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 July 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 11th September 2023 at 18.10.

Public

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

PCSO J Richardson

Police report – PCSO J Richardson

This is the final report from our PCSO who has been made redundant under funding cuts and Chair MR indicated the community will miss her presence and support as will the Council.

PCSO JR report included advice the speeding cameras had recorded no issues and thus it will not be taken forward as a concern. Her duties until the end of her contract 31st August will be in Skegness to assist with the peak holiday period in the resort. She thanked everyone for their support and after 16 years of working with and in the community is very sad it has come to an end. Any future incidents should be reported to 101 and Wainfleet will in future come under Skegness.

LCC/ELDC Report – Report from Cllr Wendy Bowkett

5 million pounds extra funding has been allocated to repair an additional 137 miles of highway.

The third round of the UKSPF round three is now closed, with a decision due on submitted applications by the end of July. The projects that have been chosen will not affect the amount available for communities and are ring fenced providing a substantial amount for community village halls and parish council level grants.

There will be a round four for new applications which will be decided by September.

A warning for all e bike and e scooter owners, please make sure you are charging these in a safe place and not inside your house. This has been raised by the fire service after 3 people died in Cambridgeshire.

Chair MR thanked both PCSO JR and Cllr WB for their reports and closed the public session.

Prior to starting the meeting Chair MR spoke to wish Cllr IH a speedy recovery and that Council looked forward to him returning to full health and meetings in the future – but not to return too soon. His contributions are much missed.

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

Cllr C Alexander, (CA) Cllr I Hyde.(IH)

2. Members present 

Cllr M Rust (MR) Chair, Cllr S Simpson, (SS) Cllr P Garrad, (PG), Cllr P 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 for the Car Boots and The Village Show.

4. Accepting and Resolution to accept the Minutes of the Council Meeting on 12th June 2023

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on June 12th 2023 were agreed as a true record by all Councillors present - Proposed Cllr CB and Seconded Cllr CS – Unanimously Resolved to approve.

5. Clerk’s Report.

National Grid have been contacted with a request for a revised date for the photo shoot – proposed date Thursday July 20th 12.30/1pm

The VAT rebate return has been completed and submitted and payment rec’d into the savings account of £567.00.

Clerk has met with Cllr WB and the Resilience Plan is the final stages of completion.

Funding Group have met and working on the next project funding bid – looking at Spacehive for the Queen’s Wood and Grantscape and/or Lottery for the Village sign and hall improvements.

The UKSPF Fund have appointed a Grants Manager who has been in touch asking for additional information – bank statements and account audits, council members and volunteers and confirmation of grant requested. – all were returned Monday 10th.

The Star Council entry has been drafted, finalised and submitted.

The Training course on Agricultural tenancies scheduled for July has been postponed.

LCC Highways have approved the siting of the bench on the Low Road.

The costing to have wi-fi installed in the Hall will be between £25-£30 depending on the deals available at the time. Not all companies can provide a service – BT can and possibly Sky. No phone line and 18-month -2 year contract.

A projector and screen have been loaned by Cllr CB to test the possibility of minutes and agendas and reports to be screened rather than printed to save paper and reduce costs. To be tested in this meeting and further discussed in September.

6. Finance report.

Hall   

0013 - £579.50 – Copystat flyers etc

Total - £ 579.50

Parish Council –

001536 –£616.00 - P Whiley – June Grass cutting

001537 - £48.50 - (payable The Post Office) ELDC Election costs

001538 – £90.00 - MiJan Ltd – Software annual cost

001539 – £27.00 - Haines Watts Payroll administration

001540 - £110.00 – HMRC  - Clerk’s Tax

001541 - £466.87– Clerk’s Wages

Total - £1358.37

VAT Refund receipt - £567.93

Total of all cheques/expenditure  - Hall - £579.50

                                                                   Council – £1358.37

Accounts reconciled.

Balances

WSM Parish Account      £2,206.33

WSM Business savings    £19,007.90

WSM Community Hall    £14,904.71

Balance of accounts after presentation of cheques as above

WSM Parish Account      £847.96

WSM Business savings    £19007.90

WSM Community Hall    £14325.21

Total of Accounts - £34,181.07

7. Funding group report.

UKSPF fund have been responded to with request for further information.

Sourcing for Village Sign, Community Hall Fire exit doors and Queens Wood have been explored.

8. Role Profile of Vice Chair and Election of Vice Chair.

Council agreed to defer to the September meeting to allow for the role profile to be finalised and presented. In the interim should a Vice Chair be required nominations/appointment will be taken at the meeting.

9. Working Group Reports

a. Allotments. Response from N Clow and Son reference clearance of acreage in line with contracted terms. The Marsh will meet the terms - The Working Group will visit The Tofts and report back.

b. Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges. – Overgrowth on hedge in public footpath encroaching into private garden – clerk to advise and arrange cut back if possible.

c. Community Hall – reports submitted by Cllr PG – all in order.

d. Planning – Report/response on request from Planning Dept on GRS Outer Dowsing submitted. Clerk has consulted with The Poor Lands Charity on payments received and confirmed GRS had sent the enquiry and paperwork – no application had been required. Late application for retrospective approval of 2 addl statics at Barkham Manor. Council had not had opportunity to review but will do so before response deadline and reply to Clerk to submit comments.

e. Open Spaces.

Play Area: Clerk has produced weekly inspection sheet for Cllr CB to inspect and report any concerns. Further consultation with Mr PW over the wood staining and preservation and re-painting of the damaged play bike now the dry weather had arrived – Cllr MR will speak.

Jubilee Orchard: Grass cutting to be requested to be included in grass cutting contract – clerk to arrange. Stain and brushes to be purchased in preparation for National Grid attendance Thursday 20th – Cllr BA will arrange.

Access to water to avoid carriage of 5-gallon drum each time – neighbour to be approached with a request to assist with any costs recompensed by the Council. Cllr MR agreed to approach – and neighbour has agreed. Council very appreciative and will acknowledge.

Litter – 8 litter picking kits are due to be delivered for use of council and volunteers.

Salt Bin Corner: Platform Engagement officer has requested the permission being sought for Queen’s Wood be left with her currently.

10. Community Hall Committee

The next Lunch Club will be September 13th – the surplus for the July lunch amounted to £157.70.

The Food Safety Inspection awarded The Lunch Club a 5-star Excellent rating and the appropriate window sticker left. Clarification over the Food Safety rating for the Hall to be clarified – Clerk to contact the Food Safety team.

The Events meeting Tuesday July 11th 1.30pm was followed by a Hall Committee meeting – minutes/notes will be posted in the Notice Boards and web site

The Village Show – flyers and posters are being distributed. The newsletter with inserts is ready to be distributed – planned for 1st week in August. Stalls are being registered.

Marquee has been delivered and checked all is present and correct. Date for erection Wednesday July 26th subject to weather.

Summer Holiday Fun – Cllr CB has events in hand.

Car Boots - a quiet few weeks due to weather and conflicting events. Possible change of burger van with a pitch fee to be charged (to be advised)

Additional cover for 13th August Cllr MR and Cllr AP, 27th August provisionally agreed as Cllr CS and Cllr PG and 3rd September Cllr SS and Clerk MC.

11. Events

D Day – Thursday June 6th, 2024. Mr Chamberlain has given agreement and approval for a beacon – and is hoping to attend. Budget of £2000 agreed – proposed Cllr AP and seconded Cllr SS. Cllr MR will locate and request loan of beacon again. It is hoped Cllr IH will have recovered to full health and be able to steer the event as before.

12. Queen’s Estate - Proposal to develop the Green area.

Cllr WB offered to contact higher management level to seek further support – clerk to provide Cllr Wb with the proposals for the development of the green area.

13. Siting Change of bench

Approval from LCC for siting of bench on Low Road – clerk to request costing of siting from Mr P Whiley as for other benches – concrete base and fixing.

14. Salem Bridge/Pinfold railings

Cllr WB reported there had been a further meeting with the parties involved regarding the repair and costings although nothing had been agreed to date. There is a Steeping River update to be held at Batemans Friday 21st July to which all are encouraged to attend to air their concerns and questions  - meeting was publicised by the EA and partners and on WSM Web site and Facebook page, and also on Wainfleet Wainfleet FB page. Cllr WB will continue to monitor and push for action for the repairs.

15. Community Hall Flagpole.

The response from Mr Chamberlain was not in support of a flagpole thus the proposal has been withdrawn and Mr Chamberlain will be advised.

16. Geo-caching.

An initiative to encourage visitors to Wainfleet and expanded on by Cllr Dr CS. Costings had been provided of £62 as an annual cost with 12 places of interest to be decided as locations. Proposed and seconded to purchase and investigate locations for discussion in September meeting.

17. Speeding issues – St Michael’s Lane and Low Road

The speed detectors installed in the area have not recorded any issues of speeding – it would appear the detectors had been observed and the limits obeyed. A suggestion to purchase a SSID at a cost of £3600 and share the expense with WASTC was put forward - agreed in principle - Proposed Cllr BA and Seconded Cllr SS. Cllr WB will have the item put on the agenda for the next WASTC meeting to test the support. The proposal for a CSW group was thus put on hold pending the decision on a SSID.

17. Review of Policies

Health and Safety. Agreed to approve – Proposer Cllr SS, Seconded Cllr BA.

18. Correspondence – Litter picking kits – 8 available – 8 ordered – delivery date tba

Grass Cutting at Wainfleet Hall – Skegness Grammar School - land has reverted to LCC and grass is very overgrown leading to indications the property is not in use and prone to vandalism – request to LCC to cut grass. Clerk will request.

17. Items for Inclusion in September Agenda

Broadband costs for the Hall

SSID Proposal

There being no further business the Chair thanked all Councillors for their attendance and input and closed the meeting at 20.45 pm.

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

 Signed                                                                             Date

Chair WSM Parish Council.