2025 Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Mareham le Fen Parish Council meeting 5th February 2025 at 4.45pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

Present: Cllrs M.Percival (Chair), L. Thomas (Vice Chair), C.Whiley

Not Present: All present.

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: None

Public Forum

No issues raised

1/25. Welcome by the Chair of the Council

The Chair thanked the parish councillors for attending as it has been so difficult to hold a quorate meeting at a time to suit us all with so few parish councillors all with other life and work commitments.

2/25.  Apologies for absence with reason given

None. All present.

3/25. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None.  Noted that Cllr Whiley had completed her Register of Interests Declaration.

4/25. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 20th November 2024 and to note the Clerk’s Report.

Proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Whiley and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the minutes of 20th November 2024. 

Minute 74/24 - The Clerk informed the council that LIVES were withdrawing the defibrillator guardianship scheme so would not renew the Tumby Woodside defibrillator agreement and would not take on new agreements. Checks would have to be undertaken by the council and other volunteers. Minute 96/24 – request for community orchard trees appeared to be unsuccessful in 2024 but can be reconsidered in 2025 if LCC make the offer available again.

5/25.  To consider and approve financial matters

a) To approve expenditure on the payments schedule.

Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED to approve the payments on the following payments schedule.

b) To note the bank statement balances and bank reconciliation.

Councillors noted Current account £8524.28 and Deposit £24,332.10 as at 31/1/2025 with no uncashed cheques.

c) To consider the budget 2025/26.

Debate focussed on additional spending expected on three new Speed Indicator Devices and installation of poles to support them, building the reserves to obtain planning permission for the cemetery extension, undertaking the necessary groundwork to make it usable as a burial ground including additional pathways, another item will include flower displays and the tubs for supporting the In Bloom competition at key points in the village and increased contractor’s grass-cutting grounds maintenance costs during 2025-26.  

d) To consider the precept 2025/26.

Precept would need to increase 22% for 2025-26 in cash terms to meet additional budgetary pressures outlined in the previous minute 5/25c.  Proposed Cllr Whiley, seconded Cllr Percival and unanimously approved RESOLVED precept to be collected through Council Tax will be £19,205. 

The taxbase of Band D properties in the parish for 2025-26 is 366 which has increased from 343 for the 2024-25 financial year to 366 as the new houses are built so this will collect the precept from more properties.  The estimated amounts appearing on Council Tax bills in respect of Mareham le Fen Parish Council will be £52.47 per Band D property (£6.85 a year increase which is an increase of 15%). The Band A property rate will be £34.98 (a £4.57 a year increase which is an increase of 15%). All council tax billing figures were indicative estimates as all billing decisions are taken by East Lindsey District Council. 

6/25. To consider creation of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and its Terms of Reference.

It was noted that the parish council needs to meet four times a year including the annual meeting of the parish council in May.  Parish Council Committees may meet more flexibly and most aspects can be set by the council.  Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas unanimously approved RESOLVED to create a Finance and General Purposes Committee and its Terms of Reference with a quorum of two while the number of parish councillors is below five members were adopted.

7/25. To consider amendments to Financial Regulations and delegated powers.

Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED to amend the Financial Regulations paragraphs 4.1 and 4.5 to increase the delegated spending amount to £750. 

8/25. To consider applications for cemetery memorials.

Memorial for Blacoe needs an amendment to read clearer so delegate to Clerk to sort this with William Kent Memorials.  The additional inscription onto the existing  memorial for Turner and relocation between the couple’s neighbouring grave plots was debated. Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED to approve the memorials subject to the suggested amendments for Blacoe memorial delegated to the Clerk to approve.

9/25. To consider and approve purchase of Speed Indicator Device poles in Mareham le Fen.

Cost of £200 per pole for three locations debated. Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Whiley and unanimously approved RESOLVED to authorise the purchase and installation in locations A155 west end near to village name sign, A155 east end just East of Revesby Corner junction and A155 central point opposite Sunny View as recommended by Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.

10/25. To approve date of Annual Parish Meeting, future ordinary meetings of the Parish Council 2025 and dates of committee meetings.

Annual Parish Meeting – Wednesday 16th April 2024 6.30pm followed by a parish council/committee meeting and unanimously approved RESOLVED the date is approved and may be publicised.

11/25.  Training Bookings to be approved.

Cllr Whiley – Planning Introduction 11/2/2025 6.30pm (2hrs)

Cllr Percival – National Planning Policy Framework Update – 24/2/2025 6pm (1hr).

12/25. Date of the next meeting and items to be added to the agenda.Thursday 6th March 4.45pm Finance and General Purposes Committee if required.

Meeting ended 5.17pm.