Minutes of December meeting
Wainfleet All Saints Town Council Meeting
Minutes of the council meeting held at 18:00 on 7th December, 2022 in the town council offices.
Councillors present : Mayor D.Wickes (DW), Cllr. D.Kettleborough (DK), Cllr. V.Parker-Hill (VPH), Cllr. J.Hart (JH), Cllr. W. Bowkett (WB).
Absent : Cllr. C.Harbon, Cllr. S.Baird (SB), PCSO J.Richardson (JR)
2 members of the public present.
Mayor DW welcomed everyone and declared the meeting open at 18:00.
1. Police report
To receive a report from the police representative
PCSO JR did not attend nor send a report. Cllr. VPH now has video of e-scooters being used illegally. Clerk to pass details of JR to VPH for her to follow up
2. Public session
An opportunity for the public to ask the Council questions and to bring new observations.
No public were present
3. Apologies for absence
To receive and approve apologies for absence.
Cllr. SB (family issue) and Cllr. CH (illness) sent their apologies.
4. 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.
Cllr. DW stated an interest under item 11b.
5. Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 1st November, 2022.
To confirm the notes as a true record of the decisions made at these meetings.
Draft notes of the meeting held on 1st November 2022 had previously been circulated to councillors.
PROPOSED,SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept these minutes as a true record of the meeting held on 1st November 2022.
6. Councillor vacancies
To consider the applications from Mrs. J. Ward and Mr T. Ward to serve as councillors.
Council had received two applications to be councillors (co-option) which had been circulated to councillors prior to the meeting. Discussion on applications. PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the applications of Mr. Trevor Ward(TW) and Mrs. Janice Ward (JW)to be councillors.
Cllrs. TW and JW duly signed their respective acceptance of office in the presence of the Proper Officer CC.
Mayor DW welcomed the new councillors to the meeting.
7. Clerks report and action points from the previous minutes
To receive the clerks report and deal with matters arising.
Completed issues
* Playing field grass contractor contacted to resolve issue of missed cuts
* Nottingham BS account closed and funds transferred to Barclays deposit account
* Some parking fines have been issued for illegally parked vehicles on High Street – Discussion on illegal parking.
Issues still pending
Planting of 450 new trees arriving in January – Discussion impending arrival of new trees/hedging – Cllr DK will attend to and arrange for planting.
Return of unused cemetery plots – clerk to write to plot owners
Signing of Deed of transfer for Coronation Hall – Cllr. WB will arrange for signatures.
Tree work in Northolme – To be fitted into contractors schedule.
P&A group to produce draft allotments policy for review.
Plot 12 tidy up – see item11b
Policy documents review – ongoing
Rest of speed awareness signs to put up. Cllrs DK/TW will organise.
Signs on A52 – has this been resolved?
Burials subgroup meeting to arrange
8. Reports from External Agencies
To receive reports from LCC and ELDC Cllr. Wendy Bowkett.
Other Councillors reports from external meetings.
County council report
Hospitals are still under great pressure, especially A and E and our ambulance service.
Please remember if it is not life threatening to call 111 and they will give you advice whether you need to go to hospital or a doctor.
County council have procured 60 intermediate beds for 16 weeks to allow residents to be moved out of hospital for reablement, freeing up much needed beds. This is being paid for by health.
Lincolnshire councils alongside groups like the Integrated care board , Health and care providers, faith and community groups and charities and local businesses have come together to help support residents as we enter the winter months.
The partnership has set up a task force to review the potential impacts caused by the cost of living and to harness efforts across all partners to help in supporting where possible.
At the county council we have set up a cost of living support page high lighting the rang of support available including the Household support fund, food programmes, help with childcare costs and financial support for carers. There are links to district council webpages with list of local support within the districts.
The page is www.Lincolnshire.gov.uk/cost of living.
Connect to support Lincolnshire is an online information and advice library for adults and has some useful numbers and links and is being updated all the time Https://Lincolnshire.connectsupport.org
ELDC household support scheme, the 3rd phase has been launched and ELDC have received £5.46 million. Local authorities have been asked to give particular consideration to those groups who have not benefitted form any of the recent cost of living support.
Find out more about this update https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/householdsupportfund
The new ELDC hub at Horncastle is now complete and staff should be moved in by early January.
9. Finance
a. To receive financial reports and updates.
The monthly financial report and bank reconciliation for Novem had previously been circulated to councillors. Discussion on monthly report.
PROPOSED,SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the November Financial Report.
b. To approve payments and receipts.
Discussion on payments to be made. PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the payments and receipts for November.
For transparency the following payments in excess of £100 were made in November:
| Payee | Details | Amount | VAT | Total |
| D.W.Landscapes | Treework on playing fields (Poplars) | £850.00 | £0.00 | £850.00 |
| D,Ward | Gazebo erection/dismantling | £320.00 | £0.00 | £320.00 |
| P.Whiley | Grass cutting contracts | £1475.00 | £0.00 | £1475.00 |
| Staff costs | Staff costs | £678.00 | £0.00 | £678.00 |
| P&K Lewis | Office Rent | £400.00 | £0.00 | £400.00 |
Discussion on quotation from S.Bogg to repair lights at bus shelter and Buttercross. Agreed to provision for this in next years budget.
c. To receive the latest NALC salary pay scale for 2022-23
Duly noted that the latest NALC salary scales have been received and implemented from 1st April 2022.
10. Planning
To receive and discuss applications.
S/194/01674/22 – Outline erection of a dwelling at former community hall. No comment.
Meeting with Dowsing Offshore was attended by DW & CC. A subsequent invitation to join a community liaison group was circulated to council. No response received.
Complaint from parishioner about high conifers referred to planning & enforcement. Parishioner has been given details of the steps to be taken and costs involved.
11. Properties, Amenities and Burial Grounds
To discuss and agree actions and associated expenditure for Properties, Amenities and Burial Grounds and to receive reports from the associated working groups..
a. Northolme Cemetery & Closed Churchyards.
The following had occurred in Northolme in November :
EROB plots : 834, 835
Grave plot : 732
Ashes plots : GR222, GR39,
Memorials plots : GR 308, GR333, 1200, 727
Cllr. DK gave a report on the current condition of the cemeteries. Agreed to organise another tidy up group for January.
Cllr VPH advised that a parishioner had asked if they may place a bench in Northolme. Council advised that the parishioner should submit details to the council for them to review,
Cemetery water supply needs isolating for the winter – DK will action.
b. Allotments
Cllr. DW referred to her declaration of interest for this item and handed over the chair to Cllr.WB and left the room at 18.35.
Plot 12 remains an issue. Two applicants had refused the plot due to its current state. A current plot holder who is also on the waiting list had offered to take on and make good the plot. Discussion on plot 12. Council decided that given the number of applicants on the waiting list to offer plot 12 to the next applicants who did not have a plot and to revisit the offer made should an applicant not be forthcoming.
Cllr. DW returned to the meeting and resumed the chair at 18:45.
Clerk advised that the water supply for the allotments has been isolated for the winter.
c. Market Place
Discussion on continuation of weekly markets during the winter months. Agreed to hold markets on the last Friday of the month in January, February and March. Cllr. DW will speak with contractor to advise of changes to his schedule of work,
d. Play area and Playing Field
New Teddy Bin will be installed on Monday. Path needs some attention – WB will meet with Platform Housing in January with a view to assisting in the repairs.
e. Office
The pending issue of the confused business rates for different parts of the building has now been resolved. No change has occurred in the councils business rates liability.
12. Marketing and Promotions
To discuss and agree actions and associated expenditure for marketing and promotion.
a. Review of Xmas Market 2022
Brief discussion on Xmas Market, likely to be held later in the afternoon next year, Improved lighting required in some areas. Xmas subgroup to meet in January to review the whole event and report back.
b. Coronation of King Charles III
Discussion on organising an event to commemorate the coronation on May 6th 2023. Proposal to broadcast the event on a big screen on the playing field. The M&P subgroup will meet to discuss and report to council with their suggestions. Financing of the event is hoped to be via the National Lottery or via precept if unsuccessful.
13. New Community building
To discuss and agree actions for the proposal to for the subgroup to investigate the project.
Cllr WB advised she had made an initial approach to Dowsing Offshore to obtain funding for a community building.
14. Councillors e-mail
To discuss the recommendation that councillors use a .gov.uk e-mail address.
LALC had issued recommendations that councillors should not use their personal e-mails for council business. The options are to set up .gov.uk e-mail addresses, which involves an ongoing cost to council, or for councillors to set up a separate g-mail for council use. Council decided that councillors should take steps to set up g-mail accounts to be used for council business.
15. Correspondence
To discuss correspondence received.
The following correspondence had been received:
Letter from LCC re: grass cutting verge contract for 2023 – circulated and noted.
Invitation from Dowsing Offshore to join community liaison group – circulated and noted.
E-mail from LALC re : gov.uk email addresses – see item 14
Complaint from parishioner re : neighbours high conifers – parishioner given advice.
Complaint from parishioner re: light pollution from neighbours security lights – parishioner given advice.
Revised GDPR privacy notice received from Duchy of Lancaster – circulated and noted.
Correspondence from LCC re: painting of Salem Bridge – circulated and noted.
Business rates for office resolved.
16. Agenda items for next meeting
To receive items for inclusion on the next meeting’s agenda.
Mayor DW thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 19.20 hrs
Next meeting : Tuesday 3rd January 2023 at 6pm