June 2025 DRAFT Minutes
Notes from 15-minute public forum on 11 June 2025
There was 1 member of the public present.
Statements/Questions raised:
a. Wood slats have been broken in the MUGA and a bike has recently been left behind and damaged.
b. Cllr David Dickason thanked the village litter picker for all of the work that she carries out.
07:02pm The Public Forum was closed, and the Parish Council Meeting began.
Minutes of the meeting of Old Leake Parish Council held on Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 7:00pm at Old Leake Community Centre.
1/6/25 To receive and accept apologies and approve reasons for absence
Apologies: Cllr Paul Skinner.
Present: Cllrs David Dickason, Tom Ashton, Guy Bull, Sandra Pickett and Sam Wild.
Also Present: Community Member Walter Seekamp, Borough Cllr Callum Butler and Interim Parish Clerk Rebecca Herberts.
2/6/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies:
a. Borough Councillors
i. A list of current issues has been sent through to the new County Cllr that were being worked on by his predecessor. A meeting will be put in place with him so that these issues can be discussed.
ii. The Borough Cllrs continue to push for quotes for the replacement of the fencing in Vicarage Gardens.
iii. As part of the VE 80 celebrations, bunting was installed around the Parish. This was up for approx. 3 weeks and was well received by residents. Three hampers were issued to residents who put a lot of effort into decorating their houses for the occasion.
iv. It is pleasing that some of our residents have been nominated in the upcoming Boston Heroes awards ceremony.
v. Works to secure the vac pumps on Green Lane by Anglian Water are now complete. This should help prevent properties backing up in times of exceptional rain.
vi. Residents have been contacting again for updates on a proposed skateboard park.
vii. We continue to report and respond to issues raised by residents and try to resolve all concerns as quickly as possible.
viii. Boston’s 490th Mayor has been elected to office with Cllr Barrie Pierpoint taking on the role from the previous Mayor Cllr Helen Staples.
a. County Councillor
No report was received from the County Councillor.
3/6/25 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 and consider any requests for dispensations
There were no declarations of interest.
4/6/25 Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 May 2025 to be approved and signed as the minutes
It was resolved that the minutes previously circulated be signed as the minutes.
5/6/25 Clerk’s Report
a. The Clerk reported that paperwork had been received from Joann’s family but there was no laptop or computer. The oldleakepc@gmail.com email address could be accessed but information was unable to be changed due to security issues, therefore the new email oldleakeparishcouncil@gmail.com would need to be the new form of contact. Nest Pension had also been informed and were going to contact Joann’s Son to discuss, they advised there would not be anything further action required from the Parish Council.
b. An email had been received from the contractor carrying out the hedge cutting to advise of the BT wires, this would be looked into.
c. The Parish Council had paid £35.00 a week to the Community Centre towards the hire of the hall for The Bread and Butter Group. It had been previously agreed to pay 6 months at a time. This was currently paid up until the end of June. Could the Community Centre invoice for the next 6 months? £945.00 to cover up until the end of December. It was resolved that the next 6 months could be invoiced.
6/6/25 Chair’s announcements and any relevant updates
Cllr David Dickason thanked everyone for attending the meeting, he also thanked Cllr Tom Ashton for chairing the meeting held in May whilst he was away.
The acceptance of office form was completed by Cllr Dickason. It was unanimously resolved at the May meeting that Cllr Dickason be elected as Chair and that the acceptance of office form would be completed at this meeting due to him not being present at the May meeting.
7/6/25 To consider applicants for co-option onto the Parish Council
A completed application pack had been circulated to the Council. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to co-opt Neil Booley onto the Council. He attended the meeting and duly signed the acceptance of office form.
8/6/25 Financial matters:
a. Payments to be authorised
The payments for May were reconfirmed not that paperwork and the cheque books had been received along with payments for June:
|
Date |
Payee/ Creditor |
Amount ex VAT |
VAT |
Total Expenditure |
|
|
Reclaimable |
Non reclaimable |
||||
|
14/05/2025 |
May Village Litter Picker |
£150.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£150.00 |
|
14/05/2025 |
OLCC - Young Peoples Project Feb |
£180.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£180.00 |
|
14/05/2025 |
OLCC - Young Peoples Project Feb |
£11.25 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£11.25 |
|
14/05/2025 |
OLCC - Young Peoples Project April |
£56.25 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£56.25 |
|
Totals |
£397.50 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£397.50 |
|
|
Date |
Payee/ Creditor |
Amount ex VAT |
VAT |
Total Expenditure |
|
|
Reclaimable |
Non reclaimable |
||||
|
11/06/2025 |
June Broadband/Postage |
£22.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£22.00 |
|
11/06/2025 |
June Village Litter Picker |
£150.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£150.00 |
|
11/06/2025 |
Taxing Times - Internal Audit |
£83.33 |
£16.67 |
£0.00 |
£100.00 |
|
11/06/2025 |
George H Kime - Shipment to Tayplay (Clerk) |
£103.79 |
£20.76 |
£0.00 |
£124.55 |
|
11/06/2025 |
OLCC - Young Peoples Project May |
£157.50 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£157.50 |
|
11/06/2025 |
Tony Gibbons - April & May Grass cutting |
£150.00 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£150.00 |
|
11/06/2025 |
Arborglyph Tree Services Ltd |
£1,005.00 |
£201.00 |
£0.00 |
£1,206.00 |
|
11/06/2025 |
Gallagher Insurance |
£2,451.19 |
£0.00 |
£0.00 |
£2,451.19 |
|
Totals |
£4,122.81 |
£238.43 |
£0.00 |
£4,361.24 |
|
b. To report balances in the bank
The balances at the bank could not be reported as the Clerk was still not on the bank mandate.
c. To discuss the bank mandate
The Clerk had planned for the mandate to be changed, this required two electronic signatures, one signature had been made, and the second signature would be chased by the Clerk.
9/6/25 Review Standing Orders
It was resolved to adopt the new version of the Standing Orders.
10/6/25 Review Financial Regulations
It was resolved to adopt the new version of the Financial Regulations.
11/6/25 To discuss the internal auditor
a. To review the internal auditors report
The internal audit was completed with no issues raised.
b. To resolve to accept the Internal Auditors report for 01/04/24 to 31/03/25.
It was resolved to accept the Internal Audit report for 24/25.
12/6/25 Audit for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Annual Governance Statement was completed and each line agreed with the whole Council. It was resolved that the Chair and the Clerk should sign the document to confirm the accuracy of the responses.
The Clerk had completed the Accounting Statement in advance of the meeting. It was resolved to accept the data on this document, and it was signed by the Chair.
13/6/25 To note CCTV updates & Image requests
It was discussed that the fire door had been damaged at the Community Centre. This has been reported to the Police and copies of the CCTV has also been sent.
The Council would like to formally thank Elliot Wild of Initium Solutions Ltd for fixing the CCTV cameras in the play area at the Community Centre.
14/6/25 To receive a report from the Recreational Area Working Group, resolve actions and expenditure for issues raised:
a. Washdyke: Two gates had been reported having problems with the automatic closures. Coach bolts were a suggested alternative to avoid them being broken in future. The bolts of two swings needed to be tightened.
b. Furlongs: Two pieces of play equipment had been sent off to Tayplay for repair. The base of the ‘Witches Hat’ required bolts removing, the Clerk would arrange this.
c. Enos Wood: There were no reports.
15/6/25 Highways Matters:
a. Receive issues requiring maintenance/repair: An update had been sent through to County Cllr Arndell and Borough Cllrs Butler and Baxter would be arranging a meeting with him to update and discuss further. This included:
i. Cowbroads Lane: The speed limit, the HGVs, the problems with burst water pipes and property damages. It was agreed by the Council that this would be added to the Agenda under Highways for the next meeting this had been previously agreed but wasn’t added to a prior Agenda.
ii. Parking around the Schools: Discussions had been had in the past around double yellow lines being installed on parts of Meadow Way and Church Road, this hasn’t happened yet, and they are awaiting further information. The Primary School had also put forward a request for a Zebra Crossing.
iii. Bus Shelter at Commonside: The concern regarding school children being stood on the grass verge on a 60mph stretch of road on Station Road. Residents and the Parish Council have been asking for a bus stop/shelter.
b. To receive reactive speed sign data: Cllr Paul Skinner and the Clerk had taken down the speed sign and charged the battery. The Clerk had found that the sign was not Bluetooth compatible so the manufacturer would be contacted to purchase a lead so that the data could be downloaded and analysed.
16/6/25 To note an update regarding the young people’s service provided by OLPC
There was no update for this meeting.
17/6/25 To note an update regarding Old Main Road MUGA
There was no update for this meeting.
18/6/25 To consider the village maintenance schedule of works to go out to tender
The advert and description would be drawn up by the Clerk and emailed to the Council for consideration at the next meeting.
19/6/25 To consider staff payroll arrangements
The Clerk asked if the payroll arrangements including tax and pensions regulator information could be managed by Haines Watts of Skegness. The cost the Council would be £27.50 per month.
Haines Watts had also advised they would be happy to handle the final arrangements regarding Joann’s pay.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to use Haines Watts.
20/6/25 To note an update regarding the co-op building
It was resolved that loans available to the Council would be investigated along with Grants. The Co-op and the selling agent would be contacted to advise of the situation.
21/6/25 To discuss the renewal of the Insurance Policy
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to pay Gallagher Insurance £2451.19 for the insurance for 25/2026.
22/6/25 Planning applications received for a decision at this meeting (All plans can be viewed at www.mybostonuk.com)
B/25/0179 - Fold Hill Foods Ltd, Dovecote Farm, Lade Bank, Old Leake, Boston PE22 9RJ - Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness to confirm that a proposed increase in height of a previous extension is lawful.
B/25/0187 - Willow Tree Barn, Hurns End, Old Leake, Boston PE22 9JN - Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness to confirm that the installation of solar panels to the detached garage roof is lawful.
23/6/25 Planning Decisions received from Boston Borough Council
B/25/0155 - Station Farm, Hobhole Bank, Old Leake, Boston PE22 9RT - Application under Schedule 2, Part 6 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 to determine if prior approval is required for a portal frame building with profiled sheet cladding to walls and roof. Decision - Prior Approval Not Required.
B/25/0115 - Greenacres, Station Road, Old Leake, Boston PE22 9RW - Two storey rear extension – Decision – Favourable with conditions.
B/25/0067 - Lilac Cottage, Furlongs Lane, Old Leake, Boston PE22 9NX - Replacement detached two storey dwelling, detached garage and workshop following demolition of existing dwelling – Decision – Unfavourable decision.
24/6/25 Correspondence received, not covered on the agenda
No further correspondences were received.
25/6/25 Matters for next agenda
- Skateboard Park
- Cowbroads Lane under Highways
- Shelter for the Play Area on Furlongs Lane
-
26/6/25 Date of next meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on 09 July 2025.