Minutes 2023

St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary,

Lincs. PE24 4HB

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Wainfleet St Mary which took place on Monday 17th April 2023 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 15th May 2023 at 18.10.

Public

1 member of the public: ELDC/LCC Councillor W Bowkett.

Cllr Bowkett advised WSM PC of an application for an extension to the Riverside Park adjacent to Crows Bridge which Council was unaware of.

Drainage Covers are being removed - Police are aware and following up with information provided.

Wainfleet Surgery is now open for covid boosters to over 75’s and the vulnerable – appts booked as before on the web.

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

Cllr C Alexander, PCSO Jayne Richardson.

2. Members present 

Cllr M Rust (MR) Chair, Cllr I Hyde (IH), Vice Chair, Cllr S Simpson, (SS) Cllr P Garrad, (PG) Cllr A Proctor (AP), Cllr C Bradford (CB) Cllr Dr Shrubsole (CS), Cllr B Adams (BA) : Also present – Clerk M Clarke 

3. Declarations of Interest

Cllr CB declared an interest in the Coronation Event

4. Accepting and Resolution to accept the Minutes of the Council Meeting on 13th February2023

The Minutes of the Council Meeting were agreed as a true record by all Councillors present - Proposed Cllr SS and Seconded Cllr AP – Unanimously Resolved to approve.

5. Elections 2023

Confirmation all nominations for WSM Parish and ELDC Council have been elected unopposed – Notices have been posted to this effect in the Notice Boards and WSM web site and FB pages – Declarations of Acceptance signed in front of and witnessed by the Clerk along with DPI and a NIL Return of Expenses for all Councillors. There will be no requirement for an Election and the Hall booking with ELDC has been cancelled.

6. Clerk’s Report

The Internal Auditor has been arranged and books will be delivered Thursday 20th April.

 Calor Gas will be ordered as Empire Gas return from holiday – 15th May. There are 2 full cylinders to hand.

A new tenant has been agreed for the vacated plots and new agreements reflecting the exchange and increase in rental to be sent out to all holders this month.

Jubilee Orchard and Grant funding. No further news reference the “new funding stream” which is quite unsuitable for the Orchard.

The fallen tree on Boston Road has been removed and the Grammar school advised in writing as a courtesy of the damage to the railings – the land is leased by the School from LCC.

The apple tree at the junction St Michael’s Lane and Queen’s Estate is not deemed to be an issue – no action to be taken.

The metal stands at the junction of St Michaels Lane and Low Road are still in situ – FixMyStreet have been advised no action has been taken to remove them. Follow up report in 4 weeks due.

7. Fibre Broadband Rollout

Signatures and support continue to trickle in.

The Co-op are happy to have a flyer in the general info stand but not a signature list at the tills.

A suggestion by Cllr WB to have a stand and a promotion on Coronation Day with a signature sheet at the Rock Painting area was welcomed and agreed by all.

8. Working Group Reports

a. Allotments. All are in order and the Tofts appear to be cleared for the return to the Council and the new tenant in October.

b. Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges. – The chestnut tree does not appear to have been trimmed – all other hedges and tree that are the Council responsibility are in good order.

Trees along Boston Road to Vicarage Lane are showing signs of die back and professional advice is required to assess and inform if any TPO’s in force. Clerk to contact ELDC and arrange inspection and any action required to ensure safety considerations.

The hedge alongside the entrance to the Hall car park needs cutting back – Clerk to request Pete Whiley to action.

c. Community Hall – reports received for the month and all in order. Quotation for mole control confirmed as £460.00 per quarter plus VAT – Council agreed this was a cost too high – mole hills have reduced and as the area is currently being used weekly for the car boot it was agreed to assess on an as required basis.

The fridge and dishwasher are in need of attention – clerk to ascertain if this is something Mr S Bogg can carry out for the Hall.

d. Planning –No applications have been received.

e. Open Spaces.

Play Area: Council discussed the cost of control – the hills are subsiding and reducing as the area is being used with the better weather approaching – agreed to look at permanent signage advising care to be taken – clerk to obtain costs for discussion for next meeting.

Jubilee Orchard: The orchard has had some work carried out to prevent losing the whole thing back to Nature. No decision from the Expression of Interest lodged March 1st – latest advice it will be the end of May. Clerk will continue to monitor.

An opening date of May 8th was agreed – Cllr MR to ask Mrs Picker if she would consider opening the Orchard in memory of Cllr Rod Picker who had initiated the whole project.

LCC Councillor WB requested to leave the meeting – Cllr MR thanked her for her input and Cllr WB left at 19.00.

Bench on Wainfleet Bank - The bench on Wainfleet Bank has been re-stained and is looking good.

Additional new 5-seater bench – Clerk to contact EA to ask for permission/agreement to site on grass bank near layby and notice board

Waste Bin – Boston Road – is continuing to be emptied by Cllr MR/CS – clerk has requested ELDC to include on round – pending a response.

Glass Bin site – broken glass has accumulated around the redundant frames – Clerk has requested on 2 occasions the frames be uplifted – a further request will be submitted advising they are being used to smash glass on leaving the fragments on the ground around the base.

Proposal for a Wildlife Corridor - – With the success of the Orchard project, a suggestion was made to look at continuing the green impetus and consider other areas for “wilding” with naturalised bulbs and flowers – Chair asked all Councillors to consider suitable areas and to bring them to the next meeting for further serious discussion – suggestions initially are the green area shared with Platform – support may be forthcoming from Platform – and the grassed area on Tofts Close. Clerk will look at Grant funding possibilities – Cllr CS has registered an interest with GR4 in Community projects.

9. Community Hall Committee

The next Lunch Club will be May 17th with a special Coronation celebration.

A Committee meeting has been arranged for Tuesday 16th May to follow on from the Events meeting at 1.30pm.

10. Community Hall Flagpole

The flagpole is in need of repair – Council voted to advance Cllr PG £40.00 to purchase equipment required. Cllr BA will assist in repair. Proposed Cllr CB, Seconded Cllr IH. Unanimous agreement to resolve.

11. Coronation of King Charles 111

Confirmation of Notes of the Coronation Meeting 24th March. Clarification was sought over the distribution of the £500.00 to 2 local traders to provide free/subsidised food for children or adults.

Agreed to be split £250.00 between burgers and ice-cream with each trader being funded directly by WSM Parish Council – Clerk to advise WASTC for the next Coronation meeting.

12. Events Group 2023

Notes from the Events group have been received by all Councillors – Full Council in agreement with the recommendations. Proposed to accept Cllr SS, Seconded Cllr PG – Unanimous agreement to resolve.

13. Finance and Bank Accounts

Cheques for signature this month

Hall – 0009 - £545.99 – S Bogg – New hob

Parish Council – 001512 – St Mary’s PCC – S137 donation £500.00

                              001513 – LALC – Training - £27.60

                              001514 – Clerk’s PAYE - £116.20

                              001515 – Clerks Wages/Office Allowance - £507.30

                              001516 – Haines Watts – Payroll admin £27.00

Total £1178.10

Total of all cheques - £1724.09 - Accounts reconciled.

Balances

WSM Parish Account      £13851.04

WSM Business savings    £18439.97

WSM Community Hall    £17268.92

Balance of accounts after presentation of cheques as above

WSM Parish Account      £12672.94

WSM Business savings    £18439.97

WSM Community Hall    £16,722.93

Total of Accounts - £49,013.94

Bank Reconciliations were presented and approved.

Unanimously resolved to approve Payments, Reports and Reconciliations.

14. Insurance Renewal.

Quotations received and perused and compared – proposal to adopt the quotation from BHIB which gave a £400 saving with a fixed 3-year term over the other quotations. Proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr CS – unanimous vote to approve. Clerk to advise BHIB and other companies.

15. Review of Policies

Freedom of Information. Agreed to approve – no changes are required to update.

16. Correspondence – None received.

17. Items for Inclusion in May Agenda

New Flagpole

Wilding areas

Review of Environmental Policy

There being no further business the Chair thanked all Councillors for their attendance and input and closed the meeting at 8.25pm.

I certify these are a true record of the meeting held Monday 17th April 2023

 Signed                                                                             Date

Chair WSM Parish Council.