April 2025 DRAFT Minutes
UNAPPROVED MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF GREETWELL HELD ON MONDAY 12 MAY 2025 AT 7.30PM IN THE SUDBROOKE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Councillor John Taylor (Chairman), Mrs Christine Myers (Clerk), 7 residents,
Two members of the Witham Valley Access Project.
APOLOGIES: County Councillor Trevor Bridgwood and District Councillor Maureen Palmer
APPROVAL OF THE NOTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 APRIL 2024
These were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
CHAIRMANS REPORT ON PARISH COUNCIL ACTIVITIES DURING THE LAST YEAR – COUNCILLOR JOHN TAYLOR
The Chairman thanked fellow members of the Parish Council and the Clerk for their hard work, commitment to the community throughout the year and for their good attendance at meetings. The Chair stated that it was rare to have any parishioners present at meetings, but notice was adequately given on noticeboards, website, email communications and residents were always welcome to attend.
The Christmas light switch on had been well attended and enjoyed by all, not being quite so cold as the previous year!
Improvements to the footpath on the A158 - the cycle path from Kennel Lane to North Greetwell would continue to be pursued by the Parish Council.
CLERKS/TREASURERS REPORT ON PARISH COUNCIL ITEMS AND FINANCE FOR THE LAST YEAR – MRS CHRISTINE MYERS
We continue to have a hardworking team on the Parish Council working for the benefit of the Community.
We have Councillors with specific responsibilities - for example regularly checking the Defibrillator sited at the garage at North Greetwell; a weekly visual check of The Chase play area; planting and keeping tidy and watered the planters in North Greetwell (on Westfield Drive, by the bus shelter fronting Truswell’s/Glendale and near to the Greetwell sign on the A158 just past the Greetwell Lane junction); responsibility for the collection of data from the Speedwatch devices.
The parish celebrated D Day 80 in 2024 with the lighting of the Lamp of Peace and also a celebratory event on Westfield Avenue. The Christmas Tree Event was again a huge success and enjoyed by all attending. It was supported by the Vocalisa Choir and complimentary mulled wine and mince pies.
A Litter Pick was arranged and 7 residents turned out to help.
Financial Report:
The Parish Council received a Precept (Budget) of £13,826. The Council worked hard to ensure that invoices were paid in a timely manner during the year using BACS payments for invoices with some recurring payments on direct debit.
The Parish Council worked within its budget this year.
The Chase Account – expenditure for the year taken from the account was £2,118.02 leaving a balance of £3,717.10. The amount from the original £25,000 is depleting and the Parish Council has increased the Precept for 25/26 financial year to take into account the requirement for maintenance in the future.
At 31.3.2025 the Parish Council Accounts totalled £17,043.44
This amount includes:-
Events Fund Brought forward £440.68
Parish Enhancement from Precept - £5,250.28
Cils monies Brought forward £481.65
Contingency Fund = £9,038.64
The Accounts have been audited and are available for residents to view between 2 June and 14 July 2025.
REPORTS BY COUNTY/DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
District Councillor Maureen Palmer had sent the following report:-
‘This year West Lindsey celebrated its 50th year of serving the community and Lea Fields Crematorium has been operating for 5 years. Over £85,000 has been raised from the metal recycling scheme of which £11,000 was donated to the Air Ambulance.
The West Lindsey Churches festival is in its 28th year. This year will see 103 churches participating over two weekends - 10th/11th and 17th/18th May. Most of our local churches are open. For more information search the West Lindsey website.
The Central Government has directed that by next April there will be an introduction of household food waste collections. This will be another large bin and an indoor food caddy. Arrangements have still to be finalised although commercial food waste has already begun.
The Government's devolution bill and the election of a Mayor for Greater Lincolnshire which took place last week will have a great impact on West Lindsey. It is not clear where we will sit in the reorganisation of the districts and, as a result of this there will be no District Councillors but newly elected Unitary Councillors. At a recent West Lindsey meeting two interim suggestions were proposed, option A & E. (See diagrams below). There are nine other Districts that will put forward their options. If there is no overall agreement, then it will be decided by the Central Government. As I write this the timeline is unknown
PRESENTATION BY THE WITHAM VALLEY ACCESS PROJECT COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP
The WVAP is a local Community Action Group whose aim is to promote safe walking and cycling in the area and extend and improve the network of paths, footways and cycleways around villages to the east of Lincoln.
Two members of the Project gave an interesting presentation of their efforts to promote safe walking and cycling in the area and extend and improve the network of paths, footways and cycleways around villages to the East of Lincoln (north of the River Witham). They stated that they comment on local planning applications which may impact routes and they have produced local walk leaflets.
TO CONSIDER ANY POINTS ANY PARISHIONERS MAY WISH TO MAKE
There were none.
The meeting closed at 8.00pm.