May 2025

Minutes 15th May 2025

Draft

 

Minutes of Dowsby Parish Council Annual General Meeting

Held 15th May, 2025, 7-30p.m. at Dowsby Village Hall.

 

Present:   Cllrs C. Chambers, G. Ridgway, V. Barker

District councillor: Richard Dixon-Warren

Members of the Public: None

 

1137    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: - M. Hill

 

1138    ELECTION OF OFFICERS:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  1. Chairman of the Parish Council: Cllr Christopher Chambers, Cllr Barker proposed, Cllr Ridgway seconded
    1. Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council: Cllr Gary Ridgway, Cllr Barker proposed, Cllr C Chambers seconded

 

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None

 

  1. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES –

1140.1 SKDC Cllr. Dixon-Warren confirmed the Aveland Update newsletters had been sent out during recent months.

This month’s issues were VE day celebrations, Local Elections, LCC leader is now Sean Matthews (Reform) and fly tipping being dealt with.

 

7-40pm Cllr Dixon-Warren left the meeting

 

  1. NOTES OF MEETING 6th February 2025 were approved as Minutes. Proposed by Cllr V. Barker, seconded by Cllr G. Ridgway

 

1142    CLERK’S REPORT ON MATTERS OUTSTANDING

1142.1 Website is being continually updated

1142.2 Village to be leafleted with advertisement for new councillors. Clerk to prepare. Cllr. Ridgway to print and deliver. Poster to be added to notice board. Vacancy added to website. SKDC to be informed of resignation of Cllr. L Rowsell.

1142.3 Drainage pipe to be cleared under path 499928. Work completed.

1142.4 Cllr RDW informed meeting about a flood contact group which the councillors agreed they could not support.

1142.5 Clerks contract and job description. Clerk had prepared some notes on specific activities completed in the role with a time allocation which reached 130 hours pa.

 

1143FINANCE.

1143.1 Although the precept had remained the same for 2025/6 at £2250 it was agreed that the clerks pay would have to be increased in line with the minimum wage and in recognition of the details in minute 1142.5. To support this a contract of employment and job description would have to be signed. This would be from the start of this financial year (2025/6) and so back dated at the next meeting. 2026/27 precept would have to be increased. Agreed unanimously.

Clerk to confirm details and check situation with regard to NI contributions.

 

 

1143.2 Cllr Ridgway presented an invoice for loft insulation and other associated work in the village hall, totalling £3690 and requested a contribution from the Parish Council. This was unanimously agreed and an amount of £1000 was approved. (cheque 100427 below)

 

1143.3 Bills for Approval and Bank Accounts.

 

V. M. Free                                                      (100425)         £75.00

Zurich Municipal                                         (100426)         £225.16

Dowsby Village Hall Association                (100427)         £1000

Phil Galpin (2025/6 1st qtr net payment) (100428)         £201.60

HMRC (2025/6 1st qtr tax payment)        (100429)         £50.40

Total bills:                                                                             £1552.16

 

Cheque account on 30.4.25                                                 £4773.32

Savings account on 30.4.25                                                 £1973.54

Total available funds:                                                        £6746.86

 

  1. The councillors reviewed and approved ‘Certificate of Exemption – AGAR 2024/25 Form 2’ from the external audit annual return for the year ended 31st March 2025.

 

  1. The councillors reviewed and approved ‘Section 1 – Annual governance statement for Dowsby Parish Council’, from the external audit annual return for the year ended 31st March 2025.

 

1143.6 The external audit annual return ‘Section 2 – Accounting Statements for Dowsby Parish Council’ for the year ended 31st March 2025 were agreed and approved.

 

1143.7 The internal auditor identified several items that should be addressed.

            There are no policies and procedures that the council operates to. This was discussed in some detail as the clerk made the councillors aware of the situation.

            Clerk to finalise a contract of employment in support of item 1143.1.

 

8-25pm Cllr Barker left the meeting

 

1144    PLANNING

1144.1 Weekly planning report checked

1144.2 S25/0058 Extension of bathroom and kitchen, 19 Fen Road. Granted

           

1145    CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED.

  1. (Broxap) Promotional information
  2. (Clerks & Councils Direct) Newsletter – March 2025 Issue 158
  3. (Clerks & Councils Direct) Newsletter – May 2025 Issue 159
  4. (Barclays) Letter ref. banking changes
  5. (Barclays) Statements
  6. (HMRC) End of year information
  7. (Barclays) Letter ref. reduction in interest rates
  8. (Barclays) Letter ref. change of mandate
  9. (ElanCity) Road safety devices information
  10. email(Finding fitness) Promotional information
  11. email(Mindspace) LCC survey for disabled family support
  12. email(Fully fused) Promotional information
  13. email(LALC) E news 7.2.25
  14. email(Utility Aid) Promotional information
  15. email(RBLI) Bunting information
  16. email(Mindspace) Community Connector February 1 newsletter
  17. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 11.2.25
  18. email(Alotek) Bus shelter information
  19. email(RuralServices) Funding Digest February
  20. email(Sovereign) Promotional information
  21. email (SKDC) Local Plan development
  22. email(Arien Signs) Promotional information
  23. email(Mindspace) Community connector February 2 newsletter
  24. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 18.2.25
  25. email(Lincolnshire Wild life) Park information
  26. email(LCC) County catch up
  27. email(RDW) Local government review
  28. email(LALC) E news 21.2.25
  29. email(SKDC) Community organisation support survey
  30. email(SKDC) Becoming a local councillor information
  31. email(Planning Inspectorate) Ossian Transmission Infrastructure Project
  32. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 25.2.25
  33. email(LALC) Flooding report
  34. email(LCC) Parish update February
  35. email(Ben Charrington) Tree week
  36. email(SLCC) Update meeting
  37. email(Utility Aid) Promotional information
  38. email(Mindspace) Community connector February 3 newsletter
  39. email(SKDC) Sandbag offer
  40. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 4.3.25
  41. email(Rural Services) Funding Digest March
  42. email(RDW) SKDC update March
  43. email(Lincs Police) Police setting survey March
  44. email(RDW) VE day information
  45. email(LALC) E news 7.3.25
  46. email(LCC) Survey on ROW improvement plan
  47. email(SKDC) Design code presentation #2
  48. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 11.3.25
  49. email(Mindspace) Community connector March 1 newsletter
  50. email(SKDC) CCTV upgrade information
  51. email(Live & Local) Event management promotional information
  52. email(SKDC) New grants for military commemorations
  53. email(LALC) Pay and retention survey
  54. email(SKDC) Election notices
  55. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 18.3.25
  56. email(The Circuit) Spring Newsletter
  57. email(Keep Britain Tidy) Spring Clean
  58. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 21.3.25
  59. email(Childrens Home) Progress update
  60. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 25.3.25
  61. email(PKF Littlejohn) External audit information
  62. email(LCC) Parish update March
  63. email(LALC) Community marketplace events
  64. email(Mindspace) Community connector March 2 newsletter
  65. email(LALC) March Training Bulletin
  66. email(Village Hall) Loft insulation donation request
  67. email(Mindspace) New singing group
  68. email(Mindspace) Community connector April 1 newsletter
  69. email(Rural Services) Bulletin 1.4.25
  70. email(LALC) Updates to model standing orders
  71. email(LALC) Health and Safety training
  72. email(Rural Services) Funding Digest April
  73. email(RBLI) VE day souvenirs
  74. email(RDW) Emergency contact group
  75. email(Mindspace) Community connector April 2 newsletter
  76. email(SKDC) VE day celebrations
  77. email(LALC) E news 4.4.25
  78. email(LCC) County catch up
  79. email(Rural Services) Free newsletter for non-members
  80. email(LCC) County catch up
  81. email(RDW) Aveland update April
  82. email(Mindspace) COOP funding
  83. email(Mindspace) Stamford GP survey
  84. email(Rural Services) Free newsletter for non-members
  85. email(Mindspace) Community connector April 3 newsletter
  86. email(Streetscape) Promotional playground information
  87. email(SKDC) New teen market in need of stall holders
  88. email(LALC) Armed forces support
  89. email(Rural Services) Free newsletter for non-members 24th April
  90. email(LALC) E news 25.4.25
  91. email(Zurich) Insurance renewal
  92. email(Schoolbadge store) Promotional information
  93. email(SKDC) Funding for trees
  94. email(Severnside) Defibrillator training
  95. email(LCC) Parish update April
  96. email(Rural Services) Free newsletter for non-members 29th April
  97. email(SKDC) Notice of elections
  98. email(LIVES) April newsletter
  99. email(Healthwatch Lincs) April newsletter
  100. email(LALC) Joan Greers funeral details
  101. email(LCC) Connect to support Lincolnshire website
  102. email(Mindspace) Community connector May 1 newsletter
  103. email(LALC) Sexual harassment training
  104. email(LALC) New county councillors
  105. email(RDW) Flood awareness event
  106. email(Rural Services) Free newsletter for non-members 8th May
  107. email(EA) Flood reviews for Boston and Billingborough
  108. email(LALC) E news 9.5.25

 

1146    MATTERS OF AN URGENT NATURE - None

 

1147    DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday 4th September, 7.30p.m, Village Hall, Dowsby.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8:35p.m.

 

Phil Galpin,

Clerk to the Council,                                                                     

28th May, 2025.