2025 Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 29th July 2025 commencing 7:00pm.

 

Those Present: Councillors T Wright (Chair), M Turner, K Beedham, T Bentham, R Dannatt, E Darwood, S Knight, M Soar

In Attendance: Cllr, Bierley, Cllr A Lawrence, Cllr J Bean and 1 member of the public 

1. To receive apologies and reasons for absence – Ref 25/114 – none

2. To receive dispensations and declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of interest - Ref 25/115 

Cllr Wright asked if Cllr S Knight had declared being a trustee of the Alice South charity as an interest.  Cllr Knight confirmed that she had not.

A brief overview was given on Angel Gowns which provides funeral garments out of wedding dresses and specialise in garments for little ones. They are in the process of registering as a charity and work closely with funeral directors and Grimsby hospital.   The group started with 3 people and now they have 350 volunteers across the UK.  The group are looking for funding so clerk to email grant application.

Cllr Wright said that there had been a positive meeting with Cllr Bean, and the arborist from Lincolnshire County Council.  Approval has been given to remove the self-set trees on South Street.  Cllr Turner to advise the resident.  The arborist agreed that the trees on Riby Road needed pollarding but unfortunately this request has not been supported as they have not been deemed as unsafe and there is no money in the budget for a routine program for pollarding healthy trees.  Cllr Bean to pursue this.  Cllr Bean shared the planned street works that are to be carried out. Cllr Wright noted that Victoria Road was not on the list, so this is to be followed up. Cllr Bean advised that there is a QR code to scan in the County News to complete a questionnaire on the local government organisation.

The report from Cllr Bierley had previously been circulated. West Lindsey also has a consultation on the local government organisation.  Cllr Bierley advised that the planning for the solar farm will be decided on locally so encouraged everyone to comment on the application.  Cllr Bierley reported that the Keelby Gala was a huge success.  Cllr Soar confirmed that it made a profit of around £1200.

A post has been made on Facebook which has not resulted in anyone coming forward.  Cllr Wright asked if councillors could give some thought to this and if possible, encourage their acquaintances to join the council.  

It was proposed, seconded and resolved that these minutes are a true record of the meeting and were signed by the Chairman. 

The clerks contractual pay award from 1st April 2025 has been released. The chair signed the form to implement this. The budget for this year had estimated a 8.9% increase in staff costs from last year to take into account pay increases for both the clerk and handyman and the change in employers NI from 1st April 2025.  

A burial for a resident outside the parish had been approved by council and has now taken place.  Cllr Wright thanked everyone for responding to this quickly.  

The gala had been covered previously but Cllr Wright thought that the gala should be more community based and would have liked the parish council to have more involvement.  Cllr Soar who had organised it this year on behalf of the Health Tree Foundation agreed that it worked well last year working with other organisations.  It was generally felt that if local organisations could benefit as well, it would work well and reduce the workload of the Health Tree Foundation in organising it.

KSA Representative - Cllr Dannatt confirmed that he would continue as the KSA representative.

Mirror for Cissplatt Lane junction - Cllr Dannatt confirmed that he will install this

The basal growth cuttings are still at the sportsground which need disposing of.  Clerk had requested a price for a company to chip the growth, but they had come back to say it wasn’t chippable.   Clerk to speak to A&L machinery to see if he can hire us a chipper to do it.  Cllr Bean to ask if this cost can be claimed back from LCC.  The other alternative would be to have a skip.

The clerk advised that she had followed up regarding the new notice board and had been advised that construction of it had been ceased until the exact location had been confirmed.  

Clerk to arrange a meeting with the contractor as there is no reason why it cannot be installed as soon as it is completed.

Clerk has written to the Mayor and Stagecoach regarding a bus route to Immingham.

The clinical services at Keelby were discussed.  Parish Council update number 7 has been issued around this and advised residents to insist on an appointment at Keelby if they are unable to travel to Immingham.  Cllr Wright advised that he had attended a PPG meeting, and the latest update is that a doctors attend Monday and Wednesday but on Monday they are only triaging, and, on a Wednesday, they are doing the face-to-face services.  They are saying the appointment slots are now being filled.  Cllr Wright has asked them for more comprehensive data for us to make a proper assessment. An email has been received from a pharmacy asking if there were any available properties as they were wanting to come into the village.  Councillors felt that a pharmacy in the village would be good for residents and although they don’t know of any vacant properties, they would support it. The best result would be if the Roxton Practice could provide a pharmacy as they do in Immingham and Grimsby.  It was agreed that the village should be consulted on whether they would support a pharmacy opening in the village.

The payment schedule was checked by Cllr T Bentham. It was resolved to approve the payments.  Cllr T Wright signed as Chair

Invoice

01/07/25     Fuel Genie                                     Fuel for June                                       £80.72

03/07/25     Lewis Gas & Plumbing Services   Taps for cemetery & Sports Pavilion    £960.00

03/07/25    Right Action Ltd                              Servicing of fire extinguishers              £69.60

03/06/25    E-on Next                                        Energy Kiosk electricity June              £9.45

04/07/25    J H Bacon Ltd                                 Allotment Rent                                     £200.00

15/07/25    eBay                                               Mirror                                                   £20.95

30/07/25    Staff Costs                                     July                                                      £1497.74

29/07/25    A&L Machinery                              Call out & repair to mower                   £145.00

The review of the asset register is in progress

• Public Seating area on village green – Cllr Turner has marked out the area and is currently getting prices for the pathways and seating bases. 

• Parking restrictions in village – the latest plan has had the yellow lines removed in front of the church.  We have requested these yellow lines on 3 previous occasions so a reply will be sent confirming this.  Parking outside cemetery – the gates should be clear from yellow lines. Yellow lines at the school – these are correct.

• Community Speed Watch – A session was held on the 11th July in support of the national CSW day.  177 cars were checked, 18 of which were speeding.  Unfortunately, the police were unable to support us on this day as they didn’t have the resources.  Cllr Wirght thanked Cllr Darwood for helping.  The speed sign near the Co-op has been returned to the manufacturers for repair after a LCC contractor backed into the lamp post that it was on and broke it. 

• Approve contractors for memorial stone testing and cleaning and re-lettering of the cenotaph – Clerk has previously shared 3 quotes for topple testing of the memorial stones and 5 quotes for the cleaning of the cenotaph.  Clerk recommended Supplier 3 as they would do both and were within budget.  Supplier 3 charged £4 a stone with £250 administration fee.  £2 would be charged for any unsafe memorials to place tape and notice on the stone.  The cenotaph refurbishment would be £1613.  It was proposed and seconded that we go with supplier 3.  A vote was taken - 7 in favour and 1 abstained

• Mobile vendors in village – A Facebook post had been done asking for residents’ views on inviting mobile food vendors to the village.  This was well received by residents, so it was proposed that we go ahead with this.  It was proposed that we speak to the pubs regarding a food event.  Cllr Beedham agreed to lead on this.

• Update on Alice South Charity – Cllr Knight had previously circulated a balance sheet for the charity.  Cllr Wright suggested that the donation descriptives should be removed for confidentiality and asked for a revised sheet to be re-issued to the clerk without them.  At the last meeting it was proposed that we write to the trustees to request that the charity is advertised to residents. This was done and the response back said that they can confirm that the Charity Commissioners in 1990 informed the Council that they have the right to nominate Trustees, as it has done in the past, BUT these do not have to be sitting Councillors. This is the only role the council has in relation to the Charity. There is no responsibility/accountability for overseeing the Charity mentioned in these documents, but they do believe a working relationship would be beneficial. The clerk asked Cllr Knight if she could share a copy of all the documents as the parish council’s copy could not be found. Cllr Knight said that she would ask the other trustees. This will be discussed further when the supporting documentation is received.

• Sports Association – Cllr M Turner said that there was very little to report.  There have been cricket and football tournaments which were very successful.  A repair has been done to the back shutter door which was paid for by the football club.  Cllr Dannatt reported that the emergency lighting had been tested.  There are 3 lights which need replacing to enable us to get the certificate.  Some of the outside lights are not working.  Cllr Wright confirmed that the outside lights are on the same timer as the car park lights.  It would be useful to have the ones down the side working near the kitchen door.  Cllr Dannatt is obtaining prices to sort the bin store area.  The fire alarm test is to be done.  Cllr Dannatt is also getting prices for an upgrade on the boiler.

• Village Hall – Cllr Bentham reported that the next meeting would be in September

• Library & Youth Club – The library is doing well. The youth club is gong from strength to strength and looking to open on an additional night.  There is also to be a summer club running over the holidays.  

The hedges on Victoria Road have now been cut back by the residents. The footpath down this road is narrowing.  Cllr Bean to follow this up with Lincolnshire County Council.

The overgrown hedge on Suddle Way has now been trimmed back.

An email has been received regarding people parking on footpaths.  This is a problem all round the village and unfortunately there is very little we can do about it.  It was agreed that we could do a general update on this.  Cllr Soar to mention it to our PCSO.

An email has been received suggesting that the planters are removed from the cenotaph railings.  L Drakes confirmed that the planters actually belong to Brightening Keelby and that they have some plans for them, but nothing has been finalised yet.  L Drakes confirmed that Brightening Keelby is to be disbanded.  It was agreed to leave the planters on the railings for the time being.  It was suggested that we could look for sponsors for the planters.  

A resident had asked about the watering cans at the cemetery as one had gone missing.  Clerk to purchase a replacement.  

A business in the village had asked if an advertisement sign could be placed at the entrance to the village.  Cllr Bean advised that Highways are not keen on this, but permission would have to be obtained from them.

The appeal for WL/2024/00050 has been rejected for the land off Mill Lane.  

Application WL/2025/00667 for the solar farm on land off Stallingborough Road – a response is required on this. The council were not in support of this but there were no councillors who had time to do the response within the time restraints.

14. Items for consideration at the next meeting – Ref 25/127 - none

Tuesday 2nd September at 19:00 in the Village Hall.  

The meeting closed at 20:57