2023 PARISH COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETINGS

  WILLINGHAM BY STOW PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES of the MEETING of WILLINGHAM by STOW PARISH COUNCIL

Present:  Cllrs D Bingham (Chairman), M Bates, Q Connell, D Leak, D Wain  

In Attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (Clerk)

2023/20 Apologies for Absence

               Cllr Didcock - holiday

2023/21 Public Participation

               None present

2023/22 Minutes of last Meetings

               The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 12th January 2023 were approved and signed as true & correct record Resolved

2023/23 Declarations of Interest

               None received

2023/24 Representatives Report

              Crime report received from Saxilby Police

2023/25 Clerks Report

• Final Precept 2023/24 has been sent to WLDC and acknowledged with a reply
• Cllr Coulson will chase up request for dog bin at the parish field

2023/26 Layby near Doctors Surgery        

              No further information has been received, clerk to chase up with emails

2023/27 Kings Coronation

              The PC discuss different keepsakes/souvenirs to give to all households in the village to mark the Coronation of King Charles and the village hall arranging a street party. It was approved to spend

              £2500/£3000 towards this and will be discussed further at next meetings. Clerk to seek different  options (coins/presentations etc) for next meeting. Clerk to purchase a flag

2023/28 Local Neighbourhood Police Inspector

              Cllrs Bingham & Wain with the clerk met Mike Head, the new local Neighbourhood Police Inspector on Wed 1st February 2023. A very promising meeting, Inspector Mike would like to know

              all issues/crimes that happen and will follow all up and asked for all village groups information as would like to introduce himself to all – clerk has sent the information

2023/29 WLDC Councillors Initiative Fund

              The PC discussed the issue at the bus stops on Stow Road with residents asking for a seat/bench. It was approved to apply to Cllr Coulson’s CIF for £350 to purchase 2 x benches (£175+vat each) to

              place at each bus top on Stow Rd for residents Resolved

              Only one quote was received (H Bates & Son) to supply & build a new planter on the green at the corner of Grange Lane with oak sleepers to replace & update the old concrete planter - £720 inc vat.

              The was discussed & approved Resolved

2023/31 Village Signs

              Quotes were received for new village signs. The PC discussed these and agreed on an oval sign  showing St Helens Church at a cost of £1931 for the 1st sign with £1409 for further ones. Due to the

              costs, clerk to seek grants/funding to be able to purchase these for the village.

2023/32 WLDC Community Infrastructure Levy

              The £835.59 CIL payment was discussed, the clerk informed the PC of the requirements for this. Several ideas were discussed including equipment for the playing field, litter bins, the Grange Lane

              Planter, litter bins, new cemetery sign & the village signs. The PL equipment quotes costing  thousands of pounds and CIL wouldn’t cover the purchase price; the Village Signs can wait for

              grant funding. It was approved to spend the CIL on the Grange Lane Planter £720, purchase a litter  bin for the Parish Filed (approx. £100) and to purchase the new cemetery sign ££35.99. Resolved

2023/33 Layby near Doctors Surgery

              Repeated item          

2023/34 Cemetery

              Following an interment at the cemetery, the blue waste bin had emptied & used to transport  excess soil. The Funeral Director rectified this once he was informed and the bin was cleaned.

1. Green garden bin – approved Resolved

2023/35 LALC Annual Subscription 2023/24

              Payment approved Resolved

2023/36 Grass cutting Tender 2023

              The grass cutting spec was approved with the addition of monthly mowing around the path at the parish field. Clerk to advertise the tender which will be discussed at the March meeting

2023/37 Parish Field Tenders 2023

              It was approved to put out one field for tender which will be discussed at the March meeting

2023/38 HR Policies

              a. Disciplinary Policy -approved Resolved

              b. Grievance Policy - approved Resolved

2023/39 Defibrillator Awareness Sessions – LIVES

              Date – Tuesday 28th February, 2 drop-in sessions- 10am & 11am, 25-30 max each session. The donation to LIVES was discussed & approved to send £100 for the sessions Resolved

2023/40 Willingham School Trust

              Email received from the Willingham School Children's Trust; the charity isn't currently registered with the Charity Commission and it was discussed & approved for the PC to manage this as a sole

              corporate body, with all Willingham by Stow councillors as trustees. The Parish Council will set up  a new Governing Document stating that ALL councillors elected/co-opted will act as the trustees (7

              trustees). Once a councillor leaves/resigns from the PC, they are no longer a trustee. The charity will be independent of the Parish Council, separate meetings will be arranged each

              year, Councillors will have a dual role - first as a local authority and secondly as a charity  trustee Resolved

2023/41 Village Hall

               An email from the VH committee was received and discussed regarding the response from the PC  after their grant application was refused. The PC approved to reply stating that the PC would

               consider any grant applications from the VH Committee if there was a project or any unplanned issue e.g. new boiler/cooker rather than just the help with running costs. Applications will be

               considered at any time throughout the year when applied using the Parish Council Application for Grant Form. Resolved

2023/42 Highways

• The ivy has been removed from the lamppost on Stow Rd
• Issue of concrete sleeper on Marton Rd opposite Howson House – highways aware
• Sign on the corner of Gainsborough Rd/High Street – report
• Footpath between Grange Lane/Stow Rd very muddy – to discussed in dryer weather to put gravel down

2023/43 Bus Stop

              This was discussed with item 2023/29

2023/44 Office Printer & Laptop

              The clerk informed the PC of the issues with the office equipment and the earlier than expected purchase of a new printer & laptop due to malfunction. (The 2023/24 budget was approved in

              January 2023 to purchase these up to the cost of £1000) The payment of £699.98 laptop &  £44.99 printer was approved. Resolved

2023/45 Solar Farms

              Cllr Coulson sent an update of the solar farms from meetings she has attended

2023/45 Planning

     none

2023/47 Finance

1.  The monthly accounts for payment & corresponding bank statements were approved as a true & correct  record Resolved                                                                   

2023/48 Correspondence for Information

1. Town and parish council newsletter January 2023 (emailed prior)
2. NALC NEWSLETTER (emailed prior)
3.  Gainsborough Neighbourhood Team (emailed prior)

2023/49 Agenda Items for next meeting and to take any points from members

• Some of the trees that haven’t survived will be replaced at the Parish Field

2023/50 To consider the exclusion of the public and press in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the items to be

                Discussed      none       

The date & time of next Parish Council meeting is Thursday 9th March 2023 at 7.30pm in Willingham Village Hall committee room

Meeting Ends – 8.55pm