Minutes 2022

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 14th NOVEMBER 2022

IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:          Barling, Barnshaw, Bayston, Gallagher,

    Mrs Hopkins, Ms Norman, Sanders, Spence, Stewart,  

    Williams

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith, 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

1.   Apologies for absence. (Reasons to be given to the Clerk in advance of the meeting)

Apologies were received from Cllr Ged Hallam, who was unable to attend due to ill health and Cllr Wayne Edwards, who was unable to attend due to work commitments.    Cllr Kenyon also sent his apologies.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that they accept the apologies and reasons for absence.

All agreed.  Carried.

2.   Declarations of interest for any agenda item.

Cllr Sanders declared a prejudicial interest in an item in the Clerks Report, agenda item 5.

3.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 10th October 2022.

It was proposed by Cllr Barnshaw and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that the minutes of 10th October were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

9 agreed, 1 Abstention, Carried.

4.   Finance

a)   Annual Audit Return.  To discuss the annual return received back from the Auditor.

The Audit has now been completed and the auditor has made the following note.

“Section 1, Assertion 9 has been incorrectly completed.  Information has come to our attention that it has not met its responsibilities as a sole managing trustee during 2021/22 since the filing deadline has not been met.”

The Clerk informed that she had been unable to submit the end of year accounts due to an error that kept occurring, she had had to contact the Charity Commission and wait for them to do something before she was able to submit them therefore missing the deadline.

The Council agreed that this was something out of the Clerks control.

b)   NALC Pay Review 2022-23.  Information about the pay agreement.

The Clerk informed that NALC had produced the agreed 2022-23 National Salary Award.  This year it is slightly different in that instead of a percentage pay rise they have agreed an amount, which equates to a rise of £1 per hour for everyone regardless of scale.  The agreement is to be back dated to 1st April 2022.

The Clerk and Admin Assistant are the only members of staff on the National Salary, where the rest of the staff are on a rate agreed by the Council.

Therefore, at the end of November as well as a pay rise there will be a payment for the back dated increase, which will of course be subject to tax and national insurance. 

c)  Monthly finance report – to receive and accept the monthly finance report.

It was proposed by Cllr Barnshaw and seconded by Cllr Barling that the finance report be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

d)   Authorising of the payments. To resolve to authorise the BACS payments listed by the RFO and certify invoices.

It was proposed by Cllr Sanders and seconded by Cllr Barnshaw that the BACS payments and invoices could be signed.

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that Cllr Hallam had had a fall and had been in hospital, he is now out at in St Paul’s for some respite care.

The office had been informed that Gerald, who had run the bar in the Village Hall for many years, had sadly died earlier in the year.

It was agreed that the Finance Meeting will be held on either Monday 28th November or Monday 5th December, the Clerk will contact everyone and arrange the date.

The Clerk informed that the Warm Welcome Rooms had started today in the church, and they would be on, on Friday in Redwood Drive Community Centre from 10am to 2pm.  The Clerk will be there and would appreciate any help that can be given.

The Christmas Fair will be taken place on Saturday, we have 51 stalls in the Village Hall and two marquees.  The event is from 11am to 3pm, they will be setting up from 8am and packing away at 3pm, if anyone can come along and help.

The Chairman and Clerk had spoken in the office on Friday about the number of leaves that were on the pavements making it very slippery in places and had received reports of accidents.  They had discussed getting a machine to collect the leaves.

It was agreed that the Clerk would get some more information and it would be discussed as an agenda item at the next meeting.

6.   Matters arising from the last meeting.  Only for discussion.

Cllr Sanders asked about Redwood Drive, agenda item 8.

The Clerk informed that she was waiting for a day to be arranged for the second Structural Survey to be carried out.

Cllr Stewart asked about the fencing for the dog paddock.

The Clerk informed that it hadn’t arrived yet.

7.   Village Hall improvements.  Discuss the work carried out in the Village Hall and replacing the stage curtains.

The Clerk informed that David Ridout the Chairman of the Dramatic Society, was an electrician and he has been doing some work in the Village Hall.  The sockets and lighting circuits on the stage have been rewired, the 6 small lights on the stage have been rewired and replaced as you couldn’t get the lamps for them anymore.  The wall lights in the main hall have all been modified and repaired and now have LED lamps in them, plus dimmer switch. 

A quote has been received to replace the stage curtains, at £1,571.80 + VAT to manufacture and deliver or £2,225.80 + VAT to manufacture and install, David has informed that they would be able to install them.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Stewart that they go ahead with the quote for £1,571.80 + VAT.

All agreed.  Carried.

8.   To discuss councillors who have not attended a meeting for six months. 

The Clerk had communicated with Cllr’s Mrs Belli and Newman.  They had both informed that due to their personnel circumstances they were unable to commit to the Parish Council at this time. 

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Barnshaw that Mrs Emma Belli and Mr Matt Newman are no longer members of the Council and letters of thanks are to be sent to them.

All agreed.  Carried.

9. To discuss the ‘Parish Policing Priority Setting Meeting Feedback Form Request’.

Cllr Gallagher informed that he would like the Council to complete the feedback form.  He discussed how the beat manager used to attend the Parish Council meetings and update the Council on crimes in the village and keep them updated.  He also mentioned that they used to hold quarterly Community Policing Panel meetings for the Cliff Villages, which last met in 2018.   There is a lack of communication from the police and yet we pay a large amount through our Council Tax to the police.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Barnshaw that they complete the feedback with these points.

All agreed.  Carried.

11.   Urgent matters for attention – Items which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency due to special circumstances.

None.

12.  Date of the next meeting.  The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 12th December 2022 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 8.45pm.

Open Forum

County Cllr Tom Dyer, CC Report

Cllr Dyer informed that the roadworks is coming to a conclusion this week.  They just have to put the lines on Brant Road, do some cleaning, manholes and ironwork.  The footpath on the eastern side of Brant Road, has had the driveways done with the footpath so once complete they will then go back to the Western side to do the driveways.  There are some problems with ironwork on the Hilltop to be resolved.

Flooding of property, if your property is flooded or close to, please report to LCC, section 19 flood.

Pension Credit is the most unclaimed credit in the country.  There is an eligibility checker on the government website.  Please check and if eligible, please apply.  Help spread the work.

Cllr Bayston asked about the cycle scheme that is up for renewal, is there any thought about it coming to Waddington.

Cllr Dyer informed that the current hire bike scheme is coming to the end of life, and they will be going out to tender soon.  The plan is to increase where it is located, so he as asked that Waddington and North Hykeham be considered.

Cllr Bayston mentioned that the buses going in and out of Lincoln from Waddington stop around 7pm, is there any chance of a night service, especially for events like the Christmas Market, when parking is difficult.

Cllr Dyer responded that the buses are poor, but they are privately run by stagecoach who are currently having issues with lack of drivers and do not have the capacity to run the current roots.  The County Council do not have the money to subsidise routes.

District Cllr Peter Burley, NKDC Report

Cllr Burley sent his apologies.

District Cllr Lance Pennell, NKDC Report

Cllr Pennell sent his apologies.

District Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, NKDC Report

Cllr Cawrey sent her apologies.