2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the meeting of Ashby de la Launde with Bloxholm and Temple Bruer with Temple High Grange Parish Council held on 16 March 2022

Present:

Mr I Douglas (Chairman), Mr R Walker (Vice-chairman), Mrs J Wilkinson, Mr T Eley, Mr W Lawrence, Cllr J Clarke, Cllr R Kendrick

Also present:

Mrs J Eley (Clerk)

Meeting opened 19.30pm

19.32pm  

22/08  Meeting paused for Cllr J Clarke and Cllr R Kendricks Reports –  No questions from the public.

Councillor Clarke reported on the last NKDC council meeting.  Council in good condition financially,  money has been assigned to aid the recovery within the district from the effects of the virus and investment in Arts, Culture, Housing,  Leisure,  Environment, Bio-diversity, Enterprise Park,  and new homes. Local band D council to be £4/95 less than 10p per week increase.            

Councillor Kendrick outlined the County Councils financial plan which considered all areas of current spending, levels of income and council tax to set a balanced budget.  12 million has been set aside for road maintenance.  There is also focus on Mental Health issues and the effect the pandemic has had on these.  Cllr Kendrick also offered help to the Parish Council on acquiring Village Gates at the entrance to Ashby de la Launde and further support and assistance in addressing the speeding issues through the village.

19.40pm

22/09 Chairman's Remarks

The Chairman welcomed everyone and outlined the predicted extended length of the meeting in view of the recent Internal Audit and the amount of work that this has produced – namely many policies to be reviewed and approved during the meeting.  It was felt that LALC should have made it clear at the beginning that if engaged to carry out an annual audit, what the scope of that audit would entail.  Then the council could have made an informed decision about whether it wished to proceed with LALC or choose an appropriately qualified alternative.   It felt as if we had been ambushed.

22/10 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received and accepted from Ms L J Houlder, Mrs A Douglas,  Mr G White, Cllr S Clegg and Maisie McMahon (local community officer) – talk therefore cancelled.

22/11 Declarations of Interest

None

22/12  Notes of the last meeting held on 12 January 2021

The notes of the meeting on 12 January 2021 were agreed as correct and signed by the Chairperson.

22/13 Clerks Report     

No plans re Queens Jubilee so far.  The recent Village Hall Committee Meeting discussed plans for a celebration and a request for the PC to contribute towards activities being planned for the Jubilee.  It was agreed that the committee should approach the PC formally with a request for any such funding.  All present agreed in principle to the idea.

Advised council of acceptance by NKDC of the annual Precept.

Parish Clerks Salary – National pay increase -  agreement requested from Parish Council to confirm that the clerk is entitled to a pay increase as per NALC new rates and that this increase be backdated to 1st April 2021.  All in agreement.

A possible salary increase was also discussed in light of extra hours being worked and level of ability to perform the role of Parish Clerk effectively.  Clerk advised to keep a log of hours worked and enquire as to average salary pay scale for other Clerks in similar sized parishes.

Anglian Water offering support for vulnerable parishioners.  Agreed to request leaflets to be hand delivered within the parish.

Hard Drive handed over to Chairman for storage as per advice on Internal Audit.

New Web Page Service charges raised and approved - 10 hrs @ £15 per hr = £150 should be purchased.

22/14 Internal Audit Report and Policies

Audit report discussed. 

The following draft policies were approved and signed where necessary   -

Code of Conduct, Complaints Procedure, Contract of Employment (Clerk), Co option Policy and Procedure,  Data Breach Policy,  Data Protection Policy, Data Retention Policy, Fixed Assets Register,  Publication Scheme – Freedom of Information Act, Risk Assessment,  Financial Regulations

All mandatory policies to be uploaded to the Parish Web.

22/15 New Councillor required

No applications received.

22/16  Village Gates

T Eley – quote now received and formal application to be submitted to Lincs CC.  Permission and funding agreed and ring fenced.

22/17  Speeding

R Walker liaising with the Community Speed Watch Scheme with a view to a speed monitoring device (possibly mounted on lamp post no.17 in Ashby)  which will be in place for a limited period of time.  This will provide data and indications of the scale of this problem in the village.  Cllr Kendrick hinted that there is a backlog of requests for this service.

22/18  Bloxholm Notice Board – G White not present.  Not discussed.

22/19  Training Courses LALC – renewed subscription

It was agreed that we should retain this service in the new financial year.

22/20  Financial Matters   

Financial Report – Reconciliation and Balance Sheets both approved and signed.  

Cheques paid between meetings -

The following cheques were approved and signed -

22/21    Planning Matters

Planning Applications  -  none received

Planning Approvals  -  Application Ref: 21/1716/FUL  - The Lodge, Main St, Ashby de la Launde. Application refused.  No comment.

22/22  4th signatory for the council -  Mr W Lawrence approved – mandate to be obtained.

22/23  Correspondence -  none

22/24   Date of next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 18 May 2022

Meeting closed at 7.45pm.