May 2023 Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL at STICKFORD Community Centre , Tuesday 16th May 2023 @ 7.30pm
The MINUTES
No. of Residents present : 2 Official attendees read Y for attending N for non-attendance
Chairman Councillor Mrs Lesley Reeson Y
Vice Chairman Councillor Mr John Howlett Y
Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant Y
Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood Y
Councillor vacancy
Councillor vacancy
Councillor vacancy
Parish Clerk Nicki George Y
Lincs C Councillor Mrs W Bowkett N
ELDC Councillor Mr Terry Taylor Y
1. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
2. Apologies for absence and reasons accepted : LCC Councillor Wendy Bowkett
3. Public Forum:
a) A resident made an apology for how a subject was discussed at the last meeting and how his intention could be misunderstood. This apology was accepted and agreed that different views and ideas should and need to be brought forward and discussed.
b) There is still an issue with badgers along Catchwater Bank up towards The Staunch. The clerk has requested that photos be taken of the area and sent to her via email so that it can be logged on ‘Fix My Street’. The Clerk will take a walk up there when possible to take some photos.
4. There was no declaration of interest.
5. Election of Officers: The clerk called out each position and requested and received a proposer and a seconder for each position. The list of positions is Appendix 1 to these minutes.
6. Report from Mrs Wendy Bowkett, Lincolnshire County Councillor: Report attached as Appendix 2.
7. Report from Mr Terry Taylor, ELDC Councillor: Report attached as Appendix 3.
Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival starts on 20th May 2023, until 11th June 2023, to include many different outdoor activities.
Mablethorpe, Sutton on Sea Centra Beach and Skegness Central Beach have all been awarded Blue Flags for cleanliness.
8. Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on 14th March 2023 were read and approved.
Proposed by Councillor Clive Kingswood, Seconded by Councillor Pam Bryant
9. Matters Arising from the minutes of 14th March 2023.
a) SPC has not been notified of the planning application for Fairholme, Hagnaby Lane as yet. It has been submitted by the resident. Terry will chase it up.
b) The trailer and parked car issues along Hagnaby Road will be followed up with Wendy Bowkett , along with looking at getting double yellow lines on the bend.
c) Play equipment is being investigated and discussed by the Community Centre.
d) Dog Warden has been contacted by the clerk and laminated signs are ready to be put up. Clerk can print them and laminate so if more are needed please make contact.
e) The bench is ready to be sited near to the War Memorial Clock. Clerk to arrange for it to be fixed in place.
10. Matters Arising from 9th May 2023 minutes:
• Litter Bin – request to ELDC for a new/replacement bin by the bus shelter on A16 near Peach Wood Motors
• Potholes – ongoing. Keep reporting on ‘Fix My Street’
• 2 men have been spotted walking around the village and knocking on doors within the last few days. Clerk to contact the PCSO.
• Fundraising for a new defibrillator is being held at the Red Lion on 10th June 2023, along with other planned activities. The Council have advised that a separate committee be formed , along with a separate bank account. Also advised to contact LIVES for advice and to be mindful that a power supply is required and regular upkeep of the equipment and supplies is needed.
11. Zurich Insurance – Annual renewal
Annual renewal of existing policy is due to be £376.73
Zurich have issued a new policy for Parish Councils : £277.00 annual fee covering £15,000 all contents owned by the council, excluding any other items specified on the schedule, subject to the single article limit. Excess £100.
£24,000 cover for monuments, memorials and statues. Excess £250.
Single article limits applicable : £2000 computer equipment, £2500 fine art & jewellery, £2500 civic regalia.
All councillors were sent this information by the Clerk ahead of the meeting and all have read through the details and in agreement that this cover is sufficient for the Councils current needs.
12. Finance :
a) payments due to be paid :
a) £64.00 Community Centre Hire – November 2022 to March 2023
b) £80.00 Minus 2 – Band for Coronation Party 6th May 2023
c) £106.00 Skinners Ice Cream – Coronation Party 6th May 2023
d) £8.87 petrol for mower/strimmer
e) £140.00 Stickford Community Centre – ELDC Grant
f) £100.00 Stickford Local History Group – ELDC Grant
g) £ 277.00 Zurich Insurance
h) £ 150.00 Jayne Bonsor – Internal Audit
i) £26.69 other expenses relating to the Coronation – tea, coffee , refreshments
All agreed to pay all of the above. Cheques issued and signed.
Precept has been received correctly £4152.00
VAT refund received £435.36
Allotments April 2023 £1312.50
Current account balance as at 30/4/23 = £20,104.08
Deposit account balance as at 30/4/23 = £8112.56
2 x grants of £45.00 for Stickford Ladies Social Circle and Keals Club included in the Precept will be issued at the next meeting in July.
13. Internal Audit Report
All completed in early May by Jayne Bonsor. 2 issues have been raised with the Clerk :
1) the Standing Orders and Financial Regs do not tally with regards to the rules over quotes required when spending £100+. Clerk will amend and bring to the next meeting in July for approval.
2) VAT refund is out by approx. £7. Clerk understands the issue and acknowledges that this is still a new area of learning.
14. AGAR figures have been prepared and form completed by Clerk. Internal Auditor has agreed the figures and signed it so it is ready along with her reports to be sent to PKF Littlejohn, External Auditor. Form 3 has to be completed and submitted this year as the incorrect issuing of the Precept last year has taken us over the threshold, and we are unable to apply for an Exemption Certificate. LALC advise that a fee may be incurred by PKF Littlejohn for this and if so, this must be reclaimed from ELDC as the error was theirs.
All councillors agreed for the AGAR forms to be signed by the Chairman and the Clerk and be sent to External Auditor.
15. Dates of the period for the exercise of Public Rights :
Clerk has completed paperwork for the External Auditor and dates are : 5th June to 14th July 2023
16. Noticeboard and Bus Shelters
Quotes have been requested and chased , from 2 local builders but neither have submitted an actual quote.
Councillors discussed further the quotes received for metal bus shelters and noticeboard. This item is to be put on the next Agenda to discuss further before confirming the order.
Clerk is also to confirm if the old wooden bus shelters will need to be removed and disposed of before the new ones are erected.
17. Planning
Mr Mrs Kalinowska-Alichnewicz
Bar Green Cottage, Main Road, Stickney PE22 8EH
Planning Application Number S/169/00692/23
Full Planning Permission.
R.H Developments Ltd
Shenzi, Fen Road, Stickford. Boston PE22 8EX
Planning Application S/168/00595/23
Awaiting appeal decision
Miss Laura Picker
Longacre, Church Road, Boston. PE22 8EN
Planning Application S/168/00205/23
Awaiting decision
18. War Memorial update – to be completed by the end of May / early June.
A meeting needs to be called early June to discuss the payments to the repairers and the Grant monies.
Clerk to book the Community Centre for 6th June and prepare and issue an Agenda.
Terry Taylor left the meeting at 21.34
19. Coronation
All very happy with how the day went – considering the weather.
Mugs and medals have been distributed by several people around the village to the children. - 38
A date is to be set, possibly mid-July, for a get to together in the Community Centre to view the videos from the Jubilee and the Coronation. Fish & Chips to be priced up. Approx. £600 remains after the sale of the remaining mugs and medals – 12.
20. Correspondence – items that are not included on the agenda :
• Annual Risk Assessments have been done on the Strimmer and the Mower, along with the Coronation Day events.
• The Annual Risk Assessment of the village has been carried out by the Chairman. Bus Shelters are to be replaced this coming year. Recycling bins have been removed. Clerk to contact ELDC to request that the litter bin that remains at that site be moved to the bus shelter near to Peachwood Cars.
• Letter received from Hedgehogs R Us – giving details of a new Highway Project ie. Giving hedgehogs a 5 inch gap in a fence so that they have access between gardens. Please contact Clerk for more details.
• Form received from LALC Management Committee – Nomination form, 4 yearly nomination for representatives. n/a
• Email received from the Pelican Trust with details they offer of items made from wood.
• Email received from a resident re rubbish collection along Catchwater Bank and the issue of the naming of Catchwater Bank. Both issues have been raised with Terry Taylor, ELDC and Wendy Bowkett, LCC at the Annual Meeting of the Parish on 9th May 2023. Clerk will follow both issues up.
21. All councillors to report on any other issues not included in the Agenda – none
22. Date of next meeting – 11th July 2023
Items for Next Agenda :
1) Bus shelters and noticeboard
2) GDPR
3) £45 grant for Stickford Ladies Social Circle and Keals Club
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.48pm.
Appendix 1
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
ELECTION OF OFFICERS for 2023
Annual Parish Council Meeting 16th May 2023
For year 2023 to 2024 up to the next Annual Parish Meeting in MAY 2024
1. Position of CHAIRMAN
Elected Name: Lesley Reeson
Proposed by Councillor : Pam Bryant; Seconded by Councillor : John Howlett
2. Position of VICE- CHAIRMAN
Elected Name: John Howlett
Proposed by Councillor : Pam Bryant; Seconded by Councillor : Clive Kingswood
3. Position of Environment officer
Elected Name: Lesley Reeson
Proposed by Councillor : Clive Kingswood; Seconded by Councillor : John Howlett
4. Parish Assets Officer
Elected Name : John Howlett
Proposed by Councillor : Lesley Reeson; Seconded by Councillor : Clive Kingswood
5. Position of Finance Risk Assessment Officer
Elected Name: Nicki George , Parish Clerk
John Howlett to be back up Finance Risk Assessment Officer
Proposed by Councillor ; Lesley Reeson; Seconded by Councillor : Pam Bryant
Position of Internal Auditor
Elected Name: Jayne Bonsor
Proposed by all Councillors
Yes/No YES
Councillors with special responsibilities:
Planning
John Howlett
Proposer: Lesley Reeson; Seconder: Clive Kingswood
War Memorial Clock
John Howlett
Proposer: Lesley Reeson; Seconder: Pam Bryant
LALC
Lesley Reeson
Proposer: Clive Kingswood; Seconder: Pam Bryant
Community Centre
Pam Bryant
Proposer: Lesley Reeson; Seconder: John Howlett
Trustees of Stickford Charities – all councillors agreed to another 4 years term
Appendix 2
Lincolnshire County Councillor Wendy Bowkett Annual Report
It has been a pleasure to work with you over the past year, as always your support is greatly received and working together we can get things done.
I am pleased to tell you the Cul de sac / Fen Road to the A 16 has been included in the Carriageway resurfacing programme for 23/24. I know this has been an issue since I was elected having secured the Fen Road section in the last program, I’m pleased the second section has now been funded and included.
I know speeding along the A16 continues to be an issue, I will keep raising the issue with highways officers.
In our budget this year a total of £93 million has been put into highways, which includes an extra £7 million which LCC have added through the budget. This will help, in improving unclassified roads, which we know is well needed in some places.
21,387 reports in the last week on fix my street, 28,629 fixed in the last month.
Any issues you see around the community, with potholes, drainage, street lightening to name a few please report in fix my street or call highways on 01522 552222 or myself on 07917494478.
Coastal car parks now have the new payment system, it runs from Easter to 31st October. Anderby Creek, Chapel six marshes, Huttoft, Marsh Yard and Wolla Bank you can now pay by card and the ticket as long as in time, can be used in the different car parks.
As my role in Adult Care and Public Health Exec Member, we have secured £4 million pounds to further the work with Alcohol and drug treatment across the county. This is very important work and am sad to say since Covid there is a real problem with excessive alcohol consumption, so hopefully this can reach even more people than before.
The adult care budget for 23/24 is £169 million and the budget for children’s services is £98 million, these are statuary services but just shows you how much money is needed to run our county services.
The latest Covid booster vaccine is now available for the over 75s and anyone with a weakened immune system, you should be contacted to book by the NHS app or a phone call or you can go on the NHS.gov site or call 119 free of charge.
Please as always contact me with any issues.
Wendy
Cllr Wendy Bowkett
Wainfleet and Spilsby Ward
cllrw.Bowkett@lincolnshire.gov.uk
07927494478
Appendix 3
ELDC REPORT
Being informed that I was unopposed at the recent elections was brilliant news for me. It means that I can continue working with the seven parishes, that I represent, to assist residents with their concerns, make representations to improve the areas where they live and strive to ensure they receive the best services possible.
Since the previous election, district councillors have worked with and supported officers to make positive and constructive decisions, this has enabled much improved services and a healthy surplus which I am confident will provide even better services in the forthcoming year.
Now that I have been appointed for a full term, I want to explore ways to reach out to residents across the ward and make it as easy as possible for them to contact me. I am also hopeful that the seven parish councils will be willing to assist me in conducting a survey, where residents can share their views on the services that ELDC deliver and which are the most important to them, and also, what improvements they would like to see in the parishes where they live.
I am proud and honoured to have the opportunity to serve the Halton Holegate Ward and I can’t wait to get started.
Terry
Cllr Terry Taylor JP
ELDC representative for Halton Holegate Ward