Annual Parish Meetings

May 2024 - Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Parish held Monday 20th May 2024, 6.30 pm at Hemswell and Harpswell Village Hall, Hemswell.

Present: Parish Councillors:  Cllr. J. Roberts (Chair), Cllr. M. Foster (Vice Chair), Cllr. P. Sutherland, Cllr. G. Jago. Clerk: E. Raymond.  Member(s) of the Public (MoP):3

AGENDA

01-23/24 Welcome and Remarks Cllr. Roberts opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

02-23/24 Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received from Cllr. R. James, District Cllr. Paul Howitt-Cowan and PCSO Julie McFaul.

03-23/24 Reports from PC and External Agencies

a.  Report from Chair of Hemswell PC. Cllr James reviewed the work of the PC from March 2023-March 2024 including:

  • The resignation in March 2023 of Mr. Mander and Ms. Sheppard as councillors, with thanks for the significant contributions made, particularly by Mr. Mander (March 2023).
  • The ‘making’ of the Neighbourhood Plan. March 2023).
  • The success of the Mayday celebrations and addressing the need for the Maypole to be repainting and to find a safe means of affixing/removal of ribbons for future events. (May 2024).
  • PC and County elections, welcoming the recent co-option of Cllr. R. James and Cllr. G. Jago. (April 2023).
  • PC plans to identify benches in need of replacement/refurbishment. (July 2023)
  • Award of an LCC grant to support the first stages of rejuvenation of the Pinfold (Oct 2023).
  • Display of poppies around the village and in the bus shelter to mark Remembrance Day with hopes it would become an annual event. (Nov 2023).
  • Award of a grant from WLDC to undertake an ecology and tree safety survey. (Feb 2024).
  • Support for the proposed reduction in speed limit along the Middle St. due to go into effect Aug 2024. (March 2024).
  • Ongoing support via grants to support the Village Hall and Church to cover the cost of grass cutting (Circa £800) and towards the purchase of a Christmas tree (£50), organised by Village Hall.
  • The ongoing positive feedback from the independent Internal Auditor regarding governance, sound financial management, and compliance with statutory duties. 
  • The continued level of compliance with the speed limits as recorded by Speed Indicator Device. The Chair expressed his thanks to drivers who help to make the village a safer place to walk.  

The Chair concluded by expressing thanks to members of the public who regularly attended PC meetings and hoped ‘volunteer’ events planned for the forthcoming year would be well supported by everyone in the Parish. 

b. Report from the District & County Councillor

No report had been received from the County Councillor. The Chair asked for this thanks to be minuted for the regular updates and reports from District Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan and for the issue of his annual report. https://hemswell.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/97/distcllr-annual-meeting-report-hemswell-2023    

c. Hemswell and Harpswell Village Hall Committee

Minutes of meetings and reports provided by the Village Hall committee can be found on the PC website https://hemswell.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/50/village-hall-committee-meeting-minutes

04-23/24 Questions from the Public

A resident:

i. Reported waste tipped along Hemswell Lane. To be reported via FixMyStreet. The problem with water along Brook St. due to tree roots/blockages was discussed and was to be reported to LCC/Anglian Water.

ii. Enquired about the Village Memory Books. The clerk explained the books are preserved ‘digitally’ but not indexed or catalogued and therefore not ‘searchable’. Volunteers were needed to tart a ‘history’ club to undertake this work. 

The Chair thanked the members of the public for their contribution and continued support. 

The meeting closed at 6.50 pm.