Mat 2025 DRAFT Minutes (Annual Parish Meeting)
DRAFT Notes of Welbourn Annual Parish Meeting
Wednesday 14th of May 2025
Meeting Room, Welbourn Village Hall, Beck Street, Welbourn
Present:
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Parish Councillors Robert Cross - Chairman Steve Spedding Katie Stark |
Louise Troy Mark Crosby Stephen Short Michael Bighi |
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Mr Daniel Bancroft – Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) 2 Residents |
District Councillor Mrs Lucille Hagues Mr Jim Fieldhouse – Parish Clerk |
1. The Chairman of Welbourn Parish Council, Councillor Robert Cross took the Chair for the meeting and welcomed everyone.
2. Apologies were received from Cllr Marianne Overton MBE; Cllr. Harriet Huntsman.
3. Cllr. Stephen Short proposed that the notes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on the 8th of May 2024 be accepted as minutes. This was seconded by Cllr. Katie Stark.
3.1 Resolved: These notes be approved as minutes. The Chairman signed these minutes.
4. Public Forum
Resident AB complained that the yellow 30 mph stickers which had recently appeared around the village looked scruffy. Cllr. Cross explained that the stickers were meant to be stuck to wheelie bins. He agreed that the unsightly stickers should be removed.
5. Chairman’s Review
Cllr. Cross, Chairman, thanked the Parish Councillors and the Officers for their input throughout the year. He explained that much of the work was routine such as arranging repairs and maintenance, and paying bills etc. He gave a rundown of the notable events that had happened in 2024-25 as follows:
April 2024 - funding to repaint the old BT telephone box was obtained from British Sugar. The repainting work was completed last Summer.
Lincolnshire County Council agreed to install 3 additional slow signs and three 40 mph roundels on the A607.
May – Welbourn Floods Working Group submitted flood mitigation plans to the Lincolnshire County Council.
June - a site meeting was held with Lincolnshire County Council Highways Asset Manager on The Green to discuss the construction of a proposed swale to mitigate flood damage. This temporary fix has now been completed.
Taylor Lindsey erected a post and rail fence on land opposite the village shop following representations from the Parish Council.
Completion works to the play park upgrade were completed with help from volunteers. The work included the installation of picnic benches and on a new wood chippings surface.
The Parish Council received legal advice from Wrigleys Solicitors (Leeds) regarding the proposed trust deed between the Parish Council and the Village Hall and Playing Field Committee. Their subsequent quotation for completing the work was too expensive and it was decided to obtain an alternative quote.
July - a funding application was submitted to the North Kesteven Rural England Prosperity Fund to carry out repairs to the moat footbridge, partial refurbishment of the tennis court, refurbishment of various benches around the village, and provision of a flotation device for the village pond.
A survey of all households was conducted to ascertain feelings regarding the plans to build solar farms at Springwell Solar Farm and Fosse Green Solar Farm. Only 44 responses out of 340 questionnaires were received.
September - An alternative quote to update the trust deed between the Parish Council and the Village Hall and Playing Field Committee was obtained from Wellers Law Group, London in the price range £1250- £1750 plus VAT. The Parish Council decided to instruct this firm to carry out the necessary legal work.
The council welcomed Steve Ralph to the Council following the resignation of Marian Smith.
October - The Parish Council received a report and update from the Welbourn Emergency Plan Coordinator.
The Parish Council introduced a revised and updated Health and Safety Policy
November - The Parish Council provided feedback to the for Springwell Solar Farm and Fosse Green Solar Farm consultations based on the responses received in the July survey.
January 2025 - plans for the Leoda Solar Farm where released.
Improvements were carried out at The Forge including removing the ivy from the side elevation, trimming the boundary hedge, and repairing rotten roof battens
February - Lincolnshire County Council reveal recommendations received following a specially commissioned report concerning the damaging effects of Storms Babet and Henk. These recommendations were considered by the Parish Council and the Welbourn Floods Working Group.
The Parish Council organised a public meeting held on the 18th of February 2025 to discuss plans to construct the Leoda Solar Farm. The Leoda Solar Action Group was formed the following month.
March - Representatives from the Welbourn Floods Working Group had a Zoom meeting with Lincolnshire County Council Flood Risk Coordinator following the County Councils drains survey work carried out in January by Ajet.
New financial regulations were adopted.
Finally, throughout the year the Parish Council had:-
• Arranged 3 litter picks in the last financial year.
• Reported at least 38 issues concerning road problems and flooding problems to County Council via FixMyStreet.
• Had paid for two major repairs to the air source heat pump at the village hall.
5. Review of the Finance Committee for 2024 -25
Daniel Bancroft, Responsible Finance Officer delivered a report based on the following pie charts:
7. Review of the Personnel Committee 2024-25
Cllr. Katie Stark delivered the following report:
The purpose of the Personnel Committee is to oversee staffing and recruitment matters.
The Parish Council has two employees: the Parish Clerk and the Responsible Finance Officer.
The Parish Clerk, Jim, has been employed since June 2022. He receives a monthly salary based on an average 20 hour month. The hourly rate of pay is set within the National Joint Council for Local Government Service (NJC) guidance.
The Responsible Finance Officer, Daniel, has been employed since March 2022. He receives a monthly salary based on an average 20 hour month. The hourly rate of pay is set within the National Joint Council for Local Government Service (NJC) guidance.
The Personnel Committee conducted annual appraisals on 13th November 2024.
The committee was entirely satisfied with each officer's performance therefore it was agreed that both officers would move up to the next step on the pay scale to LC2 26.
The pay scales are reviewed annually every April by the National Joint Council for Local Government Service (NJC) It normally takes a few months for the pay scales to be confirmed therefore back pay is normally due. It was agreed that back pay would be calculated from April 2024 at the new LC2 26 pay rate. This was reported in the November 2024 minutes of the Welbourn Parish Council meeting.
During the appraisals it was agreed that both officer's employment contracts needed reviewing and updating. The clauses covering Salary, Appraisal, Hours of Work, Sick Pay, Maternity/Paternity/ Adoption leave and Dispute Resolution were reviewed and have since been updated. The contracts now have updated salary details and clarify how officers progress through the NJC salary scale, subject to satisfactory performance at annual review, and in line with guidance set by the National Joint Council for Local Government Service (NJC)
The next appraisals are due in September 2025. The next salary review is due in October 2025.
The Chairman acknowledged the work of the Parish Clerk and the Responsible Finance Officer, expressed his confidence in them, and thanked them for their work.
8. Review from The Vice Chairman – Cllr. Stephen Short (Planning & Village Hall)
Planning - The Parish Council has continued to consider and comment on planning applications and applications to undertake tree works within the conservation area. There were 22 in the year ending March 2025 including one new dwelling and all as reported in the published minutes. The Welbourn neighbourhood Development Plan appears to remain largely consistent with the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, which was adopted in April 2023. Consideration is being given and advice sought from NKDC as to any action required.
Proposed solar farms, including the one from Leoda extending west from Welbourn to Brant Broughton, and south to Leadenham, an area of 2400 acres, would result in the loss of large areas of productive agricultural land. Its impact on the local environment has become a matter of significant concern. A meeting was held to obtain the views of local residents and comments were sent to the Planning Inspectorate the proposed Springwell site just across The Heath to the east, straddles the A15 and extends to just under 5000 acres. The Fosse Green energy proposal to the west straddles the A46 and extends to 2478 acres. In addition, there is a proposed new substation at Navenby extending to approximately 32 acres and a battery storage site at Colby.
Village Hall - The monthly coffee shop has continued to be a great success and is the main source of ongoing fund raising. The annual accounts have been completed. New benches have been installed on the field by the Parish Council to compliment the new play equipment. The committee wished to record their thanks for this. The village hall and playing field committee AGM was held on Monday the 12th of May 2025. The committee is looking for some additional members.
9. The meeting was closed by the Chairman at 7.50 pm