May 2023 Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting
FREISTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING & THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL (AMC), HELD AT THE DANNY FLEAR COMMUNITY CENTRE ON Thursday 18th May at 7:00pm
Minutes taken by The Clerk: Val Austin
(These minutes will be checked at the next meeting before the council amends/approves them as a correct record)
PRESENT
Councillors: Nigel Marshall (Chairman), Cllr Bridgett Posey (Vice Chair) Cllr Judith Godwin, Cllr Peter Bedford, Cllr Shaun Pearson, Cllr Amy Marshall, Cllr Roy Pearson, Cllr Simon Pearson (arrived 19:59pm), Cllr T Wheeler (Co-opted) & The Clerk Mrs V Austin.
Cllr Dale Broughton was also present.
The meeting was called to order at 19:02pm
1. To Elect a Chairman for the ensuring year 2023/2024
• Cllr Bridgett Posey proposed, seconded by Cllr Amy Marshall & all unanimously agreed that Cllr Nigel Marshall be re-elected as Chairman.
2. Signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Chairman to be witnessed by the Proper Officer.
• Cllr Nigel Marshall signed the necessary paperwork, witnessed by the Proper officer
3. Co-opting
i. To consider the applications for the casual vacancies on the council & co-opt a new councillor
• All councillors agreed for the appointment via co-opting of Mr Anthony Wheeler.
ii. To receive the signed acceptance of office from the newly co-opt councillor.
• Cllr Anthony Wheeler, signed the necessary paperwork, witnessed by the Proper officer
4. To elect a Vice-Chair for the ensuring year 2023/2024
• Cllr Judith Godwin proposed & all unanimously agreed that Cllr Bridgett Posey be re-elected as Vice Chair.
5. Signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Vice- Chair to be witnessed by the Proper Officer
• Cllr Bridgett Posey signed the necessary paperwork, witnessed by the Proper Officer.
6. To appoint representatives, for the ensuring year 2023/2024
i. Appointment of representative for Highway Matters
• Cllr Roy Pearson agreed to continue to be the representative for Highway Matters
ii. Appointment of representative for the Danny Flear Community Centre
• Cllr Nigel Marshall agreed to continue to be the representative for The Danny Flear Community Centre.
7. Freiston Poor Charity – Annual Report – Report read out by Cllr Nigel Marshall.
• Everything is going well with the Poor Charity, 100 gifts for fuel allowance & educational grants issued. The charity is now open to hardship grants at any time of the year. The age for the fuel allowance will increase to 67, for winter 2023 applications.
8. Public Forum: To resolve to suspend the meeting for a maximum of 10 minutes to allow members of the public to ask questions or make short statements to the council.
• No members of the public present.
9. Elected Chairman to open the Monthly Parish Meeting
• The Annual meeting of the Council (AMC) was called to a close at 19:08pm
• The start of the monthly parish meeting was called to order at 19:08pm
10. Apologises: To receive and accept apologises where a valid reason for the absence has been given to the clerk prior to the meeting.
• Cllr Simon Pearson not in attendance for most of the meeting, arrived at 19:59pm
11. Police Matters: Stats & incidents are available to view on the police website. Local Crime information website www.streetcheck.co.uk
Crime data for February & March 2023 as follows:
Other Crime
• February on or near Linton Close – PE22 0QN – Awaiting Court Date
• February on or near Mill Lane – PE22 0QN – Unable to prosecute suspect
Violence & Sexual Offences
• February on or near Church View – PE22 0LA – Unable to prosecute suspect
• March on or near Park Lane – PE22 0LD – Under Investigation.
Criminal Damage
• March on or near Park Lane – PE22 0LA – Under Investigation.
12. Minutes: To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 20th April 2023. To resolve as a correct record & to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
• All councillors agreed to the minutes being signed by Cllr N Marshall.
13. Declarations of interest (if any): To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests
• No declarations declared.
14. Boston Borough Councillor reports:
• Cllr Peter Bedford
Happy to be re-elected for the next 4 years.
• Cllr Dale Broughton
Looking forward to the challenge & commitment.
15. Planning update: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and appeal decisions advised by Boston Borough Council.
• No planning applications received at the time of completion of the agenda.
16. Parish Matters / Matters Arising / Updates
16.1 Street Lights
• The clerk to contact BBC to see if there is more to be done & when the parish will receive the final invoice.
16.2 Speed Awareness
• Cllr Nigel Marshall has requested a meeting with a Highways officer & Cllr Paul Skinner to discuss the speeding & other road issues within Freiston. The clerk to arrange.
16.3 Village Magazine
• The clerk showed the councillors the magazine, with a few adjustments the magazine will be ready in early June for delivery.
• The clerk has received details to be entered on the next edition of the magazine.
• Councillors decided on a magazine every two months.
16.4 Highway & Roads
• The village gates on the A16 have received the approval of the structure agreement from Lincolnshire County Council.
• The old village signs, next to the A16 village gates are to be removed, can these signs be used elsewhere in the village.
• Refer to item 16:2
16.5 Levelling up - Playing Field & Bowls Club
• Further discussions required, to be added to 16th June 23 agenda.
16.6 Flagpole
• Cllr Peter Bedford to look into getting a Lincolnshire flag to fly.
• The clerk to look into other flags, remembrance, personalised Freiston Flag
16.7 Playing Field Swings & Play equipment
• Cllr Nigel Marshall reported the larger swings have had new tyres
• New infant seats fitted to the swings
• Roof has been repaired on the slide.
16.8 Internal Audit
• See below 17.3 & 17.4
17. Finance
17.1 To approve the accounts for payments
• Payments due for May 23 - £640.80
• Paid in between meetings May 23 - £623.03
• Receipts received May 23 - £34.08
17.2 Bank Account Statement of Accounts as at 18th May 2023
• Treasurers Account balance £9,641.39
• Business Bank Instant balance £72,451.64
17.3 To approve the 2022/2023 End of Year Accounts and the Internal Auditors Report.
• Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) 2022/23, All councillors agreed for the chairman & proper officer to sign the AGAR page 3.
17.4 To approve section 1 & 2 of The Local Councils Annual Return
• All councillors resolved to agree that the Chairman & the proper officer sign the AGAR sections 1 & 2.
18. Date of next parish council meeting: Thursday 15th June 2023 at 7:30pm
• Due to the clerk’s holiday the agenda for June will be earlier than normal.
19. Any other business by leave of the chairman: For June 15th 2023 Agenda
• Cllr Peter Bedford mentioned that the Danny Flear Community Centre does not have a microwave. Would the Parish Council purchase a microwave?
Note from The Clerk: Please note agenda numbering was incorrect from item no 8, this has been corrected in these minutes.
With no other business the meeting closed at 20:01pm
Chairman’s Report for 2022/2023
By Nigel Marshall
A big thank you to all the Parish, Borough and the County Councillors for their attendance, comments and support over the last year especially with some councillors retiring and with new starters it is a time of renewal.
After covid I’m happy to see the Danny Flear Community Centre and playing field well used by all again with ongoing maintenance and renewals funding needed.
The Freiston Wood project has been added to again and thank you to Bridget for sourcing the free trees from the Woodland trust.
It’s been good to hear praise following The War Memorial renewal project and the new tommies will hopefully add more this November.
The full and half marathon have passed through the village again this year, this time at least 2 councils had a relative running the half marathon and he came in 69th, well done.
Pothole repairs have occurred in the village but reporting still seems an issue with some residents.
The flag pole was finally erected for the King’s Coronation having missed the Platinum Jubilee and the Queens funeral.
Thank you to Shaun, Roy and Tony for getting the new village signs in place.
Thank you for Judith for her continued efforts with the litter picking in the countryside.
One big thank you to Val, but has she fully explored all the features of the new laptop with the new projector!