Draft minutes annual parish meeting 8th April 2025
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
8TH APRIL 2025
MINUTES
Present: Cllr Williams (Chair); Cllrs Holiday, Tong & Crome (as Members of the public) 20 other members of the public
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
Mr A. Roberts (speaker)
1. WELCOME
The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and explained briefly the difference between the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Parish Council Meeting. The Annual Parish Meeting was a meeting of the electorate of the parish.
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 20TH MAY 2024
It was resolved that the Chairman sign these as a correct record of that meeting.
3. UPDATE FROM PARISH COUNCIL
The Chairman gave an update on Council activity over the past 12 months. At the Annual Parish Council meeting in May 2024, Cllr Williams was re-elected as Chairman for a further year, with Cllr Holiday being elected Vice Chairman.
One of the main issues the Parish Council dealt with during the year was the problem with the drainage from the Village Hall. Contractors were appointed to examine the drains and in January 2025 work was carried out to clear the drains of roots and reline the pipework to the septic tank. It is hoped this will alleviate the problems. The Council also covered the cost of an asbestos survey which was undertaken and approved virement of unused Covid Grant funds to the village hall for their warm meals initiative.
Cllrs Tong and Hardcastle joined Trustees of the Village Hall, and the Council supported the improvements to the letting agreements.
Cllr Hardcastle took on the management of the defibrillator situated at the Wheel Inn and keeps a check on it for the parish.
The Parish Council purchased two Christmas trees and lights for display on the Village Hall over the festive period.
The Parish Council also obtained fruit trees and Cllrs planted these in a newly formed Community Orchard close to the allotments.
A litter pick was arranged for the village but was unable to proceed due to inclement weather. However the footpath was cleared.
Various planning applications were discussed and the Council’s observations sent to the Planning Authority.
Allotment matters were raised and discussed, including clearance of empty plots, Cllrs Holiday, Faulkner-Smith and Hardcastle looked at various allotment policies which were approved by the Council.
2 No Pylons banners were purchased and displayed in the Village.
The precept for the year 25 – 26 remained at £5661.
The Clerk gave an update on finances during 24/25 year, outlining expenditure and income. Income totalled £6004, being mainly the precept, allotment rents and wayleave) and expenditure which totalled £9453, with the main expenditure items being salaries (£3695); village hall drains and asbestos survey (£3344), grant to village hall (£430), insurance and grass cutting (£912) and sundries (subscriptions, training, Christmas trees, banners, hall hire etc £1066). Balance of £8037, but of that the following is ring fenced – allotments £2002; Elections £753 and defib sundries £900, leaving £4384 as Parish Council general funds.
4. QUESTIONS
The following questions/points were raised:
Was the asbestos now safe ( it has been encased).
Could the litter picks be better advertised? (to discuss at the meeting April 22nd)
Could the Parish Council set dates for its meetings in advance (meeting April 22nd)
Allotments – could part be used as a community garden area? (meeting April 22nd)
Problems with dog mess in the village, could another bin be utilised (meeting April 22nd)
5. SPEAKER – A. ROBERTS
The Chairman then introduced Mr Roberts who spoke about the many projects planned for the area in terms of pylons, sub stations, underground cabling, solar farms, hydrogen plants, data centres and on shore wind turbines. He covered the off shore wind turbines and the need to bring power ashore and why this coast was chosen, with the area around Anderby being the least environmentally protected habitat. He touched on the potential for the Wolds Marsh area facing the biggest changes for centuries with substations (two proposed for the area around Bilsby and Aby), potential use of ex Conoco station for gas turbine, carbon capture and hydrogen plants, and the potential for large scale solar farms in the area as well as the pylons. He was of the opinion that the area could see up to three lines of pylons. The Levelling Up legislation called for authorities to have duty to “further the interest o the AONBs”, which also applied to the views from the Wolds, and this legislation could be used to fight the proposals. The No Pylons group was campaigning for an off shore solution to transport power to the south, and the L.A.N.D. group (Lincolnshire Against Needless Development) also campaigning for a reduction in solar farms and solar panels to be placed on roofs, industrial buildings, farm buildings, car parks etc before on land.
Questions on what the public could do to fight these proposals, mainly object to MPs and join existing campaign groups.
The Chairman then thanked Mr Roberts and the meeting closed at 8.40pm