2025 Minutes

24b

Metheringham Parish Council

(21/02/2025)

Draft Minutes of the Full Council Meeting

Held in the Parish Office 31a High Street Metheringham LN4 3DZ

29th January2025

There was a public forum at 6.15pm prior to the meeting where members of the public, County and District Councilor’s together with any other members of public bodies present may make short statements to the committee.

Public forum: No comments.

County Councillor‘s report:

Cllr Rob Kendrick reported regarding the Lincoln County Council; the proposed council tax rate is lower than most other authorities. The council gets less grant aid from Central Government (CG) than other county councils. They are actually the lowest funded county council in the UK; he also stated the extra employers NI costs are having an effect on increasing the budget for 2025/2026, He went on to say that they will be an election in May as the unitary authorities that are being talked about by CG are not yet decided in Lincolnshire.

Police panel:

Cllr June Gwillym reported that the police and crime commissioner Mark Jones is becoming more vocal. 

Members of Council:

The Chair Councillor Keith Parker (KP); the Vice Chair Councillor Roy Grummitt (RG); Councillor June Gwillym (JG); Councillor Asia O’Sullivan (AO); Councillor Shirley Peak (SP; Counsellor Fran Pembury (FP); Councillor 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:

In Attendance:  Chair Cllr K Parker; Cllr J Gwillym; Cllr S Peak; Cllr F Pembury; Cllr R Castle; Cllr D Parry*; Cllr J Simpson; Cllr M Wallace; Cllr M Westerman; Cllr M Worthington and J F Money Temporary Clerk.

The meeting was moved into formal session.

1. The Chair opened the meeting with the usual housekeeping announcements.

2. Apologies for absence:

 Cllr Catherine Redpath (family) proposed by SP and seconded by RC; Cllr Roy Grummitt (family) proposed by FP on seconded by MWe; Cllr Asia O’Sullivan (please this meeting) proposed JG and seconded by MWa; Cllr Parry * (arrived later).

3. Declaration of interest:    

 a) Members Declaration of Interests None declared;     

 b) Dispensations: None requested;    

 c)  Members DOI update reminder: Noted.

4. To ratify the draft minutes of the following meetings: 

20th of November 2024 proposed MWa and seconded by MWe; 

27th of November 2024 proposed by MWa and seconded by RC;

10th of December 2024 proposed by FP and seconded by MWe ;

23rd of January proposed by MWa and seconded by JG;

all were approved and resolved the Chair sign them as a true and accurate record of those meetings. 

5. Action from previous meetings Non-recorded.

6. With regard to a request from parishioners for a pedestrian crossing to be sited on the B1189Metheringham bypass south of the filling station. After a short debate the Chair said he would support any motion that was put forward to provide this crossing; proposed by JG and seconded by MWo. It was resolved to instruct JFM to contact all the authorities responsible including Lincolnshire County Council highways department and make an official request for a pedestrian crossing on the Parish Councils behalf and keep members informed of any progress regarding this matter. Action JFM

7. The Springwell Solar Farm: in response to the PC being asked if they wish to respond as an interested party to the proposed development; after a short debate it was resolved that JFM make a response on the Parish Council ‘s behalf; proposed by RC and seconded by MWe. Action JFM

8. Reports from local clubs and organisations: None received

9. Financial Information: The payments listed that have been made were approved and the instruction to the Acting RFO to pay all outstanding accounts was also resolved. Action Acting RFO

10. The meeting to be moved into closed session as per:

 The Public Bodies (admissions to meetings Act 1960 exclusion of the press and public: to resolve that in accordance with Section 1 (2) of the public bodies (admissions to meetings) act 1960 and as reinforced by Section 12a of the Local Government 1972 and by reason of the confidential nature of the remainder of the business the press and public be excluded. 

Proposed by JG and seconded by MWe it was unanimously resolved to move the meeting into closed session

11. The Chair stated the internal review was almost complete. Members made some comments.

12. JFM informed Members regarding FOIA requests

13. HMRC VAT returns: JFM informed the meeting that he was in the process of reconciling all of the VAT.

14. To receive a report from the Finance and Staffing Committee Chair

a) Finance & Staffing Chair (MWe) updated the Members on the 2024/25 costs to date.

b) MWe went on to inform members of what had been agreed regarding future staffing proposals

c) The appointment of either a Temporary or Locum RFO: it was agreed to engage the services of a Temporary RFO: Action Chair; JFM **

d) Existing Staffing arrangements:

The Chair closed the meeting at 7:38pm

**Decisions made in closed session may be published, but not how they were arrived at.