Minutes 28th November 23
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held 28th November 2023
Present: Cllrs Holiday (Chair); Tong; Hardcastle; Crome; Faulkner-Smith
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
6 Members of the public
Cllr Holiday took the Chair for this meeting.
During the public session the Chair took opportunity to thank the volunteers for their work in the Village Hall. Congratulations were given to the Village Hall Committee for the screen currently fitted to the wall, which will be very useful for presentations – connections are in hand. Update on Village Hall matters – Christmas Fair coming up Dec 2nd, raffle tickets for sale, bookings good for December.
State of Beck Lane was raised, it needed sweeping – Cllr Faulkner-Smith offered to send his road sweeper down.
The Chair then advised those present of the potential for National Grid to construct high voltage pylons in the area together with sub station(s) east of Alford. Members of the public were concerned at this and once more information was available it would be publicised.
68 APOLOGIES
Apologies and valid reasons for absence were received from Cllr Williams and Cllr Claddingbowl and these were accepted.
69 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Holiday declared a personal interest in allotment matters.
70 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 10TH OCTOBER 2023
It was resolved that the Chairman sign the minutes of that meeting as a correct record.
71 MATTERS ARISING
Speed Indicator Device – Clerk had collected from Withern and handed to the Willoughby Councillor who liaised with Welton rep.
Bank Mandate change – forms had been handed to the Clerk for sending to Unity Bank
72 FINANCIAL
a) It was resolved that the following accounts be paid by BACS:
Clerks salary & PAYE (Oct/Nov) £307.82
Willoughby Parish Council (50% speed) £100.00
R. Aldrich (grounds) £168.00
b) Budget 24/25:
This was circulated and briefly discussed. Clerk pointed out need to increase salaries in line with National Pay Award and also to ensure salaries were above NMW.
To be decided and agreed at January 24 meeting.
73 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME
Clerk read out e mail from Cllr Williams, who had managed to set himself up at a co-ordinator. For discussion at January meeting.
74 ALLOTMENTS
It was agreed that the Allotment Group (Cllrs Faulkner-Smith, Holiday and Hardcastle) walk the allotments to see if there were any issues.
Cllr Holiday advised that he would like to tighten up the Allotment Rules to cover matters such as bonfires and number of plots any one tenant could hold. It was suggested that this should be the final document, based on National Allotment Association policies and to be presented to the Council for approval at the January meeting.
75 PLANNING
There were no applications to consider. The Clerk confirmed she had not received any notification from Bristol on the appeal for Misty Meadows as yet.
76 ANY OTHER MATTERS
Brief discussion on the status of the Neighbourhood Plan – being on hold to gauge resident’s thoughts.
Correspondence: Email ELDC re: devolution; Clerks & Councils Direct; National Grid re: pylons.
77 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
9th January 2024
Items:
Precept
Allotments
Neighbourhood Watch.
78 CLOSED SESSION
Members agreed to move into Closed Session to discuss the following personnel matters, members of the public left the meeting.
79 PERSONNEL POLICY
This was agreed, with Cllr Crome being Line Manager for any issues the Clerk may have.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8:10pm