July 2024 Minutes
West Ashby Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting for West Ashby Parish Council held on Wednesday 17th July 2024 in West Ashby Village Hall.
Those councillors present were Cllrs C Graves, J Bunster, A Radcliffe, S Summerlin Benton and G Edwards. Also present R Atkin House (by phone link) and clerk Mrs K Elliott.
PUBLIC FORUM: There was no public forum.
The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm.
2024/013 Chairman’s remarks - Mr Bunster welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2024/014 Apologies – from N Moore.
2024/015 There were no declarations of interest.
2024/016 The notes of the meeting held on 15th May 2024 were proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED as a true and accurate record.
2024/017 Reports from District & County Councillors: None were present.
2024/018 Clerk’s report on matters outstanding and correspondence
a) CSW report – JB circulated the latest data. This is the worst set of figures to date with 136,000 vehicles travelling between Horncastle and West Ashby. These figures will be circulated to D Cllr, C Cllr, Police and LRSP. Can we do any more, probably not? Other than frequently remind all agencies of statistics and our ongoing concerns.
b) LALC Website Maintenance – to renew website SLA for 2024/2025, £85 was approved.
c) LALC Annual Subscription – to renew subscription £93.04 was approved.
d) Plant Sale – over £100 was raised and we would like this to be an annual event. More planning is need for 2025 to possibly include a table top sale and coffee morning. This will be an agenda item for January 2025 with an event date of late June or early July.
2024/019 Defibrillator – we have received a quarterly update from LIVES and the device is rescue ready.
2024/020 Christmas Tree – Following discussion the clerk was asked and agreed to leave the meeting, so discussion cam continue without impugning the clerk’s integrity. The clerk left at 7.43pm. SSB will take notes whilst the clerk is absent. 8.04pm the clerk re-joined the meeting. SSB provided a background to the discussion and a letter will be sent to the VCC setting out the Parish Council view and a request for a resolution before the September meeting. Please find inserted below the notes taken by SSB.
Item (8) Christmas Tree
Email from John Elliott on behalf of the VCC was read to the Council which highlighted the concerns of the VVC regarding the planting of a permanent tree in the church yard and declining the offer of the PC to fund and maintain said tree.
PC voiced disappointment with the decision reached by the VCC, particularly in light of the fact that all details of the proposed scheme were supplied prior to December 2023 and the time it has taken to reach the above conclusion.
Alternative sites were discussed for the tree and consideration was given to placing it on the grassed area outside the wall of the Grove or in the grassed area of the layby. It was confirmed that the tree had not as yet been purchased but could now not be planted, even if this was the course of action taken, before November 2024.
Enquiries to be made with the Grove regarding the placement of the tree and their views and also into the feasibility of planting in the grassed area of the layby.
Consideration was also given as to how the PC proposed to move forward regarding the Christmas Tree positioning for 2024. It was agreed that the churchyard was a central part of the village and parish and that the preceding two events involving the lighting of the tree and a brief carol sing song had gone well and that was a good turnout of parishioners. It was also agreed that putting up the tree at the beginning of December rather than a few days before the 25th was essential to encourage the participation of the parish.
On the above basis it was proposed that a letter be written to the VCC indicating that whilst disappointed with the decision, the Parish Council accept it is one made within their purview. Given however the turn out from the parishioners for what is hoped to continue as an annual event, the PC propose the following by way of compromise. The VCC and the PC to split the cost of the cut tree purchased. The PC will make the initial purchase, put up and trim the tree, thereby enabling an event to turn on the lights at the beginning of December, heralding the start of the festive season. The VCC are then asked to cover the electricity costs for the lights through to Twelfth Night as previously. The PC will arrange the undressing of the tree post Twelfth night and the VCC to arrange disposal of the tree thereafter.
The PC ask that the letter conclude by seeking a response to the above proposal by 17th September 2024 in sufficient time for this to be discussed and hopefully concluded before the next PC meeting on 18th September 2024.
2024/021 Highways matters – RAH will email again. A letter has been received from M Read with images outlining her concerns. C Cllr Bradwell had offered to assist with this matter. Whose dyke is it and can the grips be reinstated. Can the dyke leading up to the cemetery be dug out ourselves, RAH to enquire?
2024/022 Planning Matters:
a) FPP Given S/201/02181/23 Lindisfarne. A complaint is to be submitted to ELDC.
2024/023 Finance Matters, to approve payments and to note income since last meeting. All payments were approved and cheques signed.
a) Clerks Expenses £39.96 and
b) LALC £178.04 for items listed above.
c) Charity Account – the clerk provided an update and will contact Lloyds Business Banking.
2024/024 Next Meeting
a) The next parish council meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th September 2024. JB and AR will both be absent from this meeting and CG will chair in JB’s absence.
b) Items for the next newsletter – to RAH for action as soon as possible please.
c) Items for the next agenda will include installing a path at the centre of the cemetery and copies of the cemetery plan will be provided. It is noted that there is an overhanging hedge on the Church side of the road, property name to be confirmed and the clerk to write a letter requesting the hedge be cut back. More copies of the village map are requested. AR will organise a Christmas Meal for councillors and partners.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.33 pm.