2023 Annual Parish Meeting

SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Chair:  Richard Wrigley  Vice-Chair:  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 3rd April 2023 at 6.30pm.

Present:   Cllrs R. Wrigley (Chair), R. Grindey, S. Burrows, B. Hedley, N. Clark, C. Vernon (LCC), B Green (SKDC) and Mrs P. Harrison (Parish Clerk)

Parishioners: Mr G. Page, Mr R. Ducksbury, Mr D. and Mrs S. Beecher, Mrs G. Parnell and Mrs R Meads.

The Meeting was chaired by Richard Wrigley, Chairman of Skillington Parish Council. 

1.   Apologies for absence:  received from Cllrs S. Millington, R. McKee and D. Bellamy (SKDC) 
               
2.   Notes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 11th April 2022:  were agreed and signed by Cllr Wrigley.  The Chair asked for.any comments:  

3.   Report on the Parish Council:  The Chair 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 Chair: Richard Wrigley; Vice-Chair: Rory Grindey;  Cllrs Steph Burrows, Neville Clark, Bronwyn Hedley, Roseanne McKee and Stuart Millington. During the course of 2022-2023, Cllr. Hedley joined the PC. There are currently no vacancies.  The next Election is due in May 2023. Councillors serve a 4-year term. Cllrs David Bellamy, Ben Green and Charlotte Vernon were thanked for their continuing support.   

3.3  The Chairman reported on matters of interest in the past year:  He first thanked the District and County Councillors for their work during the year. 

3.3.1    Mr P. Parris was thanked for his contribution in maintaining the Skillington Life website. 

3.3.2    There is no further progress on the cemetery extension.

3.3.3    The SKDC Model Code of Conduct was adopted by the Parish Council. 

3.3.4    A bench in memory of Bill Meads was purchased and has been sited on The Square.

3.3.5    Daffodil and snowdrop bulbs were planted on The Square, in recognition of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

3.3.6     A ‘Flower of Kent’ apple tree was planted on the Top Green in memory of Isaac Newton's earliest education in the village. Grantham Civic Society may assist with a plaque.

3.3.7     A battery collecting box has been introduced in the Bus Stop.

3.3.8     Yellow lines now mark the Bus Stop and extra 30mph signs have been erected, with a plan to erect hedgehog signs in due course.

3.3.9     The condition of the bridges on Crabtree Lane is being monitored.

3.3.10   A site for a play area was given a considerable amount of thought.

3.3.11   It is hoped we may repair the Fish Well.

3.3.12   The Drift: A consultation process has begun with the aim to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order, to enable the repair and future protection of The Drift.

3.3.13    Parking on Lord’s Lane is being monitored.

3.3.14    There are future plans to clear the undergrowth of the Pill Box, near the Cemetery.

4.   Planning Committee:  The Chair read through the Report of the Planning Committee to 31st March 2023: 

The Planning Committee usually consists of the Chair and two Councillors, currently the Chair 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 2022 to 31st March 2023 the applications (all of which were granted) were:
   
•   A pair of two storey semi-detached cottages.
•   Replacement windows.
•   Removal of glazed windows and replace with blockwork.
•   Four applications for tree surgery or felling.
•   Removal of conservatory, two storey rear extension.
•   To retain a Leachate Storage Tank.

5.   Parish Council Finances: The unaudited accounts of Skillington Parish Council for the year to 31st March 2023 were available for inspection; the Chair referred to the Income & Expenditure schedule comparing the year to 31st March 2023 with the previous year. 

5.1.   Income from the Precept charged of £5,050 was an increase of £105 on the prior year.  Parish Council budgets showed a deficit, due to much lower cemetery income.

5.2.   Total income of approximately £8550 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 was £9737 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 £1200 for the year was due to a smaller income from the cemetery.  

5.5.   Outlook for 2023/24:  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 2023/24.

Thanks:  The Chair expressed his thanks to all the Parish Councillors; to Cllrs Bellamy and Green.(SKDC)  for their continued  support throughout the year, attending almost all the Councils’ meetings and to Cllr Vernon (LCC) as although she was not always able to attend meetings, she was instrumental in helping in a number of matters. The Clerk was also thanked for her work throughout the year and it was noted that an appraisal is needed.

6.   Vacancies on the Parish Council: There are currently no vacancies.

7.   Matters Raised from the Floor: 

7.1.   G. Page asked if the current mowing contractor had instructions to continue. 

The Chair thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

The meeting closed at 6.55 pm.

The next Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Monday, 1st April 2024 at 6.30pm at Skillington Village Hall.