Cherry Willingham Parish Council
The Millennium Hall, 16 High Street, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln LN3 4AQ
Chair of the Council: Cllr Andrew Burge, Clerk: Loo Clinkscales, RFO: Christine Hodgson
The Annual Parish Meeting is to be held on Wednesday 15th May 2024 at 19:00
The Vine Centre.
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Welcome, introductions and explanation of the purpose of the meeting.
Cllr A Burge welcomed everyone and explained that he was the only councillor present at the meeting in their official capacity, although the councillors present who are Chairs of committees would be assisting by providing information on the work undertaken by their specific committees.
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To receive the notes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on the 8th of March 2023 and sign them as a true record.
RESOLVED unanimously to sign the minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting held on the 8th of March 2023 as a true record.
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To award the Stead Award for 2024.
Cllr A Burge presented this year’s Stead Award to Carol Bradley. Carol works in the village pharmacy and has helped and served the residents of the village for over twenty years. Carol goes beyond assisting the residents and supporting the Council.
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To receive a report from Cherry Willingham Primary School.
Head-teacher - Gemma Curtis Cherry Primary Academy.
Mrs. Curtis gave a report on the progress and growth Cherry Willingham Primary School has made in the last 18 months of their leadership.
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To receive a report from Pembroke Academy.
Head-teacher - Simon Evans Pembroke Academy
Mr. Evans gave a report on the progress and growth of Pembroke Academy over the past 7 years with their leadership.
It has faced its challenges from talks of closing to now being oversubscribed and thriving.
Mr. Evans is moving on to pastures new and handing the reins over to Helen Scores from September 24.
To receive a report from WLDC.
Matt Lill - Head of the Lynx for Warmer Home Team - West Lindsey District Council.
Mr. Lill gave a talk on the project he is part of for sustainable energy. how to gain access, options, and funding.
10-minute break.
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To receive a report from District & Lincoln County Councillors.
DCllr Trevor Bridgwood
DCllr T Bridgwood is one of Cherry Willingham’s three District Councillors - he was elected in 2023; this is the start of his second year, and it has been a learning curve. It has been an interesting journey. Cherry Willingham has very little issues but when contacted by a couple of residents, he was able to offer support. This meeting is a good opportunity to allow people to put a face to the name. He stood as a conservative, but his view is that he is here to represent everyone, regardless of what their politics are. If you have an issue that you think you are going to need help with, let him know.
DCllr Maureen Palmer
Also a conservative here to help everybody no matter who you are or what your beliefs may be. If you have an issue, she is here to help. West Lindsay is under a new administration and most things are happening in and around Gainsborough. Matt LillI WLDC is on the same committee as DCllr M Palmer (environmental and sustainability),so this visit was an opportunity for him to see the village and meet some of the residents. . Cllr Palmer also arranged for the chairman of West Lindsay to go to Cherry Fields to see what wonderful work our volunteers have done down there, and she will continue to try and get people to come out here and see what Cherry Willingham Ward has got to offer. So, if you think she can help you, please contact her. However, for planning issues, please contact Trevor.
Cllr Ian Fleetwood
Cllr I Fleetwood has been a county councillor for 23 years. There is another year before elections. Cllr Fleetwood has also been a district councillor a little bit longer. covering Bardney.
Cllr I Fleetwood gave a report on all upgrades to the road network taking place in 2024 around Cherry Willingham, resurfacing to address the potholes and the Southern Bypass.
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To receive a Finance Report from the Responsible Finance Officer of the CWPC.
The RFO summarised the position as at the end of the financial year on the 31st of March 2024: We had planned a Budget of £113,000, and had a Precept of £94,000, so if we had spent that budget in full, we would have taken £19 ,000 from the Balance. The actual result was we only spent £88,805 net (i.e., expenditure, less income) which meant we had underspent, and we were able to add £5195 to Balances. In addition to that, there was some income from Parish Events and from CILS. This total additional income amounted to £5500 so we added over £10,000 to our existing Balances. The actual Balances were listed at the bottom of the handout. We now have over £60,000 in our General Fund. In addition, we have several earmarked funds and have cash assets at the end of the financial year of over £118,000.
The RFO then outlined the planned budget for the current financial year. We have a Planned Budget of £119,303 and receive a Precept of £102,000, which means, if we spend the budget in full, there will be a shortfall of £17,000 which would be taken from the General Fund in Balances. A breakdown of the bigger amounts in the budget: Governance and Admin £65,000, Grass cutting, £14000 (we do get £3000 from LCC to help us). There are several New Projects totaling £28,700: we plan to put some new play equipment at parks, an outdoor gym, and a storage container. Finally, it was noted that a resident with a Band D Property would make a council tax contribution of £73.13 or £1.40per week.
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To receive a report from the Chair of Cherry Willingham Parish Council.
CWPC is made up of 8 committees/ Sub-committees.
Cllr A Burge gave a report on all the committees achievements of the last year, from purchases, projects, and events.
Village Improvement Committee (VIC)
Village Improvement, take care of benches, bins, hedges. The VIC also oversees the speed watch, litter picking, and allotments, Millennium Hall (CW Parish Office).
The VIC has recently installed three benches, all replacements, due to the original ones being made of wood that had rotted. CWPC's policy is when purchasing new or replacement benches, they are to be of sustainable materials. There are two new picnic benches at The Parade. These were partially funded by a grant.
CWPC applied for a grant to improve the retail area of The Parade. With most of this land being owned by the Co-op CWPC were limited on their input. CWPC were successful and purchased a community noticeboard, undertaking improvements of the electricity to the annual Christmas tree and installed lighting of Flagpoles around Tommie’s. A larger replacement bin was purchased to allow pizza boxes to be disposed of. With the remainder of the grant CWPC purchased gazebos, tables, and a PA system in hope of increasing village events. The grant was split between capital and revenue items.
The VIC & L&A jointly applied for a grant at the end of 2023 to improve the facilities within the village, which they were successful in. This was a match funding application. The VIC proposed a project to install an outdoor gym. This consists of seven pieces of apparatus. This is situated at St Paul’s Play Park. This is something that was projected for the adolescents and adults within the village.
Allotments Sub-committee
At the beginning of the year, the allotment entrance was completed. There is now a sign fitted for the Roy Bowser Allotments. The allotments have been open for a full year and there is a great community there, along with a waiting list of Cherry Willingham residents.
Speed Watch
Cllr S Bates now coordinates Speed watch. There are around eighteen volunteers on the team. The police are aware of all the sessions scheduled and do attend quite often - it has proven to reduce the speed of road users. The speed watch has now been going for five years.
Litter Picking
VIC also coordinates the litter pickers, and we have recently gained a few new volunteers. CWPC supplies all the equipment.
Leisure & Amenities Committee (L & A)
Leisure & Amenities & Village Improvement take care of the play parks and the burial ground.
Projects within the last year that have been completed: two new benches at St Paul’s & one at Laburnum Play Park. The L&A have also created a mound at St Paul's with a tunnel, which took many hours to plan and construct by our Councillors and volunteers, Thanks was given to Cllr B Robinson fpr the hours of planning and costing the project. A cargo net is due to be placed on the mound to increase the active play for the children.
The L&A are working towards the wish list to improve the play parks within the village. This has been included in the precept but with the cost of equipment they are reliant on the Fundraising Committee and Grants. Surveys have been used to obtain feedback.
With the joint application with the VIC for the Facilities Grant, L&A purchased an Abu Dhabi climbing frame, this is suitable for 18 months - 5 years. This has been match funded.
There are overlaps between the two committees, but they do work closely together.
CWPC have agreed on our signage around the village to look uniformed.
Burial Ground Group
The Village Improvement Committee are going to install a path from the Burial Ground to Lady Meres. There is a lot of foot traffic through this area and during the winter months it is very slippy. This work will be carried out between CWPC Councillors and the volunteers that help us with various projects around the village.
Cherry Fields Committee
Cherry Fields have two information boards. One is in the commemorative orchard to tell you what the trees are there. The other one, I think, is on the eastern path. It tells you what some of the trees are. They have a new sign as well with the logo on the front.
One of the big projects CFC has done recently is the bike track due to it flooding extremely badly in the winter. In fact, one or two of the councilors were able to go canoeing down there to check the site. But with the volunteers and some of the Councillors, we have resurfaced all the bike track, and we've actually lifted it a bit, so hopefully it shouldn't flood so quickly. The volunteers carry out maintenance days.
Without volunteers for Cherry fields, especially the maintenance, it would be a nightmare so thanks to all the volunteers that come and do the work there with the committee. They also carry out the safety checks mostly for the annual picnic which they plan for the 6th of July, so we hope for good weather. It should be another good day.
Fundraising Committee
CWPC started a Fundraising group in 2023 to raise funds for the developments of the two play parks within the village. To date, the group has raised £2,800.
This coming year CWPC are looking to run 6 events for 2024: The Fun Dog Show, Cherry Fields Picnic, The Produce Show, The Christmas Light Switch on, and the CWPC Christmas Quiz.
Planning Committee
The planning committee is currently reviewing the neighborhood plan. Questions were raised on the development of Rudgard Avenue and the Marina.
Human Resources Committee
The HR committee appointed a new Clerk. Introductions made to Loo Clinkscales, and they were thanked for all their hard work to this point.
Also, CWPC re-employed Christine Hodgson as RFO, Christine was thanked for her efforts. The RFO keeps the finances in order.
CWPC are in the process of trying to recruit an admin assistant.
CWPC lost a fellow councillor at the beginning of 2024. Cllr S Brylewski sadly passed away. She was a long-serving member whose passion was to engage in bringing the community together.
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To receive any other questions and comments from residents concerning the work of the Parish Council.
Is there any news on what's happening to Roy Bowser's farm?
CWPC, as a council, have tried everything to see what is going to happen, but have had no response.
Tennyson Homes are constantly informed of the changes to the state of the site. The police have attended and CWPC have contacted the HSE also with no success. CWPC has contacted West Lindsey, and the Environment Agency - neither have an interest.
To note the name of the Allotments ‘Roy Bowser Allotment’ was a wonderful tribute to the late Roy Bowser, the resident thanked CWPC for the lovely gesture.
Do you have an update on the Marina?
CWPC have had contact and they are making progress (not as quickly as any of us are hoped for) as the previous house builder and prospective purchaser of the housing land continues to liaise with the council regarding slight revisions to some planning conditions that covers the risks of working in partnership with the Samford family,
As soon as the sale is completed and the minor revisions approved, we will have the resources to press on rapidly.
The house builder will focus on the housing land and will complete the embankments and development platforms related to the marina and its associated development. The builder is working closely with the Canal and River Trust to obtain its technical approvals. Council and its Engineering Design Consultant partners are to undertake the detailed technical design work on the marina entrance bridge. This is important as it is needed to maintain the definitive right of way along the riverbank and will be adopted. The cycle bridge depends on approval and support from the owners of the cycle tracks near the river.
This is proving to be a challenge, but they remain confident that, in the best interests of all parties, they will be supportive. Last week a large area of proposed public open space was cultivated in preparation for the first phase of the landscape work.
Why was last year's budget was £2270 in round figures, underspend, what did it do?
The underspend was a few things.
Most of the underspend was on grass cutting because we had very wet weather. The CWPC budget for grass cutting has the maximum number of cuts that they could make in a year.
We got a lot more income from burial fees than we anticipated. Our money is invested, some of it, in interest accounts, and the interest was a lot better than we expected.
Staff costs did not go up to the amount that we had planned for because we lost a member of staff and gained another member of staff on a different level of salary. So, there were a few things that contributed to that, and we had put in a contingency for some professional fees that in the end we did not need to use.
Can you explain the Common Community Orchard?
The community orchard has nothing to do with the precept. When the community orchard was founded, volunteers chose to sponsor to buy a tree. The money was put into the community orchard and trees were bought and the fund was not used in full. A very generous donation also came in towards the orchard. This is a separate fund that has money coming in and money going out.
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Vote of thanks and close.
Cllr A Burge thanked everyone who attended. If anyone within the audience had any ideas on how to help improve the council, they were encouraged to contact the Clerk.
Meeting closed 20:15
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Signed Date
Cllr Andrew Burge
Chair Of Cherry Willingham Parish Council