2023 Draft Minutes - Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Monday 15th May 2023, 7:20pm at St Vedast Church, Tathwell LN11 9SX. There were four parishioners present. Parish Councillor Jo Walsh and ELDC Ward Member A Grist sent their apologies.
1. Welcome. Cllr Mr Lou Fear chaired the meeting. Also in attendance were Parish Councillors Elizabeth Hairsine, Rowena Larkin and John Williams. Also present were Steve Samuel, a Tathwell resident and Nadine Must, the Parish Clerk.
2. To receive the previous minutes held 16th May 2022. The minutes of the parish meeting held in 2022 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 reported the following.
3.1 The May 2023 local election for the parish was uncontested. There were eight seats but only six have been nominated. Hence the parish council is able to co-opt another two residents from either Tathwell and Haugham to join the Parish Council.
3.2 The Parish Council met every quarter at its usual venue at St Vedast Church at 7:30pm except for the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council which was held at my residence in May last year. We had two residents who joined us. We would welcome more residents to join us.
3.3 We started the financial year with a new Chair and Vice Chair. Elizabeth Hairsine who led the Council for the past four years gave way to my election as Chair. Rowena Larkin took over as Vice Chair. As a mark of thanks to Elizabeth’s leadership and support the Parish Council has put her name on the plaques attached to the picnic table and bench.
3.4 We have been supported by our Parish Clerk, Nadine Must, who has provided the legal and procedural principles to successfully run the Council. Nadine has now been in the Council for five years.
3.5 Members of the Parish Council organised and successfully delivered the Platinum Jubilee picnic in June. 32 residents attended.
3.6 The Parish Council also commemorated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with planting two trees in the village. The Sweet Chestnut Tree on Poverty Lane and Haugham junction was provided by Lincolnshire County Council and the Chair donated a Silver Birch tree which is planted near the Tathwell Churchyard. Both trees are thriving well thanks to the residents who have kindly watered the trees when required. The trees have been mapped and registered with the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and the Parish Council has received its virtual plaque.
3.7 We welcomed John Williams from Haugham as a co-opted member in November 2022.
3.8 Cheryl Shaw has decided not to get nominated for the May elections and on behalf of the Parish Council thanks Cheryl for her work and contribution.
3.9 The Council signed up to the Civility and Respect Pledge which to demonstrate that we are committed to standing up to poor behaviour across the local government sector and to drive through positive changes which support civil and respectful conduct.
3.10 The Parish Council has applied to East Lindsey District Council for the merger of Tathwell and Haugham into one parish. In ELDC terms, Haugham is a separate authority from Tathwell which means the parish council has to pay separate administration fees for elections. We have not received any update yet as to when this will be approved.
3.11 Planning applications. Two planning applications were received: Harbourne House and Lodge Cottage both in Tathwell had been approved.
3.12 The Parish Council continues to report to Lincolnshire County Council via Fixmystreet regarding traffic issues, broken fencing and visibility. Support from the Highways Department continues to be a challenge and the parish council has taken the decision to put up slow down signs to ease the speed of traffic especially along narrow bends with low visibility. A new sign has been put to replace a previous one that disappeared.
3.13 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 by the Parish Council and is part of the Council’s Insurance.
3.14 The two defibrillators at Tathwell and at Haugham are monitored regularly to ensure that they are in working order.
3.15 Litter pick. The annual litter picking in March was well supported as various people collected and disposed of as well as those who put bags in the bus shelter.
3.16 The Parish Council continues to grant the two churchyards of Tathwell and Haugham with £300 per annum for the upkeep.
3.17 On Finances
a) The Council certified itself exempt from External Audit due to its precept not exceeding £25,000. The precept for Financial Year 2022/23 was kept at £2,430.
b) The Parish Council was granted £1,000 as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which paid for the Boules pitch.
c) Mrs Anne Norton continues to provide her voluntary service as our internal auditor and we thank her for her continued support to the Parish Council.
d) At the November budget setting, the Council agreed to increase the precept to £3,505 which covers increased cost of employment and other statutory expenses
4. Annual Report of St Vedast Church Committee – The Churchwarden Mr R Howard sent his apologies but reported that the arrangements for the Arts Festival at the end of month is going well.
5. Annual Report from the Wightman Trust. the Council as the sole trustee sends its annual financial report to the Charity Commission. This year we have reported to the Charity Commission that there is now a Boules pitch for free use of residents. There is no income nor expenses that are attributed to this land which is mainly used as a car park. A portaloo was placed at the site from April to October as a facility for church visitors and the Arts Festival.
6. Open Forum.
Cllr John Williams from Haugham reported a number of issues.
a) There were two incidents of vandalism at Haugham Church. Damage was caused on the decorative carved finials on the pews. There was also a break-in to the bell tower.
b) He also asked how to access some training to use the defibrillator situated outside his property. Cllr Fear mentioned that there is a video available to show how to use it and it was pretty straightforward.
c) There have been road incidents at the junction of the A16 Boston Road with Haugham. The road has eroded and exposed the large stone which is not very visible from the southern end. Vehicles had been damaged turning left towards Haugham. Mr Williams will send the Parish Clerk more details to report to Lincolnshire County Council.
Local crime and vehicle speeding were also discussed. There was disappointment that the authorities were not putting in measures to prevent incidents.
It was agreed that Haugham does not require a separate Annual Parish Meeting. The Parish Council will continue to arrange one meeting for both parishes.
The meeting closed at 7:50pm.
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