24th June 2026 DRAFT
Minutes of Mareham le Fen Parish Council meeting 24th June 2026 at 7.00pm
held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre
Present: Cllrs D.Walby (Chair), M.Walby, O.Marshall, N.Marshall, H. Poulton, C.Robinson, G.Fisher.
Not Present: C.Poulsen.
Clerk: A. Everard
Members of Public present: One
70/26. Welcome by the Chair
Cllr G.Fisher signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office
The Chair welcomed all present and proceeded to the business of the meeting.
71/26. Apologies for absence with reason given
C.Poulsen gave a reason for not being present.
72/26. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations. Councillors are reminded that they must complete a Register of Interests for themselves and any partner within 28 days of election/ co-option and also have a duty to amend their register within 28 days of a change in circumstances to be submitted to the Clerk.
None
73/26. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 20th May 2026.
Proposed Cllr O.Marshall, seconded Cllr M.Walby and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt. The Chair signed the minutes.
74/26. Matters arising from the minutes of 20th May 2026 and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.
Minute 62/26 ELDC requested where the parish council wanted bins. Councillors wanted to see bins located on Watery Lane (near the bench), Church Walk (bench) and one near the new Gleeson’s Estate.
75/26. To consider the Annual Governance and Accounting Return 2025-26 for submission by 30th June 2026.
a) To receive, consider and approve cash book income and expenditure 2025-26 statements and asset register for publication.
Noted and it is to be published.
b) To receive the Annual Internal Audit Report and approve publication.
Noted the audit report and it is to be published.
c) To receive, consider and approve the Annual Governance Statement 2025-26 and for the Chair and Clerk to sign.
After consideration of each assertion read out by the Chair all were ‘Yes’ except assertion 7 which was ‘No’. The Chair proposed, seconded Cllr O. Marshall and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement and the Chair and Clerk signed the form and it is to be published.
d) To receive, consider and approve the bank reconciliation, variance analysis and the Annual Accounting Statement 2025-26 and if approved for the Chair to sign.
The chair proposed, Cllr O.Marshall seconded and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement and the Chair signed the document and it is to be published.
e) To approve the dates of electors’ rights to be exercised Monday 29th June – Friday 7th August 2025.
The Chair proposed, Cllr M.Walby seconded and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve these dates.
f) To approve the Certificate of Exemption (if applicable) and publication of documents on the parish council’s website to meet obligations specified in the Transparency Code and Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.
Councillors considered the draft document and if external audit was appropriate and it was proposed by the Chair, seconded by Cllr N.Marshall to approve the Certificate of Exemption and it was unanimously RESOLVED.
76/26. To consider the correspondence from LCC Highways regarding the signs to St Helen’s Church.
LCC Highways have written about the brown signs pointing to St Helen’s Church on Watery Lane approved in Minute 7 14th February 2001 to advise that they are unauthorised and unless the PCC or parish council apply to licence suitable signs the current unauthorised signs will be removed in August. Council noted that the Clerk had notified the PCC and it was their responsibility to decide if they wished to obtain a licence for approved signs.
77/26. To approve any training sessions required.
Cllr G.Fisher – councillors’ induction.
78/26. To consider items for the next ordinary meeting on Wednesday 15th July 2026.
Co-option, ongoing responsibility for play equipment, enforcement action to remove the spoil next to new Gleeson’s Estate, speed limit signs confusion entering the village.