2025 Minutes

Notes from the Parish Council Meeting held at Allington Village Hall on 8th January 2025

Present; Cllrs S Reynolds (Chair), S Marvin (Vice Chair), C Baron, C Storer, A Scott, J Plummer and R Leadenham (SKDC)
In attendance; Rebecca Hilton (Clerk & RFO), three village residents and one guest

1.    WELCOME
Cllr Reynolds welcomed all those in attendance.  
It was proposed that agenda be reordered and item 14 be moved to after item 18 and to a closed session due to discussion of personal information. The proposal was resolved by all Councillors.

2.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN
Apologies also received from Cllr M Whittington (Lincolnshire County Council) due to illness.

3.    TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF PECUNARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
No declarations were made.

4.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was resolved to approve the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13th November 2024 as a true record of the meeting. Cllr Marvin was the proposer and Cllr Storer seconded the resolution.

The notes from the meeting on 10th December 2024 were approved with one amendment requested by Cllr Scott to point 3 – Clerk to notify other groups within the village of the procedure for advertising / displays. Cllr Storer was the proposer and all seconded.  

5.    CLERKS REPORT
Clerk reported on correspondence detailed
It was resolved to approve;
Quotation for hedge work around the Playing Field as quoted by Gary Gilder - £120.00+ VAT
Quotation received from PE Hempsteads for the 2025 cutting season totalling £3050.00 + VAT (payable in 8 invoices)

Finance 
New invoices received were read out by the Clerk.  It was resolved that invoices should be paid as follows;
Invoice from LALC regarding Annual Subs £292.10
Invoice received from Parish Council Websites regarding domain renewal and hosting £100.00 + VAT (£120.00)

Invoice received from Dave English of English Electrical Service for the installation of 2 x defibrillator units as agreed in 2023.  Install in phone box took place sometime ago but the power has just been installed by National Grid.  Invoice £530.00 + VAT (total £636.00). It was resolved that the invoice would be paid after the Clerk checks the bank account to ensure payment has not already been made.

Invoice received from Grace Machin regarding the draft plans for the Toilet Block at the playing field £1750.00 + VAT (£2100.00) It was resolved that after the detail be checked by Cllr Reynolds that payment be made.
The Clerk reported that the VAT Reclaim for the period April – December had been submitted.  The clerk was unable to confirm the exact amount but it was resolved that the Clerk would confirm the amount on the minutes.  

VAT reclaim – April to December 2024 £3,668.35. It was resolved that VAT should be claimed each quarter as a minimum.

The Quarterly Bank Reconciliation was outlined as in the finance report provided on the agenda, as below;

        
It was resolved to approved the bank reconciliation as at 31/12/2024.

The quarterly income and expenditure was outlined as detailed in the finance report detailed on the agenda, as below;

It was resolved to approved the quarterly income and expenditure as detailed in the quarterly accounts.

Discussion took place regarding the PF (ringfenced) account. Cllr Marvin to contact HSBC to see if it would be possible for the ringfenced funds to be set up in a separate account held by the Parish Council. It was proposed that the Clerk contact SKDC finance 151 officer to check this was permitted.

6.    PLANNING 
Applications and work allowed, sent out in advance of the meeting were read out by the clerk;

-    Application No: S24/1522 Date Received: 3rd September 2024 Applicant: Graham Anderson Proposal: To replace the existing windows with heat efficient double glazed Georgian paned windows bespoke manufactured by Parkwood Joinery from accoya timber, and to remove the secondary double glazing from the interior. Location: Eastleigh The Green Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2EA Decision/Date: 28th November 2024 South Kesteven District Council has considered the application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Grants Planning Permission for the development described above. The permission is granted subject to the specified conditions.

-    Application No: S24/1523 Date Received: 3rd September 2024 Applicant: Graham Anderson Proposal: To replace the existing windows with heat efficient double glazed Georgian paned windows bespoke manufactured by Parkwood Joinery from accoya timber, and to remove the secondary double glazing from the interior. Location: Eastleigh The Green Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2EA Decision/Date 28th November 2024 The South Kesteven District Council has considered this application under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (as amended) and consent has been granted for the development described above. Consent is granted subject to the following Condition(s) and Reason(s) which are laid out in the order by which they must be complied.

7.    BUDGET FOR 2025/26 
The budget detailed on the separate budget document was reviewed. Discussion took place to see if any areas could be reduced. It was agreed that maintenance of the MUGA is costly and there is no income for use.  The question was raised to whether the cost of maintenance should be put to villagers to ensure expenditure is of value.

The budget was unanimously agreed by Councillors.

Discussion of the precept took place.  It was proposed that the precept be set at a 25% increase Proposed by Cllr Scott and agreed by Cllrs Reynolds, Marvin, Plummer and Storer.

It was resolved that the precept request be set at £30,100.00 and that the request be sent by the Clerk to SKDC to replace any previous request.

An ‘open’ letter to villagers was discussed. Cllr Baron offered to draft a letter for circulation.

8.    VILLAGE HALL 
It was confirmed that a meeting with the VH committee is to be scheduled before the end of January.  It was mentioned that the Bookings Secretary for the Village Hall has resigned. No further discussions took place.

9.    PLAYING FIELD
Cllr Plummer stated that the quotation for a rebuild of the toilet block was £55,500.00. It was resolved that the costs are unaffordable.  It was mentioned that the plans have been drawn up along with letters for planning application should they be needed in future.  It was mentioned that on the last village plan drawn up 7 years ago the toilet facilities featured in it as needing attention.

Cllr Reynolds raised the question as to whether refurbishment of current facilities would be worth looking at if grants available. Drainage has been the biggest issue but ceramics may need replacing in future.  Would it be worth replacing the two separate parts with one disabled toilet was also raised. 

There are no plans to improve the car park however the posts will be replaced with costs to be given in the Spring. 

The site of the Fireworks Night bonfire has been tidied and it was agreed that Wildflowers should be planted by volunteers.  The Playing Field Fundraisers agreed to pay for the seeds (up to £100.00)

10.    BUS SHELTER MAINTENANCE
It was agreed that works would be looked at in the Spring including the paved area. Cllr Plummer agreed to approach a local contractor.
 
11.    DOG WASTE BIN FOR MARSTON LANE
No further progress has been made regarding a dog waste bin on Marston Lane.  
Clerk to follow up with an email to Cllr Leadenham as minuted in the meeting on 13th November 2024.

12.    REVIEW REPLACING CURRENT SPEED INDICATOR WITH A SOLAR POWERED UNIT
Reference was made to the new speed indicators on the A52 and was suggested that Cllr Whittington may have information on these and the one on Barrowby Lane. Cllr Baron to contact Lincs Road Safety Partnership.

13.    ALLINGTON FB PAGE
Discussion took place regarding the FB page not having been used.  Cllrs do not have access.  It was resolved that the Clerk would contact the resident who had set up the page.  It was agreed that the Community FB page should be used instead.

14.    ITEM MOVED TO A CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THE MEETING AS PER MINUTE REFERENCE 1

15.    DISTRICT / COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
Cllr R Leadenham asked about VE 80th Anniversary celebrations on Thursday 8th May 2025. Discussion took place about VE and VJ celebrations.
Flooding was discussed as an ongoing problem.  Cllr Leadenham to continue sending information to Parish Councils.
Cllr Plummer asked about Sewstern Lane works stopping. Cllr Leadenham confirmed this was a matter for the attention of Cllr Whittington.

16.    ANNUAL MEETING
The date for the Annual Village Meeting was set as 16th April 2025. All village groups to be invited.  Clerk to email.
Future dates set as follows;
14th May         AGM
9th July            
    10th September    
    12th November     
    14th January 2026

Following discussion of the annual village meeting and inviting groups it was agreed all groups should be contacted regarding VE Day 8th May or VJ Day 15th August celebrations. It was agreed a letter should be sent to groups asking to confirm their plans by 28th February 2025.  Cllr Scott to draft letter for approval. Clerk to send out.

17.    AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING 
Village Hall – meeting update
Dog Waste Bin
Bus Shelter
Playing Field – car park posts 
Solar powered speed unit
VE/VJ Celebrations    
Annual Meeting

18.    DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
12th March 2025

14.    CLERK VACANCY     
The meeting went into closed session to due to discussion of personal information regarding a new clerk.
The personnel committee reported on interview candidates.  It was resolved that one candidate would be offered the position of Clerk / RFO. Offer letter and contract to be sent.

The meeting Closed at 9.40 pm