2025 Minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 4 August 2025 at 7.00pm at North Thoresby Village Hall, The Square, North Thoresby, DN36 5QL

Present:                              Chair                                Cllr Colin Goodwin

                                             Vice-chair                       Cllr Kieth Butters

                                                                                      Cllr Emily Bakes

                                                                                      Cllr Paul Rickett (appointed)

                                                                                      Cllr Terry Aldridge (appointed)

Also Present:                    Acting Clerk                   Mrs Binal Sawjani

                                             Members of Public      5                                  

                                             District/County             Cllr Terry Aldridge

Apologises:                                                                None

Item 0725/01 Welcome to the meeting: Chair opened meeting at 18.59 and welcomed new acting clerk and responsible financial officer, Binal Sawjani for a period of three months. Also welcomed the councillors, public and district councillor.

• No comments from the members of public

Chair invited Cllr Alridge to speak: 19.02

• Attended Planning and policy meeting – nothing to report

Chair asked if Cllr Ricketts had any comments: 19.02

• No comments – explained that this is a time for training for the councillors

Ends 19.03

Item 0725/02  To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations: None

Item 0725/03 Apologies for absence: None

Item 0725/04 To approve the draft notes as minutes of the last meeting held on the 9 July 2025: RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes, and they were dated and signed by the Chair.

Item 0725/05 Chair’s Report:

Chair’s Report 

• Railway reduce steam – reported that the steam train will run slower during the dry season to reduce the sparks from the chimney
• Barn behind Morrisons – been reported to building control at East Lindsey District Council Building Control – this has become quite urgent; in touch with the owner who has reinforced the internal wall to stabilise the structure. Building control are happy with the progress but there needs to an inspection but there is no imminent danger
• School trip – the parish has received a thank from the organiser from North Thoresby Primary Academy for the donation for school trip to West Welsh coast. Much of the fundraising was undertaken by the pop up café in the village. This initiative has been a huge success and plans are to keep the café open every fourth Sunday. Parishioner will send poster for the noticeboard and news story for the parish website.
• Grimsby to Walpole deadline for submissions is 6 August and council will be sending objections to National Grid on behalf of the village

Item 0725/06 Training:  Training available to all Staff and elected Members and clerk recommends councillors to view training schedule

Item 0725/07 Parish Councillors Reports: None

Item 0725/08 Parish Matters To receive updates from in respect of:

1. Village Hall matters – request for water filter, new coloured chopping boards, PAT testing and Oil for heating the hall all due before next meeting. Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to undertake these purchases and report back to council at the next meeting.

A grant application has been submitted on behalf of the Village hall by a parishioner to purchase a dishwasher which has been approved and arrangements will be made to purchase and install in the coming months. Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED

Grant application has been made to includes a shipping container for storage for the use of the parish

2. Speed Camera extension warranty – the parish has two speed cameras and the warranty is due for both at £199 plus VAT for three year contract which is payable yearly. Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED
3. Mapletoft trust donation – this is a donation of £110 given to the trust for the hire of the play park paid yearly. Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED
4. Parish insurance ratify – Parish insurance has been discussed at the previous meetings. On the agenda to ensure that parish is insured and clerk is gaining access to account.
5. Cloud Renewal – The renewal of web hosting is due and has needed to be paid. The chair has settled this on a credit card and will be reimbursed by council.
6. Benches and play park – the games table are available to the parish and we have a further three benches to follow by the end of the month. However the dice and counters have been taken and we need a solution to keep them with the tables. If we purchase them form the company they are £11 per set. We can source these from a cheaper supplier for £41.97. After much discussion about how to keep the dice sets safe it was proposed to be collected from the Go Local shop for a deposit of a £1 and when return the £1 was returned and we would review this at the next meeting. The proposal was seconded and RESOLVED
7. Shipping container – this item has been agreed to be purchased by the council at a previous meeting. Budget allocated £2,595 plus VAT. This was proposed that we accept this budget, seconded and RESOLVED
8. Cyden Homes – council has written to the developer and has no answer. Requested clerk to follow up. The area for development was discussed regarding infrastructure and was proposed that we report to the Enforcement… seconded and RESOLVED
9. Emergency Plan – this was raised by a parishioner at the last meeting. Much discussion regarding the merits of undertaking this project but it was imperative that volunteers are needed from the community. Was agreed that request would be made via social media and website. Deferred to next meeting
10. Christmas Tree 2025 – deferred to the next meeting
11. Highways – no updates

Item 0725/09 Policy Adoption: To receive, consider and adopt revised and updated Standing Orders as per advisement from NALC Model Standing Orders - revised April 2025 was only adopted with clause that for video control to ask parishioners to ask permission of the public before filming proposed, seconded and RESOLVED. To receive, consider and adopt revised and updated Financial Regulations revised February 2025 policy proposed, seconded and RESOLVED. 

Item 0725/10 Planning Applications: None

Item 0725/11 Correspondence: To receive and dispose of correspondence received since the last meeting:

• Two messages from a parishioner about a previous FOI about payment schedules from August 24 to Jan 25 in a different format. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to supply the schedules
• Clerk informed council that external auditors have written to council to inform them that the 2023/24 AGAR is in the queue to be process and is 9th at present. The message also stipulated the costs to the parish to undertake the work needed to shift through the objections which are £355 plus VAT or £2,485 per day plus VAT. Council discussed the cost was high to the parish and how could we reduce this and it was proposed that we write to the external auditor, seconded and RESOLVED
• Council have been copied on five messages to our external auditors regarding the parishioners comments  on the Council’s response to information request from external auditors. No response required. After much discussion it was proposed that we write to external auditors ask where we are in the queue for us to close this matter.

Consult LALC on these matters and get some advice on how to proceed and phone our Insurance to see if we qualify for legal advice. Once we have this information we can respond to messages and know our position on these matters.

• Environment Agency have written and said that maintenance taking place in the parish. Information will be posted on the noticeboard
• Notification that the play area will be inspected in August by RoSPA
• Quickline have made an approach to provide communications to the community – after discussions about Internetty Ltd it was decided that clerk should approach Quickline and understand proposition
• Correspondance received by Warranty for speed cameras, Grimsby to Walpole and Mapletoft Scholarship Trustee already covered in Parish Matters or Chairs report

Item 0725/12 Dates of next meetings: To note the date of the next meeting:  3 September and 6 October 2025

Item 0725/13 Financial matters:

1. To note bank balances on bank statements as on July 2025 - £30,374.40
2. To note income - £218.00 from room hire
3. To authorise the signing of orders for payment for previous months

Meeting ended 20.04