May 2023 Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting
KEXBY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on 18th May 2023
Present; Cllrs. D. Strollo (Chair), S. Farrow, C. Cuckson, L. Hoggarth, D. Forrest
Apologies; had been received from Cllr. R. Gore
20/23 Election of Officers; Chair R. Gore proposed S. Farrow, seconded C. Cuckson
Vice Chair D. Strollo, proposed L. Hoggarth, seconded C. Cuckson
There being no further nominations they were both elected and, in the absence of the Chairman, Cllr. Strollo took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.
21/23 Minutes of meeting held on 8th March 2023 – these had been circulated, were agreed as a true record and signed off by the Chairman.
22/23 Matters arising
a) Broadband – there had been a few installation issues but these appeared to have been resolved and feedback from residents had been very favourable concerning improved reliability and speed.
b) Email addresses – Cllr. Strollo had researched this, he recommended the Microsoft Exchange Online (Plan 1) which would cost £3.30 per user per month (£316 per annum for 8 users). This would provide a secure service which would comply with the recommendation to avoid the use of private emails for Parish Council work. It was agreed to proceed with this and the Clerk would meet with Cllr, Strollo to implement it.
Action GP/DS
c) Youth activities – one of the local PCSO’s had apparently organised this elsewhere, Cllr. Hoggarth thought this was probably Gail with whom she had contact, she agreed to look into this with a view to inviting her to a future meeting.
Action LH
d) Tree Planting – the Jubilee and Coronation trees were getting quite large for containers and needed planting. It was agreed that stakes and rabbit guards would need to be in place from the outset and a more substantial guard may be required longer term. Cllr. Hoggarth agreed to organise this and to inform Jessie Milne who, through WLDC, had acquired the Jubilee tree.
Action LH
23/23 Correspondence
a) Ellie Gregory – had written to the Parish Council requesting a secure area in which to exercise dogs off their leads, she had also sent a petition to the meeting. This was a matter which also involved Upton Parish Council and the Playing Field Committee so copies of Ellie’s email had been forwarded to them. It was agreed that such initiative shown by an 11 year old was very commendable and should be encouraged. It was agreed that she should be invited to the next Parish Council meeting along with a representative of the playing field committee.
Action GP
b) Community Speed Watch – Cllr. Bailey (WLDC) had organised training for individuals to use a speed camera to monitor traffic in Knaith and Lea and offered the opportunity to Kexby. Information from this monitoring was passed to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, persistent offenders would receive a letter noting their infringement of speed limits. The recording had no legal status but did appear to act as a deterrent and could be used to request legal speed checks by the police if necessary. The scheme would require at least 3 volunteers from Kexby (Upton have already found 2), volunteers would then be pooled and used in any village when available.
c) Gypsy Lane – application had been made to add this to the definitive map as a restricted byway, the Parish Council were asked whether they knew if the land was currently owned by anyone, Cllr. Forrest said that he was almost certain that it was not in private ownership. The Clerk would respond accordingly.
Action GP
d) Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance – deferred to next meeting
24/23 Financial Report – the accounts had been audited and copies of the balance sheet circulated. The Annual Governance and Accountability Report had been completed and was signed off, it was agreed to apply for exemption from full external audit as allowed for councils with a turnover of less than £25,000. Dates for the Exercise of Public Rights (when accounts are made available for public scrutiny) were agrees as 5th June – 14th July. The Clerk would be available to accommodate this between 5th and 23rd June and Cllr. Cuckson agreed to have them for the remainder of the period.
25/23 Insurance – due to expire 31st May, the Clerk had obtained other quotes but the Zurich insurance remained the most competitive so it was agreed to renew the existing policy.
Action GP
26/23 IT issues – the Clerk was still having issues with the Parish Council printer following the move to Quickline Broadband and the laptop speed had become quite slow. He had recently had his own laptop and printer services by Linc IT in Gainsborough and was very satisfied with the result. He requested permission to have similar work carried out on the parish council equipment, this was agreed.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 7:25
Next meeting – the provisional date given on the agenda was Wednesday 13th July, in fact this should have been Wednesday 12th July at 6:30.