Minutes
WILDMORE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Wildmore Annual Parish held on Monday 13th May 2024 in New York Lecture Hall.
Present: Chairman Cllr A Everard
Cllr M A Jones Cllr Lawes
Cllr A Harrison Cllr P Bargh
County Councillor Cllr T Ashton
Clerk Mrs S Phillips
Members of public 2 members present
|
1 |
Welcome from the Chairman of the Parish Council The chairman welcomed all to the meeting. |
|
2 |
Apologies for absence None. |
|
3 |
To approve minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 15th May 2023 It was RESOLVED to accept the minutes from the meeting of 15th May 2023 as a true record of which were signed by Cllr Everard. |
|
4 |
Parish Council, Village Organisations & Outside Bodies invited to attend: Chair of Parish Council Report attached as appendix A.
Chair of New York Village Hall Management Committee It was reported that the village hall is doing well and in a good financial position. The committee is hardworking organising events and pleasing to see that a wedding reception. The classic car and bike nights are big fundraisers. The committee work in the kitchen with baking cakes etc. Any money raised goes back into the village hall.
The dropped kerb has just been done; it had initially not been dropped far enough which has now been resolved.
A huge amount has been invested into the village hall and have recently purchased a large shed to free up space in the committee room were extra tables and chairs were stored.
Churchwarden of Wildmore Church The church is grateful to the parish council for the contributions given.
A problem with a tree has been highlighted and even more urgent now as it has been raised by highways. We are able to look after the building, but it is a struggle with any other costs.
A team from St Peters is going to start going into Gipsey Bridge School.
There are a lot of requests from home and abroad about deaths but as records have been kept it is often that we are able to locate family members.
The church will not be closing but will probably be losing the Reverend, but still being supported by a team and continue as we have been.
Executive Headteacher of New York Primary School No report.
Report from County Councillor Priorities have been influenced by the recent weather events, there have been 13 breaches of rivers in Lincolnshire and lucky to not have any flooding of houses and only gardens. Lincolnshire County council has given an undertaking that Section 19 of flooding will be looked at and substantial investment for flood investigation work.
Council tax has gone up again, but flood management and highways are the main expenditure. As of April, of this year the team moved from winter maintenance to proposer maintenance and fixed 7000 potholes in April alone. Any reports are to be reported through FixMyStreet and if not fixed to provide the details to Cllr Ashton.
Other issues are devolution which went out to consultation. People were not keen on an elected mayor so to compromise in Lincolnshire is to have a mayor who is doubly accountable to both votes and combined authority. There will be a broad panel representing every part of Lincolnshire.
Acknowledged 50 years of Lincolnshire County Council since they were formed.
Report from District Councillor No report. |
|
5 |
Questions and Comments from Members of the Public It was asked who has put in the bird box in the churchyard. It was unknown but confirmed it was an owl box.
Potholes have been mentioned but no mention of major road resurfacing on B1192. Cllr Ashton was confident that the B1192 was on the list of works to be completed.
Cllr Bargh is taking part in Set off and Cycle to raise money for Cancer Research.
Cllr Bargh retired as headteacher from New York Primary School in December, Mr Davey has now taken over. The PTFA is still active. Meeting closed at 7.50pm. |
Signed:
Date:
APPENDIX A:
Chairman’s Annual Report – May 2024
I will start by reflecting on this past year which has been a period of change for Wildmore Parish Council with the loss of a longstanding parish councillor, Ray Kirk, on his unexpected passing last year and I would also like to thank Angela, our former clerk, who retired earlier this year after a couple of decades of being the Clerk to the Parish Council. Both had much experience and skills that was valued and will be missed.
The parish council have four vacant seats for parish councillors and has filled the post of Clerk to the Parish Council with Sarah Phillips and this is her first Annual Parish Meeting.
Some of the parish council records now reside in the Village Hall building and perhaps it is time to consider sorting them out and handing them over to Lincolnshire Archives for safekeeping and posterity.
Some of the same items come up regularly on our agendas such as speeding, highway issues and potholes and over this past year there has been a lot of rain and flooding nearby. Compared to some parishes we have been lucky that the River Witham has remained contained in its banks but we need to remain vigilant and conscious that this parish is historically fenland and the water levels may decide to rise quickly due to climate change.
I encourage everyone to use FixMyStreet website an app to report any highway and footpath issues. It works and if you register on there you will get regular updates from LCC Highways on how they are dealing with the issue.
I would thank Cllr Tom Ashton for attending parish council meetings when he can and taking away issues and updating us on some County Council business. Similarly to say thanks for Cllr Knowles and Cllr Foster for their regular attendance at parish council meetings. It is appreciated.
Crime levels remain low in the parish. Vigilance is helpful.
The Parish Council has taken increasing responsibility for the maintenance of the churchyard with funds for the grass cutting and tree work now being planned. The parish council is also responsible for the maintenance of the Grade 2 listed war memorial at St Peter’s Church, Wildmore which is 100 years old and needing some maintenance. Grants are the way forward so I hope we can look into this during the forthcoming year.
Alongside the Church and Royal British Legion, I represented the Parish Council at the annual Remembrance Service at the Church and laid a wreath at the War Memorial on behalf of the Council and the parish.
I remain frustrated that we cannot get the footpath from New York to New York primary school improved. An issue we can continue to seek solutions for.
Finally I would like to record my thanks to councillors for their attendance, input to reaching decisions and please keep your eyes and ears open to fill the vacant seats by co-option. So if there are people willing to step forward to join us please let me or the Clerk know.
Cllr Andrew Everard
Chairman of Wildmore Parish Council