2025 Parish Council Meeting Minutes

THESE ARE DRAFT NOTES OF THE MEETING AND WILL BE RATIFIED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 13 May 2025 atSt. Peter's Church, Louth Road, South Somercotes

Present:                            Chair                                Cllr Anthony Baker

                                            Vice-Chair                      Cllr Brian Lewis

                                                                                      Cllr Julie Stretton

Also Present:                    Clerk                               Mrs Binal Sawjani                     

                                            Members of Public      2 members of the Public

                                             District/County             None

Item 0525/01 Welcome to the meeting: Chair opened meeting at 17.59 and welcomed the public and explained that the APM that had been held before the council meeting and parishioners were invited to speak and all comments made by the public had been noted and recorded here after the election of the chair.

Item 0525/02 Election of Chairman: The chair asked for nominations and Cllr Anthony Baker was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED. Declaration of Acceptance was signed.

Item 0525/03 Handover to new Chairman: Not required

Item 0525/04 Appointment - Vice Chair: Cllr Brian Lewis was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED

Meeting opened to the public:

• Parishioner asked about an increase in the precept and the chair explained that the precept had not been increased for many years. The council has employed a clerk plus the churchyard and field are being maintained and both these costs are essentially the same as the precept that has been awarded.
• Parishioner questioned a cost of £145.00 to a contractor for the erection of the dog bin. The clerk was able to show the invoice and breakdown. Discussion was around having a volunteer to undertake this work but explained that as a council we have not found this forthcoming.
• Village fete – parishioner explained that they had been on the field and it is very uneven and would not be suitable for the event. Discussion around the event ended with no volunteers and no interest so should we have a fete.

Meeting commence 18.15

Item 0525/05 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations: None

Item 0525/06 Apologies for absence: None

Item 0525/07 To approve the draft notes as minutes of the last meeting held on the 4 March 2025: RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes, and they were dated and signed by the Chair.

Item 0525/08 Training:  Training available to all Staff and elected Members and clerk recommends councillors to view training schedule.

Item 0525/09 Future Events Update – review of the current and future events for the parish

1. VE Day – there was a disappointing turnout. The event was about community and each person was to bring a sharing plate and mark the occasion. There was about 18 parishioners and the same people that attended Christmas event.
2. Summer Fete – there is no support for the summer fete and a report from a parishioner regarding the condition of the Jubilee field stating that is would not be suitable due to unevenness it was decided to cancel the event

Item 0525/10 Parish Matters:

1. Grass cutting Jubilee Field – no more cuts needed
2. Tree community orchard – the orchard has been planted and thank you to the parishioners that helped in planting and watering the trees. Each tree has a metal tag that identifies the tree.
3. VAT submitted and £1,357.71
4. Asset List has been amended and circulated to councillors

Item 0525/11 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2024/25: Forms: Internal audit complete and forms need to be signed and sent to the external auditors. It was RESOLVED to adopt and forms signed by chair and RFO.

Item 0525/12 Policy Adoption: To receive, consider and adopt revised and updated Financial Regulations and Standing Orders both policies proposed, seconded and RESOLVED.

Item 0525/13 Planning Applications:

02169/25/FUL  Extension to existing dwelling to provide additional living accommodation. PEARTREE COTTAGE LOUTH ROAD SOUTH SOMERCOTES LINCOLNSHIRE LN11 7BW Application: Registered

Comments: 13 June 2025 Support

Item 0525/14 Correspondence: To receive and dispose of correspondence received since the last meeting..

• We have been approached by a charity called Electrical Safety First who have launched a campaign last year to ensure the safety of Lithium-ion batteries. They would like to add the council name in support of this cause. This was discussed proposed, seconded and RESOLVED
• Clerk requested attendance at the LALC Summer Conference - 16 July 2025 Cost is £45 per head plus VAT which will be shared with neighbouring council.
• Parishioner has called council regarding a house clearance and clerk explained that the parish did not get involved with individuals and the business needed to be about the parish. One of the councillors kindly agreed to call the parishioner on our behalf.
• Parishioner enquired about scattering three sets of ashes that she has had in urns for some years at St Peters church. This enquiry was directed to the church register and clerk will make introduction.

Item 0525/15 Date of next meeting:  8 July, 2 September and 4 November 2025 at 6pm.

Item 0525/16 Financial matters:

1. To note bank balances on bank statements as on April 2025 £13,592.08
2. To note income: Precept £7,000 and VAT £1,357.71
3. To authorise the signing of orders for payment for previous months

Meeting ended 18.39