Minutes - 30 January 2023

Minutes of the meeting held 30 January 2023, 7:30 pm at St Vedast Church, Tathwell 

Public Forum. There were two members of the public present to observe.  The Churchwarden also attended to provide his report.
There were no reports from ELDC, LCC and the Neighbourhood Police Team.  
 
23/01-1 Record of Members Present and Apologies. 
Present: Cllr Mr Lou Fear (Chairman), Cllr Jo Walsh, Cllr John Stainton and Cllr Mrs Elizabeth Hairsine
Also in attendance: Mr Russell Howard (Church Warden), Mrs N Must (Clerk) and Mr Peter Harrison (resident)
Apologies accepted: Cllr Rowena Larkin (Vice-Chairman), Cllr Cheryl Shaw and Cllr John Williams
 
23/01-2 To receive any Declarations of Interest on any items on the agenda. None
 
23/01-3 Minutes from 7 November 2022.  It was RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting were accurate and the Chairman signed the minutes. 
 
23/01-4 Council Matters
a) Chairman’s Remarks.  
i. A resident sent a thank you note for having a defibrillator to use at Haugham parish due to an incident of a suspected heart attack.
ii. The Chairman inspected the dead tree at the Haugham crossroads and noted that it was leaning towards the field rather than the bench side.  The owner has been made aware.
iii. The debris of fallen branches on Thacker’s Lane had been reported and awaiting response from the Council.  Mr Harrison noted that there have been three occasions when branches have blocked the lane and residents have tried clearing the area.  However, some branches were too large to move. 
b) Actions from Previous Meeting. Noted.  The Vice Chairman will take photos of the two trees in Springtime when there are leaves on the trees before registering on the Queen’s Tree Canopy website.
c) Communications.  Noted. Nothing to discuss.
d) Parish merger of Tathwell and Haugham.  No response from ELDC despite the Parish Clerk pursuing the request.
e) Local crime.  The request for police attendance at the meeting had not been responded to.  The Chairman reported that the latest burglary was very similar to previous crimes in the parish.  Putting up CCTV around the Chaplin’s Yard area will be explored.  It was agreed that local crime be added to the agenda of the Annual Parish Meeting in May to get suggestions from residents on how they want the matter to be addressed. 
 
23/01-5 Finance and Budgets
a) Payments approved for January 2023 
b) Bank Mandate. The bank provided another form to complete and signed by two signatories to sort out the issue of payment authorisation.  The online access for Cllr Walsh is still unsolved despite the Clerk being told that she is already in the authorised signatories list.
c) Budget Monitoring and Latest Receipts and Payments. Noted.  
d) Approved Budget for 2023/24 and precept per property band. Noted
 
23/01-6 Community Amenities/Issues
a) King Charles III Coronation.  The Council agreed to have an afternoon tea at the Churchyard on Sunday, 7th May 2023 to coincide with the national festivities.  The celebration will be similar to the one held for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last May. The marquees will be put up depending on weather conditions. It was also agreed to provide £100 budget for sandwiches and other refreshments which the Chairman will coordinate.  The Vice-Chairman will be asked to create a competition similar to the one she organised for the jubilee.
b) Defibrillator training.  It was agreed that the Parish Clerk will put a message on the Community Page for any resident who wished to be trained on how to use the defibrillator and as a refresher course for those already trained.  The Chairman will organise the training required.
c) Portable loo. It was agreed to get a portaloo from the same company used last year and to book it at the earliest opportunity to ensure availability for the whole of May 2023.
d) Churchwarden’s Report.  Mr R Howard reported that the arrangements for the Arts Festival in May is going well.  There will be a Church Service on Sunday, 12 February to celebrate the feast of St Vedast.  The next service will be on Sunday, 16 April.  Both services will be at 10:30 am presided by a lay preacher.
e) Litter-picking. It was agreed to hold the session on Saturday, 11 March at 10am.  Those who have participated already have grabbers at hand and there are plenty of green bags still available.  For any resident who wish to do their own litter-picking prior to the day are welcomed to do so.  Cllr Hairsine will leave bags at the bus shelter a week early.  All filled bags should be left at the bus shelter for collection by ELDC.
f) Slow sign. Cllr Walsh reported that the sign she put up along Thacker’s Lane had been completed damaged.  She has another sign to donate and the Chairman will put it up with some metal stakes.
 
23/01-7 Planning Matters.
a) There has been no news on the Haugham Slates Farm Telecommunications Upgrade Pre-application.
b) No new planning application notified by ELDC.
 
23/01-8 ELDC/LCC Services
a) ELDC.  The headquarters have moved to The Hub in Horncastle and that Tedder Hall has been sold.
b) LCC.  It was agreed to post on the Tathwell Community Page on fb when the LCC Ward Member monthly e-brief is received.
 
23/01-9 Schedule of Meetings for FY 2023/24.  The Council agreed the hold the meetings as tabled below.

Date

Time

Venue

Meeting

Monday, 15th May 2023

7 pm

Tathwell Lodge

Annual Parish Meeting followed by the Annual Meeting of the Council

Monday, 7 August  2023

7:30pm

St Vedast Church

Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council

Monday, 6th November 2022

7:30pm

St Vedast Church

Budget Meeting – Parish Council

Monday, 5th February 2023

7:30pm

St Vedast Church

Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council

The meeting closed at 8:25pm.