September 2024 DRAFT Minutes

BIGBY PARISH COUNCIL 

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 3rd SEPTEMBER 2024

CHAIR – COUNCILLOR D. COWLING
BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED

PRESENT: Councillors – B.Orr, W. Pinney, C. Wilson

Also in attendance: -

Mrs. A. Hannath – Clerk to the Council

39   Notice convening the meeting.

Taken as read and approved

40   To Receive Apologies and Reasons for Absence

41   
Cllr. H. Aukland
Cllr. C. Gandy
Cllr. T. Smith  - LCC
Cllr. P. Morris  -  WLDC

42   a) To Record any Declarations of Interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.  Members declaring interests should identify the Agenda Item and the type of interest being declared.

None

b)  To Note any Dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the Agenda Items listed below.

None

42   TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR CO-OPTION TO THE COUNCIL

None received

43   TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM CLLR. SMITH ON COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS     

Unable to attend – apologies received

44   TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM CLLR. MORRIS ON DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS                                                                       

Unable to attend – apologies received

45   Police Matters   

No new information received

46   To Receive any Correspondence (for information only).

•   Email received from the Environment Agency regarding changes to their maintenance programme.  The aim is to increase biodiversity.

47   To Receive an Update on any outstanding issues from the clerk.

•   New noticeboard has been delivered. Awaiting a response from AJ Williams to see if they can install it.
•   Clerk has submitted a form to the Charity Commission to apply to have Acre Dikes removed from its register

48   Public Question Time

There were no members of the public present

49   To Receive any Questions from Members.

None notified

50   a) TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE MINUTES, AS CIRCULATED, OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 2nd JULY 2024

It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd July, 2024 having been circulated should be taken as read and approved.

Proposed: Cllr. C. Wilson          Seconded: Cllr. D.Cowling

51    ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 

a)   To Receive the following Financial Report and Approve the Accounts for Payment: as at 27th August 2024

September 2024 draft minutes tbl1
*Added since the publication of the agenda

It was resolved that the accounts for payment listed above and the Statement of   Accounts be approved.

Proposed: Cllr. C. Wilson          Seconded: Cllr. D.Cowling

b)  To Receive Notification that the exempt status for the year ended 31 March 2024 submitted to us for Bigby Parish Council has been logged by PKF Littlejohn, the external auditors 

Noted

c) To note that the possibility of claiming VAT for the Village Hall, as highlighted by the Internal Auditor, has been explored by the Clerk.

The Clerk advised that she has consulted an officer called Kirk Thomson, Community Development Officer – Village Halls for Lincolnshire, who has informed her that this is a very grey area.  His advice is that he thinks it is not possible to claim the VAT as Bigby Village Hall, both building and grounds, are not owned by the charity.

On the advice of the Internal Auditor, Richard Dixon, she has also spoken directly to HMRC.   They advised that there is very little that charity buildings can claim for with regards to VAT.  If a disabled toilet were to be installed, then that would qualify for a VAT refund, but anything else is definitely not liable for a VAT refund. 

52   PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND DECISION NOTICES

Members are reminded that applications can be received after the deadline for the publication of the agenda. The clerk will forward any further applications to you before the meeting for your consideration.

WL/2024/00465:    Planning application for external alterations to shed building, site access widening and installation of solar panels. Priory Fields, Howsham Road, Kettleby Brigg, [object Promise], DN20 9HN   WITHDRAWN

53   TO CONSIDER REGISTERING FOR THE WLDC COMMUNITY DEFIBRILLATOR SCHEME.

The Clerk advised that WLDC had been checking defibrillators around the district.  They found that the Bigby defibrillator had an out-of-date battery and no pads in the case. (The Clerk thinks they didn’t look properly as the defibrillator has never been used, so how could the pads disappear!)

They have replaced these on a temporary basis, but the WLDC Officer did ask if the parish wanted to join the scheme.

Maintenance for £106 per year

• Online reporting tool 
• Quarterly maintenance checks 
• Access to useful resources and events 
• Same day replacement or loan defibrillator 
• Replacement battery and pads when expired or used

It was resolved that the Parish Council should join the Defibrillator Maintenance Scheme

Proposed: Cllr. B. Orr             Seconded: Cllr. D. Cowling

54   TO CONSIDER THE OFFER OF A CUBIC METRE OF GRITTING SALT FROM LCC

The Clerk advised that she had seen this offer on the LALC Newsletter.  A response is required by 30th September.

It was resolved that a cubic metre of gritting salt be ordered from LCC.

Proposed: Cllr. W. Pinney          Seconded: Cllr. C. Wilson

Meeting closed at 6.45 pm