May 2025 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE DANNY FLEAR COMMUNITY CENTRE ON
Thursday 15th May 2025, at 7:00pm
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 (arrived 19:31pm), Cllr Tony Wheeler and The Locum Clerk Laura Forman.
Also Present:
One member of the public
The meeting was called to order at 19:00pm
1. To Elect a chairman for the ensuring year 2025/2026
On proposal from Cllr Shaun Pearson, and seconded by Cllr Amy Marshall, and with no objections, all councillors resolved for Cllr Nigel Marshall to continue as chair for the ensuring year.
2. Signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Chairman to be witnessed by the Proper Officer. Cllr Nigel Marshall accepted the Chairmanship and duly signed and witnessed.
3. To Elect a Vice Chair for the ensuring year 2025/2026
On proposal from Cllr Nigal Marshall, and seconded by Cllr Roy Pearson, and with no objections, all councillors resolved for Cllr Bridgett Posey to continue to be the Vice Chair for the ensuring year.
4. Signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Vice Chair to be witnessed by the Proper Officer. Cllr Bridgett Posey accepted the Vice Chairmanship and duly signed and witnessed.
5. To appoint representatives for the ensuring year 2025/2026
a) Appointment of representatives for Highway Matters
Cllr Roy Pearson
b) Appointment of representatives for the Danny Flear Community Centre
Cllr Nigel Marshall
6. Freiston Poor Charity – Annual Report Update – Report to be read out loud by Cllr Nigel Marshall.
(see appendix A below).
The Annual Parish Council meeting closed at 19.05pm
The Monthly Parish Council meeting opened at 19.06pm
7. Chairman to open the meeting: Cllr Nigel Marshall read out the Chairman’s report (see appendix B below).
8. 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.
9. Public Forum: One member of the public present.
Mr John Horton (Chairman of Freiston L&L cricket club) addressed the parish council; advising them of the Club’s intention to play a more active role within the community and to conduct a much-needed renovation of the old cricket pavilion. Mr Horton wishes to obtain as much funding as possible so that the cricket club can return to using the cricket pavilion during the season, allowing the Danny Flear Centre to become available for other hired events.
10. 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 Mar Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Church Road
Shore Road PE22 0NH Mar Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Old Post Office Lane
Shore Road PE22 0NH Mar Violence and Sexual Offences- On or near Church Road – Under Investigation
Shore Road PE22 0NH Mar Violence and Sexual Offences- On or near Rowan Fields – Under Investigation
Shore Road PE22 0NH Mar Violence and Sexual Offences- On or near St Andrews Road – Unable to prosecute suspect.
Croppers Lane PE22 0QX Mar Anti-Social Behaviour - On or near Croppers Lane
Croppers Lane PE22 0QX Mar Drugs - On or near Linton Close - Under Investigation
11. Minutes: To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 17th April 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.
12. 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
13. 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/25/0172 - Land to the North of, Excessive, Spittal Field Road, Freiston. – Erection of 4no Semi-detached dwellings. The Clerk contacted the Councillors by email for their comments. – No objections received.
B/25/0168 – Meridian Solar Farm- Stage Two Consultation. The Clerk contacted the Councillors by email for their comments. – No objections received.
14. Updates / Discuss and resolve the following items
14.1. Highway & Roads – Update
- Cllr Roy Pearson stated that there was nothing new to report for Highways and Roads. The guttering on the A52 has been cleaned, however it has since rained but the best effort has been made to clear the issue.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that the repair of the kerb stones on Mill Lane would commence
on 25th May 2025.
14.2 Newsletter – For Councillors to approve.
Cllr Shaun Pearson requested an amendment to the newsletter – Additional information stating that ‘Fix My Street’ is an app that can be used to report issues to the appropriate authorities.
All Councillors agreed and resolved for the Newsletter to be approved for publication following the amendment to the section concerning the ‘Fix My Street’ app.
14.3 St James’ Churchyard – Grass Cutting on the East Side – Cllr Peter Bedford.
All Councillors discussed including the east side of the churchyard to the current grass cutting schedule. Resolved – All Councillors agreed to include the cutting of the grass to the east side of the churchyard under the following conditions: that the removal of the fencing be completed beforehand and for some of the fence posts to be repurposed to act as a part of a parking deterrent to the grass area at the front of the church.
14.4 Defibrillator – Freiston Shore- Cllr Nigel Marshall.
The Locum Clerk received an email from the RSPB providing clarification that they will provide
£250.00 as contribution towards the purchase of the Defibrillator, proposing two options:
Option 1: The RSPB will provide a contribution of £250.00 towards the purchase of the Parish
Council’s choice of defibrillator model, with the responsibility of checks, parts and maintenance
remaining with the Parish Council.
Option 2: The RSPB will arrange the purchase of their preferred choice of defibrillator model
(similar to that held at RSPB Frampton Marsh) contributing £250.00 to the purchase with the
Parish Council providing a contribution to cover the remaining cost. With this option, the
responsibility of checks, parts and maintenance will be taken on by the RSPB.
Following discussion of the two options offered by the RSPB, the Councillors resolved that option
two would be the most favourable, however it was requested that the Locum Clerk respond to
the RSPB to state that as it will be their preferred model being purchased, that it would be
appropriate to offer a contribution of £250.00 towards the purchase.
15. Finance:
15.1 Bank Account: Statement of accounts as at 15th May 2025
• Treasurers Account Balance - £3,979.14
• Business Bank Instant Balance - £16,206.13
• Fixed Term deposit account - £40,000.00 – Mature date July 2025
15.2 To approve the accounts for payments
• Payments due May 2025 - £1,252.75
• Payments made in between meetings - £701.37
• Receipts received - £15,731.89
15.3 To approve the 2024/2025 End of Year Accounts and the Internal Audit Report (AGAR), for the
chairman and the RFO to sign the necessary paperwork.
- Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2024/2025. All Councillors resolved for the Chairman and Proper Officer to sign the AGAR (page 3).
15.4 To approve section 1 & 1 of The Local Councils Annual Return, for the chairman and the RFO to sign the necessary paperwork.
- All Councillors resolved for the Chairman and Proper Office to sign the AGAR sections 1 & 2.
16. Date of next parish council meeting:
The next meeting is to be held on: Thursday 19th June 2025 at 7.30pm
17. Any other business to go forward to the June 19th, 2025, Agenda / Note for information.
- Cllr Bridgett Posey stated the need for an additional refuse bin to be sited beside the bus shelter near Haltoft End. Cllr Peter Bedford to look into the request. Update at June meeting.
- Cllr Bridgett Posey mentioned that the quality of the flags currently in use by the Parish Council have not lasted long and proposed for the council to purchase a hand-sewn flag from an alternative supplier, to see if it will fair better than the existing.
- Cllr Judith Godwin enquired about the purchase of longer reaching litter picking tools. Cllr Nigel Marshall confirmed that some had been sourced by the Clerk to try out before buying any more.
- Cllr Judith Godwin enquired as to when the VE day bunting was to be removed. Cllr Nigel Marshall suggested that the bunting remain in place until after VJ day celebrations. The Clerk stated that additional bunting is available if required.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall stated that now the solar powered speed signs had been in place for approximately a month, the council should look to download the data to investigate the efficacy of the signs.
- Cllr Nigel Marshall suggested replacing the bark and rubber matting around various pieces of the play equipment at the playing field. Clerk to obtain a quotation from Wicksteed. – Update at June meeting.
With no other business to go forward to the June 2025 meeting, the parish council meeting closed at 19.58pm
Chairman Signature:
Date:
Appendix A – Report to the Parish Council – 2024/2025 – Freiston Poor Charity
During the financial year the Trustees held two meetings.
The opportunity to purchase nearly four acres of land, next to our current land, became available. This was duly purchased with the tenancy being combined with the same tenant.
Several of the current rents were increased in line with inflation.
The Charity has been able to make the annual donations to Freiston Senior Citizens who applied for a heating allowance, adjusting the amount according to age. No Education grants were applied for this year.
Appendix B – Chairman’s Report 2024/2025
A big thank you to all the Parish, Borough, and County Councillors for their attendance, comments and support over the last year.
I am happy to see the Danny Flear Community Centre and Playing Field well used by all again and the continued repairs to the play equipment will hopefully add to this.
The war memorial is still looking great, thank you Alastair to adding the flags around the village for VE day.
It was nice to see the full and half marathon passing through the village again this year, in lovely weather, this does seem a great way of getting a lot of the potholes sorted for the summer.
A thank you to Bridgett (and John) for raising the flags throughout the year and for VE day.
Thank you to Shaun for putting up the new noticeboard in the bus shelter.
Thank you to Judith (and all the parish councillors) for their continued efforts with the litter picking in the countryside and for organising the two village litter picks. I really feel it does make a big difference.
A big thank you to Val for her continued support throughout the year, especially through the last few months of ill health, we really appreciate you carrying on with the newsletter. Also thank you for finding Laura as a temporary replacement.
The speed awareness devices are a big success, hopefully the data collected will show a reduction in speeding in the village. Thank you to Shaun, Tony and Alastair for helping with the installation, also a thank you to Laura’s husband for helping with the fault finding with one of them.
A big thank you to all councillors or helping deliver the newsletter around the parish.
Chairman Nigel Marshall