Minutes of Meeting 18.1.23
A meeting of East Keal Parish Council Meeting was held on 18.1.23 at 7pm. At the Keals’ Village Hall, West Keal.
Welcome. Cllr Grahame Smith welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Present. Cllr Smith, Cllr Boxer, Cllr Cooper, Cllr Kemp, Cllr Wrisdale and Clerk to the Council, Mrs E Martin.
Public Forum. There were no items for discussion.
1. Apologies for Absence. Cllr Edwards offered her apologies. It was proposed by Cllr Cooper & seconded by Cllr Boxer that the reason given be accepted.
2. Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 16.11.2022 to be approved as the minutes. It was resolved that the notes be accepted as minutes of the meeting, proposed by Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Cooper. All agreed and the minutes were then signed.
3. Reports from Representatives on outside bodies.
a) County Councillor. No Report.
b) District Councillor. Reports had been circulated prior to the meeting. The main points are shown at the end of these minutes.
c) Village Hall. The village hall committee continues to grow stronger with more representatives from community groups. Provision has been made for a building and maintenance reserve and measures to help reduce electricity usage.
With the Yoga group not operating in December and January, hall usage has diminished but some private bookings helped the cash flow. The future absence of the WI will also be felt.
The committee has donated for free the use of the hall for those wanting to organise Warm Spaces. One was held on 5th January for three hours, and it is hoped more will be held on alternative Thursdays.
4. Declaration of Interest. None given.
5. Reports from Community Groups.
i. Church. A new sound system has just been installed. This was paid for by an anonymous donation.
The AGM will be held on 14.3.23, in Church at 7pm, and everyone is welcome.
There is to be a Fish and Chip supper with quiz on 18.3.23. Tickets from Maralyn on 752169.
ii. Gardening Club. The AGM is to be held on 27.1.23 at 7pm in the village hall, followed by cheese and wine. New and existing members are welcome and the programme for the forthcoming year will be presented. One of the first guest speakers, in February, will be Abby telling us about Dynamic Dunes and Gibraltar Point.
iii. Bridge Club. This meets regularly on Monday evenings, 6.45 for a 7pm start. New members (plus a partner) are always welcome and the cost is £1 per person.
iv. Local History. The next meeting will be on 25.1.23 at 2pm in the village hall.
v. Local Wildlife Group. The group continues to monitor and record the number of mammals and birds in the area. Several deer and numerous fieldfare have been seen. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in several species of birds noticeably pheasant and rooks. The latter is probably due to the recent disappearance during December of the only rookery in East Keal village and its 21 nests.
The next meeting is on Friday 10th February at 11:00 am in The Keals' Village Hall.
vi. WI. Members of the Keals’ WI have voted to suspend the branch, from 9.3.23, due to an inability to find a secretary and treasurer. This suspension will last for three years and it is hoped that in that time new leadership can be found.
In December 2022 the group celebrated their 75th birthday with afternoon tea at the Elms.
6. Proposal to update Complaints Procedure. After a discussion the proposal was withdrawn.
7. Updating Policy Documents.
i. Financial Regulations. It was proposed by Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Cooper that this document be accepted. All agreed.
ii. Freedom of Information. It was proposed by Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Wrisdale that this document be accepted. All agreed.
8. Finance
i. Invoice for hire of village hall of £20.00, for 18.1.23.
ii. Financial Report as at 18.1.23 and bank reconciliation statement. It was proposed by Cllr Cooper and seconded by Cllr Wrisdale that these documents be accepted, all agreed.
9. Correspondence.
i. Blocked Drains in Blacksmiths Lane. Details of which drains are blocked have been forwarded to Cllr Gray to pass on to LCC. As yet we are still waiting for this work to be done.
ii. Letter from Mr Hawkes. This had been shared with Councillors before Christmas. It was agreed that the Chair and Clerk would discuss this.
10. Report on Clerks Appraisal. This has been undertaken by two members of the Council..
11. Welcome Pack. No new residents identified.
12. Any matters for discussion only or next agenda.
i. Four year Plan. A date was agreed for Councillors meet together to discuss this.
ii. Litter Picking. Thanks were expressed to those residents who undertake picking up litter on a regular basic ensuring that the village is kept looking clean.
iii. Viking Link. It has been observed, locally, that some entrances to work areas have now been returned to fields. There was no information as to how long the site on the A16 would continue to be there.
iv. Footpaths. LCC have very kindly cleared two very overgrown footpaths in the village but due to limited resources are unable to clear them all. It was commented that in future perhaps the land owner should be doing this.
v. Rosebeds on Green. Sadly the person who has been pruning the roses can no longer fulfil this commitment so a new volunteer is being sought.
vi. From Monday if you contact ELDC do use their new address: The Hub, Mareham Road, Horncastle, LN9 6PH. The tel. no. remains the same.
vii A plan to tidy up the war memorial garden in the next few weeks, in particular pruning of the roses, will be dependent on suitable weather
District Councillor Report.
i. Details of applying for a Warm Space grant has been circulated to all on the email group.
ii. ELDC trying to limit further use of Hotels in Skegness for asylum seekers. ELDC have formally submitted a pre-action letter to the Home Office, indicating it is considering pursuing a Judicial Review to prevent the Home Office from continuing to promote the unlawful use of hotels in Skegness as hostels for those seeking asylum.
iii. ELDC have been awarded £878,442.00 over two years to use towards reducing the number of homeless in the area.
iv. ELDC are in the process of installing 40 new electric vehicle charging point in the area.
v. Green Waste reminders. Residents are reminded that it is now time to sign up if you wish to renew your green waste subscription. Details at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/greenwaste
For further detail regarding any of the above do contact the clerk for details of the full press release.
13. Date of next meeting 22nd March 2023 at 7pm. In the Village Hall.
Signed …………………………… Dated ……………………………