ILAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday 15 July 2025 @7pm Ilam School
Present C Sellers, L Oulsnam, (Clerk) N Taylor, R Wain, V Nottage A Chillingworth, (NT) C Hibbert-Foy, K Warrington,
I Frith A Linnet (NT)
Apologies Cllr E Wain
Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 6 May 2025 were read and signed as true and correct.
National Trust
The National Trust has now entered a period of consultation with staff around proposals for staffing cuts and changes to roles and responsibilities. The organisation is proposing £26 million of savings, which equates to around 6% of the workforce.
New Lead Ranger for the White Peak – Adam Linnet – has now started.
Summer of Play at Ilam launches this Saturday, 19th July. There will be a whole host of free activities to get people active, creative, and engaging with nature.
We are celebrating the launch of artist Bruce Asbestos’s latest artwork – Mole Hole – at Ilam this Saturday. The giant mole sculpture has been created in response to the landscape of Ilam Park, inspired by the iconic view of Thorpe Cloud and the Pepper Pot Tower. Alongside the sculpture there will be a mole trail around the parkland and art workshops for kids to encourage them to be creative. Ilam School were one of three schools involved in the project.
Ilam Park is one of ten Staffordshire Moorlands venues taking part in the Where’s Wallaby trail, celebrating 10 years of Peak Wildlife Park. A colourful wallaby sculpture, decorated by local artist Ella Kasperowicz in conjunction with Pride in the Moorlands, will be on display from 19th July outside the YHA.
I Frith raised how much litter there is in Dovedale, the gate @ Dovedale and if NT Staff would be in Dovedale later in the evenings in Peak Season. A Chillingworth responded that staff are in Dovedale till 8 pm during the summer holidays and they are looking to find someone to open and close the gates. NT Staff and volunteers are litter picking in Dovdale to try and keep the area as tidy and litter free as possible.
I Frith asked Adam Linnet, the new lead ranger about the overflow carpark. A Linnet to investigate as he has recently taken over this post.
Improving Village Environment
The Monument and planters around the village are looking colourful. Thank you to everyone who is maintaining the plants and keeping the village looking beautiful.
Thank you to K Warrington for mowing the grass in the village by the notice board.
Thank you to the National Trust who are mowing the grass every 2 weeks in the village by the notice board to keep the village looking lovely.
Highways
No updates from Highways regarding existing jobs that have been reported. The Bridge is now repaired.
L Oulsnam to log any highway issues and R Wain requested a sign to be logged on the top road at Blore, where the hidden dip is. This has been previously logged and will log again.
Finance
Balance in account: £1307.29p
AOB
C Sellers – (Chair) and N Taylor have resigned from the Parish Council after serving on the Parish Council for many years. We thank them for their hard work and support to the Parish Council & Community. We wish them well.
There will be 2 vacancies advertised for the Parish Council, so if anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Parish Council, please contact Lindsay Oulsnam on 01335 350579 or ilamparish@outlook.com
L Oulsnam will also be leaving the Parish Council, her last meeting will be in September, there will be a further vacancy in September and role of clerk, if anyone is interested.
Date of next meeting & AGM: Tuesday 9 September 2025 Ilam School 7pm