Minutes 2024

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

                                       MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

                                       HELD ON 9th DECEMBER 2024

                                       IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:              Barling, Carcass, Collins, Forrester, Gallagher,

    Mrs Hopkins, Hadfield, Hurst, Sanders (Chair),

    Tennant, Richardson, Wilson,

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith, Mrs Mumby

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

A minute silence was held in memory of Cllr Mick Barnshaw

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

Apologies were received from Cllr Williams due to family commitments, and Cllr Bayston due to a sick son.

It was proposed by Cllr Hurst 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.

None.

3.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 11th November 2024

It was proposed by Cllr gallagher and seconded by Cllr Hurst that the minutes of the 11th November were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

10 Agreed, 2 Abstention Carried.

4.   Finance

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

It was proposed by Cllr Barling and seconded by Cllr Richardson that the finance reports be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

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

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

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that the funeral of Cllr Mick Barnshaw will be on Thursday 2nd January at 1.30pm at the crematorium, followed by a wake at the Washingborough Hotel.

An email has been received from Mr T Bayston from LSST, inviting the Parish Council to send 1-2 representative to a conference at LSST, for the A-Level Politics students.  It is being held on Friday 31st January 2025.

Cllr Mrs Hopkins and Cllr Barling, volunteered to attend on behalf of the Council.

The Clerk informed that they had received some lovely feedback from the Christmas Fair.  Despite the weather it was good to see so many residents turn up.

We made £241 on the raffle, and we made £114 cash and £73 on the sum up for Santa’s grotto.

Cllr Mrs Hopkins informed that she had received one feedback that it would have been nice if the stall holders had been given a free drink, as it was so cold. 

Cllr Hadfield asked if it would be worth doing a 2 day event, to make use of the marquees more.

It was agreed that this would be discussed at a later date.

The Office will be closed for Christmas from Friday 20th December, open again on Thursday 2nd January, however, we will still be working some day in between these dates. 

As it is the funeral of Cllr Barnshaw on the 2nd January it was agreed to re-open on Friday 3rd January.

The church are doing a Living Advent Calendar this year, in where homes/businesses around the village have volunteered to light up there windows and put them on, on a certain date leading up to Christmas, ours is the 16th.

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

None.

7.   Precept.

a)   Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the Finance Meeting held on the 2nd December 2024.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that the minutes of the Finance Meeting were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

4 Agreed, 8 Abstention, Carried.

b)   To accept the budget and precept agreed by the Finance Committee. 

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Wilson that they accept the budget and precept agreed by the Finance Committee.

All agreed.  Carried.

8.   Community Emergency Planning.  A debrief from those who attended the meeting and discuss further.

Cllr Sanders informed that he had attended a meeting at RAF Waddington about this and how Waddington could help. 

Cllr Gallagher had lots of information for the Clerk to read through regarding Emergency Planning. 

It was agreed that a sub-committee would be formed and other groups could be invited to get involved, like the church.  Cllr’s Sanders, Barling, Wilson, Collins, Forrester, Carcass, Gallagher, Hadfield and Richardson volunteered to be on the sub-committee.

9.  Playing Field Trust – Cricket Pavilion.  To discuss the proposed improvements to the cricket pavilion.

The Council had previously agreed to pay towards a new cricket pavilion, however the proposal from the cricketers was now to repair and make use of what they already had.  This will be done over two phases; costs had been provided for phase one.   They proposed to put a new roof on it, clad the front of the building, new windows and doors, and partitioning it into rooms.  They will also be purchasing a storage container to keep their equipment in.  Total costs of around £10,250.  Cllr Gallagher suggested that we check to see if planning permission is required for the storage container.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Wilson that they pay for the costs for phase one.

All agreed.  Carried.

10.   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.

11.  ‘In Camera’ item. 

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that ‘In view of the special/confidential nature of the business about to be transacted it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporary excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.’

All agreed.  Carried

1.  Staff.   

Mr David Drury, one of the handymen has submitted his resignation.  It was agreed to advertise the post immediately and a meeting of the HR committee would be held to discuss the role prior to the interviews.

13.   Date of the next meeting.  Monday 13th January 2025 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Open Forum

County Councillor

Cllr Dyer informed that LCC highways get over 70,000 permitting request a year, and they can not stop roadworks going ahead for emergency work.  He has received lots of complaints about the number of traffic lights / road closures in Waddington at one time.  He explained that the work on Grantham Road had been due to a gas emergency and the works on Valley Road had been a water leak.  They have had a request from Anglian Water for a road closure in the New Year, for the work for the Lindum Estate, but they have denied this and informed that it must be traffic lights.

There is no update on the North Hykeham relief road.  The documents have gone out about the scheme, and they have had some objections from land owners, so there will be a public enquiry.

The footpath work on Valley Road and Lime Crescent is now complete.  There will be more footpath work carried out next year in Waddington west.

The yellow lines have gone down in Redwood Drive, however, it is not legally forceable unto the signage is up.  Once the signage is up there will be heavy presence from the traffic wardens.

The TRO for the bend on Hollywell Road, to stop dangerous parking on the bend, has been delayed as they have received some objections from some residents, and therefore, needs to go to committee.

The new bus stop has now been erected on Station Road.

The section 19 report on the flooding of houses in October 2023, has been complete and some work will now be carried out.  Once it is published a copy of the report will be sent to the council. 

District Councillors

Cllr Pennell informed that the work on the Sleaford marketplace refurbishment is coming to an end, the first event will be held there on the 21st December.

There is free parking in Sleaford on a Saturday, Sunday and evenings, up to Christmas.

Bin collection days have changed over the Christmas period, the changes have been published.

For those who no longer get there winter fuel allowance, the cut of date to apply for Pension credit to get it for this winter is the 21st December.

Cllr Sanders informed that NKDC are giving away free trees to communities in NK.

There are some Christmas illuminations on the East Gate green at Sleaford.

Cllr Cooper sent his apologies.