Annual Parish Meeting (April 2023)
MIDDLE RASEN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 25/04/2023
Present:- Mr M Stamp (Chairman), Mr D Pattison, Mrs G Dennis, Mr P Dawson, Mr J Padley, Mr A Longmate, Miss P Sexton, and Mrs A Harrison (Clerk)
Visitors:- Cllr s Bunney and 2 members of the public
1. Apologies for Absence:- Mr J Oxley
Resolved: To accept apologies from Councillor listed above.
2. To approve minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 26th April 2022:-
The minutes were signed as a true record.
Resolved: To approve draft minutes.
3. Chairman’s Report:-
Council Members:
The Parish Council has remained stable over the last year; however, the Council lost a member due to other Council commitments in September 2022. Miss Penelope Sexton was co-opted by the Parish Council in November 2022 to the vacant seat.
Thank you to all the Councillors for their continued presence at meetings over the year.
Lincolnshire/West Lindsey Councillors:-
Thank you to our Lincolnshire County Councillor and West Lindsey District Councillor – Cllr Stephen Bunney - for his continued support of both the Council, and the parishioners - particularly regarding planning, flooding and highways issues and his welcome presence at the monthly meetings.
Planning Applications:
Applications in 2022/23 – 27 – decreased by 4 from 2021-22 year.
The Parish Council remain consistent in their approach to applications; however, we still experience a level of frustration with the planning authority who continue to make decisions which would appear to give little regard to the local knowledge and experience of the Parish Council, particularly regarding flooding in the parish. The Parish Council continue to put forward all concerns and will continue to do so.
Grants: 2022-23
The Parish Council issued grants in the total sum of £50.00 as follows:
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - £50.00
Precept:
The Precept for 2022-23 was increased by £500.00 to £18,500.00, which has allowed for investment in the parish, and allows for prudent future budgeting, which is likely to be necessary given the large rise in the cost of living.
Contractors
Once again thank you to both Green Grass Contracting and Lincolnshire Landscapes for their work over the last year.
Lincolnshire County Council have continued to provide a twice-yearly safety cut on amenity grass sites within the parish.
Winter Weather contracting arrangements were arranged, however, these were not utilised this winter.
Parish Maintenance
The Council have continued to report various highways issues to LCC from potholes and flood areas to blocked drains and broken streetlights.
Work has been carried throughout the year to maintain the various benches, street furniture and bins are fit for purpose and the Parish Council would like to thank Mr C Robinson for the fantastic work carried out on the benches and stocks and Mr A Gibson for maintaining the gates to the burial ground at St Peter and St Paul’s Church.
4. Financial Report:-
.
The Clerk had presented the final unaudited overview of financial paperwork for the year 2022-23 prior to the meeting. Overspends and underspends were identified, the biggest overspend being for the purchase of a new laptop. The end of year financial information will be available to view on the website as per regulations. The public rights notice will be placed in line with regulations.
Councillors thanked the Clerk for her report, and the Finance Councillor confirmed that the accounts have been checked and are correct. The Council thanked the Clerk for her continued hard work
5. Open Meeting
No comments were forthcoming.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 7.11pm.