0406

COLWALL PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Assembly of the Parish Meeting duly convened and held at the Colwall Park Hotel, Colwall on Tuesday 18th March 2008.

1. Welcome and apologies for absence.

The Chairman, Mrs Nicky Carless, welcomed circa 40 members of the Public,

9 members of the Parish Council, the Clerk and Nigel and Sarah Morris, Sub-Post Masters of Malvern Post Office.

Also present were Herefordshire Councillor Roy Stockton and Councillor Rees Mills

Apologies had been received from Councillors Ashton, Milne and Morris.

2. To receive an update from Colwall Parish Council about a new Parish Office, which has surplus space, which it is proposed be sub-let for a new Post Office.

And, to meet the proposed new sub post-master’s Nigel and Sarah Morris of Malvern Post Office

The Chairman gave a summary of the history of the closure of Colwall Post Office in June 2007, and the actions that the Parish Council have taken, after the Parish Meeting held in July 2007,when the parishioners asked the Parish Council to facilitate in the re-opening of a Post Office for the Village.

The Parish Council have negotiated securing premises in the Village Centre – at the former Pharmacy, where a Parish Office will be opened; the surplus space in the premises will be sub-let, in accordance with the current planning consent, to the new post-masters for opening of a full time Post Office in the Village.

In order to enable the business to become properly established, the Post Office Counters are supporting the Post Office by waiving the licence fee, and the Parish Council have agreed to subsidise the rent for the first 3 years of the lease. Thereafter, the Post Office will be financially responsible for the full amount of the sub-lease.

To enable this transaction to be completed, the pre-cept has been raised by an additional surcharge of £5,500 for the next 3 tax years, commencing 08/09.

This increase equates to £4.78 per year for a Band D property and £6.90 per year for a Band F property.

3. Parishioners Question Time.

Nigel and Sarah answered a number of questions from the floor and advised that they are working towards opening the Post Office in early June 2008. .

The Parish Council was thanked by those present for all its efforts in facilitating this transaction.

The meeting closed at 7.55 p.m.

Chairman…………………………. Date………………