Draft Minutes - 23 January 2025
Minutes of the meeting held Thursday, 23 January 2025 at 7pm in the Parish Rooms
a) Public Forum
There were 13 members of the public present at the meeting. The Chair read out a statement to extend the public forum to 30 minutes to enable as many members of the public to voice their concerns. The main concern was their disapproval of the communications received from Cllr T Aldridge who should consider his position as he is bringing the parish council into disrepute. The implied message of the letter was a criticism of the parish clerk’s employment terms. There was a heated discussion and several members of the public gave their explicit support of the Parish Clerk’s work. This was also the sentiment from a previous Chairman of the parish council read out by the Chair. The Clerk asserted that employment terms were confidential matters and for discussion between the parish council and the parish clerk alone.
There was also feedback on a few of the budget allocations on the proposed budget which was considered by the parish council. The Chair read out a statement from a member of the public who was unable to attend asking for complete transparency on justifying the budget and any increases.
Most of the members of the public left the meeting at 7:30pm.
Report from Outside Bodies.
b) LCC Ward Member. Cllr Alex Hall reported that he is pleased that the manhole cover has now been replaced. Horses signs for the blind bends are still work in progress. The County Council’s main concern is the local government reorganisation. They are still waiting for the government’s decision on the impact of the devolution on district and county councils. It is thought that all seven district councils in Lincolnshire will be disbanded and the three Lincolnshire County/Unitary authorities will be merged.
c) ELDC Ward Member Cllr Edward Mossop also reiterated the local government reorganisation with the government’s intention to get rid of two tier authorities. He also reported on the flooding incidents back in in January and are being investigated under Section 19. Drainage issues are the main concern and cooperation with local farmers are being sought.
Both ELDC and LCC Ward Members left the meeting a 7:54pm to attend another parish council meeting.
01/25-1 Record of Members Present and Apologies
Present: Cllr Gillian Pollard (GP) (Chair), Cllr Ian Appleby (IA) (Vice-Chair), Cllr Anne McCready (AM), Cllr Lesley Jackson (LJ), Cllr Terry Aldridge (TA) and Cllr Nicky Gulley Brown (NGB)
Also present: Cllr Alex Hall (LCC), Cllr Edward Mossop (ELDC) and Mrs Nadine Must (Parish Clerk/RFO)
Apologies accepted: Cllr Mark Waller (MW) and Cllr Angela Quinton (AQ)
Absent: Cllr Anna Smith (AS)
01/25-2 To receive any Declarations of Interest on any item on the agenda. Cllrs IA and LJ declared their interests on matters relating Covenham Village Volunteers (CVV).
01/25-3 Minutes from 28 November 2024. It was resolved that the draft minutes from the meeting were accurate and was duly signed by the Chair.
P: LJ; S: AM, All in favour
01/25-4 Co-option. It was unanimously approved to co-opt Nicky Gulley Brown (NGB) to the parish council who signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office duly witnessed by the Proper Officer. NGB participated in council proceedings thereafter.
P: TA; S: IA, All in favour
01/25-5 Council Matters
a) Chair’s Remarks. The Chair did not have any updates.
b) Clerk’s Report. Noted. Cllr AS had not been able to check the defibrillator as yet. The storage boxes have not been received from Cllr AQ as yet.
It was proposed and agreed to consider the budget before the other items on the agenda.
01/25-6 Finance and Budgets
a) Payments. The Council accepted payments for January 2025 detailed below. Cllr TA wanted it noted that he disagreed with the Clerk’s pay and expenses.
i. Parish Clerk Salary and Expenses - £1,116.68
P: IA; S: LJ, Passed
ii. Receipts detailed below were noted
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b) Latest Receipts and Payments Monitoring. Expenses against budgets were noted.
c) Budget FY 2025/26. The Council discussed each of the budget headings including the breakdown of proposed amounts. It was resolved to decrease the budget for S137 Allowance from £100 to £30 and the Newsletter from £250 to £72. Parish council news will be added to the CVV newsletters and the cost will be based on a pro-rata payment for pages used. It was noted that the Staff Cost did not include the national insurance contribution that will be compulsory from April 2025. The Clerk will find out the cost and add to the budget when known.
Precept requirement. The Council resolved to keep the precept the same amount as last year which was £9,206. An amendment to the estimated receipts and payments need to be reworked to produce a balanced budget. The Clerk will send an amended budget.
P: LJ; S: AM, All in favour
01/25-5 Council Matters
c) Communications Received. Noted
i. LCC Budget and Council Tax Proposal Survey. The Council considered the three options and chose Option A which is the 2.99% increase level. The Clerk to submit to LCC.
ii. LCC Highways Survey. The Council completed the questionnaire and predominantly responded dissatisfaction with the services provided.
d) Purchase of outbuilding. There was no further progress. The Council was informed that the owner did not have the registry deeds to progress the purchase. Investigations are ongoing.
01/25-7 Parish Rooms
a) Restrictive Covenants. No update had been received from Methodist Trustees.
b) CVV. The Council did not have time to discuss this item.
01/25-8 Community Amenities and Groups
a) Covenham Reservoir Steps – DMMO application. No user evidence forms have been completed and sent back.
It was resolved to remove from the standard agenda, reports from the following groups. Reports will be provided at the annual parish meeting and will be added on subsequent agenda if required.
b) St Barts Church
c) St Mary’s Church
d) Monthly lunches
01/25-9 ELDC/LCC Services
a) Application for new bin collection at Grange Lane. No update from ELDC.
b) Fixmystreet reports. No updates.
c) Highways Issue. LCC Cllr AH will action the relevant signage for the blind bends to help horseriders.
01/25-10 Planning Matters.
a) The updates on applications below were noted
i. N/038/01622/24/DC | Discharge of conditions imposed on N/038/00280/20. | Plot 1 - Land Opposite Vega, Main Road, Covenham St Mary – Decided – discharged accepted
ii. N/038/01623/24/DC | Discharge of imposed on N/038/00281/20 | Plot 2 - Land Opposite Vega, Main Road, Covenham St Mary – Decided – discharged accepted
iii. N/038/01588/24 | Determination of whether or not prior approval is required as to a) transport and highways impacts, b) noise impacts, c) contamination risks on the site, d) flooding risks, e) whether the location or siting of the building makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable for the building to change from agricultural use to 2no. dwellings which is a use falling within use Class C3 (dwelling houses) of the Schedule to the Use Classes Order, f) the design or external appearance of the building and g) the provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the dwelling house. | Land West of Bluebell Grange, Newbridge Lane, Covenham St Mary – Decided. Approval given
b) There were no new planning applications considered
c) Tree Preservation Order: The Oaks, Newbridge Lane, Covenham St. Mary, Reference Number: 0007/25/TPA. The Council had no objections to the tree works required.
01/25-11 2025 Annual Parish Meeting and schedule of parish council meetings for Financial Year 2025/26 were set and agreed as below
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01/25-12 Date of Next Meeting – Thursday, 27 March 2025, 7pm, Parish Rooms
The meeting closed at 9:25 pm.