Minutes
WESTON PARISH COUNCIL
Annual Parish Council Meeting
Minutes of meeting held on Monday 13th May 2024 at Weston Village Hall
Commenced at 7.30pm
Present:- Cllrs, Dicks, Bellamy, Brotherton, Higgins, Mews, Pratt, Pennington and the Clerk/RFO. Cllr Bunder entered the room at 7:45pm.
Apologies Cllr Ellis & Halgarth
Absent :- None
In Attendance:- Dist Cllr Casson, four members of the public
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed those present that the meeting was being recorded.
24.069 Election of Chairman/Signing of Declaration of Office
Cllr Dicks was elected to serve as Chairman for the coming year, proposed by RP seconded DH. Vote five for, one abstention (IP). The chairman signed a declaration of office his signature witnessed by the clerk.
24.070 Election of Vice Chair/Signing of Declaration of Office
Cllr J Bellamy was elected to serve as Vice Chair for the coming year, proposed DH seconded IP, unanimous vote in favour. The Vice Chair signed a declaration of office her signature being witnessed by the clerk.
24.071 Declaration of interest in accordance with Localism Act 2011
None
24.072 Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 8th April 2024
Minutes of the meeting having been circulated were taken as read by the Chairman and signed as a true record. Proposed JB, seconded AB, unanimous vote in favour.
Minutes of the closed meeting having been circulated were taken as read by the Vice Chair and signed as a true record. Proposed AB. Seconded PM, vote for five, one abstention (DH).
24.073 Annual Governance and Financial Risk Assessment 2023/24
Having been circulated it was adopted and approved by the council. Proposed RP, seconded JB, unanimous vote in favour.
24.074 Annual Governance Statement 2023/24
The documents having been circulated and with the agreement of those present the Chairman and Clerk signed off the Annual Governance statement. Proposed AB, seconded JB, unanimous vote in favour. Cllr Bunder entered the room at 07:45pm.
24.075 Annual Governance Accounts Statement 2023/24
The documents having been circulated and with the agreement of those present the Chairman and Clerk signed off the Annual Accounting statement. Proposed PM, seconded AB, unanimous vote in favour.
24.076 Public Forum
The Chairman announced that agenda items 18 – 21 would be deferred until the July meeting.
A resident (Jenny Pennington) asked if the Parish Council would be prepared to make a comment on the National Grid proposal for stages EGL3&4. The closing date for comments is 17th June. It was agreed that Cllrs Bellamy and Brotherton and the Clerk will look at putting a comment together. Cllr Bellamy then informed those present that Lincolnshire as a county was looking to form a “Food board”. This organisation would feed information into DEFRA and lead to a food strategy for Lincolnshire
Dist Cllr Casson reported that SHDC planning department would be contacting Parish Councils in the future with the opportunity to attend training sessions at SHDC on planning procedures and protocols. If/when received the Clerk will forward details to councillors.
The Chairman asked Dist Cllr Casson on the protocols for bonfires. The meeting was informed that bonfires could be reported to the Environment officer at SHDC and that if a photo is taken and sent to SHDC it should be investigated by SHDC.
24.077 Matters Arising
None
24.078 Correspondence
(a) email from Spalding United requesting that they be allowed to use the football field at Weston playing field again next season. After a short discussion it was agreed to allow them to return next season. However it was suggested that they be asked to request that visiting teams do not leave the village via the Broadgate/ Beggars Bush junction. Proposed DB, seconded RP, unanimous vote in favour.
(b) email re graffiti on Skateboard ramp from SHDC community warden. The Clerk informed those present that he was trying to contact SHDC street team to get advice on the best way to remove the graffiti.
24.079 D-Day Beacon Lighting
Cllr Bellamy reported that preparations for the beacon lighting were progressing well. Extra security fencing had been sourced. A cherry-picker will be required to load the beacon and Cllr Mews said he had one if required.
24.080 Allotments
The Clerk reported that work was progressing well on clearing allotment 2A and it was hoped it would soon be ready for a new tenant. There is a waiting list of four people and the Clerk will contact them in chronological order to see if they are still interested.
It was agreed that weather permitting on Monday 3rd June at 7:00pm councillors will meet at Weston Hills playing field to inspect the playing field before moving on to inspect the field opposite Weston Hills village hall, the allotments and finally Weston playing field. Should the weather be inclement then the visits will be postponed until later in June.
24.081 Weston Playing Field
Quotes for the installation of the electrical system was discussed with the Parish Council deciding to go with the quote from RF Welding – Holbeach St Johns (no remotes but with nine warning signs) at £7,600+vat. Proposed RP, seconded AB, vote seven for, one against (DB). Cllr Brotherton will contact RF welding and confirm the time scale for installation.
24.082 Weston Hills Playing Field
Cllr Bellamy said she hoped planning permission for the next stage of play equipment would be passed by 31st May. She was in contact with Kompan for a revised quote. The Chairman reported that £44k had now been received from SHDC which is the Ashwood contribution to the s106 fund. Cllr Bellamy reported she had spoken to Weston Hills School and agreed on a location for the schools planting area.
24.083 Planning Matters
Notification of application for consideration available via SHDC website:-
H22-0200-24, Gate Cottage, Holbeach Rd, Spalding. Approved.
H22-0349-24, Flamingo Flowers Ltd, Stonegate. No Objections
H22-0384-24, Broadgate Barns, 694 Broadgate No Objections
24.084 Finance Report
The financial report to 30th April 2024 (Please see accompanying report) having been circulated was taken as read and its contents noted.
On the Clerk/RFO’s advice it was agreed to open a second 32day account. £30k would be transferred from the treasurers account into this new account. Proposed AB, seconded DB, unanimous vote in favour.
24.085 Items for Discussions
Cllr Brotherton asked if the council might consider sponsored banners which she had seen in other parishes to try to encourage drivers to slow down.
Cllr Bunder said he thought progress was needed on the introduction of a Parish Council Facebook page. A social media policy will need to be adopted and Cllr Bellamy asked that Social Media be made an agenda item in July.
Cllr Pennington asked about dispensations from DPI. Cllr Bellamy said that this was due to be discussed in at July’s meeting.
The Chairman said that Weston Village hall had contacted him to ask if the Parish Council would support its 25th birthday.
24.086 Date of Next Meeting
Monday 3rd June 2024 7:00pm at Weston Hills Playing Field (Weather Permitting).
Monday 1st July 2024 7:30pm at Weston Hills Village Hall.
District Cllr Casson and the members of the public left the meeting.
The Meeting then went into closed session.
Chairman …………………………………………………