December 2024 Minutes (EOM)
22
Metheringham Parish Council (10/12/2024)
Draft Minutes of an Extraordinary Meeting
Held in the Parish Office 31a High Street Metheringham LN4 3DZ
10th December 2024
Members of Council:
The Chair Councillor Keith Parker (KP); the Vice Chair Councillor Roy Grummitt (RG); Councillor Mrs June Gwillym (JG); Councillor Ms Asia O’Sullivan (AO); Councillor Mrs Shirley Peak (SP; Counsellor Fran Pembury (FP); Councillor Mrs Catherine Redpath (CR); Councillor Rob Castle (RC); Councillor Dave Parry (DP); Councillor Malcolm Wallace MWa); Councillor Mike Westerman (MWe); Councillor Mark Worthington (MWo). Proper Officer of Council John F Money (JFM)
Attendance:
The Chair Councillor Keith Parker (KP); the Vice Chair Councillor Roy Grummitt (RG); Councillor Mrs June Gwillym (JG); Councillor Ms Asia O’Sullivan (AO); Councillor Mrs Shirley Peak (SP; Counsellor Fran Pembury (FP); Councillor Mrs Catherine Redpath (CR); Councillor Rob Castle (RC); Councillor Dave Parry (DP); Councillor Malcolm Wallace MWa); Councillor Mike Westerman (MWe); Councillor Mark Worthington (MWo). Proper Officer of Council John F Money (JFM)
Public Forum:
A representative of the Metheringham Swimming Pool Trustees spoke on the acquisition of a £87,000 grant from FCC. She also so went on to say the organisation has improved since certain trustees have been involved. This evening they are asking the parish council for a letter of intent to extend a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which relates to the occupation of the pool site between the two parties, which expires in the autumn of 2025, the request is for another five years from the expiry of the MOU to secure this grant offer. A folder of recent documents was presented to the council, with an undertaking further documentation would be made available in the near future.
The Chair thanked the representative for their contribution to the meeting.
1.The Chair opened the meeting: with the usual housekeeping notes and a brief explanation of why the meeting was called.
The Meeting Continued in Formal Session.
2.To resolve to accept apologies for absence and reasons given in accordance with Local Government Act 1972 S85(1) Apologies for absence: None
3. Members Declarations of Interests:
a. Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting in accordance with Metheringham Parish Councils Code of Conduct: Declarations of interest: None.
Dispensations: To consider and accept dispensation request received by the Temporary Clerk to relevant members in accordance with Metheringham Parish. Application for dispensations: None.
The Chair reminded members to update the decoration of interest form whenever their circumstances changes.
4.Closed session
The Chair will move the meeting into closed session where the press and members of the public are asked to leave; (Under the requirements of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 and as further described in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972
After some debate on the legality of the closed session where this item was drafted and inserted in the agenda by the Temporary Clerk was discussed, after some debate the Chair called for a proposal and a seconder to move the meeting into closed session. Proposed by Cllr J Mrs Gwillym and seconded by Cllr J Simpson, a vote was taken and by a majority decision it was resolved to do so.
5.Swimming Pool Association: A request for an extension of their Memorandum of Understanding.
6.Resolution of the closed session of Metheringham Parish Council
It was resolved to instruct the Temporary Clerk to draft and execute as Proper Officer a Letter of Intent to extend the MOU from the 27th October 2025 for five years to the 26th October 2030. To communicate this letter to the Trustees forthwith and before the grant offer expiry date. Action JFM.
7.Date of the next meeting: to be confirmed.
They are being no more business to transact. The chair closed the meeting at 7:05 pm thanked everyone for attending and wished them a safe journey home.
Note to Members: it is not usual to disclose proposers and seconders in closed session. And in fact, most councils don’t even in formal session, but it’s in MPC Standing Orders to do so.
In future can you vote on apologies en bloc. It seems a worthless exercise both lodging and minuting them all separately, unless anyone has issues with the reasons given of course.