Minutes 2025

Draft Minutes July 2025

Holland Fen with Brothertoft Parish Council

 

Minutes of the Holland Fen with Brothertoft Parish Council Meeting held at Holland Fen Village Hall on Tuesday the 22nd of July at 7.30pm

 

Present: Councillors – Chairman Paul Anderson, Vice Chairman Nigel Early, Mark Leggott, Edward Cawdron, Peter Robinson, Alan Dring, Mike Johnson and David Ball. Parish Clerk – Lynn Ottaviano. No members of public present.

 

  1. Welcome by the Chairman, no public participation.
  2. Apologies received for Cllr Evans who has a prior engagement and Cllr Welberry for family reasons.
  3. No declarations of interest nor requests for dispensations received.
  4. The draft minutes from the meeting held on the 27th of May approved by the council and signed by the Chairman as official minutes.
  5. To receive update on Parish Liaison meeting attend by Cllrs Leggott and Cannon. Cllr Leggott kindly shared notes from the meeting as summarised below:
  • Trial of skips being provided, initially in larger villages but if successful to be rolled out to smaller villages. One skip per month to a different village each month.
  • Report from neighbourhood policing states there are now 4 Community Beat Officers and 10 PCSOs. Rural crime issues include nuisance vehicles such as mini motorbikes, several of which have been seized by the police. Also, theft of tractors, ride-on motors and livestock. Police will try and attend more Parish Council meetings if possible.
  • £20 million is available for rejuvenation of Boston town centre.
  • Update on food waste bins: starting in 2026, will be collected weekly to reduce food waste and be used to produce energy.
  • Next meeting on 23rd October at 7pm, Cllr Cawdron to attend.
  1. Clerk’s report on matters outstanding:

6.1 The Clerk reported that £100 had been deposited into the Santander savings account to prevent the account becoming dormant. Santander mandate signed by Cllrs Leggott and Robinson to allow Clerk access to the bank statements.

  1. The Clerk reported that she has made some improvements to the website to make it easier to access information; further improvements to be made.
  1. No reports from outside bodies or local organisations.
  2. General correspondence:
  • Clerk mentioned the Police briefing meeting on Teams on the 18th of September; Clerk to find out time and email Councillors.
  • Discussion amongst councillors about the Grimsby to Walpole project and the positioning of pylons on farmland. Established that the land around Brothertoft church is private and nothing to do with the council; Clerk to inform Dalcour Maclaren.
  • Clerk has received correspondence about a previous enquiry about a parcel locker scheme. No interest to Parish Council, will forward email to village hall.
  • Recent internal audit found an overpayment of £126.60 to previous clerk due to HMRC mix-up. Councillors agreed that Clerk should request this money back; Clerk to email previous clerk.
  1. Highway matters.
  • Subsidence on Forty Foot Bank is worsening.
  • There is a pothole on Gill Bridge.
  • Punchbowl Lane sign requires attention.
  • Cars jumping lights on Langrick Bridge, Clerk to look into who to contact.
  1. No comments on planning applications.
  2. To approve payments:

11.1 Clerk’s wages and expenses. Discussion about amount of Clerk’s expenses; council agreed to keep to current allowance. Payment of wages and expenses approved and signed by Cllrs Early and Ball.

11.2 Payment to HMRC approved and cheque signed by Cllrs Early and Ball.

11.3 Auditor’s cheque for £65 approved and cheque signed by Cllrs Early and Ball.

  1. Items for next agenda
  • Update on future of Brothertoft Church; Clerk to contact K. Phoenix.
  • Clerk to find out the cost of a dog litter bin and emptying of said bin.
  1. Next meeting will be on the 23rd of September from 7pm at Brothertoft Village Hall.

 

Signed:

 

Dated: