Minutes 2022/23

Draft Minutes of Lt Bytham Annual Parish Meeting 5th May 2022 7.30pm

1.0     To agree the Minutes of the 2021 Annual Parish Meeting. Having been previously circulated to the Councillors, the Minutes were approved as a true record (Prop Cllr Smith, Sec Cllr Hodgson, accepted unanimously).

2.0     The Chairman’s Annual Report. In his absence, the Clerk presented the annual report for the benefit of members of the public attending the meeting. The report can be viewed at the end of these Minutes and will be posted on the Village Noticeboard and the PC website. https://little-bytham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

3.0     District and County Councillors' Reports. No reports were presented at this time.

4.0     Financial report for year ending 31st March 2021. The Clerk presented the annual statement which was accepted unanimously, the statement can be viewed at the end of these Minutes.

5.0     Electors’ concerns. Two residents attended the meeting. Mr Baldwin, representing the Lt Bytham PCC asked if the PC would provide a contribution towards the church grass cutting. After a discussion the Councillors agreed the same contribution as in previous years, the sum of £500. eMr Baldwin also asked if a mirror could be fitted at junction of Station Road & High Street. Cllr John Sharp to action this. Another resident asked if the PC could leaflet the village asking residents for suggestions regarding how the Precept should be spent.

Date of the next meeting May the 4th 2023 in the Village Hall

LITTLE  BYTHAM PARISH COUNCIL – CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT MAY 2022

Following a couple of years of holding this meeting by zoom call, it’s a delight to be back in the Village Hall face-to-face as the Council’s meetings are now held.

We have 5 Parish Councillors with one vacant position to be filled, I am grateful to Beth Hodgson, Elizabeth Murphy,Steve Smith and John Sharp for the work that they have put in conducting Parish Council business.  And indeed we are grateful to Chris Hatch, our new Parish Clerk.  As a Council we have generally agreed on everything that has come our way.

As well as being involved in general matters and the Council’s finances, Elizabeth Murphy is responsible for keeping the Village notice board up to date and I have taken responsibility for the speed signs. 

The Parish Council has been very well supported throughout the year by Councillor Penny Robins who is our local District Councillor and up until his untimely death,Councillor Bob Adams who was our local County Councillor.  Bob was an excellent Councillor and we welcome Charlotte Vernon in his place.

Without going in to too much detail, the main issues that we have dealt with this year have been

• – our liaison with representatives from LCC Highways has continued and the Council will continue to monitor all matters that require attention, but we must all be aware of budgetary constraints.  However the quality of some of the work in the recent past has been a matter for concern, and this has been drawn to the attention of our local Councillors.  I would though like to encourage all Parishioners to use the SKDC or LCC websites, or the Fix My Street app to report matters as they occur as the more reports that those Councils receive perhaps the more likely they are to react.

• LincsBus Call Connect Service The new timetable has been posted on the Village notice board for those who require the service.

• Planning Applications – several planning applications have been considered by the Parish Council during the year and our comments, where applicable have been passed to the District Council. 

• Parish Council Website – in compliance with the Transparency Code the Parish website is maintained by the Parish Clerk.

And finally,

Finances – our accounts are shown in the financial statement and they remain in a healthy state.  The Parish Council’s accounts are in the process of being audited– a copy of the audited accounts will be placed on the Village Notice Board and on the website for your perusal in due course.  As prices for most goods and services are rising almost on a daily basis, one encouraging piece of news is that the Parish Council has reduced the precept for the coming year in line with the guideline that our annual surplus should not exceed our annual precept so what last year was £4.200.00 this year will be £0.00.

A number of residents have made positive comments regarding the effect this will have on reducing their Council Tax.

5th May 2022

Gerhard Lohmann-Bond

Chairman, Little Bytham Parish Council

Website https://little-bytham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

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