May Annual Meeting

Washingborough Parish Council

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 6.00pm in the Community Centre, Small Hall, Fen Road, Washingborough, Lincoln. LN4 1AB.

 

Present:

  • Cllr Mrs B Bland
  • Cllr A Fraser
  • Cllr R Harrington
  • Cllr Mrs L Hannam
  • Cllr G Peck - Chairman
  • Cllr Mrs L Simons
  • Cllr Mrs W Skelton

 

In Attendance: Miss K Broddle (Clerk) and Mrs E Salter (Assistant Clerk).

           

Members of the Public: There were two members of the public present.

           

            a. Public Forum: None.

b. Reports from LCC and NKDC: appended. Council was advised that, potentially, the LCC Flood and Water Management Committee could be scraped – this was felt to be detrimental and a backward step, not only to Washingborough and the surrounding area, but the whole of Lincolnshire. A letter is to be sent, via LCC Councillor Cawrey, firmly requesting for this not to happen.

 

  1. Election of a Chairman and the completion of the Declaration of Office. Cllr Peck was elected as Chairman. The Declaration of Office was completed and signed. Cllr G Peck took over the Chairing of the meeting and thanked Cllr Mrs L Simons for chairing items a, b, item 01 and for her hard work as the Chairman of the previous year.

 

  1. Election of a Vice Chairman. Cllr Mrs Simons was elected as Vice Chairman.

 

  1. Appointment of the Finance & General Purposes Committee and the respective Chairman.

It was proposed, seconded and resolved to appoint:

Cllr Mrs B Bland

Cllr Mrs L Hannam

Cllr Mrs A Nixon

Cllr G Peck

Cllr Mrs L Simons

Cllr Mrs W Skelton

 

Councillor Mrs Skelton was elected as Chairman.

 

  1. Appointment of the Staffing Panel and respective Chairman. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to appoint:

Cllr Mrs R Whipp

Cllr Mrs A Nixon

Cllr Mrs L Simons.

 

Councillor Mrs Whipp was elected as Chairman.

 

  1. Confirmation of the representatives to the following outside bodies will be:

Washingborough Garrett’s Charity - it was proposed seconded and resolved for Cllrs Mrs L Hannam and Cllr A Fraser to be the representatives.

Pike and Eure and George Walker Education Foundation – it was confirmed that Cllr Mrs B Bland is the representative for this Charity.

 

06. Localism Act 2011 requirements:

  1. Apologies and reasons for absence were received and resolved from Cllr Mrs J Aspinall, Cllr Mrs A Nixon and Cllr Mrs R Whipp. Apologies were also received from District Cllr Goodwin.
  2. Declarations of interest: None.
  3. Applications for dispensation: None. 

 

07. Draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16th April 2025 were proposed, seconded and

resolved for signing as the minutes.

 

08. Matters raised at Public Forum: None.

 

09. Clerks Report (for information only):

  1. The CCTV and Intruder Alarm annual service has been carried out.
  2. The clerking team are meeting with Lindum Group on 22nd May to obtain a further quote for the Longstongs/South Delph footbridge.

 

  1. To sign off the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2024/25 Documentation.
  1. To note the internal audit report (AGAR page 3) – the internal audit report was noted.
  2. Section 1 - Annual Governance Statement (AGAR page 4) – the Annual Governance Statement was proposed, seconded and resolved.
  3. Section 2 - Accounting Statements (AGAR page 5) – the Accounting Statements were proposed, seconded and resolved.
  4. To note the dates for the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return – the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of Unaudited Annual Governance and Accountability Return were noted as 3rd June – 14th July 2025.

 

11. To discuss and resolve the following items:

  1. The review and update of Standing Orders in light of the recent changes to the model templates – the updates were proposed, seconded and resolved.
  2. To review the Terms of Reference – the updates were proposed, seconded and resolved.
  3. The review of the Accessibility Statement on the Councils website – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the Statement.
  4. To review the Privacy Notice on the website – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the Privacy Notice.
  5. The report from the Internal Auditor for 2024/25 – it was proposed, seconded and resolved for comments on the report to be looked at by the Finance & General Purposes Committee.
  6. The consultation period for the Longstongs/South Delph footbridge and the number of votes cast – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to extend the consultation period to 15th August, hold three further consultations on 2nd, 10th and 26th June, ask if the Sheepwash Times would allow a small questionnaire in their July issue, to advise that emails can be sent to the Clerking Team and that the Civic Office is open Wednesday to Friday for residents to come and vote.
  7. To hold the Macmillan coffee morning event on the 26th September 2025 – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to hold the coffee morning, as in previous years.
  8. The letter from Cellnex regarding the telephone Mast payments – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to not change the way Council receive the rental payment for the mast.
  9. The request to County Councillor Lindsey Cawrey regarding the opening times of the Lincoln Recycling Centre at Great Northern Terrace – it was proposed, seconded and resolved that a letter be sent to Cllr Cawrey requesting an increase in times for this service.
  10. The invite from North Kesteven District Council to attend the Parish & Town Council Forum on 10th July 2025 – it was proposed, seconded and resolved for Cllrs Mrs Hannam and Peck to attend this meeting.

 

       12.  Planning Matters:

  1. To resolve any comments on the following applications received:
    1. 25/0403/VARCON: Penfold Barn, 19 School Lane– Application to vary condition 6(approved plans) of planning permission – 24/1285/HOUS conversion and extension of existing garage to form residential annexe including raising eaves and ridge height by 1.1m to replace large glazed opening to 3 smaller and omit 1 roof light and replace dormer window.
    2. 25/0389/HOUS: 14 Cliff Lane – Single storey flat roof extension to west elevation.   

 

  1. To ratify comments on the following applications returned under Clerks delegated powers: None.

 

  1. To note the decisions from NKDC on the following applications:
    1. 25/0375/HOUS: 4 Park Crescent – Approved

  

 13.   Financial Matters:

  1. The payment schedule for May 2025 was proposed, seconded and resolved and the salaries payments were noted.
  2. The accounts and budgets for April 2025 were noted.
  3. The Unity Trust bank statement for April 2025 was noted and signed.
  4. To resolve the payments made by Direct Debit and Bacs. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to allow the Clerk to make the listed payments for the 2025/2026 financial year.  
  5. To note the Community Infrastructure Levy payment from NKDC regarding planning application 20/0436/FUL – the levy was noted.
  6. To approve salary increases for 2024/2025 retrospectively – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to approve the salary increase for 2024/2025.
  7. To confirm the Councils bank accounts signatories – it was proposed, seconded and confirmed that the signatories are: Cllr G Peck, Cllr L Simons, Cllr W Skelton and Cllr R Whipp.

 

 14.  Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 it was proposed, seconded and

         resolved to move into closed session for the following items: None.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.06 pm

 

 

Signature…………………………………………………………………

 

Date………………………………………………………………………