Annual Parish Meeting 19.5.21 at 6pm
East Keal Annual Residents Meeting
The East Keal Annual Residents Meeting was held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 at 6pm. in The Village Hall, Boston Road, West Keal.
Welcome. Cllr Grahame Smith welcomed everyone to the meeting.
He thanked Councillors for all the work they had done over the past year and also thanked members of the public for their support.
In addition he explained the ‘housekeeping rules’ for fire and covid.
Present: Clerk to the Council, Cllr G Smith, Cllr L Kemp, Cllr G Boxer, Cllr T Wrisdale, Cllr H Mckinlay & Mrs E Martin and 3 members of the public
1 Apologies: These had been received from Cllr Swanson, Cllr Gray and Mr & Mrs White.
2 Notes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 17.4.19 to be approved as the minutes. It was proposed by Cllr Smith and seconded by Cllr Boxer that these be approved as the minutes of the meeting and duly signed. In addition, acceptance of the written report circulated to all residents in April 2020 was proposed by Cllr Kemp and seconded by Cllr Boxer.
3 Chairman’s Report. Cllr Smith read his Annual Report. Document attached.
4 Reports from Village groups
i. Gardening Club. Looking back over the last year with Covid restrictions was it a year to forget or a year to reflect upon? Mrs Keal, the Chair of the gardening club, expressed her thoughts that we were all very lucky living in East Keal during all the covid restrictions. We were able to enjoy our gardens and the village. In 2020 she was elected chair of the club but unfortunately all the events had to be postponed due to covid, with the exception of two. Regular newsletters have been circulated to members during the year.
This year’s AGM was held via Zoom and letter and the committee was all re-elected on block. As meetings in the previous year were limited members were given the opportunity to either have a full refund of £10 or to carry over their membership for 2021-22. We were delighted that no members left. Membership of the club does entail discounts at numerous local garden centres.
In spring a bowl of bulbs was delivered to all members. This was received with great surprise and thank by members.
ii. Church Report. Due to covid restrictions the Church has only been open Monday to Thursdays from 10am to 3pm, ensuring it was covid free for the Sunday service. Most residents will be aware of our ongoing work and plans for the Church. Due to lack of space for functions we have now removed the pews at the back of the Church. The floor has been made level and plastering work complete. Thanks were expressed to the volunteers who undertook this work. The space now looks fantastic.
The next move is to instal a servery and toilet between the entrance door and the tower - subject to finding funding. Karen has already started looking for grants of which we need to raise £50,000 for the project.
In addition grants has been received via Cllr Swanson to purchase some new tables and notice boards for the porch.
iii. WI. Our last face to face meeting was held in March 2020. However, our committee has continued to meet throughout the pandemic with one actual socially distanced meeting when restrictions were somewhat lifted during lockdown and others via the Zoom platform. Sadly our book club and craft groups have been on hold, albeit that has not prevented members sharing their ideas and activities both via e mail and also by telephone. We set up a telephone tree during the course of the year to ensure that we all get to speak and to support one another on a regular basis. Our communications have continued via our national magazine, WI Life and by continuing circulation of our monthly newsletter.
Many members have signed up for on line courses and presentations delivered by the Lincolnshire federation of Wis and also by our national college, Denman College. Whilst some of these have been interest talks, others have been more practically based enabling members to have a go from a tell, show, do course to things that perhaps they would not necessarily turn out to a formal class for. Feedback has been positive and they have enabled members to remain motivated and engaged.
Like many organisations, subscriptions were extended from 12 to 15 months membership. The Committee, in line with national guidance, debated a reduction in subscriptions payable for the twelve months from April 2021. We took a decision to reduce members subscriptions to The Keals WI. However, it is pleasing to note, that so far the majority of members who have already re-joined to date have voluntarily sought to pay the full amount.
Throughout the year we have continued to donate to the Spilsby foodbank. We have also supported L.I.V.E.S and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance as well as the Royal British Legion by purchase of two wreaths which were laid on Remembrance Sunday.
We held our AGM on 11 March. The existing committee were all willing to serve for a further 12 months with myself and Vicky Moore being elected as President and Secretary/Treasurer respectively.
iv. Village Hall. Grants received from ELDC during lockdown have enabled the venue to remain financially viable.
The Hall has now been decorated and the grounds are in the process of being tidied.
5. Any other items. None raised.
As there was no other business the meeting closed at 6.40pm