Minutes May 2023

WITHERN WITH STAIN & TOTHILL PARISH COUNCIL
www.withernstain.uk

Parish Clerk:         Email: parishclerkwithernstain@gmail.com
Sarah Kennett                                       (parish clerk withern stain at gmail dot com)
    

DRAFT MINUTES

Attendees: Simon Acklam, Alexandra Blomley, Jackie Harvey-Brown, Alan Jenkinson, Fred Donner, Cllr Noi Sear, Sarah Kennett (clerk), 1 Member of the public

Public Forum: No comments or questions

1.    Election of Chair– to elect a Chair and sign the declaration form,  
a.    Resolved: AJ Proposed Simon Acklam, JH seconded

2.    Election of Vice-Chair – to elect a Vice-Chair and sign the declaration form
a.    Resolved: SA Proposed, AJ Seconded

3.    Confirm the Clerk as the Responsible Finance Officer for FY2023/24
a.    Resolved: JH Proposed, SA Seconded

4.    Current Vacancies and Co-option – Currently 3 vacancies
a.    Fred Donner put his name forward for Co-option, all in favour – co-opted

5.    Apologies for the absence
Travis Hesketh as the new ELDC councillor

6.    Review of declarations of interest
a.    All councillors are to review the declarations of interest forms on file – All confirmed as correct.

7.    To approve the minutes of the previous meeting – 4th April 2023 
a.    Resolved: Approved

8.    Update from those minutes
a.    Theddlethorpe – Email from Richard Outram (NFLA)
i.    The email was discussed to declare ourselves nuclear-free and out of the community partnership. It was discussed that this is outside the community's best interests to represent the community's views at this point.
ii.    SA discussed the last community partnership meeting; sitting manager from the Canadian project was at the meeting. They have been doing this for the past 15 years. This was in a very remote location and with a population of only 12 people. They had 21 areas and narrowed it to 2 sites. The final site will be selected next year. 
1.    SA is pushing to find out the plans if there is no willing community. 
2.    SA is also pushing for the siting plan work schedule.
3.    SA has also asked that there is a survey done of tourists to say if they wouldn’t come to the area if the GDF is sited. – This is on the agenda for the next meeting.
b.    Village Hall – SA And clerk to send a letter as agreed

9.    Updates from ELDC and LCC representatives – Statement from Travis Hesketh
a.    ELDC – statement read out and attached as an appendix
i.    SA and AB will have a meeting with Travis
b.    LCC – 
i.    £5,000 grant for a public footpath, 
ii.    Mablethorpe, Dementia Café 10 – 12, 
iii.    Ageless and Agile (on the Parish Website)

10.    To approve Standing orders, Financial regulations, Complaints procedures, certificate of exemption - AGAR and Risk Assessment. -  No amendments from last year.
a.    Financial Regulations – Remove Address from the bottom
b.    RESOLVED: AJ Proposed, JH Seconded

11.    LALC training plan – To review the training plan for the coming year. A decision will be needed on subscription to this. Cost to Withern and Stain Parish Council - £100 + £20 VAT. If needed, we will review this; at this point in time will not renew.

12.    Planning applications – None 

13.    Pavements and Hedges – (Request from Councillor Harvey Brown)

a.    Hedges in the village are overgrown on the footpath – Note in the newsletter that all hedges must be cut to allow pavement users. To avoid us having to contact other authorities.
b.    Pavement cracking on that road – Fix my street

14.    Hedgehog Highway – Discussed and feel that this area does not need

15.    Financial:
a.    To approve/pay the following and produce cheques for signature:
i.    Clerk Salary     - April and May        £213.80
ii.    HMRC                £4.66 (Total to end of May – Set up DD)
iii.    Resolved: SA Proposed, AJ Seconded

b.    Annual Governance and Accounts Return (AGAR) 
i.    To approve Internal Audit  - £35 depending on the work needed
ii.    Resolved: FD Proposed, SA Seconded

c.    To approve the next payment maintenance contract for Robert Aldrich – 
i.    £827 for grass cutting and maintenance 
ii.    Resolved: FD Proposed, SA Seconded

d.    Review the Insurance cover for the year 
i.    Payment of Zurich Insurance approval 2nd Year - £195.89 (please note this price can go up and down each year even in a 5-year LTA)
ii.    Resolved: SA Proposed, AJ Seconded

e.    To approve the Bank Reconciliation for year-end and Accounting Statement 2022/2023 and Annual Governance Statement
i.    Resolved: SA Proposed, AJ Seconded

f.    Final Budget for 2023/2024
i.    Resolved: FD Proposed, SA Seconded


16.    Coronation of King Charles – Suggested plaque on the noticeboard. Clerk to send all the proposed ideas. Charity in Lincoln may be able to make this for us.

17.    Speed watch update – less over the winter; the last event had 30% speeding

18.    Speed limit extension – send to Councillor Sear 

19.    Any other matters for inclusion in the next agenda  

20.    Dates of next meetings:

a.    27th June 2023
b.    8th August 2023
c.    19th September 2023
d.    31st October 2023
e.    12th December 2023
 
Meeting Closed 19.43