2025 Minutes

Present

Present

Parish Councillors:

Clare Cowen (CC)    

10 Parishioners Present

Andy Wilkes (AW)

Will Stephenson (WS)

County Councillor Rob Kendrick

Bobby Neaum (BN)

Stuart Quinn (SQ) Chair

Parish Clerk

Public Session (PS)

Speeding Action Update

A detailed discussion took place with regard to SID speeding records, indicating high levels of speeding through the Village on both entrances to the village and included the following incidents/concerns :

• A child had been involved in a collision near the school
• Parish Councils have limited ability to take action without the agreement of the Road Safety Partnership (RSP) and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC).
• The PC fully supports attempts to reduce the speed limits and improved road conditions.
• The Parish Council have purchased additional speed signs and stickers for bins supplied by RSP.
• Consideration being given to purchase an additional SID
• Road resurfacing is planned in the future by LCC Highways although date not confirmed yet
• Possible increase street lighting which affects policy on speed limits
• Serious concerns about children being walked to school
• Community Speed Watch (CSW) - Newsletter included an article to ask for volunteers
• Concerns that the CSW is an attempt to pass responsibility on to Communities and therefore police enforcement not a priority
• Use of speed vans to be requested
• CC Kendrick has submitted a request for a crossing near the school
• Suggestion of mirrors for exiting the junction near the school
• Suggested use of Village Gates which appear to have worked in other areas

Social Media Presence

The Parish Council are looking into this currently.

Social Media Policy

This is to be put on Website.

Defib Report

The defib was used recently and concerns raised as two sets of pads were in the box, the correct ones and one other set. An investigation was launched to look into the incident and the existence of a set of pads not purchased by the PC and also review the inspection process. Parishioners involved requested a copy of the report. It was confirmed that the defib is on the system. Consideration was also given to whether the code should be on the box.  

A parishioner also raised the issue of whether the local care home should contribute when the defib is used

Carried Forward from Previous meeting

School to be approached re: assisted crossing

WS

Minute

Ref

Actions from this meeting

Action by

Parish

County Councillor Kendrick to chase the survey promised by the RSP and request a speed van for Martin. He will also follow up his submission for a crossing near the school. A request was made for an update before the next meeting from Cllr. Kendrick

RK

Clerk to ensure Social Media Policy is on the website

Clerk

Defib report to be updated/corrected and sent to those involved in the next few days.

WS

Councillor to chase cleaning of the second memorial

SQ

7

Audit Papers to be sent – Public Notice Displayed

Clerk

10.1

Latest Asset List to be sent to the full Council

Clerk

10.2

Village Clock to be accessed for valuation

BN

11

Documents to be reviewed and put on the website.

Clerk WJ

12.3

Clerk to write to Planning re: ‘mobile’ building.

Clerk

13

Clerk to report flytipping again on Fixmystreet

Clerk

14.2

Cllr. to update on Woodland

WJ

14.3

Quotes for painting on playpark

Clerk

14.4

Cllr. to attend Fete meeting on the 17th June

SQ

14.5

Cllr. to collate stats in the future for action

WJ WS

15.3

All agreed payments to be made

Clerk

15.4.2

Donation payments to be made to the church and Mates

Clerk

15.4.3

Litter picking map and agreement to be drafted

WS Clerk

15.5

Phone for Clerk to be sourced, contract or pay as you go

Clerk

15.6

Work on storage and archiving to continue

Clerk

15.7

Training date to be sent to Monitoring Officer

Clerk

15.8

2 Councillors to ensure they have access to .gov email account by discussing with colleagues on the Council.

BN    SQ

Minute Ref

Action By

1

Chair’s Annual report

The chair read out the annual report. Copy is available on request and it reflected the recent newsletter article.

Thanks, given to Clerk for all her hard work

2

Election of Chair

Cllr. Will Jenkins elected as Chair in his absence

Nominated by:             WS                     Seconded:  AW

All Agreed

Election of Vice Chair

Cllr. Bobby Neaum elected as Vice Chair

Nominated by:       WS                          Seconded:    CC

All agreed

BN signed acceptance of office form and chaired the meeting in the absence of the new chair.

WJ to sign Acceptance Form on his return

Thanks, given to CC for her role as Chair

3

Apologies

WJ and District Councillor Lawrence

4

Declarations of Interests

CC on Mates – funding application

5

Previous Minutes

Accepted as true record

Proposed:                   CC          Second:    SQ

All agreed

6

District Councillor and County Councillor

Cllr. Kendrick gave a review of 2024-2025.

County Councillor Report available on Website.

7

Finance Report and Audit Governance Statement 2024-2025

Clerk explained in detail the audit process and informed the Council that the local auditor has dealt with the accounts and signed them off.

Audit papers were available for inspection. The fixed assets and variances forms were explained in detail. Discussion included the updating of the asset list after advice taken from local auditor and discussion with lead councillor which takes into account new and old assets some of which now have little value.

Variances to be seen by PC.

Agreed:   Governance Statement agreed by the Council signed by the Chair

Clerk to send papers out to external auditors and variance sheet to PC.

Legal Notice to be displayed

Chair/Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

Clerk

8

Co-options    -         None

9

Councillor Lead Responsibility

Groundwork                              WJ

Woodland                                  WJ

Defib Playpark Inspections     AW

Finance (including grants)      CC

Parish Events                           SQ

SID Charging and Stats          Parishioners

All agreed

WJ

AW

SQ

CC

10

10.1 Parish Council Asset List for Audit and Insurance Purposes

These are important lists for the purpose of insurance and for valuing the overall assets.

Clerk explained that advice had been sought from WJ and others in compiling and assessing value of assets.

Agreed:   Clerk to send last draft to the full council

10.2 Village Clock to be accessed by Cllr using specialist equipment for valuation purposes

Clerk

BN

11

Review of Documents for update on website

The work on these documents is ongoing.

The clerk has bought and sited the new filing cabinet, the old filing cabinet to be used for archives. All documents not need will be shredded.

Clerk WJ

12

Planning

12.1 Parishioner’s comments have been forwarded to planning for the large house on entry to the village.

Action: Already completed

12.2 A parishioner had commented on planning permission which may affect the footpath.

Agreed: No action for the moment on the footpath

12.3 The building on the front garden of the bungalow on exit to the village was discussed again.

Agreed:  Council to contact Planning and make comment on what seems like a substantial dwelling on entry to the village. Stating that the PC should have at least been consulted as it does not look like a mobile.

Proposed:    WS                   Seconded:      SQ

All Agreed

Clerk

Clerk

13

Highways

Fix my street report on fly tipping has been followed up.

Agreed: Clerk to report again

Clerk

14

Parish Items

14.1

Grounds Maintenance

All happy with the work undertaken.

14.2

Woodland Update

Ongoing – WJ to report at the next meeting

WJ

14.3

Defib and Playpark

Agreed: Quotes to be looked into for painting on the play park

Clerk

14.4

Village Fete Sunday 29th June 2025. 12-4pm

The next meeting is 17th June in the pavilion.

Councillor to attend the planning meeting

SQ

14.5

Speeding

Councillor to collate Stats to present to council for agreement to be reached on how to use it to ensure future action.

WJ   WS

15

Clerks Update

15.1

Bank Balances as of 12th May 2025

Current Account:                                £18055

Woodland Account:                            £ 5913 (grant due)           

Business Reserve Account:               £ 4344

15.2

2024-2025 Audit and Public Notice

Previously discussed and to be displayed.

Clerk

15.3

Payments

Regular payment for grounds maintenance, Clerk salary, Drainage Board Parish Council Insurance to be paid. Previously agreed

Clerk

15.4

Applications

15.4.1 Church:      1500

Proposed:      WS                  Second:       AW

15.4.2 Mates:          400

Proposed:      BN                   Second:       SQ

Current Account statements have been received with the applications.

Clerk to forward payments

All Agreed

15.4.3

Although an application for funding has been received from the Volunteer Litter Picking group via the Village Hall it is understood that the group would like to continue.

Agreed:  Agreement to be drafted clarifying area to be litter picked and how often.

Clerk

WS Clerk

15.5

Correspondence

List of Correspondence available – most already discussed

15.5.1 Facebook

Discussed in detail. The Clerk had spoken to previous councillors about the existing PC Facebook account for which all administration access is blocked. It was decided to create a new profile on the social media site.

Agreed:   Clerk to purchase new phone and set up new profile

page. (suggested e.g. £15 per month or pay as you go (ID mobile?)

Clerk

15.6

Storage and Archiving

On going. Old cabinet to be kept for archiving

Clerk

15.7

Training

Proposed date outside of school holidays

24th June 6pm 2025

Agreed: Clerk to send dates to Monitoring Officer

Venue to be confirmed.

Clerk

15.8

Emails

BN and SQ to ensure that they can access their emails as personal emails will not be used.

BN    SQ

16

Agenda Items for the next Meeting

None

17

Dates for 2025-2026

July 1st                                   Martin Dales Village Hall

September 2nd                Martin Dales

November  4th             MVH

January      6th    2026 MVH

March         10th   tbc   MVH

May             5th    2026 MVH

CC

Clerk Councillor

TUESDAY 1st July 2025

7.30 pm Martin Dales Village Hall