April 2025 DRAFT Minutes
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE DANNY FLEAR COMMUNITY CENTRE ON Thursday 17th April 2025, at 7:30pm
Minutes taken by The Locum Clerk: Mrs Laura Forman
(These minutes will be checked at the next meeting before the council amends/approves them as a correct record)
PRESENT
Councillors: Cllr Nigel Marshall (Chair), Cllr Bridgett Posey (Vice Chair), Cllr Peter Bedford, Cllr Roy Pearson, Cllr Amy Marshall, Cllr Judith Godwin, Cllr Shaun Pearson, Cllr Simon Pearson, Cllr Tony Wheeler and The Locum Clerk Laura Forman.
Also Present:
Lincolnshire County Councillor: Paul Skinner
The meeting was called to order at 19:26pm
1. Chairman to open the meeting: Hello & Welcome to you all.
2. Apologises: To receive and accept apologises where a valid reason for the absence has been given to the clerk prior to the meeting.
• No Apologies received.
3. Public Forum: No members of the public present.
4. Police Matters: Stats and incidents are available to view on the police website. Local Crime information website www.streetcheck.co.uk.
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Bull Pasture |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Butterwick Road |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Homers Lane |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Upsall Road |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Other Theft – On or Near Haltoft End Estate – Investigation Complete – No Suspect Identified |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Other Theft – On or Near St Andrew’s Road – Investigation Complete – No Suspect Identified |
|
Shore Road |
PE22 0NH |
Feb |
Violence and Sexual Offences – On or near Upsall Road – Under Investigation |
|
Croppers Lane |
PE22 0QX |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour – On or near Croppers Lane |
|
Croppers Lane |
PE22 0QX |
Feb |
Violence and Sexual Offences - On or Near Linton Close – Unable to prosecute suspect |
|
Croppers Lane |
PE22 0QX |
Feb |
Violence and Sexual Offences - On or Near Linton Close – Under Investigation |
|
Church Lane |
PE22 0LA |
Feb |
Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Acorn Close |
|
Bakers Lane |
PE22 0PH |
Feb |
Criminal Damage and Arson – On or near Shortfield Lane - Investigation Complete, No suspect identified |
5. Minutes: To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 20th March 2025. To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
• All councillors resolved for the chairman Cllr Nigel Marshall to sign the minutes.
6. 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 received
7. 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.
B/25/00117 – Burchnall, Hobhole Bank, Freiston – Conversion of Outbuilding to Annexe.
The Clerk contacted the Councillors by email for their comments. – No objections received.
8. Updates / Discuss and resolve the following items
8.1. Highway & Roads – Update
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that the water issue in the middle of the village seems to have been resolved.
- Cllr Paul Skinner confirmed that the works to install new piping to replace the asbestos piping at Hobhole bank will take three months to complete and will require road closures.
- Cllr Paul Skinner informed the Council that a Highways Officer had been assigned to look at the road signs at Freiston shore with the hopes of addressing issues previously expressed by the Parish Council and residents.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that all 6 radar speed signs had been installed and the sign at Butterwick Road is now working – All Councillors agreed that the signs were having the desired effect of reducing excessive speed.
- Cllr Bridgett Posey reported that the road leading towards the Pilgrim Fathers’ Memorial has now become virtually impassable and that tourists who were visiting at the same time, were not impressed. The new facilities at the Memorial are very good but access is now a problem. Also, Freiston has been misspelt on the information signs. Cllr Paul Skinner stated that the poor condition of the road had been minuted by Fishtoft Parish Council and that the spelling error would be reported to Boston Borough Council and rectified.
- Cllr Roy Pearson confirmed that the footpath lanes on the A52 have been cleared from the Bridge to The Castle Inn. Cllr Paul Skinner hoped that the drainage issue had now been resolved.
The Council resolved to discuss agenda item 8.3 at this point.
8.3 Do Not Litter Signs. – Cllr Bridgett Posey.
Cllr Bridgett Posey confirmed that after proposing the idea at the previous meeting; the question arose as to where the signs would be placed? Also, whether this would be cost effective as the signs would need to be a considerable size.
Cllr Shaun Pearson stated that it may not be a good idea, as it is not guaranteed that the signs would be effective; and that their presence may cause additional littering.
All agreed for this item to be reviewed at a later date – Item to be removed from the agenda.
The Council resolved to discuss agenda item 8.2 as this point.
8.2 June Newsletter.
All Councillors discussed ideas for new content of the June Newsletter following the decision to increase the size of the Newsletter to 12 pages.
- Cllr Bridgett Posey suggested inviting a Local Artist to include a written piece on a recent project that they had been running alongside Boston College at Freiston Shore.
-Cllr Judith Godwin suggested inviting the RSPB to provide an update on the works they are currently undertaking at RSPB Freiston Shore site.
- All agreed for the Clerk to contact both parties to extend the invitations.
The Council resolved to discuss agenda item 8.4 at this point.
8.4 St James’ Churchyard.
8.4.1 – Rubbish
- Cllr Simon Pearson informed the Parish Council that it is the intention of the Church to install a
hard standing area for the refuse bins; as it had been noted that several members of the congregation are struggling to the access the bins. An Architect has been instructed by the Church of England to look into the request. An update will be provided when more information is available.
- Cllr Judith Godwin and Cllr Bridgett Posey queried the frequency of the refuse collections and whether a sufficient amount of rubbish was being generated to warrant monthly collections.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that the refuse collections were completed on a monthly basis.
8.4.2 – Repurposing of Posts
- Cllr Judith Godwin stated that no progress had been made following the suggestion of Cllr Roy Pearson to repurpose posts at the Churchyard.
- All agreed that no further action could be taken at this time until the removal of the fencing had taken place.
8.4.3 – Grass cutting request from Church Warden.
- Item not discussed.
8.4.4 – Removal of Fencing – T. A. Blackamore
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that T.A. Blackamore had offered in March 2025 to remove the fencing at the same time as the grass cutting, but objections were raised by the Church Warden at the time and no further progress has been made.
8.5 Defibrillators.
8.5.1 – Replacement Defibrillator – The Castle Inn – To Note.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that a replacement battery had been purchased for the
defibrillator at The Castle Inn.
8.5.2 – Defibrillator – Freiston Shore.
- All Councillors discussed the purchase of a defibrillator to cover the Freiston Shore area to be
installed at the We’ll Meet again Museum or the RSPB Freiston Shore.
The Locum Clerk contacted both sites to make enquiries.
-The We’ll Meet Again Museum responded to inform the Parish Council that they
already have a privately owned defibrillator.
- The RSPB have expressed an interest in housing a defibrillator at RSPB Freiston Shore. They have
Offered £250.00 as a contribution, if the Parish Council were to purchase the Defibrillator or
alternatively, they are willing to purchase a similar unit to that held at RSPB Frampton March and
to complete checks and maintenance, if the Parish Council were to provide a contribution.
- All Councillors agreed that the preferred option would be to make a contribution to the RSPB
purchase of a defibrillator. The Locum Clerk to contact the RSPB to enquire as to the level of
contribution required. Item to reviewed once further information is available.
8.6 Radar Speed signs – To Note.
- The New Radar speed signs have now been installed.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall has fitted locks to four of the six speed signs, and will arrange for locks to be
fitted to the remaining two signs.
Cllr Peter Bedford has received a request from a resident to ask whether an additional speed sign
could be purchased and placed at Oak House Lane.
- All Councillors agreed that this request would be held in review at this time, following the
outcome of the effectiveness of the existing signs.
9. Finance:
9.1 Bank Account: Statement of accounts as at 17th April 2025
• Treasurers Account Balance - £4,162.75
• Business Bank Instant Balance - £3,200.80
• Fixed Term deposit account - £40,000.00 – Mature date July 2025
9.2 To approve the accounts for payments
• Payments due April 2025 - £3,259.75
• Payments made in between meetings - £435.91
• Receipts received - £2.63
10. Date of next parish council meeting:
The next meeting is to be held on: Thursday 15th May 2025 at 7.00pm
11. Any other business to go forward to the May 15th 2025 Agenda / Note for information.
- No other business.
With no other business to go forward to the May 2025 meeting, the parish council meeting closed at 20.01pm
Chairman Signature:
Date: