April 2025

Wainfleet All Saints Town Council Meeting        

Draft notes from the Town Council Meeting held on 2nd April 2025 at 6.00pm in the Methodist Chapel.

Councillors present: Cllr. Steve Mitchell (SM), Cllr. Christine Mitchell (CM), Cllr. Wendy Bowkett (WB), Cllr. Jean Hart (JH), Cllr. W. Hatchman (WH), Cllr. C. Drury (CD), Cllr. D.Kettleborough (DK), Cllr. S. Drury (SD), Cllr. M.Clarke (MC).
Apologies : Cllr. S.Fraser (SF).
Also present : Clerk C. Cleary (CC) and 3 members of the public. 

Mayor SM welcomed everyone and opened the public session at 1800 hrs.

1.  Public session
An opportunity for the public to ask the Council questions and to bring new observations. This session will be of maximum 15 minutes duration.
There were no questions asked by the members of the public present.

2. Apologies for absence
To receive and approve apologies for absence.
Apologies had been received from Cllr. SF. PROPOSED,SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the apology.

3. Declarations of interest
To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011.
Being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on the Members Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation.
None declared.

4. Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 12th March 2025
To confirm the notes as a true record of the decisions made.
Draft notes from the council meeting held on 12th March had been circulated to council members.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to confirm the minutes as a true record of the meeting held on 12th March 2025. Mayor SM duly signed the minutes.

5. Councillor vacancy
To consider an application for a vacant seat on the council.
An application had been received to be co-opted onto the council from Mr. Steven Tetley, which had been circulated to councillors. Discussion on application.  PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to co-opt Mr Steven Tetley onto the town council.
Cllr ST signed his acceptance of office in front of the proper officer of the council and was invited to join the council table.

6. Clerks report and action points from the previous minutes
To receive the clerks report and deal with matters arising.
Matters arising from last meeting
Completed issues

* All farming allotment rents paid
* Report from tree surgeons received
* Bushes in Marketplace pruned
* Clocktower lights timer adjusted
* Verge cutting agreement returned to LCC
* Poster display arranged for office window
* Request for additional litter bin on Brooks Walk submitted to ELDC

Issues still pending

* Office blinds
* Quotations from Cllrs. C.Drury & W.Bowkett for CCTV
* Community Payback scheme application
* Extension of cremation plot area in Northolme 
* CCTV 
* Review of Financial regulations
* Review of co-option policy
Clerk incurred no overtime in March.

7. Reports from External Agencies
To receive reports from LCC and ELDC Cllr. Wendy Bowkett.
Other Councillors reports from external meetings.
As County Councillor WB was in Purdah, no report was submitted.

8. Finance
    a. To receive the March Financial reports and updates.
    The March financial report and bank reconciliation had been sent to councillors prior to the meeting. Discussion on financial report.
    
    PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the March Financial Report.
    
    
    b. To approve payments and receipts
    Discussion on payments to be made.
    
    PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVE to approve the payments to be made.
    
For transparency, the following payments in excess of  £100 were made in March.

    
    c. Review of quotations for work on clocktower
    Heritage Lincolnshire had been requested to obtain quotations for the repairs to be done to the interior of the clock tower. Discussion on quotations. PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve J.Lake to do the work and to make an application through the ELIF if possible.

9. Planning
To receive and discuss new applications.
No new planning applications had been received.

10. Reports from working group meetings
To receive and discuss reports from working group meetings and approve associated expenditure.
SM suggested that the working groups to be approves at the annual meeting.
a. Allotments 
The tenant of plot 10 had advised council that he no longer wished to have the allotment. Clerk to advertise the vacant plot and return deposit to tenant. The tenant had very generously asked that the rent he had paid should not be repaid, but used towards the Christmas decorations.
All other plots in good condition.

b. Burials & Cemeteries
Memorial        : Plots GR341, GR328
EROB        : Plots GR343, GR345
Cemetery income in March :  400

An application for a memorial had been received for plot 1202. Discussion on application. Approved. Noted that all memorabilia to be within the confines of the grave.

Discussion on community payback scheme. Proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the proposal. Action: Cllrs. MC and SM to meet with Clerk CC to prepare the proposal.
Discussion on War Memorial. ACTION: Clerk to contact Joseph Lake to look at the issue.
Some Xmas wreaths are still present and will be removed.
Discussion on Grit/Sand bins. ACTION : Clerk to obtain prices for 2 bins.
Cllr, WH advised that Wildflower planting to start next week.
Discussion on hedge at All Saints   DK to prepare plan for remedial work.
 
c. Marketing & Promotions
12 stalls have indicated they will attend the 26th April market along with a couple of car boots. Cllr. SD to expand the marketing area to publicise the market.

d. Marketplace
Cllrs. SM/CM have arranged plants, hanging baskets for delivery in May.
Discussion on Friday Auction. Clerk CC advised that despite requests, no reply had been received from the auctioneer if he intended to continue. PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED that Mayor SM would approach the auctioneer with a proposal to pay  £100 per month for 5 months with the 6th month being free. To be reviewed in October. 

e. Play area
Inspection has been done by independent company and report issued. Some minor remedial work to be done. WH will attend to these issues.
Repairs to be done to some of the matting, a repair kit can be purchased. Repair to board still pending. Proposed, Seconded and Resolved to purchase a repair kit for the matting. Cllr. WH to pass details to CC for ordering.

Discussion on work being done on land behind Angel? Request site meeting. WB to pass details to CC.

11. CCTV
To review the quotations obtained by Cllrs. Drury and Bowkett for the installation
2 quotes had been received. Cllr. WB had offered to donate  £1000 from her council allowance. Remaining funds can be from council. System will have additional running costs. Proposed, Seconded and Resolved to accept the lower quote, obtain further details from supplier and arrange site meeting to explain the system in further detail.

12. Correspondence
To discuss correspondence received.

* Report from Heritage Lincs on costs to repair inside of clock tower (see item 8c)
* Documentation from external auditor received - clerk to prepare AGAR documents.
* Reply from allotment plot 10 and notice to quit  - see item 10a.
* Follow up from RBLI asking council to install barriers for their services. Agreed   Clerk to reply.
* LALC training bulletin received. Circulated to councillors.
* Play inspection report -  see item 10e.
* ELIF. Circulated to councillors.

13. Agenda items for next meeting
To receive items for inclusion on the next meeting s agenda,
Block paving in Marketplace
Annual parish council meeting to be now on 7th May.
Parish meeting no change 4th June. CC to invite different groups.

Mayor SM thanked all for their attendance and contribution and closed the meeting at 1943 hrs.