Monday January 8th 2024 Council Minutes
Wainfleet St Mary Parish Council
St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary,
Lincs. PE24 4HB
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Wainfleet St Mary which took place on Monday 8th January 2024 at 18.10 in the Community Hall, St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary, PE24 4HB, preceded by the Public Forum at 18.00
These are draft minutes and subject to amendment until approved at the next Council Meeting Monday February 12th, 2024 at 18.10.
Public
4 members of the public.
Report from LCC/ELDC Councillor Wendy Bowkett.
Information regarding the Devolution of Greater Lincolnshire and meetings for participation from local residents is available from various sources.
The Emergency resilience group have an open day February 9th at Batemans 2pm – 6pm. Plans in place to produce guidance on how to help protect properties will be shared round when finalised.
A funding bid has been submitted to cover the cost or repairing the railings along The Steeping on The Pinfold.
1. Members present
Cllr M Rust (MR) Chair, Cllr I Hyde, Cllr P Garrard, Cllr Dr C Shrubsole, Cllr C Bradford, Cllr C Alexander (CA), Cllr B Adams (BA)
Also present – Clerk M Clarke
2. Apologies for Absence
Cllr P A Proctor, Cllr M Rendall
3. Declarations of Interest
No interests were declared.
4. Resolution to accept the Minutes of the Council Meeting on Monday 11th December 2023
The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Monday 11th December 2023, were agreed as a true record by all Councillors present - Proposed Cllr BA and Seconded Cllr CA. Unanimously Resolved to approve.
5. Clerk’s Report
Correspondence has been posted in the Notice Boards and web regarding the devolution of Lincolnshire.
Riverside Planning Application – Concerns and objections have been raised with the Planning Committee and recorded as received.
Barkham Arms -Residential/Business use of the site – Enforcement have been advised and are currently investigating.
A retiring tenant has been contacted with reference to ensuring the acreage is clear for the new tenant – and politely reminded rental is due to the date it is cleared and returned.
Following on from the contact Cllr IH made in November on 101 he has been contacted by a PC from Skegness who wants to tackle anti social behaviour in the Wainfleet area.
At this stage it will be a meeting to discuss the issue - Iain has advised/informed WASTC Mayor and await a date to meet the officer.
Complaint received from resident of Sea Lane regarding the state of the road and condition of banks and dykes requesting the Council inspect and assess.
6. Community Hall Storage
Following the proposal and resolution to convert 2 toilets into storage at the December meeting, a Working Group was agreed comprising Chair of the Committee J Ward, T Ward, Cllr PG, Cllr BA, Cllr C – Cllr PAP will be informed and invited to join the group once she has recovered from illness.
The date of the first meeting agreed as Friday 19th January – 10.30am.
7. D Day Plans.
A Working Group of both Councillors and Hall Committee members/volunteers agreed to work in collaboration with WASTC to deliver celebrations for both parishes. The first meeting is agreed for Monday 15th January to follow on from the Village Show meeting.
Proposed Cllr CA, Seconded Cllr Dr CS – all agreed to resolve.
Councillors and volunteers will meet with WASTC Friday 19th March at 5pm in the Coronation Hall with the attendance of the Coronation Hall clerk to ascertain availability of the Hall and to take ideas forward.
Proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr CB – all agreed to resolve.
8. Finance and Bank Accounts
Cheques for signature were presented and approved.
Banking reconciliation reports were presented and approved.
The monthly Budget report was presented and approved.
Cheques for signature this month
Parish Council –
001577 - £27.00 – Haines Watts – payroll administration – December
001578 - £719.75 – Keystone Sound Systems – PA System
001579 - £155.20 – HMRC Clerk’s Tax
001580- £644.51 – Clerk’s Pay
001581 - £445.53 – Employers NI to December 2023
Total – £1991.99
Total of cheques/expenditure - Council – £1991.99
Monies paid in December: Community Hall - £1188.58
Parish Account – Interest £19.95
LCC Grass cutting - £531.86.
Transfer in from Hall - £719.75 (Funding PA System)
Total - £1740.39
£400 from Platform is pending receipt (hall)
Accounts reconciled.
Balances
WSM Parish Account £1,753.65 (1 uncleared cheque @ £198.76)
WSM Business savings £15,507.90
WSM Community Hall £10,851.37
Balance of accounts after presentation of cheques/transfer of monies as above
WSM Parish Account £282.65
WSM Business savings £15,507.90
WSM Community Hall £10,131.62
Total of Accounts - £25,922.17
The Draft Budget for 2024/25 had been prepared and scrutinised by the Finance Group and was presented for approval with the recommendations:
a) no precept is required to be raised and b) a reserves policy should be drafted to be adopted for future budgeting
Proposed to adopt the recommendations – Cllr CA, Seconded Cllr Dr CS. All agreed to resolve.
9. Salem Bridge railings.
Cllr WB advised the bid from the EA has gone in to fund the necessary works and waiting approval – at which point the repairs can begin.
10. The Pinfold.
Cllr IH reported on his conversation with the Heritage Officer at Lincolnshire County Council.
Help and guidance can be offered to the owners of the listed building but not financial assistance. Cllr IH advised he will monitor but to close the action for future meetings. Council in full agreement.
11. Working Group Reports
a) Allotments – Following the information received by the Clerk from a Sea Lane resident all tenants will be reminded of their contracted obligations with particular attention to the dykes on Sea Lane.
Clerk to request the new Farming Business agreements to be specific on the agreement to farm under licence and the conditions to ensure all tenancies meet the contracted terms of the agreements.
b) Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges – New Contracts have been sent to the existing contractor for the 2024 season for signature and return.
c) Play Area – Cllr BA has the entrance monitored to ensure it remains clear and accessible and safe.
d) Community Hall – All reports are clear – observation on loose engineering brick will be addressed by Cllr BA. All decorations have been taken down and the Christmas tree retired with thanks to Cllr PG and Cllr BA.
e) Planning – 4 applications to consider:
S/039/02378/23 -The Elms – All agreed to support in the current format.
S/195/02135/23 - North Cottage – All agreed No objections.
S195/02156/23 - The Mill – All agreed No objections.
S/195/02135/23 – The Mill – All agreed –No objections.
f) Open Spaces – Geo caching will be going live shortly once payment has been made to licence. Shrubs and planting are scheduled for later in the year at the Jubilee Orchard with the path timbers to be stained to preserve – volunteers always welcome.
12. Funding group report.
The Village Sign bid has been deferred to March pending closing report on the Jubilee Orchard bid.
The D Day funding bid has been reviewed to meet the criteria highlighted.
Other avenues are being explored for the projector and storage costs currently in the budget as being funded from income for 2024/2025.
13.Policies for review – Data Breach Policy
All agreed the policy is correct and can be agreed as reviewed. Proposed Cllr CA, Seconded Cllr BA
14.Correspondence
Nomination by Platform for Community Heros
Precept Guidance and Information on tax rates
Green Waste 2024 collections
Flood Guidance information from GoCompare.
Request from Clerk to carry forward unused leave to take 3rd week in January and February. Agreed with Staffing Support – Council approved Proposed Cllr CA and seconded Cllr IH – resolved to approve.
Remote Meetings – confirmation from LALC if the technology is available then councillors attending remotely is acceptable on the understanding they are members of the public and no voting can be made – but for allowing councillors to remain informed there is no restriction.
15. Items for Inclusion in the February Agenda
Councillors to submit any items of interest during the next month
Reserves policy
16. Date of Next meeting:
Monday 12th February 2024 – 18.00 hours.
Chair MR thanked everyone for their attendance and requested Council to consider a request for a short sabbatical for personal reasons. Council in full agreement and resolved to agree a term of up to 6 months. Cllr Mr expressed his appreciation and hoped to return before the 6-month period expired. All Councillors wished him well and looked forward to his return.
Chair MR closed the meeting at 20.15hrs.
I certify these are a true record of the meeting held Monday January 8th 2024
Signed Date
Chair WSM Parish Council.