2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON the 16th of May 2023.

Present: Cllr S Smith; Cllr S Collingwood; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr K Redhead.

Vice Chairman’s remarks – Cllr Baxter welcomed Kim Redhead as a new Parish Councillor and Borough Councillor David Brown.

14/23    To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011:  None.

15/23    Notes of the meeting held on 3.4.23 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

The above notes were agreed and signed as minutes. It was resolved to accept the notes as minutes. ACTION: Clerk to post minutes on website.

16/23    Financial matters: Accounts due for payment

Payments for authorisation.

It was resolved to authorise the above payments and budget figures. ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website

17/23    Planning:  To confirm comments previously sent to planning department regarding B/23/0091, demolition of existing wooden side “utility” and erection of a two-storey side extension at 2 The Cottages, Fishmere End Road, Wigtoft.  B/23/0139 erection of a detached garage and workshop at Willow Cottage, Wigtoft Bank.

B/23/0091 – as the deadline for receipt of comments on this application was prior to tonight’s meeting, comments were canvassed from Councillor by email in line with the Parish Council’s Standing Orders. It was resolved that there were no comments to make.

B/23/0139 – It was resolved that there were no comments to make.

ACTION: Clerk to submit responses to planning department.

18/23    Correspondence

3.4.23                   LALC weekly enews                                                         Emailed to Councillors 12.4.23.

5.4.23                   LCC Highways notice of road closure Green Lane        Emailed to Councillors 19.4.23. Posted on website and Facebook.

12.4.23                 Letter from Ecotricity with information about Heckington Solar Park consultation and availability of documents to view. Previously sent out to Councillors by email.                                         To discuss at meeting 16.5.23.

17.4.23                 LALC weekly enews.                                                        Emailed to Councillors 17.4.23.

26.4.23                 Letter from S.E. Lincs Councils Partnership                  To discuss as meeting on 16.5.23.

2.5.23                   LALC weekly enews                                                         Emailed to Councillors 2.5.23.

5.5.23                   LALC nominations for Management Committee          Emailed to Councillors 8.5.23.

**NALC is short for National Association of Local Councils.

**LALC is short for Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.

**BBC is short for Boston Borough Council

** LCC is short for Lincolnshire County Council

19/23    Councillors’ Reports

Cllr BL: repairs to Green Lane have been completed.

Cllr SS: cow parsley is growing round the new hedge in the Wildlife Garden. Cllr BL to check. Weeds are growing round the seats. It was resolved that the clerk is to get a price from the Contractor to strim round the seats when the grass is cut in the garden. Clerk to email price to Councillors for agreement. A request will be made in the next Newsletter for donations of seeds for the Wildlife Garden. Some of the Coronation flags have been taken done. Can anyone help to take the rest down?

20/23    Clerk’s report

I have reported a damaged tree in the playing field to Darren Rush and asked him to make safe asap.

Enquiries have been made about a sign for the Bowls Club. I researched the cost of signs on the Raymac website as requested. This company only makes signs suitable for farms. I have sent an enquiry to LCC about a brown tourist sign on the 10.4.23. No reply received yet. Scribe update: catch up call 2.5.23 where it was confirmed that all necessary data had been input to start the new financial year using Scribe.  2 x training sessions booked for 9/5 and 10/5 re VAT and reports. Support from the team is exceptionally good. I believe that this software system will be worth the cost once I am completely familiar with it and can use it to its potential. The manhole cover at the junction of Main Road and Burtoft Lane has been reported via Fix My Street. It has been confirmed that remedial work has been ordered. No further updates received. Chased again 28.3.23. No further information to report. I have received confirmation and thanks from Wigtoft Newsletter for the £200 donation. I have requested a similar confirmation from the PCC and the Village Hall but have not received anything yet. I have been contacted by Ellie Baker from LCC following her receipt of our application for support from the Volunteering scheme. I am meeting her at the playing field on the 5th of May. UPDATE agenda item 11.

21/23    To review and confirm acceptance of the Internal Auditors report.

The Internal Auditor reported that everything was in order. Her report was circulated to all Councillors. It was resolved to accept the report. ACTION: Clerk to post copy on the website.

22/23  To sign the Certificate of Exemption relating to the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022/2023.

The Certificate of Exemption was signed by the Chair and countersigned by the clerk. ACTION: Clerk to forward to the Auditors and post on the website.

23/23    To complete, confirm and sign Section 1 (the Annual Governance Statement) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022/2023.

Section 1 was completed, signed by the Chair and countersigned by the clerk. ACTION: Clerk to post a copy on the website and on the noticeboard.

24/23    To confirm and sign Section 2 (the Accounting Statements) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022/2023.

The clerk presented the completed accounting statement which she had already signed. It was resolved to accept the statement which was countersigned by the Chair. ACTION: Clerk to post a copy on the website and on the noticeboard.

25/23    To confirm the checking of the bank reconciliation for the year 1.4.22 to 31.3.23 by Cllr Ian Mills.

Cllr Mills had completed the check and confirmed all was in order by signing the bank reconciliation. It was resolved to accept the bank reconciliation as being correct. ACTION: Clerk to post on the website

26/23    To review the Play Area inspection for April and to agree who will do the May inspection. An update on the meeting with LCC Highways and Balfour Beattie regarding the volunteering day.

Cllr Baxter reviewed the inspection undertaken in April. The only items noted were the roundabout being a little hard to push round; mole hills near the fenced area and two holes in the fence needing a minor repair. There is pending action to look at the roundabout. The clerk went through the actions needed for the volunteering day and a list was prepared to share with Highways and Balfour Beattie. Cllr Smith volunteered to undertake the May inspection. ACTION: Cllrs Leggott and Baxter will meet to look at what can be done with the holes in the fence. Clerk to contact contractor re molehills. Clerk to forward list to LCC Highways. Clerk to send out template to Cllr Smith.

Meeting closed at 20.25 Date of next meeting – 3rd July 2023 at 19.30.