April 2022 Minutes Annual Parish Meeting
SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Chairman: Richard Wrigley Vice-Chairman: Rory Grindey
Councillors: Steph Burrows, Neville Clark, Rory Grindey, Roseanne McKee, Stuart Millington.
Parish Clerk: Pamela Harrison (Mrs), 9 Telford Way, Colsterworth, Grantham, Lincs. NG33 5GH
Telephone: 07707 104187 e-mail: clerk.spc@gmail.com
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 11th April 2022 at 7.00pm.
Present: Cllrs R. Wrigley (Chair), R. Grindey, S. Millington, N. Clark and Mrs P. Harrison (Parish Clerk)
Parishioners: Mr G. Page, Mr G. Parnell.
The Meeting was chaired by Richard Wrigley, Chairman of Skillington Parish Council.
1. Apologies for absence: received from Cllrs S. Burrows, R. McKee, D. Bellamy (SKDC) and C. Vernon (LCC)
Mrs V. Page and Mrs B. Hedley.
2. Notes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 7th April 2021: were agreed and signed by Cllr Wrigley. The Chairman asked for any comments: An action point to carry over was the crumbling wall on Colsterworth Rd belonging to Easton Estate. Easton Estate had informed the PC and LCC that works had been instructed. However, no action had been taken.
3. Report on the Parish Council: The Chairman addressed the meeting and reported on activities for the previous year:
3.1 What is the Parish Council? The lowest tier of local government with various Duties and Powers including litter collection, cemetery management, mowing verges and common grassed areas. What the PC cannot do: refuse or grant planning applications. It is, however, informed of all applications and can make comments. It cannot mend potholes, but reports them to Highways.
3.2 Membership: The Council has seven councillors: The Chairman: Richard Wrigley; Vice-Chairman: Rory Grindey; and Cllrs Steph Burrows, Neville Clark, Roseanne McKee and Stuart Millington. During the course of 2021-2022, Cllrs A. Bunce and Francis Disney left the PC. Cllr Disney’s contribution was again noted. Cllr McKee joined the PC. There is currently one vacancy. The next Election is due in May 2023. Councillors serve a 4-year term. He also commented on the sad loss of our longstanding local and District councillor, Bob Adams, who is much missed. We welcomed Ben Green as our new local councillor, and Charlotte Vernon as District councillor. Cllr Dave Bellamy was thanked for his continuing support.
3.3 The Chairman reported on matters of interest in the past year: He first thanked the Clerk for her work during the year.
3.3.1 Mr G Page was thanked for his contribution in setting up the Community Helpline WhatsApp group. The group, set up in response to the Covid pandemic, continued, albeit thankfully little used.
3.3.2 There is no further progress on the cemetery extension.
3.3.3 Mr D. Raes was thanked for painting the cemetery gates and shed door.
3.3.4 The swing was repaired in situ.
3.3.5 One additional dog bin has been purchased for Colsterworth Road.
3.3.6 The Chair noted the welcome restoration of Cringle Brook by the Lincs. Rivers Trust
3.3.7 Colin Clark, Stuart and Kate Millington were also thanked for their work in the village.
4. Planning Committee: The Chairman read through the Report of the Planning Committee to 1st April 2022:
The Planning Committee usually consists of the Chairman and two Councillors, currently the Chairman Cllr Wrigley, with Cllrs Grindey and Millington. The Parish Council monitors any applications from within the Parish or, in the case of large developments, in the vicinity of the Parish. The Committee confers and prepares comments relevant to ‘material planning considerations’ on all planning applications relating to buildings and trees in Skillington, within the context of the Local Plan and the criteria for approving or otherwise, development as set out in Skillington’s Neighbourhood Plan. Comments are normally collated and returned by the Parish Clerk. Anything considered problematic can be referred to SKDC’s Planning Committee to be ‘called in’ for focussed consideration. During the period 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 the applications (all of which were approved and granted) were:
One single storey and one two storey extension.
Proposed porch and replacement windows.
Conversion of existing outbuilding to form annex.
Insertion of a new external door.
Two applications for tree surgery or felling.
One garage conversion.
Internal alterations to a listed building.
Doorway/fire escape and railings.
Removal of conservatory, proposed two storey rear extension (pending)
5. Parish Council Finances: The unaudited accounts of Skillington Parish Council for the year to 31st March 2022 were available for inspection; the Chair referred to the Income & Expenditure schedule comparing the year to 31st March 2022 with the previous year.
5.1. Income from the Precept charged of £4,945 was an increase of £97 on the prior year. Parish Council budgets showed a slight deficit, due to much lower cemetery income.
5.2. Total income of approximately £8390 includes the ‘real’ income mostly from the Precept, paddock rent and cemetery income; all other income is reimbursement of work carried out on behalf of County or District Council. Income from the Cemetery was slightly lower than usual.
5.3. Expenditure during the year, £9256, includes employment of the Clerk, carrying out mowing, street cleaning and care of the churchyard and cemetery, in addition to some one-off costs, including tree work.
5.4. The deficit of around £1500 for the year was due to a smaller income from the cemetery.
5.5. Outlook for 2022/23: The Precept is to increase by a small amount, which should cover general cost increases. The LCC mowing reimbursement may not cover grass cutting costs every year, depending on the season. We expect to break even in 2022/23.
Thanks: The Chairman expressed his thanks to all the Parish Councillors; to Cllr Bellamy .(SKDC) for his continued support throughout the year, attending almost all the Councils’ meetings, but sadly ill this evening.
6. Vacancies on the Parish Council: There is currently one vacancy.
7. Matters Raised from the Floor:
7.1. G. Page asked if the Neighbourhood Plan is still in alliance with the Local Plan.
7.2. G. Page proposed keeping the Community Helpline WhatsApp group going.
7.3. The Parish and District Council was thanked for its work by G. Page.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
The meeting closed at 7.40 pm.
The next Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Monday, 3rd April 2023 at 7.00pm* at Skillington Village Hall.
[* timing subject to confirmation]