2023-24 Minutes

Nettleton Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting on Wednesday 10th January at 7:30pm
Nettleton Village Hall, Moortown Road, Nettleton, LN7 6AA

Present:
Tony Shaw (Clerk)
Councillor John Connolly (Chair)
Councillor Anne O’ Reilly (Vice-Chair)
Councillor Debra Langmaid
Councillor Malcolm Dawson

County/District Councillor Tom Smith
One member of the public

01:01/24    Declarations of Interest:
a)    To record declarations of interest by any member in respect of the agenda items listed below.  Members should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared.
b)    To note dispensations given to any member in respect of the agenda items listed below.
There were no declarations relevant to the business on the agenda.

02:01/24    Apologies:
To receive any apologies sent to the Clerk from Members not able to attend the meeting.
Apologies received from Councillor Clark and the reason for absence was accepted.

03:01/24    Adoption of Previous Minutes:
To adopt the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 21st November 2023.
RESOLVED: The minutes were adopted and signed by the Chair.

04:01/24    Open Forum:
Members of the public can ask questions or make short statements to the council. Open Forum shall not exceed 15 minutes unless directed by the Chair of the Council.
No member of the public spoke.

05:01/24    District/County Councillor Reports:
To receive updates from any attending District or County Councillor.
Councillor Tom Smith provided an update on a flooding issue near Blackbirds on Normanby Road. The underlying problem requires widening and deepening of a culvert and is likely to be a multi-agency project. Lincolnshire County Council will be liaising with other agencies to move this forward.

06:01/24    Finance:
a)    To receive a financial summary from the Clerk.
A full set of bank statements for 2023/24 have been received from NatWest for the council’s closed bank accounts. The Clerk presented a year-to-date summary of income and expenditure and a bank reconciliation that shows the council has total cash of £50,066.97. This includes all VAT that can be reclaimed.

b)    To approve a Schedule of Payments for invoices received since the last meeting.
RESOLVED: All items in the table below were approved for payment.

c)    To review a budget proposal and agree the precept for 2024-25.
The Clerk presented a detailed budget report with estimated income and expenditure for 2024-25 of:
        Income        = £14,922    (assuming there is no increase to the precept)
        Expenditure    = £11,850

Council discussed the merit of holding the precept at its current level of £13,900. This would cover the council’s operating costs and allow a buffer of approximately £3,000 to cover unforeseen expenditure, such as the recent pruning of trees alongside the A46.
RESOLVED: The precept for 2024-25 will be held at £13,900.

07:01/24    Planning:
To consider the following planning application(s):
Reference:    147727
Location:    Land adj Greenacre Moortown Road Nettleton LN7 6HX
Proposal:    Application for approval of reserved matters for the erection of 1no. dwelling considering access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale following outline planning permission 144810 granted 22 June 2022.
RESOLVED: No objection.

08:01/24    Play Park Safety Report:
To receive the annual safety report and agree any remedial actions.
Council considered the annual safety report and noted the Cradle Swings have been condemned. This item has been taped off, to prevent its use, and council will consider the purchase of a suitable alternative.

09:01/24    Noticeboards:
To consider a quote for £394 to install two noticeboards, or £486 with additional legs on each.
Council discussed the merit of installing one noticeboard at the junction of Draycot and Moortown Road, but keeping the other as a spare. The additional support leg was also considered but not deemed necessary.
RESOLVED: Clerk to ask the contractor to install one noticeboard at Draycot. Expected cost £197.

10:01/24    Church Floodlighting:
To consider a request for a parish council contribution to the Christmas lighting of the Church.
RESOLVED: The parish council will donate £50 to the Church. 

11:01/24    Correspondence:
a)    To note Lincolnshire County Council have addressed blockage of the drains at the bottom of the Village Hall drive (FixMyStreet reference 472979).
Council noted that drainage is much improved since this work was completed.

b)    To note Lincolnshire County Council response to the report of dead trees on the grass verge near The Old School House (FixMyStreet reference 480474).
Noted.

c)    To receive a letter about a free Christmas lunch (in Dec 2024) for vulnerable residents.
Council discussed a resident’s offer to hire the Village Hall on Christmas Day 2024 and provide a free lunch for vulnerable and lonely residents. Levels of interest are unknown, so the resident will be asked to put an item in the village newsletter.

Exclusion of Press and Public: 
To consider passing a resolution in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.

12:01/24    Staffing Matter:
A confidential matter was discussed.

Meeting closed at 8:20pm