March 2022 Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING
at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 8 March 2022 @ 7.30pm
THE MINUTES
No. of Residents present 0 Official attendees read Y for attending, N for non-attendance
Chairman Councillor Mrs Lesley Reeson Y Councillor vacancy
Vice Chairman Councillor Mr John Howlett Y Councillor vacancy
Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood Y Councillor vacancy
Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant N Parish Clerk Mrs Nicki George Y
Lincs C C Councillor Mrs W Bowkett N ELDC Councillor Mr Terry Taylor N
1. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
2. Apologies for absence – Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant, Lincs CC Councillor Mrs Wendy Bowkett & ELDC Councillor Mr Terry Taylor. Apologies received and reason for absence accepted.
3. There were no declaration of interest
4. Residents’ issues: none as no attendees
5. ELDC report: A Bi-election was held on 3rd March 2022 and the duly elected councillor is Mr Terry Taylor. No report available but a meeting is to be organised for the Councillors to meet with Mr Taylor before the next planned meeting in May.
6. LCC report : see Appendix 1 .
a) The speed survey on A16 is hopefully currently taking place , 3 – 11 March 2022.
b) Councillors requested the clerk to email Councillor Bowkett re the ongoing issue with the caravans on the airfield to keep the subject on her radar.
c) A concrete pillar has been erected by the gate at the junction of Hagnaby Road and Hagnaby Lane where the fence had fallen down.
d) The clerk has reported on Fix My Street the damaged ‘Cul de Sac’ road sign and potholes on Fen Road and Hagnaby Lane.
7. Lincolnshire Police Report: see Appendix 2.
8. The amended Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14th December 2021 were approved. Proposed by Councillor Clive Kingswood , Seconded by Councillor John Howlett.
The Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 11th January 2022 were approved. Proposed by Councillor John Howlett , Seconded by Councillor Clive Kingswood.
9. Matters Arising from the Minutes.
a) Litter & dog bins: No response to date to the email sent by the clerk following the last meeting ie requesting a change to the siting of a proposed new bin near to the Green Barn and Stickford House on Back Lane. The clerk will chase this up.
10. Clerks Report: Allotment letters have been hand delivered requesting the April payments.
11. Financial Report
a) Authority for Payment :
1) £600.00 Clerks’ salary, January to March 2022. All Councillors agreed to pay. **
2) £42.00 Payroll Services – 6 months fee.
Invoice not yet received but all Councillors agreed to pay it when received
3) £62.45 stationery/toner cartridges for printer. All Councillors agreed to pay. **
4) £159.86 LALC subscription. All Councillors agreed to pay.
5) £35.00 6-month interim Audit Jayne Bonsor. All Councillors agreed to pay.
6) £525.00 Commemorative coins for Jubilee celebrations.
All councillors agreed to buy 50 x £5 Platinum Jubilee £5 coins to be given to all the children of the village , 0 to 18 years old on 4th June 2022 at the Jubilee celebrations . Each coin costs £10. Max online order is 10 per person , so 5 people have ordered 10 coins each. Total cost is £100 plus £5 postage x 5 . ie £105 x 5 = £525. This money has been requested on the precept and ringfenced for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The coins have been ordered and await delivery. Cheques to be issued when coins have been delivered and payments taken.
** all councillors agreed for the Clerk and Lesley as the only 2 signatories present to sign these 2 cheques , made payable to Nicki , the Parish Clerk.
b) Bank balances : as at 28.02.22 when last statement received : Current a/c £13118.29, Savings a/c £8094.68 o/s cheques previously issued and not yet cashed : none
c) Change to Grant request for Stickford & District WI: letter received from Stickford & District WI advising that they are disbanding on 31st March 2022 but a new group is being formed on 1st April 2022 called Stickford Ladies Social Circle. It is basically the same group but being renamed. They request that they be considered for the grant previously awarded to Stickford & District WI in this years precept. The Councillors requested that a new grant form to be completed with the details of the new group knowing that they will not have a set of Accounts. All councillors agreed.
d) PPE purchases for mower and strimmer : Gloves, visor, ear defenders, safety glasses, petrol can and First Aid Kit need to be purchased for all volunteers that use the mower & strimmer. Lesley has checked prices and Screwfix are good value. All agreed for Lesley to purchase these items from Screwfix. All of this equipment will be kept with the Risk Assessment forms.
e) Barclays bank account : signatories need to be updated. Mr Bradley needs to be removed and all agreed for Councillor Mr John Howlett to be added as a signatory. Clerk to obtain a mandate form.
f) Clerk has checked with LALC that it is ok for the Jubilee fundraising monies is banked into the main current account , with cheques then being issued when invoices submitted for expenses. LALC have confirmed that this is permitted but to be mindful and aware of S137 limit. Clerk to check what this limit is.
12. Financial Regulations, Standing Orders & Code of Conduct. Updates and amendments to be approved, agreed and signed : Clerk to resend around by email to all councillors and to be put on the Agenda for the next Parish Council meeting on 17th May 2022.
13. Update of Grant forms : Section 17 of the Financial Regulations re Grants needs to be amended. Clerk to prepare the Financial Regulations as per item 12 , email to all councillors and to be put on the Agenda for the next Parish Council meeting on 17th May 2022. Along with the Grant application form.
14. Volunteers of Stickford : The group that formed during Covid to help villagers with shopping etc , Stickford Community Volunteers, has been closed down on 1/2/22. It is deemed to be no longer required now that restrictions have been eased. The insurance has expired.
15. War Memorial Clock update – funding :
The online application to the Repair Shop has been submitted and acknowledged.
The Grant application has been submitted online on 23.2.22 by Cheryl Steele and checked by Councillor John Howlett. Receipt has been acknowledged and will be put through the Review Process to be put to the Board Meeting on 8.6.22. They did ask if there was a bench near to the Clock in the garden for people to sit on and have reflection time as this would be looked upon favorably by the Board. The councillors agreed that it would be possible to site a new bench near to the clock either in the garden or just outside the wall and that they would agree in principle to purchasing a new bench for this purpose.
16. Jubilee Celebrations for 2022 :
Jubilee Celebrations 2nd – 5th June 2022. Councillor John Howlett gave a resume of the last meeting held on 22nd February 2022 and 3rd March 2022 at the Red Lion. The celebrations will start at 2pm on Saturday 4th June. Keith Bishop will be responsible for all music on the day. He will be situated at the Red Lion. The Red Lion will be open 11am to 11pm with a variety of dishes available on the menu, including beefburgers, chips, jacket potatoes and a variety of puddings. The Church will host a History Exhibition of previous Royal Celebrations, and serve refreshments ie tea, coffee & cake from 2-6pm. Skinners icecream has agreed in principle to attend. They open their diary on 1.4.22. They will be asked to attend 3-5pm. No Bouncy Castle. Evergreens will be invited to attend with hopefully a ride on train that can be set up on the road. Outdoor Games can be set up in the garden at the Red Lion. Local traders / crafters will be invited to have stalls. 200 metres of Bunting and 100 hand held flags have been ordered, kindly donated by Keith.
Fundraising : Table Top sale 22nd January 2022 raised £152.64, Bingo 12th February raised £379.92.
Another Table Top Sale to be held on 19th March, another session of afternoon Bingo to be held on 30th April.
Raffle & tombola prizes are required for both events.
Commemorative Jubilee gifts for the children of the village, aged 0 – 18 years are to be Royal Mint £5 coins.
Straw Bales have been ordered but will need to be collected from Stickney and returned on the Sunday. So a trailer is needed – Noel Bradley or Graham Howsam to be asked if they could help.
The Itinery is to be set at the next meeting on 22nd March 2022, and this will be published in the big May newsletter.
17. Planning: none since last meeting
18. Correspondence received for this meeting but not covered on the Agenda: None
19. Other Business – matters for next agenda: War Memorial Clock funding update; Jubilee celebrations; replace assets ie. Noticeboard; discuss and agree updated Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Code of Conduct and Grant Form.
20. The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.12pm.
Date and time of next meeting: the Annual Meeting of the Parish will be held on 10th May 2022 at 7.30pm.
The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 17th May at 7.30pm.
APPENDIX 1. LCC Report March 8th 2022
County Councillor Wendy Bowkett
County council have had to put a revised budget proposal for 2022/23, despite an increase in government funding the council face a £22 million shortfall over the following three financial years.
We understand this is also a difficult time for many families, with rising energy bills, but we must maintain our frontline services which residents rely on.
We estimate our adult care will increase by around £13.5 million in 22/23, therefore we are still proposing a 3% increase in adult care. Meanwhile it is looking unlikely government are going to reverse last year's cut in highways funding which is leaving a £12 million shortfall.
We know that roads are a priority to residents, so we have little choice but to step in and plug the gap, as a result we are now proposing a further 2% increase in general council tax to make up the shortfall. If you want more details on this please go to www.Lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/930/revised-budget-proposals-for-2022-23
Lincolnshire county council has been chosen for a government pilot project aimed at ensuring school meals meet national guidance supporting pupils healthy and well-being. This pilot will work with our local food authority food safety inspectors to check schools are meeting the standards required.
The government also plan to launch a curriculum and training to ensure all children leave school with practical ability to cook 6 basics meals.
The collection museum - Space to Earth.
Explore our planet like never before with the new exhibition coming to Lincoln's collection museum from Saturday 5th March. For this exhibition, the collection is asking visitors to pay what you decide, to enable as many people as possible to experience this phenomenal artwork. Plan your visit to the collection at www.thecollectionmuseum.com
Or find The Collection and Usher Gallery on Facebook, twitter and instagram, Get ready to see the world at The Collection Museum.
ELDC are proposing a 3.26% increase in council tax, which is a £4.95 increase on last year, so for a band d property including parish precepts the cost will be £226.70 per year.
How the council tax is split is as follows,
ELDC £156.69
LCC £1432.17
Police and crime £276.30
Town and parish's £70.01
A total of £1935.17 which in total is a £85.49 increase per year.
Please if you have any issues please get in touch
Wendy
01754 880388
cllrw.bowkett@lincolnshire.gov.uk
APPENDIX 2 - POLICE REPORT please see Parish Information , Wolds Police Neighbourhood Policing Team - Spilsby NPT Newsletter March 2022