Minutes of the meeting Monday 11th November 2024
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 11th November 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 are subject to amendment until approved at the next Council Meeting Monday December 9th, at 18.10.
Public –Two members of the public including 1 Hall committee member and LCC Councillor W Bowkett
Chair IH invited LCC/ELDC Councillor Wendy Bowkett to make her monthly report detailed as under.
Lincolnshire county council and ELDC report
Major works which will cause disruption if you are visiting Skegness, from 12th November, Park Ave between Scarborough Av and Castleton Boulevard, will have a closure on it until Friday 7th March. The footpaths have come to the end of their life and will be reconstructed causing the road to be closed.
LCC plan to plant 750,000 trees over the next 10 years, which accounts for 1 per every resident in Lincolnshire. This will make the county a greener better place. Trees will only be planted in areas that are suitable - seeing trees in towns and streets certainly makes people feel better. A second round of free trees should be available in the spring.
A family in Lincolnshire have lost everything in a suspected e scooter fire, the fire service are reminding residents not to charge anything inside the house This includes disability scooters. If the battery explodes or overheats this can be the result.
A road closure on Mount Pleasant/Northolme will take place from 5/12 to the 12/12 as and when required to allow for the carriageways resurfacing.
The river Steeping de weeding and cleaning is beginning in the next few weeks, you will see activity around both rivers.
Myself, Iain Hyde and Joe Taylor visited the LRF centre in Lincoln, where conversations with other parish’s, community groups discussed flooding incidents and how important it is to be prepared. Wainfleets 2019 incident was referenced and how we came together as a community to help. There is a new plan that has just been launched, our plan is being transferred to the new model.
There is to be new round of the UK shared prosperity fund, the news was announced by government last week. We wait to hear guidance and timings to how it is to be used.
Chair IH thanked Cllr WB and opened the meeting at 18.10hrs.
1. Members present
Cllr Iain Hyde - Chair - (IH) Cllr Dr C Shrubsole – Vice Chair (Dr CS), Cllr M Rust (MR), Cllr P Garrard;(PG), Cllr M Rendall (MLR), Cllr T Ward (TW), Hall Committee Chair Jan Ward, (JW) -
Also present – Clerk M Clarke
2. Apologies for Absence - Apologies were received from Cllrs C Alexander and P A Proctor (illness) and accepted by Council.
3. Declarations of Interest - No interests were declared.
4. Approval of the Minutes of the Council Meeting on Monday 15th October 2024.
The minutes of the meeting held Monday 15th October 2024 were presented as a true record. Proposed Cllr PG; Seconded Cllr AP – unanimous resolution to accept.
5. Community Hall Report
Chair of the Committee JW gave a full report of the Committee actions to date which are contained in the Hall Minutes from Friday 8th November and available on the web and in the Notice Boards.
An application to hold a weekly auction was presented to Council for approval. Discussion felt the hall and parking facilities/residential area were not conducive or suitable for the level of business proposed and thus the application was declined – proposed Cllr DR CS, Seconded Cllr PG – all resolved to agree and decline the application.
Proposal to purchase 2 x Lamps of Peace (£55.00 each) and Tommy silhouettes for VE day – Clerk to send round images pending approval.
6. Clerk’s Report:
The Friendship Club continues to meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday – thanks to Dr C for opening up.
New flags for the hall have been received by Mick.
Further grant applied for by the Funding Buddies for the Christmas lunch for the Over 65 youth club has been successful –advised November 1st.
Outer Dowsing have approved the funding of raised beds/planters/bulbs for the Orchard and Play Area – monies received October 31st.
Calendars printed, collected and ready for sale
LALC News and Monthly Training Bulletin circulated to all for interest in registering additional training. Have confirmed this is open to community hall volunteers if they wish.
October NALC Bulletin confirms social media post there will be a consultation on remote meetings – agenda item 11
Anglian Water have inspected the new water meter and confirm it is working correctly – will monitor and continue to advise – Agenda item 8d.
Vote of thanks sent to the ladies of the knitting needle for all their efforts in making the hall look so wonderful – and a vote of thanks to Pat, Trev and Mick for the poppies in the village.
All newsletters and Santa invites have gone out.
NFU Young farmers have booked the Hall for their meetings – Agenda item 5
Interest for a weekly auction in the Hall from 2pm (included in Hall report and discussed as an Agenda item 5)
7. Finance and Bank Accounts
Cheque payments were presented for approval.
Bank reconciliations presented for approval.
The Budget report had been circulated prior to the meeting for approval.
The 2024 NALC pay scales have been agreed and clerks pay arrears will be calculated and paid in the December payroll.
The draft Budget and precept calculation were shared and presented to Council (available as an Appendix on request) and agreed in principle subject to the drainage quotes (agenda item 17)
Lloyds Community Account – Correspondence from Lloyds indicating council accounts will now become Community accounts and attract a charge which can be mitigated by amending banking from cheque to online payments and other measures – discussion agreed more merit in remaining with Lloyds than changing accounts. Proposed to remain with Lloyds and amend banking payments to electronic – All of the above - Proposer Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr MR – all above approved and agreed to resolve.
8. Working Group Reports.
a) Allotments – Quotes have been received and will be discussed in closed session due to the privileged information contained within them along with other correspondence – agenda item 17
b) Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges – Additional cut may be required - agreed to leave to decision of contractor if required – proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr PG. All resolved to agree. The overgrown tree along Wainfleet Bank – National Grid have attended and cut back the branches over hanging the power lines - Well Being Hub to be contacted for any support available for the property owner who has responsibility for the root base of the tree. ELDC Tree officer to be advised to request a visit to assess safety of the tree (Cllr WB to advise of contact)
c) Play Area – Councillor TW submitted his report on play area and highlighted concerns. A Training Course is available at a cost of £77 which Cllr TW has indicated he would like to be nominated for training. Proposed Cllr PG, seconded Cllr MR. All agreed to resolve. Further discussion on upgrading the area – agreed to contact recommended company for site visit and projected costs. Clerk to arrange for Cllr TW and Chair IH to attend. In the interim a local contractor to visit and assess repairs – clerk to arrange. Suggested Cllr TW wears a HV jacket when inspecting confirming he is on WSM business. Proposed Cllr MR and seconded Cllr ML – All agreed to approve and resolve.
d) Community Hall –
Certificate of Appreciation suggested for Elaine Walton for her contributions to the community at the last meeting - clerk will produce asap.
Anglian Water – Cllr PG informed Council re the visit of AWA and the ongoing monitoring.
e) Planning – No applications received.
f) Open Spaces – HealthGuard have placed traps although contract is on stop -clerk to follow up.
9. Funding group report.
Confirmation of funding received from Outer Dowsing and Social Isolation Fund. Introduction to provision of labour through Community Pay back scheme for assistance with the planting and fencing project for the orchard and Play Area – essentially funded labour costs – clerk to produce a submission and explore possibility. Proposed Dr CS, seconded Cllr TW – all agreed to resolve.
10. Training opportunities.
Cllr TW expressed an interest in and was nominated for Play Area training – covered in Agenda item 8C
Defib training and basic training from local LIVES group to be explored by Clerk.
11. Consultation on Remote meetings
Request from NALC to consider proposal to allow remote meetings – discussion agreed it was an option only in the event of a member not being able to attend face to face meetings – not to be in place of face-to-face meetings. Clerk to respond. Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr MR – all agreed to resolve.
12.Policies for review – Financial regulations
The new regulations have been reviewed and compiled to meet updated WSM requirements and circulated round. Members to review over the next month and bring thoughts to the December meeting - clerk to set up online payment system and administrator with 3 signatories as cheque payments and regulations require.
13. Correspondence –
Reduction in Lloyds savings rates
TRO for Wainfleet bank posted out to advise on FB
AWA advised of a potential leak (see item 13d)
13. To receive the formal resignation of Councillor C Bradford.
Chair IH confirmed Cllr Bradford had expressed her wish to step down from her position as Councillor with her letter having been circulated by the Clerk. Her resignation was accepted with sadness as Cllr CB has been a vital part of the Council and she will be missed. Letter of thanks and formal acceptance to be sent by clerk. Proposed Cllr MR, Seconded Cllr TW – all agreed and resolved.
12. Items for Inclusion in the next meeting Agenda.
Approval of budget and precept
Approval and adoption of Financial Regulations.
13. Date of Next meeting: - Date agreed for the next meeting Monday December 9th 18.00.
14. To resolve on whether the Council will move into closed session.
To consider the following confidential issues in respect of attendance at meetings in accordance with Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to discuss received drainage quotes and review privileged correspondence received. Proposed Cllr MR, Seconded Dr CS – all agreed to resolve.
The 2 members of the public left the meeting and Chair IH opened the closed session and the discussion on drainage costs continued.
Chair IH thanked everyone for a productive evening and closed the meeting at 20.20 hours.
I certify these are a true record of the meeting held Monday November 11th 2024
Signed
Date
Chair WSM Parish Council.