11 March 2025 Annual Assembly
Draft Mins
Minutes of Sutton Bridge Annual Parish Meeting, held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 11 March 2025, in the Bridge Room, at the Curlew Centre
Present: Parish Council Vice Chair: Cllr S McLaughlin
Parish Clerk: Mrs Claire Smith
Parish Council Members: Cllr T Baldry, Cllr M Booth, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr D Cook, Cllr T Judd, Cllr J Kirby-Fox, Cllr M Philpott, Cllr M Pitt, Cllr A Scarlett
Local Electors: 4
1. Welcome
The vice-chair, Cllr Sue McLaughlin welcomed everyone to the meeting and reported that the Chair Cllr Mary Middleton was unable to attend due to family circumstances. Everyone wished her and the family well.
2. Apologies for absence
Cllr Mary Middleton
3. Signing of Minutes
It was agreed to approve the minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 12th March 2024.
4. Report from the chairman of the Parish Council
The vice-chair presented a report summarising matters arising during the year (see appendix 1).
5. Report from clerk to the Parish Council
The clerk presented a report summarising financial matters for the year to date (see appendix 2).
6. Planted areas around the Curlew Centre carpark
The vice-chair expressed thanks to Viv who cared for the planted areas around the Curlew Centre carpark. A great deal of voluntary work is done by Viv and thanks were recorded.
7. Wild Flower areas at the Burial Ground and roundabout – the assembly discussed the planting of wildflowers, it was noted that this would be brought up at the next parish council meeting. Cllr Booth offered to help with the supply of wildflower seeds.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 19:28 hrs.
Signed …………………………………… Date ….……………….
Chair
Appendix 1
Chair of the Parish Council’s Report
This has been an interesting and learning experience for all of us new Councillors and we must thank our two experienced District Councillors Michael and Chris who are always on hand to help and provide guidance if needed. We also have a new clerk, Claire, and we all express our thanks to her, knowing that we are lucky to have her: and what would we have done without Karen I just don’t know, she held the fort when Robert, our previous clerk left until Claire arrived. Thank you Karen. I really don’t know how you put up with us all.
Thank you again to the Wombles who continue to have a huge impact on Fly tipping around the Parish. If you see a fly tipper, do take their car registration number and not where it occurred and if possible a photograph and report it on the South Holland District web site. More on rubbish, after a complaint to the Parish Council by a resident in Withington Street about the rubbish that had become accumulated at the end of the street, I went to see this, it was totally unacceptable. This was reported to Councillor Chris Brewis and it has all now been removed. Thank you Chris.
The Open Spaces Committee has been very busy.
The Kings Coronation gala was celebrated in the Memorial Park; A Beacon lighting etc was organised by the late Parish Council Chairman, Councillor David Bruch and Mr Ray Perkins. Councillor Mervyn Phillott arranged for the King’s Coronation Service to be live streamed into the Curlew Centre. Tequila Circus was here for a week with workshops for schools and public performances; they will be returning in 2025. Fireworks, free for all. Who can forget that great success again organised by the late Councillor Bruch.
The “Open Spaces”, “Burial” and “Allotments” committees are all in one committee.
Now the Arnie Broughton Walk has been tidied up and the undergrowth cut back, the Memorial Park trees lopped and made safe.
The speed indication camera. The camera is finally being sorted out with help from Mark Everett, who has organised the placing of the brackets on the chosen Lampposts, and mounting of the camera. Thank you, Mark. These will need to be moved every two months.
We have been looking at a revamp of the Memorial Park playground: Councillor Sue McLaughlin is going on a Playground inspection course next week.
Allotments. Vacant allotments are in the process of being let out and five new ones to be marked out with half plots if required. Our thanks to Councillor Michael Booth for ploughing the new allotment area in Whites Lane.
Burial Ground. Weather permitting a Clematis is to be planted around the Pagoda. Also an 8ft oak tree has been planted in the Garden of Remembrance. It was planted by Duncan, the son of Councillor McLaughlin. Thank you Duncan This was the idea of the former Chair of the Council Anne Scarlett.
Thank you all on this Committee, you have all worked very hard to achieve this.
Cllr Mary Middleton
Parish Council Chair
Appendix 2
Clerk’s Report
The Parish Council’s accounts for year-end 31 March 2024 should be finalised by the end of April and available to view once the details have been accepted as correct. Documentation relating to the accounts will be available for inspection as part of Council’s audit process. The accounts will be published on the Parish Council’s website, along with the dates for the public inspection period. In the meantime, it can be reported that:
• Council’s total receipts to the end of February 2024 were £104,411 excl. VAT refunds (to Feb 2024: £102,564 +2%). The main receipts were:
o Precept of £77,036 (2022/23: £70,033 +10%)
o Farm Business Tenancies £13,204 (to Feb 2023: £13,183;).
o Burial Ground receipts £1841.24 (to Feb 2022: £4850 +38%)
o LCC Picnic Site Maintenance £2226.74 (2022/23: £1670; +33%)
o Bank interest £2396.09 (to Feb 2023: £1379.11 +73% )
o Litter picking grant from the District Council of £1,260 (2022/23: £1,260).
o Highways Grass Cutting Agreement £1,132.35 (2022/23: £1059 +7%)
o Allotment rent receipts of £805.91 (to Feb 2022: £769 +5%).
• Total expenditure to the end of February 2024 was £113,144.82 (to Feb 2022: £111,202; +2%). The largest payment categories (>£3,000) during the past 11 months include:
o Salaries £48,005 (to Feb 2022: £47,054)
o New Pavilion project £11,385 (2022/23: £20.750).
o Office Rent, hall hire £3559 (to Feb 2023: £5059).
o Grass cutting £3644 (2022/23: £3450; +6%).
o Pavilion running costs £2,256 (to Feb 2023: £3407).
o Elections £5,088
o Highway Speed Reduction £4,100
o Christmas Lights £3350 (2022/23 £2,450)
o Outdoor events £6,664 (2022/23 Queens Jubilee and Funeral £4,505)
o During the year the Parish Council awarded the following grants:
o St. Matthew’s Churchyard maintenance grant £2,750.00
o Volunteer Car Scheme £1,253.00
o WI £500.
o Mad Hatters £500.00
Looking ahead to the next financial year, the Parish Council precept requirement has been set at £86,000. This represents a £7.32 p.a. increase in Council Tax at Band D. The Parish Council’s budget for 2024/25 has been published on the Parish Council’s website.
• The Council’s major opening earmarked reserves for 2024/25 are forecast as follows:
o Capital Reserves Account £50,052. This account is reserved for expenditure on Capital Projects.
o Burial Ground maintenance reserve of £24,866. This is a contingency fund to assist with ongoing maintenance of the site and other sundry costs which may arise in future.
o Reserves for play equipment £13,185.
o Reserves Match funding New Pavilion Build £20,000
o Other reserves £12,845.
Claire Smith
Clerk to Sutton Bridge Parish Council