2025 Full Council Minutes

Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of Cherry Willingham Parish Council held at 19.00 on 20th January 2025 held at The Vine, Cherry Willingham

Present: Cllr A Burge - Chairman, Cllr M Palmer - Vice-Chair, Cllr S Bates, Cllr Mrs Burge, Cllr I Fleetwood, Cllr R Houghton, Cllr V Houghton, Cllr C Hughes, Cllr K Mellor, Cllr D Pitchford, Cllr R Pitchford, Cllr B Robinson, Cllr J Robinson

111. To note and record apologies and absences.

Cllr P Bucke, Cllr J Trahearn.

112. To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and consider 

any requests for dispensations in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other interests as outlined in the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cllr C Hughes has an interest in all allotment items,

113. To receive the draft notes of the Full Council meeting held on 18th November 2024.

RESOLVED with 1 abstention to approve the minutes from the 18th November 2024 as a true record.

114. To receive any reports from outside bodies, including the Police, District and County 

Councillors (if any) and agree actions as required.

More people are reporting crime following the police engagement last summer.

Circular walking routes have been identified called the Viking Way Shorts.  One of which is a 6 mile walking route between Reepham, Fiskerton & Cherry Willingham. 

DCllr T Bridgwood back in November left the Conservative Party and formed an Independent group with 1 other member the committee had 4 seats.

DCllr M Palmer reported the NI cost to WLDCis over 100,000.00 following the increase. 

Food waste for commercials due to come in, in 2025 and 2026 for households there is no additional funding. 

Lea crematorium is holding an open day on the 1st February to mark its 5 year anniversary.

Flash flood hit the village again this month, Cllr I Fleetwood along with Cllr A Burge & Cllr M Palmer, met with Rob Waltham, one of the candidates running for Mayor, to discuss how he felt he could help the village if he was elected. Elections are on the 1st May for Mayor. Within the next two years there will be a Local Government review  where there will be no District Council, there will be 2 unitary authorities covering  ½ million each. 

115. To receive a report from the Chair.

Cllr A Burge gave thanks for all those who helped and attended the Light Switch on event and the 

Christmas Quiz.

116. To receive a report from the Clerk.

Previously circulated.

117. To receive an update from WLDC funding for CCTV.

RESOLVED unanimously to bring this item back to February FC after the RFO has sourced a new upto date quotation from National Grid for the installation of electric.

118. To receive an update on St Pauls Play Park hedges/ trees and resolve any necessary action.

Cllr B Robinson & Cllr A Burge and other volunteers planted the agreed hedge. It will take some time to establish but hopefully will achieve the necessary aid in time.Thanks were given to all those that had volunteered.

119. To receive an update following the Future Burial Ground Group meeting and approve any 

necessary action.

Report previously circulated.

Cllr A Burge reported it was thought there is another 10 years left in CWPC‘s current burial ground. The admin assistant had been tasked to make contact with the church with some points that had been raised in the meeting. Research for the legal requirements of closing and providing another burial ground will also be carried out.

Next meeting is to be held on Thursday 13th February

120. To appoint members on the Human Resources Committees following resignation from the 

committee.

DEFERRED.

121. Financial matters:

To receive a report from the RFO including:

1. To resolve to accept the Receipts and Payments schedule for November & December 2024. Copies of the document can be obtained by emailing the Clerk at cwparishcouncil@gmail.com.

DEFERRED

2. To resolve to accept the Bank Reconciliation up to the end of December (paper copies of Bank Statements will be provided to an approved Councillor for certifying) and note the balance in each account.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the Bank Reconciliation up to the end of December 2024

3. To receive an update on any Grant applications. 

The FCC grant application that the L&A had submitted has come back requesting more information for our application. The FCC will then consider the application at their March meeting.

4. To receive an update on the progress with subscribe software.

The process begins in February and CWPC will have a 6 week period to set this up for the next financial year.

122. To receive an update on the Youth Centre and approve any necessary actions.

CWPC were not successful in their expressions of interest in taking on the Youth Center. CWPC are still yet to hear who will take this facility on.

123. To receive a report on the progress with the YMCA tenancy agreement and agree to any action 

as required.

Cllr B Robinson & Cllr J Trahearn are to arrange a meeting with the YMCA.

DEFERRED

124. To approve using The Vine Centre for CWPC ‘Annual Parish Meeting’ this current year.

RESOLVED unanimously to use the Vine Center for the Annual Parish Meeting.

125. To receive reports and recommendations (if any) concerning the business of the council and its 

committees, sub-committees etc, and agree to any actions accordingly: (Note: queries from minutes, please see individual chairs or members outside of the full council meeting to expedite the meeting)

1. Finance & General Purposes Committee – Chair: Cllr Andrew Burge

To receive a report from the meeting on 13th January 2025 and approve any action taken including:

1. To discuss and resolve any suggestions on use of CiL funds to discuss and resolve any suggestions on use of CiL funds.

Report previously circulated

2. To consider and recommendation from the F&GP the following LALC subscriptions for 2025/2026:

3. LALC/NALC Annual Subscription - £810.94

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the LALC/NALC Annual Subscription

2. LALC Annual Training Scheme - £175 + VAT

RESOLVED unanimously  to approve the LALC Annual Training Scheme

3. Review Expend v Budget:

   1. Review Expend v Budget as at the end of December 2024 and note any significant variances. 

Report previously circulated

2. Consider the recommendation from the F&GP the use of Virement i.e. to utilise underspent budgets in order to fund other expenditures which are coming in above budget e.g. cherry field maintenance.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the virement for CFC for the underspend from their grass cutting to be used for maintenance following damages that have taken place at the CF site.

4. To review the provisional budgets under all headings for the 2025/2026 financial year and agree or amend as necessary.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the budget of £122,086. RFO to create a line for S137 expenditure. 

5. To consider rate fixing for raising the Precept for 2025/2026. An Estimate of £105,000 was submitted to WLDC in November. The authority requires the final claim by 24/1/25.

RESOLVED unanimously to request a precept of £105,000 from WLDC. This is an increase of 1.59% on last year's precept and equates to 10p per week on a band D equivalent. 

2. Planning Matters –  Chair: Cllr R Houghton

To receive a report from the meeting on 26th November 2024 and the 12th December 2024 and

approve any action taken including:

1. Update on the progress of the neighbourhood plan.

The expressions of interest have been submitted for the grant application and CWPC should hear back before the next FC.

2. Update on the Marina

No update at present.

3. Leisure & Amenities Committee (L&A) – Chair Cllr Mrs Burge

No meeting has been held.

The hedge at St Paul's play park had been completed. L&A are still awaiting installation on 2 pieces of 

equipment at St Pauls and Laburnum

4. Cherry Fields Committee (CFC) – Chair: Cllr J Robinson

No meeting has been held.

There have been a number of issues with electric bikes being used at Cherry Fields during the Christmas period, they have caused damage to the event areas. This is a no motorised bike area.

Witham Third Drainage Board Team cleared the dikes on the Witham side and the western side towards the Delth, with the delay from there initial consultation and them coming to carry the work out there had been a lot of rain. Their vehicle got  stuck and made a mess decimating the wildflower meadow and vegetarian patch. CFC intends on writing to LCC and asking for the cost to be covered for this to be put to its original state.

The wildlife camera has been purchased and installed and will be trialled,report to follow.

5. Village Improvements Committee (VIC) – Chair: Cllr A Burge

To receive a report from the meeting on 9th January 2025 and approve any action taken including.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve to spend upto £100 for Damaged flagpole parts

1. To review and approve the Resilience Policy.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the Resilience Policy. This will continue to be a live document.

6. Allotments Sub Committee - Chair:  Cllr A Burge

No meeting has been held.

1. A request for Plot 33 to move to a vacant plot, due to continuous flooding.

Cllr B Robinson has been tasked with calculating the cost of installing a drainage system at the Allotments. This new system aims to improve conditions and increase the likelihood of success for the allotment holders.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the plot holders request. The Clerk to contact the allotment holder to arrange.

2. A request for specific second plots from existing plot holders.

RESOLVED with 1 abstention. All CW residents will be offered as the first priority to have a plot. Giving as many CW residents the opportunity. Once plots have been allocated to new members and the waiting list has been fulfilled then the opportunity to have a second plot for existing plot holders will be offered. This will all be carried out in the date order of the expressions of interest were requested.

Priority order.

1. New CW residents.

2. Second plot holders.

3. None CW residents.

It was decided to provide new plot holders with a 6-week period to come forward before offering the 

opportunity to the next person on the list.

7. Events & Fundraising Committee – Chair Cllr R Pitchford.

To receive a report from the meeting on 4th December 2024 and approve any action taken.

Between the ‘Light Switch On’ and the ‘Christmas Quiz’ £877.80 was raised after expenses.

To note there are 7 bottles of mulled wine left over from the events. They will keep for the events in 2025.

The Beetle Drive will only go ahead if there are a min of 30 tickets sold.

1. To receive a report following a working party meeting held for the ‘Beetle Drive’ and approve any necessary actions.

RESOLVED unanimously to charge £1 strip for raffle tickets.

8. Human Resources Committee – Chair: Cllr K Mellor

To receive a report from the meeting on 2nd December 2024 and 16th December 2024 and approve any action taken.

1. To review and approve the Lone Working Policy.

DEFERRED.

2. To review and approve the Human Resources Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the Human Resources Terms of Reference.

3. To recommend and resolve the new appointment of line managers.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve Cllr K Mellor and Cllr M Palmer to line manage the Clerk & Responsible Finance Officer.

Cllr I Fleetwood left the meeting

4. To recommend and resolve the De-escalation of challenging or hostile behaviour Training for staff.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the 3 members of staff to have the recommended training from HR.

TO RESOLVE TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION IN THE ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960 DUE TO THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS

RESOLVED to move into closed session 20:36

5. To discuss and resolve a request on the RFO additional hours until April 2025.

Explanation and costing were given.

RESOLVED unanimously to increase the RFO hours by 2 extra a week until 1st April 2025.

6. To receive a report following the Clerks annual appraisal.

Verbal report was given. The Clerk is happy and is enjoying the job after a difficult few months.

The Clerk is actively looking at other courses, will be involved in the setting up of the new Scribe system which will hopefully give her more understanding of the RFO role.

126. To confirm the date of the next meeting as 17th February 2025 at 19:00 

(agenda items required no later than noon Thursday 6th February 2025.)

RESOLVED unanimously.

Meeting Closed 20:45

_____________________________________ _____________ 

Signed Cllr A Burge - Chairman Dated