Minutes of the Annual PC Meeting of 23rd May 2023
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Minting and Gautby Parish Council held on the 23rd of May 2023 at Minting Village Hall at 7.00pm.
Present:- Cllr. E.B.Clark [EC] Chairman / acting clerk, Cllrs. H.Padfield [HP], J. Stuchfield [JS], C.Bruntlett [CB], J.Padfield [JP] and Dist.Cllr. W Gray.
7.00pm Public forum.
There were no members of the public present.
7.10 Formal Council meeting.
[1] Chairman’s welcome and apologies for absence.
There were no apologies for absence.
All councillors, being newly elected following the uncontested election, completed Acceptance of Office of Parish Councillor forms, Security Compliance checklists and Disclosable Pecuniary Interests forms.
[2] Election of Officers.
a] Election of Chairman.
JS proposed that Cllr. Clark be elected Chairman, seconded by HP. There being no other proposals, Cllr. Clark was elected Chairman.
b] Election of Vice-Chairman.
JP proposed Cllr H Padfield as Vice-Chairman, seconded by JP. There being no other proposals, Cllr. H.Padfield was elected Vice-Chairman.
c] Election of Responsible Financial Officer.
CB proposed Cllr. J Stuchfield as RFO, seconded by HP. There being no other proposals, Cllr Stuchfield was elected RFO.
[3] Signing of Officer’s Acceptance of Office forms.
The elected officers signed Acceptance of Office forms.
[4] Declarations of interests.
EC declared an interest in item 11c.
[5] To confirm, or amend, and sign the Draft Notes of the meeting of 28th March 2023.
JS proposed that the draft notes be adopted as the true and correct Minutes of the meeting of the 28th March 2023, seconded by CB and resolved. The Chairman duly signed the Minutes.
[6] Matters arising from the Minutes, and activity since the last meeting.
The recent Annual Parish Meeting , with a LIVES presentation, was appreciated by those who attended, although overall attendance was disappointing.
[7] Correspondence.
A written expression of interest in becoming a parish councillor had been received from a resident. EC to arrange a preliminary meeting to discuss the role.
[8] Reports from District / County Councillors.
Dist. Cllr. Gray reported. The Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival was under way, with a variety of events scheduled. The Wolds area was getting some welcome publicity in national newspapers. Several Lincolnshire beaches had been awarded Blue Flag status.
Cllr.Gray also updated councillors on the matter of a property on Lodge Lane, Minting.
[9] To approve the adoption of the Auditor’s Report and recommendations
The Chairman presented the Auditors Report, having received it the morning of the meeting.
Whilst the auditor remarked that the general operation of the PC was satisfactory, there were a number of administrative and procedural matters and practices that required attention.
CB proposed adoption, seconded by JS and resolved.
[10] To approve and adopt the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2023, comprising of :-
The Certificate of Exemption,
The Annual Internal Audit Report
The Annual Governance Statement
The Accounting Statement.
JS proposed adoption, seconded by JP and resolved.
[11] To sign the Notice of Public rights.
Cllr. Stuchfield, the RFO, signed the Notice of Public Rights.
[12] Finance.
To approve payments :-
1 Lincolnshire Hardwoods = £1,560.00
2 A.J.Gallagher Insurance = £467.68
3 LIVES = £50.00
4 Npower Commercial Gas [ kiosk] = £66.38
5 Cllr. E.B.Clark -3rd party payment of:-
Hall hire £16.00
Noticeboard magnets £22.15
LALC £139.30 = £170.45
EC left the room, having declared an interest, the vice-chairman asked for a proposal of approval. JS proposed, seconded by JP and resolved.
[12] Parish maintenance.
a] Defibrillators.
The re-location of the defibrillators is now completed, The Minting unit to the village hall, and the Gautby one to the kiosk. EC thanked CB for organising the contracting electricians.
b] To consider a petition from residents for the provision of a defibrillator for Top Minting.
Councillors discussed the request from 29 residents of Top Minting. It was felt that this particular part of the parish had not had the benefit of any PC spending in recent years, and is 1.5 miles from the Minting defibrillator. Two residents were offering to host the defib. on the outer side of their garden wall, so avoiding the problems with it being on private property. EC advised that the cost would be in the area of £1,500, which could be afforded during the 2023-24 financial year.
JS proposed acceptance of the project, seconded by CB and resolved.
c] Highways matters.
The removal of the dangerous bump over the culvert in Pinfold Lane, Minting, had recently been completed by LCC Highways Dept. The PC welcomed this, and hoped that the long- promised re-surfacing of Silver St. will be done next year.
d] To consider a request for the provision of litter pickers.
JS advised that the residents who had approached him concerning litter pickers. had withdrawn their request when it was explained that the PC could not buy equipment for the private use of individuals.
e] Broadband extension.
Work on the broadband extension to properties in Chapel Lane / Lodge Lane was now due to start in August. Some preliminary survey work had been completed by Openreach.
[13] Any other business.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.20pm.