Minutes for 2023

Holland Fen with Brothertoft Annual Parish Meeting held at
 Brothertoft Village Hall on Tuesday 9th May 2023
In attendance: with Councillor Mark Leggott in the Chair, Councillors Richard Leggott, Paul Anderson, Angela Cannon, Alan Dring, Nigel Early, Peter Robinson and Dave Ball. County Councillor Michael Brookes was also in attendance and District Councillor Stuart Evans. Clerk Sarah Kulwicki. 
Public: No public in attendance. 
Absent: Councillor Jo Brigham. 
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 7.30pm 
1. Apologies for absence – Councillor Jo Brigham.

2. Notes of the annual Parish meeting held on Tuesday 3rd May 2022 to be approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. 
       It was:-
    Proposed by Councillor Leggott and Seconded by Councillor Cannon and Resolved. 

3. Chairmans annual report – Councillor Mark Leggott, report for 2022:
It gives me great pleasure to present the chairman’s report for 2022. 
Over the last year we have met as a council on six occasions and have been running with a full council complement of nine councillors during this period. As a council we have responded in timely fashion to all of the planning applications sent out to us for consideration, with there being no controversial decision to consider during the year. 

We have made numerous reports to the Highways department about pot holes, dropped sections of road and a hazardous kerb at Langrick Bridge post office and store.  We have also made it known to highways issues such as the partial filling in of a dyke in Ferry Lane which will in all probability lead to potential waterlogging of part of the road in the future. 

Highways usually respond and come along and do a half job. They did excel themselves though with repairs to the highways along Kirton Drove and NFFB and just to the south of Chapel Hill where they spent considerable sums of money to make the road more level. Things are still not perfect as I can attest to, having four broken sumps in nine months due to the road conditions in the parish. 

The increased amounts of fly tipping and general litter on our roadside verges does not go unnoticed. Although we all do out part in tiding up around our own farms and properties, to date we have not organised an annual litter pick. My own thoughts are that the long lengths of roadside to be covered could be daunting for most people. 

During the last year we have been able to support our church yards with a modest amount of financial help towards their upkeep. The council was able to help finance a community tea in Holland Fen village hall to celebrate the Queens platinum jubilee. However following the Queens death we find ourselves contributing to another community tea to celebrate the coronation of our new monarch King Charles III. I think that we are all grateful to the volunteers who have put on the events. 
A small win for our community must include getting the Highways department to pay for and install a new grit bin at Cheethams Bridge, whilst we couldn’t get the local Borough council to pay for the replacement of the litter bin just outside of Brothertoft village hall. The council have replaced this at their own expense. 

During the year our clerk resigned, we advertised the position and had no interest to speak of, of people who would want to take up the post. Sarah’s circumstances changed and she was minded to reapply for the job and was unanimously re-appointed by the council on a much enhanced salary than before. As a consequence of this, and after spending commitments such as putting money aside to pay for possible elections we increased the precept by 42% for the next year. In the end we had an uncontested election, but it was I feel the right thing to do as being prudent is not a crime. 

I should like to take this opportunity to thank all councillors for their attendance and input at meetings. I should also like to thank councillor Anderson for his support as Vice- Chairman and to thank Sarah on behalf of all for coming back and restoring the situation we were facing of having no clerk and RFO. Thanks also to the county councillor Mike Brooks for his diligent attendance at our meetings where he is also to offer much support and advice from a county councillors perspective. His presence is much appreciated. 

I must also lament the loss of accountability at district level by our Boston Borough councillors and the local police who I think have not attended our regular planned meetings over the last year and indeed in the case of the councillors do not even bother to send their apologies anymore. This is a sorry state of affairs. 

We do however after the local elections have two new Boston borough councillors, Stuart Evans and Susannah Welberry and we look forwards to working with them over the next four years. I conclude by saying that on a personal note If elected chairman for another year I look forwards to working with the parish councillors and clerk as we collectively do our bit to better our local community. 

4. Financial report: 
The council’s current a/c balances are as of 01st April are: 
Sanatnder a/c 2103.95 Nat West Bus Reserve 2927.38 Nat West Current a/c 100.00 Balance At Bank: 5131.33
The internal audit has been completed and no problems where found. I have the records with me if anyone wishes to look at them. They can be made available at any time, should you want to view them outside of the meetings. The council is financially stable and meeting all its legal obligations. 

5. Any other business – None
The meeting closed at 7.42 pm 
Signed by chairman:………………………………….00May 2024