2024 Annual Parish Meeting Draft Minutes

The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Tuesday 7th May 2024, 7:20pm at St Vedast Church, Tathwell LN11 9SX.   There were seven parishioners present. Parish Councillor Rowena Larkin sent her apologies. Both ELDC and LCC Ward Members Cllr Adam Grist and Hugo Marfleet were invited but did not attend nor did they provide an annual report.
 
1.  Welcome. Cllr Mr Lou Fear chaired the meeting.  Also in attendance were Parish Councillors Elizabeth Hairsine, Jo Walsh, Steve Samuel and John Williams.  Also present were Russell Howard, the Churchwarden, Roy Hairsine and Nadine Must, the Parish Clerk.
 
2.  To receive the previous minutes held 15th May 2023.  The minutes of the parish meeting held in 2023 were approved as a true record and signed by the Chair.
 
3.  Annual Report of the Chair of Tathwell and Haugham Parish Council.  Cllr Mr Lou Fear emphasised that Parish Meetings are not parish council meetings.  It is the residents’ meeting giving residents the opportunity to meet their Parish Councillors, hear what the Parish Council has done in the last year. In addition, District & County Councillors are invited along with representatives from other areas of the community for their annual update.  The agenda were posted on the two notice boards, on the parish council website and on the Tathwell Village Community page in Facebook.
 
3.1 It has been a year since the Parish Council elections.  Only six residents from eight available seats for the Tathwell and Haugham Parish Council stood for the elections.  The number increased to seven when Steve Samuel was co-opted in July 2023.  The Chairman thanked all his fellow parish councillors for continuing to give their time and efforts for the benefit of the village.  Very few members of the public attended the meetings although residents are always welcome to let the parish council know of any village issues they want addressed.  The parish council cannot promise to resolve the issues but will work with the relevant authorities to address them.  The Parish Council continue to meet every quarter here at St Vedast Church at 7:30pm
 
The Council had been pro-active in attending engagement sessions especially with the Police and Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership. He thanked Cllr John Williams for volunteering to attend these events on behalf of the Council
 
Both the ELDC and LCC Ward members had not attended the parish council meetings but have been supportive on request.  ELDC Ward Member Adam Grist was thanked for the £500 grant to buy the Haugham bench.  However, the request to merge Tathwell and Haugham as one Council is still unresolved.  The Council is still waiting for LCC Ward Member Hugo Marfleet’s availability to discuss the speed limits around the parish.  
 
3.2 Council Vacancy.  The Parish Council still has one vacancy to fill and will welcome anyone interested in village affairs, and would like to be involved, should speak to any of the parish councillors or the parish clerk. 
 
3.3 Policies.  The Council continues to review all the policies necessary and have adopted those which are considered best practice. One such policy is the Civility and Respect Pledge which commits the Council to stand up to poor behaviour, bullying, harassment and intimidation across the public sector and to drive through positive changes which support civil and respectful conduct. 
 
The Parish Council also now has a General Power of Competence which allows the power to do anything that individuals generally may do as long as it doesn’t break other laws.
 
All parish councillors also have a dedicated email address purely for parish council business which complies with legislation.
 
3.4 Planning.  Two planning applications were considered which were both supported by the Parish Council.  A major consultation by the National Grid to erect pylons along the coast has been controversial and residents have not been in favour.
 
3.5 Amenities.  The Parish Council continues to hire a portable loo for the whole duration of May for church visitors and the Arts Festival.
 
Litter picking events every March continues and LCC has given some extra litter picking equipment.  All the volunteers were thanked especially Steve Samuel. The event is always well supported as various people collected and disposed of as well as those who put bags in the bus shelter.  ELDC has now collected the bags.  However, there is a mattress at the top end of New Lane that needs dealing with.
 
Special thanks were mentioned to Jason Storr and Jason Cutter for removing the debris from Raithby Road during the recent heavy rains.
 
The two defibrillators at Tathwell and at Haugham are monitored regularly to ensure that they are in working order.
 
The Council continues to grant the two churchyards of Tathwell and Haugham with £300 per annum for the upkeep.
 
The Council also donated to two other charities.  St Barnabas Hospice received £150 and Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance also received £150,
 
The grit bins were refilled.  The trees along Green Lane had been cut back to improve access. He fence at the war memorial will be repainted in due course.
 
Remembrance Day was marked again with a short gathering at the War Memorial laying a wreath, supplied by the Royal British Legion charity which the Parish Council support with a donation.  The War Memorial is maintained and insured by the Parish Council.
 
4. Annual report of the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO), Nadine Must.  The RFO reported that receipts for Financial Year 2023/24 was £4,420 and payments amounted to £4,832.  Most of the spending budget for the year was underspent and only the staff cost was more than the allocated budget.  Total reserves at the end of the financial year was £1,529.  A VAT reclaim of £54 will be submitted.  The precept for the current year has been received amounting to £4,043 from an agreed budget spending of £4,849.
 
5.  Annual Report of St Vedast Church Committee.  Russell Howard, Churchwarden reported that preparations for the Arts Festival on the 25th to the 27th May 2024 are progressing.  With the absence of a vicar, there are only six church services throughout the year led by retired clergy and lay preachers. Improved heating in the church is still being planned.  One of the trees close to the church is being closely monitored as its condition is uncertain. The Committee is always looking for more volunteers to help with the maintenance of the churchyard.
 
6. Annual Report from the Wightman Trust.  The Parish Clerk reported that she has submitted to the Charity Commission a nil return.  There were no income nor expenditure at the site.  It was noted that the title deeds were kept at Wilkin Chapman Solicitors.  Cllr Jo Walsh volunteered to request a copy for Parish Council reference.
 
7.  Open Forum.  
 
7.1 Ginger cat.  There was no information on who owned the ginger cat that had been roaming the village and aggressive towards other cats.  It was agreed that the Chairman will contact Cats Protection at Horncastle to ask for their help to capture and re-home the cat.
 
7.2 Speed limit extension.  It was suggested that discussions with LCC should refer to the extension of the 30mph restriction at West Ashby and implement the same at Tathwell.
 
7.3 Postbox at Haugham.  It was looking likely that Royal Mail will not replace the damaged postbox door.  Cllr John Williams is in discussion with some residents to explore a local firm that may be able to replace the door.  Costs for repair can be put forward for Parish Council funding.
 
7.4 Volunteers for Arts Festival.  Mr Roy Hairsine mentioned that more volunteers were needed to help at the Arts Festival.
 
7.5 National Grid Upgrade Proposal.  It was commented that this proposal should be strongly objected to as it will devastate the Lincolnshire landscape.  If the proposal goes ahead, it will be a precedent for more pylons being erected.
 
The meeting closed at 7:50pm.
 
 
Proposed:  
 
 
Seconded:  
 
 
Signed:
Chairman
 
 
Date: