised representatives
- IT Hub & Youth Centre energy efficiency projects
- Delegation of quotation evaluation to committee and clerk
Community facilities & updates
- Pavilion Café grand opening update
- Committee reports:
- Finance & General Purposes
- Environment
- Love Kempsey Working Party
- Community Centres
- Infrastructure
- Commons & Recreation
- Planning
Chairman’s report
- Kempsey Times
- Communication initiatives
Policing priorities
- Setting three policing priorities for Jan–March 2026