2024 - 2025 Parish Council Meeting Minutes

MINUTES – 16 th April 2024
WITHERN WITH STAIN & TOTHILL PARISH COUNCIL

The attendees were Cllr S Acklam, Cllr J Harvey Brown, Cllr G Henderson Blair, Cllr A
Jenkinson, and Cllr F Donner.
Others: Sarah Kennett (Clerk), Cllr Noi Sear (LLC), two members of the public
Public Session – Opened at 7.02 pm – No comments, so session closed.
1. Apologies for absences – None received
2. Correspondance: None received
3. To approve the minutes of the previous meeting – 5 th March 2024
a. Resolved an accurate representation of the meeting – Cllr Donner Proposed Cllr
Jenkinson - Seconded

4. Planning applications – Environmental Impact Assessment (E.E.C. Directive
85/337/E.E.C. as amended by Council Directive 9... - THE RED LION, MAIN ROAD,
WITHERN, ALFORD, LN13 0NB.
a. Cllr Acklam discussed that the council has accepted that an environmental
impact assessment was unnecessary.
b. The current application states they want to put 11 houses on the site.
5. Update from those minutes – none given
6. Theddlethorpe GDF – No new updates at present. There is no information about the
community partnership unless it is made public. Another round of roadshows is
proposed in the area. The focus of these are Safety and Geology.
7. Updates from EDLC and LCC representatives – LCC – Cllr Noi Sear
a. Police Crime commissioner election next month.
b. The zebra crossing outside the school is on the plan.
c. Bank hub is coming to Mablethorpe, and there will be different banks at each
time.
d. Barclays have proposed coming to the Post Office in Mablethorpe as a hub.
e. New dentist coming to Mablethorpe – to be coming soon
f. More times are now available for the bus from Mablethorpe to Louth 50 and
50a. The call connect service is still available on this route.
g. A grant is now available for footpaths and roundabouts on highways. New
highway projects can apply for funding from the NWS.
h. Community grant is available – Speak to Cllr Noi Sear
i. Tom Aston ELDC – Environmental Issues.
j. New bench – add a request via Fix My Street

8. Financial:
a. To approve/pay the following and confirm the online payment with signature:
i. Clerk Salary - April £126.40 (paid 24/25)
ii. HMRC £2.00 (paid (24/25)
iii. No pylons
Banners Expenses S kennett £51.32 (paid 23/24)
iv. Expenses Certified copies SA £12.75 (paid 23/24)
v. New battery for Parish Phone £11.29 (tbp)

Resolved that these are approved: proposed Cllr Acklam; seconded Cllr Donner
b. End of year bank reconciliation Spreadsheet figure £4,405.06, bank account figure
£4,405.06
c. £4,000 transferred to the Savings account with the Cambridge Building Society to earn
interest.
d. Suggest £500 kept in the current account for expenditure and all other funds transferred
to the savings account when the precept is paid. This will ensure maximum interest on
Parish funds at all times.
e. The savings account is an instant access account.
f. The clerk seeks authorisation from the Council to move funds between the accounts and
report on this at the next meeting.
Resolved that these are approved: Approved by all
9. Speed watch update – no new updates.
10. War Memorial Insurance – currently insured for £4889.16. The current cost to replace is
estimated to be around £90,000.
Resolved: The clerk will research some potential quotes to see what effect this might have.
11. To approve the insurance renewal due 1 st June 2024 - £238.87
Resolved approved: Approved by all
12. Gov. UK email address – current price for the first 1000 to adopt. This is at a discount of £100 +
VAT. I need to register the Clerk for the online webinar if all are happy to proceed. Different
providers have different costs, for example:

It has been resolved to explore this further and keep this to the lowest-cost option. The clerk will
attend the introductory session on Thursday, April 25th, to learn about the costs and options
available to us.
13. Grimsby to Walpole National grid upgrade
a. Removal of banners now that the first consultation is completed—Cllr Acklam feels that
the banners need to be removed as the wind is damaging them, and they are becoming
familiar.
b. No response was received to the letters sent by the council to NG.
Resolved to be removed and kept safe, then put back at the next consultation. Approved by all
14. William Jones Foundation – John Hughes, Chair of the William Jones Foundation. (see
statement from the William Jones Foundation at the end of the minutes)
a. The foundation owns 4.5 acres of land from William Jones' initial investment of £50. In
1998, the William Jones Foundation was given charitable status.
b. The parish council is responsible for ratifying the trustees.
c. In March 2024, Robert Key resigned as Chairman and as a trustee.
d. At the next Foundation meeting, Sarah Kennett and Hollie Pocklington-Harvey will be
invited to attend and observe the meeting.
e. Any interested parties will be ratified at the next Parish Council Meeting.
f. The trustees are open to suggestions for the distribution of the funds.
g. Suggested that something is placed in the newsletter.

15. Annual Review of Policies: all policies have been sent to councillors in advance of the meeting
for checking:
a. Risk Assessment
b. Standing orders
c. Financial Regulations
d. Code of Conduct
e. Complaints procedure
f. Disciplinary procedure
g. Freedom of Information
h. Grievance Policy
i. Publication Policy
j. Expenses Policy
Resolved All approved: Proposed S Acklam, Seconded Cllr J Harvey-Brown
16. Dates of meetings for 2024/ 2025 – updated from the Agenda
a. Annual Parish Council Meeting 28 th May
b. Annual Parish Meeting 28 th May
c. 9 th July 2024
d. 20 th August 2024
e. 1 st October 2024
f. 12 th November 2024
g. 17 th December 2025
h. 4 th February 2025
i. 18 th March 2025
j. 29 th April 2025
k. 27 th May 2025 – Annual Parish Council Meeting
17. Any other matters for inclusion in the following agenda
a. October Litter pick
Meeting Closed at 8.08 pm.
Statement to Parish Council April 16 th, 2024 – William Jones Foundation
Just about 300 years ago, William Jones, vicar of St Margaret’s, left a legacy of £50 to purchase land,
the rental income of which was to help parish children learn to read. The foundation owns 4.5 acres
spread over two sites in Skidbrooke and South Somercotes. At the same time, his friend George
Stovin left £100, which was eventually used to buy railway stock, the dividends from which would be
used to assist the poor children of the parish. Monies available were distributed either by the school
or by the church.
In 1998, The Charity Commissioners accepted the William Jones Foundation as having charitable
status, not George Stovin. This also recognised that these were both independent entities entitled to
make their own decisions, with one caveat that the Parish Council has the
duty to ratify any potential trustees.

In 2020, the trustees resolved to close George Stovin's non-interest-bearing account and incorporate
the name into the William Jones Foundation. The PC was informed of this decision by letter on
January 11, 2021. The Foundation's last substantial grant was almost £2000 to assist St Margaret’s
School in roofing their outside stage area.
In March of this year, Robert Key resigned as chairman and as a trustee of the foundation. I have
been elected to that role, along with being the administrator dealing with the Charity
Commissioners. We now have three trustees: Jackie Harvey -Brown, Ann and myself; The
commissioners have informed me that it is possible to operate with just two, but I would prefer
more. We have had interest from Sarah Kennett and Hollie Pocklington-Harvey. The trustees will
invite them to attend the next meeting as observers before ratification at the next Parish Council
meeting.