2024 Minutes Parish Council

These are draft Minutes until approved at the next Annual Meeting in May 2025

St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary,

Lincs. PE24 4HB

Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting of Wainfleet St Mary which took place on Monday 13th May 2024 at 18.00 in the Community Hall, St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary, PE24 4HB, preceded by the Public Forum at 18.00 and the Annual Parish Meeting at 17.00

These are draft minutes and subject to amendment until approved at the next Annual Council Meeting in May 2025.

Public

3 members of the public:

1. Councillors Present: Cllr M Rust (MR) Chair, Cllr I Hyde (IH), Vice Chair, Cllr A Proctor (AP), Cllr P Garrad (PG), Cllr Cyd Bradford (CB), Cllr C Alexander (CA), Cllr Dr C Shrubsole (CS), Cllr B Adams (BA), Cllr M Rendell (MRL)

2. Election of Chair.

3 nominations for Chair have been received, Cllr M Rust, Cllr C Alexander, and Cllr I Hyde. All were asked if they wished to stand for election.

Cllr MR is nominated for Vice Chair of the Hall Committee and terms of reference do not permit the Chair of the Council to hold the additional office of the Hall Committee. Cllr MR wished to take up the role of Vice Chair and stand down as Chair and thus would not be standing for the Office of Chair.

Cllr C Alexander thanked the Council for the nomination, but pressures of work would not allow her to give the role the commitment it needs and stood down from the Election.

Cllr I Hyde confirmed he was happy to stand for Election as Chair – Proposed Cllr Dr CS and seconded Cllr BA. All voted in favour - Council Resolved to elect Cllr IH to the role of Chair of the Council.

3. To receive the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chair.

The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was signed by Cllr M I Hyde and Parish Clerk M Clarke.

4. Election of Vice Chair.

1 nomination was received for Vice Chair – Cllr Dr CS. Cllr Dr CS confirmed he was happy to stand for election. Proposed Cllr CA, Seconded Cllr PAP. Council resolved to elect Cllr Dr CS to the role of Vice Chair.

5. To receive the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Vice Chair

The Declaration of Acceptance was signed by Cllr Dr CS and Parish Clerk M Clarke

6. To Receive and Accept Apologies for Absence where valid reasons have been given.

No apologies received – full council in attendance.  Cllr PG joined the meeting shortly after the election of Chair and Vice Chair.

7. Declarations of Interest.

Cllr MR declared an interest in item 10 – RBL.

8. Accepting and Resolution to accept the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Council Meeting of Monday 15th May 2023, and the General Meeting Minutes from the Meeting Monday 8th April 2024

The Minutes of the Parish, Annual and Monthly Council Meetings were agreed as a true record by all Councillors present - Proposed Cllr CB and Seconded Cllr MR – Unanimously Resolved to approve.

9. Reports from Councillors External Meeting – Cllr W Bowkett – ELDC and LCC.

The County Report had been presented at the Annual Parish Meeting and is reproduced below.

It had been agreed at the April meeting to consider approaching MP Matt Warman dependant on the progress made in the works that are required at The Pinfold to ensure the safety of the public. Cllr WB has worked with the EA and LCC and steps are in hand to ensure the remedial work is carried out albeit the time frame is still fluid. Council agreed to leave the letter to MP Matt Warman on hold for the present – Cllr WB will keep the Council updated on the works as they progress.

Lincolnshire County Councillor Annual Report for Wainfleet St Mary

It has been a pleasure as always to work with you and the parish over the past year How quickly the months go by.

You may have seen the recent announcement for the new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre, which is being built in Skegness. This is an exciting development for our health service along the coast and will mean tests such as MRI, Ct and non – obstetric ultrasound can be done locally rather than having to travel to hospitals further away. It is one of 2 that are being built the other is in Lincoln, it will see investment of 38 million and I am really grateful that Skegness was chosen.

Highways fixed 110,532 potholes in 2023, repaired 224 miles of roads, rebuilt 77 miles of footpath, and cleaned 192,235 drains. County council have added a further £19 million of extra money to the highways budget and Government have promised £253 million from the HS2 fund.

Highways have started their first grass cut of the highways verges this will take place from the 22nd April to 28th May. Further cuts will take place from the 10thJune and the 12th July and 2nd September to the 4th October. Two weed treatments will also take place the first has commenced it started on the 15th April to the 28th June and the second will be from the 8th July to the 20th September.

The heavy rain continues and in October we sadly saw many more properties and land flooded across the county Unfortunately 5 properties were flooded in and around Wainfleet. These were caused by a mix of river over topping and surface water flooding. In the past 18 months we have seen 5 ½ feet of rainfall which is an incredible amount, and still many fields are still sodden and will struggle to grow crops this year.

The section 19 reports are being processed for the last two storms in October and January and should be concluded by August This will determine the cause of every property flooded in the county. The results will come to the flood scrutiny committee at the county council.

The County Council have committed a further £4 million to help in flood prevention around the county, this will ensure all drains are jetted regularly and kept clear, which will help in reducing surface flooding.

I continue to sit on the River Steeping group, and we continue to meet to look at what further can be done to improve both channels in the future, along with the work maintenance for the year for the river.

Lincolnshire county council and the EA are working hard to fix the Pinfold and the footpath and railings. LCC and EA officers are working together and as soon as the plan is available I will share it with you.

The Call Connect App is now available, you can now book your journey online and all for £2 for each journey. The £2 journey also applies to the service buses.

Lincolnshire County Council are looking at ways to further support and encourage bus travel in Lincolnshire. We are gathering resident's views to help plan further improvements as part of the latest County Views survey. We want to know how often residents travel by bus, what would encourage you to use it more often, what they like and dislike. The county views survey can be completed on www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/buses. Paper copies can be found in the County news which is delivered to your homes and can be returned via free post.

Please get in touch with me any time either by email CllrW.Bowkett@lincolnshire.gov.uk or call me on 07917494478

WSM PCC – Father Hew is celebrating 50 years of service and a Bubbles and Biscuits celebration is planned in the Hall Saturday August 24th from 5pm to celebrate.

10. To Appoint representatives to Outside Bodies.

Parochial Church Council – Cllr C Alexander

RBL – Cllr M Rust

11. Community Hall Committee – appointment of Council members

Chair of the Hall Committee Jan Ward gave a full presentation to Council on the Hall Committee plans and progress. Appointed to the Committee proposed Cllrs CA, PG, PA, and MR. Chair IH will attend and contribute as appropriate. Council resolved to agree the appointments.

A vote of thanks was offered to Cllr BA for the work on the new storage.

12. Clerk’s report

Joint meeting with WASTC reference D Day - 10.00am D Day and Village Show Group. The Hall Committee meeting followed on.

Annual Committee meeting scheduled for Friday 17th May at 10.00am

Storage conversion and window repairs/replacements have been completed.

PRS Licence – Application made (and followed up) but no reply as yet.

Licence for showing of films has been issued.

D Day flag has been received/D Day plaque ordered - due for delivery 18th May.

Banners – work in progress – new proof received late Friday pm.

Silhouette has been completed by Iain.

Queens Estate grass cutting – No contact from Platform re grass verges.

Play Area – Quote for repairs to be mailed out from Wicksteed – received 10th May.

Defib packs have been delivered.

.gov.uk emails – Second workshop attended – quotes to be applied for during June.

Grass Cutting/Trees/hedges/ over-grown hedge in St. Michael’s Lane/footpath will be attended to by the owner of the field in the Autumn once nesting season is over.

2 Calor gas cylinders required for the Hall – ordered and delivered 10th May.

Funding – the bid for the Village sign has been unsuccessful as the panel feel the cost is not value for money. Match funding (although initially indicated as not required) has been recommended and then the bid can be re-submitted as otherwise sound. Closing date is 1st June 2024 and monies must be spent by December 2024. The bid was submitted in November 2023 and has fallen foul of UKSPF reporting procedures. Suggested to approach SpaceHive – date advised 28th April – SpaceHive new applications close 30th April.

Outer Dowsing – Group continue to meet with Jenny and are looking at the criteria for the Community Benefit Fund and suitable projects within St Marys.

The newsletter and show schedule are ready Monday morning and will be collected ready for the meeting and agreement for distribution.

The blue and pink marks on the printing are due to 2 leaking cartridges. Printerbase advised and have sent 2 new replacements by return free of charge.

And finally – leave requested and approved for week commencing Monday 20th May I will send a memo round on Friday 17th.                       

13. To appoint members to the Working Group

Allotments. Cllr MR to chair the Group, Cllr PG and Cllr AP

Community Hall – Cllr PG as lead supported by all Councillors. Monthly Checks – Cllr PG.

Finance and Budgets – Cllr CA, Cllr IH, and Cllr BA – supported by the Clerk.

Funding Group – Cllr CA, Cllr Dr CS, Cllr CB – supported by the Clerk.

Grass Cutting, Trees and hedges – all Councillors.

Local Environment (formerly Open spaces, Play Area, Trees and Hedges, Roads, Street Lighting and Furniture, and Jubilee Orchard) - Cllr DR CS to lead on Orchard and planting – all Councillors to be involved in monitoring and reporting other areas – Play Area to have a monthly written check list – Cllr s PG and CB will complete

Planning – All Councillors

Emergency group - Cllr IH for WSM  - The 3 parishes are involved – WSM, WASTC and Thorpe

14. To discuss and agree terms of reference where appropriate and associated Expenditure.

Allotments – continue to monitor and inspect drainage ditches and work/liaise with tenants on the piping/drainage issues raised in the April meeting – survey of the land and quotes for replacing the drainage where required. Clerk to arrange for a map to be available for all Councillors to refer to. Budget for repairs to be agreed liaising with the Finance group once costs are known.

Finance and Budgets – ensure budgets are planned effectively and monitored and the reserves policy (to be adopted in agenda item 15) is adhered to – and report to Full Council with recommendations for approval.

Funding – to work with the Hall Committee to continue to source funding for projects as put forward by the Council and the Committee

Planning – review and visit sites as appropriate. Dr C is the lead on the Outer Dowsing project and will keep all Councillors informed.

Local Environment – to work within the budget agreed and liaise with the Finance and Budget WG to comply with costings.

Emergency group – as previously – no change – ensure communication and co-ordination are effective.

15. Review of Official Documents and Policies

Scope and allocation of review agreed to continue as 1-2 polices reviewed each month through the year.

Adoption of Reserves Policy – Proposed Cllr MR, Seconded Cllr BA – Council resolved to adopt.

Adoption of WSM Staffing Committee as per the terms of reference circulated – Proposed Cllr BA, Seconded Cllr MR. Council Resolved to adopt.

Election of Chair to the Staffing Committee – Nominated Cllr CA – proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr BA

Cllr CA was elected to Chair – Declaration of Acceptance of Office to be signed.

Election of Committee members – Nominated Cllr BA and Cllr MRL – Proposed Cllr CB and seconded Cllr MR.  Council unanimous in resolving.

16. Finance and Bank Accounts

The accounts from April were approved and agreed unanimously.

The financial statements, reconciled accounts, internal audit, and variance reports were presented to the Council for scrutiny and agreed.

The Asset register had been reviewed with changes explained and approved.

Proposed Cllr CA, Seconded Cllr Dr CS – All in agreement - Council resolved to accept the AGAR and the Chair Cllr IH signed to confirm.

17. Planning No applications received – (Section 56 (Outer Dowsing) has been advised as sent to WSM but not as yet received).

18. To Agree Dates for the Council Meeting for the Year.

Council agreed to continue with the present date of 2nd Monday in each month except for when Bank Holiday falls when the meeting will be a week later. The next Council Meeting will be June 10th at 18.00.

19. Correspondence –

The lighting of illegal trash fires burning waste in the Toft Close area has been brought to the attention of the Council. ELDC Environmental are aware, and the situation is being monitored and reported on. Councillors support this initiative and will observe for any further instances.

20. Items for the June Agenda

Chair IH asked if any Councillor had any item they wished to add to the June Agenda. No items were raised.

There being no further business the Chair thanked all Councillors for their attendance and input and closed the meeting at 19.45pm.

I certify these are a true copy of the Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held Monday 13th May 2024

Signed Chair Wainfleet St Mary Parish Council – Cllr I Hyde

......................................................................................    Date........................................

Date 13th May 2024

Email: wsmpclerk@btinternet.com

Website: https://wainfleet-saint-mary.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk