Archive for category: News

Kingsley Parish Council has formally published a Notice of Casual Vacancies following the declaration of two vacancies on the Council. The notice was issued on 16 June 2026 in accordance with Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972.

When a vacancy arises on a parish council, legislation provides an opportunity for local electors to request that the vacancy be filled through a by-election. If ten local government electors submit a written request to the Returning Officer within the statutory timescale, an election must be held. If no such request is received, the Parish Council may proceed to fill the vacancy by co-option.

Under Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972, notices required to be given by a parish council must be displayed in a “conspicuous place” within the parish. Traditionally, this requirement has been satisfied through the use of parish noticeboards and other publicly accessible locations.

By making notices available online, the Council aims to ensure that as many residents as possible are aware of opportunities to become involved in local democracy and community decision-making.

Kingsley Parish Council play an important role in representing local communities, influencing planning matters, maintaining community assets, supporting local initiatives, and helping to shape the future of the village. Serving as a parish councillor can be a rewarding opportunity to make a positive contribution to the local area. Residents interested in learning more about becoming a parish councillor are encouraged to contact the Parish Clerk for further information.

The formal Notice of Casual Vacancies can be viewed here and the parish noticeboard.

It is also worth noting that the two newly declared vacancies are not the only vacancies currently on the Council. Prior to these resignations, Kingsley Parish Council already had three vacant seats. These three vacant seats may be filled by co-option at any time. The Council welcomes expressions of interest from residents who wish to play an active role in supporting the village and helping to shape the future of Kingsley. Application forms can be found here.

Should ten electors request a by-election for either of the two recently declared casual vacancies, the costs of administering that election would ultimately be met by the local community through the parish precept. By contrast, there is no equivalent electoral cost associated with filling vacancies through the co-option process where legislation permits.

Kingsley Parish Council has approved its budget and precept for the 2026/27 financial year.

The Council is required to set a balanced annual budget to deliver local services and meet its statutory responsibilities. Funding is generated through a combination of the parish precept, cemetery fees, investment income, grants and other sources of funding. The approved budget for 2026/27 totals £84,000 and will support the continued delivery of services across the parish.

Over recent years, the Council has worked to establish a realistic and sustainable financial position. This has enabled Kingsley Parish Council to respond more effectively to unexpected issues such as vandalism, essential repairs and other unforeseen costs without compromising day-to-day service delivery.

Historically, annual increases in the parish precept were kept exceptionally low. Between 2009 and 2020, the precept increased by an average of just £0.83 per year. Whilst this delivered short-term savings for taxpayers, these increases did not keep pace with inflation and effectively resulted in real-terms reductions to the Council’s spending power over a prolonged period.

Like all local authorities, the Council continues to face increasing costs associated with service delivery. Although inflation has reduced from its peak in recent years, many costs remain significantly higher than historic levels, including grounds maintenance, insurance, utilities, professional services and staffing costs. National changes such as increases to employer National Insurance contributions and public sector pay pressures also continue to affect local government budgets.

Despite these challenges, Kingsley Parish Council remains committed to delivering value for money and investing in services that benefit residents. The approved budget will support the ongoing maintenance of Kingsley Cemetery, public rights of way, playgrounds and open spaces, environmental improvements, community grants and wider village enhancements (with the launch of a new village enhancement schedule for 2026-2027 which can be found here).

The Council is also mindful of several significant future commitments, including potential repairs to the cemetery retaining wall, and replacement of ageing playground equipment.

The approved precept for 2026/27 is £82,000. This results in a Band D parish council charge of £86.33 per year, an increase of £0.72 compared to the previous year. This equates to approximately £0.06 per month for a typical Band D household.

For comparison, the average Band D parish precept in England is £99.79 for 2026/27. Kingsley’s precept therefore remains below the national average and continues to represent good value for money when compared with many other local councils.

The Council will continue to manage public funds carefully, maintain appropriate reserves, and ensure that services and facilities valued by residents can be sustained for the long term.

To view the full Budget and Precept Report for 2026/27, please click here.

Questions regarding the Council’s budget and precept can be directed to the Responsible Financial Officer by emailing .

Community Speed Watch volunteers were out on Mill Lane during a recent afternoon session, continuing their work to promote safer driving through the village.

During the session, a total of 111 vehicles were recorded passing the monitoring point. Of these, 17 vehicles (around 15%) were travelling at speeds above 34mph in what is a 30mph area. The highest recorded speed was 49mph.

While the majority of drivers were within the limit, the number of vehicles exceeding safe speeds highlights why Community Speed Watch remains so important. Excessive speed not only increases the risk of accidents, but also impacts residents’ sense of safety, particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, and families.

Community Speed Watch is not about enforcement or penalties – it is about raising awareness, encouraging responsible driving, and supporting safer streets for everyone. The Parish Council would like to thank our volunteers for giving their time, and residents for their continued support of this important initiative.

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the Parish Council for more information.

Kingsley Parish Council has taken a firm stand in addressing the growing issue of overgrown weeds throughout our parish. We have officially written to Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) to express our disappointment and frustration regarding the lack of responses to our repeated enquiries about recent maintenance activities within Kingsley Parish.

Specifically, we have sought clarity on the kerb sweeping and weed control along kerb lines and pavements. Despite assurances from CWaC that weed control would be undertaken twice annually and road sweeping would occur once per annum, we have yet to receive specific dates and locations where these services have been rendered. Local observations indicate that these activities have not been performed for several years. The only notable maintenance activity was a manual edging exercise on Hollow Lane a few years ago.

However, the rest of the pavements throughout Kingsley, particularly those connecting the village to neighbouring towns such as Frodsham, have become impassable for pedestrians, especially for those using wheelchairs or pushing prams. This neglect is severely impacting the wellbeing and community pride in Kingsley, with residents increasingly unable to access local services on foot. This situation is directly at odds with the CWaC’s public health aims to help people start well, live well, and age well.

We have requested that a dedicated team be deployed in Kingsley to apply a weed control product and return a few weeks later to manually remove them. This comprehensive approach is essential to addressing an issue that has worsened with each passing year.

Poor maintenance of pavements not only affects the physical accessibility of our community but also has significant implications for social isolation and loneliness. According to the Cheshire West Place Plan, access to well-maintained open spaces is crucial for preventing these issues. The plan emphasises the importance of the places and communities we live in and how they can support our overall health and wellbeing. The current state of our pavements undermines these goals and highlights a critical gap in service delivery that needs urgent attention.

We, Kingsley Parish Council, urge CWaC to take immediate action to deploy a maintenance team to Kingsley and provide us with detailed records of past and planned maintenance activities. This will help us understand the service levels our parish is receiving and ensure that future maintenance schedules are effectively communicated and executed. This will also enable the Parish Council to plan for its future and agree on any supplementary work it may wish to undertake.

A full copy of the letter sent to CWaC can be viewed here.