January 2024 DRAFT Minutes EOM
Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ScopwickandKirkbyGreen/
The minutes of the extraordinary Council meeting of Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council, held on Tuesday 16th January 2024 at 7:00 pm. The meeting was held in Scopwick Village Hall. These are notes of the meeting until approved by the Council as a true record.
Present:
Cllrs M Williams (Chair), J Flett (Vice-Chair), O Davies, C Kerrigan, D Nelson, and P Frost.
Parish Clerk - J Sargent.
88. Chairman’s Welcome
Cllr Williams opened the meeting welcoming everyone, thanking them for their attendance and wishing all a happy new year as well as reminding everyone of safety protocols and emergency exits.
89. Apologies
It was resolved unanimously to accept apologies from Cllr P Baumber, absent with work commitments.
90. Declaration of Interest.
None received.
91. To receive a budget review for the 3rd quarter of the financial year.
The Clerk provided a budget review for the 3rd quarter of the financial year to keep Councillors up to date with where funds are allocated.
Cllr Frost asked about the speed sign costs not on the review. The Clerk advised it will be paid in the 4th quarter.
92. To consider the precept and budget (current and reserve accounts) for 2024-25.
The Clerk updated Councillors on the grass cutting contract, with only one quote received so far and two still come in. Two companies advised they did not want the work. The Clerk to chase outstanding quotes.
The Clerk advised a 5% increase in the precept, roughly in line with the current rate of inflation and the implications on a band D property which would be £73.98 for the year - a £3.52 increase.
Cllr Frost queried the reserve budget and requested that the costs for an additional speed sign be included in the current account budget.
Cllr Kerrigan recommended including funds for a defibrillator, for either spares for the current defibrillator or a new defibrillator. Councillors mentioned applying for grants and fund-raising events to help pay for a new defibrillator.
Councillors discussed maintenance of the benches and possibly including funds up to £250.00 to cover improvements.
Cllr Williams suggested increasing the maintenance allocation as a precaution. Cllr Williams also suggested allocating funds to allow for a Parish Poll, which would have to be done through NKDC, with regard to the Springwell Solar Farm which would inform the Parish Council’s position on the project.
Cllr Nelson queried the benefit of a Parish Poll and the value of the results in contesting or responding to a planning application. Cllr Nelson agreed that it would represent the views of the community, however, is unsure as to whether it would carry any meaningful value in a response to the application. Objections must meet the material considerations criteria. Councillors agreed that it’s important to represent the views of the community. It was queried as the whether the value of the result of the poll would be worth the cost of the poll. Cllr Nelson suggested it would not carry enough weight in a response to the application.
Cllr Flett queried the funds for the election. The Clerk confirmed the allocation for the election is in the reserve budget. The nominal fee for the 2024 election was £49.00 due to it being uncontested. A larger fee would have been due for a contested election.
Cllr Flett requested funds to be allocated to the D-Day commemoration event. It was agreed to allocate £250.00.
It was resolved unanimously to accept the proposed budget and precept request, with the amendments discussed.
Cllr Williams closed the meeting at 7:40pm.