10th January 2023 Minutes
Langworth Group Parish Council
Serving the grouped parishes of Barlings, Newball, Stainton by Langworth and Reasby
Present: Cllrs M Herbert (Chairman), H Stilgoe-McCombe, P Bowser, A Curtis, Cllr J Machin, Cllr R Waite, A Hyatt, S Taylor, K Tyrrell, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr C Darcel, Mrs M Vail (Clerk).
One member of the public was in attendance.
Meeting began at 7.30pm
1. Public Forum: The member of the public introduced himself; advising that he was intending to stand as a District Councillor in the May 2023 elections.
2. Apologies: D/Cllr A Welburn, D/Cllr C Hill.
3. Declarations of Interest: None received.
4. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2022:
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2022 as a true record, and these were duly signed. Action: Clerk.
Proposed: Cllr S Taylor, seconded: Cllr K Tyrrell. All in favour.
5. Comments from County Councillor, District Councillors and Chairman:
C/Cllr I Fleetwood:
o the January Briefing has been circulated.
o Data is due to be extracted from the vehicle activated speed signs; and Bluetooth configured.
D/Cllr C Darcel:
o Some money remains available in the Councillor Initiative Fund which will close in the near future.
Chairman:
o The Clerk continues to liaise with Lloyds bank in respect of updating the bank mandate. The bank has advised that progress on this has been paused due to one signatory having not been included on the paperwork. This signatory is no longer contactable; therefore, it was RESOLVED that ex-Cllr Christine King be removed from the bank mandate to enable the bank to resume progress. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr J Machin, seconded: Cllr S Taylor. All in favour.
o The remainder of the meeting will focus on finances, budget setting and agreeing a final precept figure.
o The Chairman then explained the precept process. The Council Tax bill, in addition to the parish council element, also comprises: Lincolnshire County Council; Police; District Council; and Adult and Social Care. The Parish Council portion of the council tax bill is small.
o A draft budget report, as prepared by the Clerk, has been circulated – agreed that this be amended to include CIL expenditure as a separate budget heading; and that Earmarked reserves should be separated from the budget. Action: Clerk
6. Clerk’s Report
a) To receive the financial report: A financial report was received.
b) Approval of payments: RESOLVED to approve payments. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr A Hyatt, seconded: Cllr K Tyrrell. All in favour.
D/Cllr C Darcel and C/Cllr I Fleetwood then left the meeting at 7.54pm.
7. To set the budget for the year 1/4/23 to 31/3/24:
Members then considered the draft budget report, line by line, with adjustments suggested as follows:
o Langworth Local – reduce to £4300.00
o Annual subscriptions – reduce to £400.00
o Room hire – increase to £440.00
o Equipment Maintenance – the Parish Council has a responsibility to ensure that the play equipment is safe to use and fit for purpose; therefore, money needs to be allocated towards maintenance, repair and replacement of equipment as required. Noted that CIL payments received can be used towards this.
Meeting suspended at 8.15pm to allow the resident to speak in respect of CIL payments. Standing Orders resumed at 8.17pm.
A query was then raised as to whether any play equipment can be sold on. Action: Clerk to enquire of play inspector, which play item is most in need of replacement and if it can be sold.
Potential new projects were then suggested as follows:
o Maintenance of church lych gate:
It was RESOLVED to approve the addition of £2000.00 into the draft budget.
Proposed: Cllr P Bowser, seconded: Cllr S Taylor. For – 7; against – 1.
o Coronation celebrations:
It was RESOLVED to approve the addition of £2500.00 into the draft budget.
Proposed: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. For – 5; against – 0, Abstentions - 3.
o Replacement noticeboard (Barlings Lane):
It was RESOLVED to approve the addition of £500.00 into the draft budget.
Proposed: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe, seconded: Cllr R Waite. All in favour.
Consideration was given next to how the abovementioned suggested changes to the draft budget would increase the final precept figure; and how a Band D property would be affected. As a result of these considerations, so as to reduce the increase to the final precept figure:
o Cllr M Herbert proposed to remove £5000.00 from the Equipment Maintenance budget; and for any play equipment expenses to be paid from the bank account.
o Cllr A Curtis proposed leaving the £5000.00 in the Equipment Maintenance budget and removing all suggested new projects from the budget; with any project expenses to be paid from the bank account.
Standing Orders were suspended at 8.48pm to allow the resident to speak. The resident then explained the budgeting practices of one local parish council; including their use of Earmarked Reserves.
Standing Orders resumed at 8.51pm. Cllr A Curtis briefly left the meeting at 8.51pm.
The two abovementioned proposals were then withdrawn by their proposers.
Following further consideration of the draft budget and the impact of it on increasing the final precept figure, it was RESOLVED to remove all above-mentioned suggested new projects from the draft budget and to pay for any new project expenses, as required, from the bank account.
Proposed: Cllr J Machin, seconded: Cllr K Tyrrell. All in favour.
RESOLVED to increase the budget for 2023/24 to £31,790.00. Action: clerk to update budget report.
Proposed: Cllr J Machin, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. All in favour
8. To set the final precept for the year 1/4/23 to 31/3/24:
RESOLVED to set the final precept figure for 2023/24 at £31,790.00. Action: Clerk.
Proposed: Cllr J Machin, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. All in favour.
Noted that the precept has not been increased in recent years. Inflation rates during 2022/23 have reached double figures which have significantly increased some costs to the Parish Council.
9. Date of the next meeting: Tuesday 7th February 2023, 7.30pm, Langworth Memorial Hall
LANGWORTH GROUP PARISH COUNCIL - BANK RECONCILIATION 1st Dec - 31st Dec 2022
CURRENT ACCOUNT, ACCOUNTS PAID
OPENING BALANCE, £5379.34
LCC, grass cutting reclaim £594.61
SAGE £8.40
M VAIL EXPENSES DEC £33.30
M VAIL, SALARY DEC inc pay rise back pay, £1042.12
LCC PENSION DEC, £220.73
HMRC, PAYE, NI inc pay rise back pay, £218.20
LCC PENSION DEC, pay rise back pay, £132.16
CLOSING BALANCE, £4319.04
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
OPENING BALANCE, £38459.95
INTEREST, £8.80
CLOSING BALANCE, £38468.75
Accounts for Payment in January
Office Utilities Internet, M Vail, £22.50
Mileage 24 miles @45p/mile, post notices, M Vail, £10.80
M. Vail Parish Clerk Salary Jan, £750.10
M Vail Pension Jan, £235.29
M Vail PAYE, NI, Jan, £55.36
Sage payroll, £8.40
Welton PC, final play inspection, £20.00
Ear Marked Reserves
Elections reserve, £4,000.00
Total, £4,000.00"
Michelle Vail – Clerk/RFO to the Council Dated: 12 January 2023