Minutes 2024

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 13th MAY 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:          Bayston, Carcass, Forrester, Gallagher,

    Mrs Hopkins, Hurst, Sanders (Chair),

    Richardson, Williams

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith, Mrs Mumby

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

A minute’s silence was taken in memory of Councillor Colin Spence.

1.   Election of Chairman.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Hurst that Cllr Sanders be elected as Chairman.

All agreed.  Carried.

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

Apologies were received from Cllr Hadfield who was away, Cllr Wilson who was at work, Cllr Barnshaw due to health reasons and Cllr Barling due to personnel reasons.

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

All agreed.  Carried.

3.   Declarations of interest for any agenda item.

Cllr Sanders declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 8b.

Cllr Mrs Hopkins declared a personnel interest in agenda item 12.

Cllr’s Bayston and Richardson declared a personnel interest in agenda item 13.

4.    Election of Vice Chairman.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that Cllr Barling be elected as Vice-Chairman.

All agreed.  Carried.

5.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 8th April 2024.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Sanders that the minutes of 8th April were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

7 Agreed, 2 Abstention, Carried.

6.   Election of Committees:

The following Councillors volunteered to be on the committees.

i.   Finance.

Cllr’s Barling, Mrs Hopkins and Sanders from the West Ward.

Cllr’s Hadfield, Gallagher and Richardson from the East Ward.

ii.  Planning and environment.

Cllr’s Bayston, Carcass, Forrester, Gallagher, Hadfield, Hurst, Sanders, Williams and Wilson.

iii.  HR.

Cllr’s Barling, Bayston, Carcass, Forrester, Hadfield, and Williams.

iv.  Waddington Playing Fields Trust.

Cllr’s Hadfield, Mrs Hopkins, Hurst, Richardson, Sanders, and Wilson.

7.   Election of representative to the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.

Cllr Gallagher volunteered to be the representative.

8.   Finance

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

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Williams that the finance report 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 Bayston and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that the BACS payments and invoices could be signed.

8 agreed, 1 Abstention.  Carried.

9.   Annual return for the year ended 31 March 2024.

a)   Section 1.   To read, discuss and agree for the Chairman to sign on behalf of the Council.

The Chairman went through all the questions and ticked the relevant boxes as agreed by the Council.

It was then proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that the Chairman could sign it on behalf of the Council.

All agreed.  Carried.

b)   Section 2.   To read, discuss and agree for the Chairman to sign on behalf of the Council.

The Council were given a copy of the completed section 2.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkin that the Chairman could sign it on behalf of the Council.

All agreed.  Carried.

10.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that an invitation had been received from RAF Waddington for the Chairman to go to the Annual Formal Reception, however, Cllr Sanders was unable to attend.  The Vice-Chairman had attended the previous year and several other Councillors had been in the past, so the Clerk had asked Cllr Williams who was the longest serving Councillor if he would like to attend.

We have received a letter of thanks from Lincoln College, for hosting Emma for her work experience.  Emma was with us for 4 days over 2 weeks and did some very helpful tasks for us, like producing the posters for the summer fair.

We have agreed to host 2 more students from Sir William Robertson Academy for a week on Monday 24th June.

The burial ground grass cutting, we have received a number of complaints, emails, letters and phone calls about the state of the burial ground.  The grass cutting had been delayed due to the rain, and the rain had caused lots of weeds to grow around the edge, row A was invisible in places due to the weeds.  The handyman was struggling to get on top of it, and it now looking very bad.

Various ideas and options were discussed, the Clerk will speak to people and try and get it sorted, keeping the Councillors informed, with one option of having some Councillors help. However, the weather is not looking good for the next few days with more rain forecast.

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

None.

12.   To discuss a letter from a resident regarding the access to the Village Hall Field.  A copy of the letter has been emailed to all the Councillors.

The letter was discussed, along with insurance implications.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Hurst that no keys will be issued to residents.

7 Agreed, 2 Abstentions.  Carried.

13.   To discuss the Litter Bins on the Lakeside Estate.  To receive and discuss an email from a resident regarding the location of the litter bin, mainly the one at the bottom of Loweswater close.

The location of the 3 bins on the lakeside was discussed, along with the original plans for the nature reserves. 

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that the bins will remain where they are. 

7 Agreed, 2 Abstentions, Carried.

14.   To discuss a Pedestrian crossing on Grantham Road, and the Manor Lane, Moxon Lane, High Street Junction.  To receive and discuss an email from a resident regarding a pedestrian crossing on Grantham Road and the junction of Manor Lane, Moxon Lane, High Street and Lower High Street.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Sanders that they go out of session to allow Cllr Dyer to speak.

All agreed.  Carried.

Cllr Dyer informed that he had investigated getting a pedestrian crossing there previously and it does not meet the threshold for one.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Sanders that they go back into session.

All agreed.  Carried.

It was agreed that the Clerk should look at the plans approved for the Taylor Wimpey homes as it is believed that a crossing was included in the plans.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they forward the request to LCC Highways.

All agreed.  Carried.

15.   To discuss the maintenance of the Ridges and Furrows, Artwork that was installed.   Cllr Williams

Cllr Williams provided photos of the artwork that was in need of some repairs, namely those with wood in them, partly or fully.  He informed that he was happy to make contact with the artist and Lucy Lumb at NKDC, to establish some information and look at the costs that may be incurred.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Gallagher, that Cllr Williams gets the quotes and brings it back to the council.

All agreed.  Carried.

16.   To discuss ‘the Ark afterschool Club’ held in the Village Hall.  To discuss the club using the hall, the times, how the club is growing, how it is affecting cleaning and other users.   Looking at options and ideas going forward.

The Clerk explained the situation with the Ark afterschool club, how it worked and the issues that were arising.  The Council discussed options at length.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Gallagher they look at cost for a building to be used as a cricket pavilion and extra room for the Ark.

All agreed.  Carried.

17.   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.

18.  Date of the next meeting.  The next meeting will be held on Monday 10th June 2024 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 9.35pm.

Open Forum

County Councillor

Cllr Tom Dyer informed that the Hykeham relief road had been approved earlier today by the LCC Planning Committee.  Construction is due to start in the autumn next year and is due to take 2.5 years.

The TRO for double yellows lines on Bar Lane, High Street and Capps Lane, has also been approved by the Planning Committee earlier today.

After consultation with a resident on Church Lane, the TRO for double yellow lines on the High Street, Church Lane, has been amended and will go out again for public consultation.

Cllr Dyer informed that last month he was asked how much was paid out in claims for incidents on Somerton Gate Lane, he can confirm that it was £6,372.71.

With regards to the bus stop on Station Road, he confirmed that works had been submitted to the contractor, it should be up shortly.

The No 13 bus service has been extended in the evening with an hourly bus service up to midnight, to from Lincoln.

The TRO for yellow lines at Redwood Drive, has been out for public consultation, he added that he was not aware of any objections to it.

The Church Open day on the 1st June, they had been having difficulty getting the road closure, he was happy to confirm that it had now been approved.

District Councillors

Cllr Pennell had sent his apologies.

Cllr Cooper had sent his apologies.

Cllr Sanders informed that although a little out of date, he could report that Mark Jones had been re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner.