2024-25 Minutes

MINUTES OF WILSFORD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 09 JULY 2024 AT 7.00PM IN THE SMALL ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL

Present.

Cllr Davey(Chair) Cllr Sirs(Vice-Chair), Cllrs Corner, Harrison, Blankley, Reseigh and Miller

In Attendance.   County/District Cllr A Hagues, 2 members of the public and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk

Public Forum.

A new village website is being set up and this was demonstrated at the meeting. A lot of hard work had been put into this and it was hoped this would go live in September.  Jody Baker was thanked for all her hard work towards this project.

The Open Gardens event was to take place this weekend coming. The organiser had asked if vehicles could park on the hard standing area inside the vehicle access gate to the Playing Field as additional car parking space. Cllrs had no objections as long as it was marked and made clear that it was only the hardstanding for parking.

The meeting began at 7.15pm

1.Chair’s Welcome. The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apologies for Absence. None.

3.Declarations of Interest. None.

4.To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11 June 2024. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved:  that the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11 June 2024 be accepted as a true record. These were signed by the Vice-Chair.

5.Reports from County Cllr/District Cllr.

a. County Cllr Hagues told the meeting LCC were expected to spend around £6 million on resurfacing roads this year. To date the list had not yet been finalised.

6.Reports from Outside Bodies.

a. Allotments – nothing to report.

b. Biodiversity – Cllr Miller told the meeting that the first orchid had been seen on the long meadow bank. Four or five other species were now also starting to show through. 

Cllr Miller had requested ‘Life on the Verge’ identification booklets. These were available from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust,  and we would just need to pay the postage. 

Concern was shown by Cllrs  when told that Cllr Miller and her husband had  recently been subjected to a tirade of abuse from a resident. Their vehicle had  also been damaged and it appeared to be connected to the  resident’s feeling about the way the Council conducts its business. Cllr Miller leads the Biodiversity & Naturehood Programme which is showing wonderful results with many new species being noted. 

Similar circumstances led the village grass cutting contractor to resign mid-season. The Council are now employing a temporary grass contractor who, because of current weather conditions, is cutting the grass twice a month, resulting in much higher costs.

Cllr Miller had heard nothing further from Lincs Rural housing about recording a video showing a 2-year plan to encourage nature. She said she had submitted her entry form to the Environmental Awards, a pity the Orchid appeared after the form had been submitted.  The awards ceremony takes place in September.

Cllr Miller showed the Parish Council the Stihl cordless hedge trimmer which was required. She said the other tools were the same make, so the batteries were all interchangeable.  It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to order the cordless hedge trimmer.

c. Cemetery – nothing to report.

d. CLT – The utilities were still being checked, then the bench would be sited on Kelby Lane.

e. Playing Field -  The Wendy House was still a concern, and Cllrs were  not sure whether this could be repaired. Cllrs would visit the site on Friday morning and decide whether this can be repaired or not. The grass also needed cutting away from the safety surfacing and this would be investigated.

A complaint had been received from a parishioner about dog bins and dog waste at the playing fields. After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to write back to the complainant.

f. St Mary’s Church – The new gate had been fitted.

g. Village Hall – Cllrs were told there would be quite a disruption as the new kitchen is fitted. Hirers had been informed. Work was due to commence August 19.

7. Parish Clerk Update.

a. Suggestions from the Wilsford Event had been circulated to all Cllrs. Cllrs discussed where to put the Jubilee Bench. There were two options, outside the village hall or near the village hall entrance at the end of the long meadow by the trees. It was decided to take a vote by a show of hands, resulting in  3 outside village hall and 4 near the village entrance. Therefore,  it was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: the bench would be placed near the village hall entrance at the end of the long meadow by the trees.
                     
b. Cllrs were very impressed with the work carried out by Quickline (OCU Opals Group) Although there had been disruptions, the workers were polite and very helpful to residents. Surfacing dressing was neat and efficient and they cleared everything away. It appeared the work would finish well ahead of schedule. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to write and thank them.

8.Correspondence.

a. Rights of Way Survey – circulated to all Cllrs.

b. LALC e-news – circulated to all Cllrs.

c. NKDC June 2024 newsletter – circulated to all Cllrs.

d. LCC Town and Parish newsletter – circulated to all Cllrs.

e. NBB Recycled Furniture

f. Clerks and Councils direct

g. S19 Flood Investigations carried our 21-23 May. For information only.

h. LALC Summer Conference & AGM Belton Woods Hotel 24.07.24

i. Notification of Wilsford crossing closure 11.00pm 30.07.24 to 6.00am 31.07.24

9.Planning.

a. 24/0758/TCA Planning application to fell Willow Tree 38 Main Street. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved:

b. 24/0773/TCA Planning application to fell and remove stump by grinding Conifer 43 Main Street. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved:

10.The Clerk had adapted and updated policies from NALC templates, which had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept the following adapted and updated policies en-bloc

•   Complaints Procedure
•   Grievance Policy
•   Internal Control Statement for year ending 31.03.25.
•   Disciplinary Procedure
•   Publication Scheme

11.Finance.

a. The Bank Reconciliations and Cashbook to 30 June 2024 had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: that the Bank Reconciliations and Cashbook to 30 June 2024 be accepted as a true record. These were signed by the Chair.

b. The Wilsford Website Domain was up for renewal. In June 2020 it had been agreed that the parish council would pay for the domain when it was up for renewal. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to pay for the domain. This had been added to the Approval List.

c. The Approval List for BACS payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and 

Resolved: to accept the Approval List for BACS Payments and authorise the Clerk to make the payments. This was signed by the Chair.

d. The Clerk confirmed that £25 compensation had been paid by Lloyds Bank for letter ‘sent in error’.

e. Interest on accounts in the bank were very low. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: the Clerk investigate an investment account for some of the money held.

f. The Clerk told the meeting that the next meeting would include the preparation of the budget for 2025/2026.

12.Reports from Cllrs:

a. Cllr Miller reminded Cllrs that we had agreed to investigate who owns the bank at The Crescent opposite 38 Main Street. The hedge was full of ivy. Cllr Hagues agreed to ask Highways.

13.Training.

a. LALC Training Bulletin June 2024 had been circulated to all Cllrs. Anyone wishing to attend any should contact the Clerk.

14.Date of Next Meeting. 

a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 06 August at 7.00pm the small room of the village hall.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30pm

It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the  meeting which took place in the small room of the village hall on 09 July 2024 and do not  become minutes of Wilsford Parish Council until accepted or otherwise at the meeting.