May 2025 Minutes (Annual Meeting)
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON FRIDAY 2ND MAY 2025 IN SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL 6.10pm
10)APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR -
a) Cllr R Walker informed the councillors that he was willing, if required, to stand for another term of office and Cllr R Walker was duly elected to the position of chair. The vote was unanimous.
b) The councillors decided, after discussion, that no vice-chair would be elected.
c)Cllr R Walker duly signed the declaration of office.
11)Councillors code of conduct forms signed. To be submitted to WLDC at The Guildhall by Cllr R Walker
12)PRESENT - Cllr R Walker (Chair), Cllr S Walker (Acting clerk and RFO)
Cllr H Alexander, Cllr Y Huddleston, Cllr K Ibbeson
13)APOLOGIES - Received from District Councillor K Carless
14)PUBLIC SESSION - No public present.
15)REPORTS FROM DISTRICT/COUNTY COUNCILLORS – None present
16)DECLARATION OF INTERESTS - It was agreed that both Cllr R Walker and Cllr K Ibbeson would be allowed to talk on and vote on any matters concerning the village hall. Cllr S Walker, due to being chair of the VHMC, would be allowed to talk on matters concerning the village hall but no vote would be allowed.
17)Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 3rd April 2025 were agreed to represent a true record of the proceedings
18)FINANCE - It was agreed to pay the following - Mr Williams (grass cutting) £180 and Mr Brooks £285 for the auditing of the accounts.
19)BANKING UPDATE - Bank statements were circulated and duly signed. It was further agreed that Cllr S Walker (Acting clerk and RFO) would, in future, make all payments necessary from the bank account and Cllr Huddleston would approve these. Cllr R Walker would only take part in these transactions, when necessary, i.e. Illness/holiday of authorised councillors
20)AUDIT UPDATE - All accounts audited by Mr Brooks .All accounting was now correct. Sections 1 to 2 the accounting schedules were read out and circulated by Cllr R Walker and all councillors agreed that all was correct. All other sections approved.
Whether the accounts will be audited in 6 months or 1 years’ time to be decided later. Pension regulator updated.
21)VILLAGE HALL - It was decided that a sum of money would be available to the VHMC for refurbishment of the playground. Which direction this would take to be decided when more information becomes available from the VHMC.
22)PINFOLD UPDATE - Cllr Alexander stated that replanting would take place during the last week of May and this would include replanting the conifers onto open ground.
23)ORCHARD UPDATES - Cllr Alexander stated that once Mr Williams had cut the approach (first entrance) the saplings would be planted in that area. It was decided, after a discussion, that a “wild patch” would be left in the area for the benefit of wildlife.
24)DISTRICT COUNCILLOR/PARISH COUNCILLOR SURGERY - This took place at the village hall on the 8th of April but, unfortunately, no members of the public attended. It was suggested that no further surgeries take place. To be confirmed with District Cllr. Carless.
25)SEAT ON BECK LANE - The seat has been delivered and positioned in the location agreed. Cllr Huddleston stated that some sand levelling would be needed prior to the anti-weed membrane and pebbles/stones being placed underneath the seat.
26)VE DAY - It was agreed, following a suggestion by Cllr R Walker, that a plaque would be obtained to be placed on the Beck Lane seat to commemorate VE Day. A budget of £20 was agreed.
27)COUNCILLORS REPORTS - Cllr Alexander asked if any feedback had been received from WLDC regarding the planning application submitted by Blyton racetrack. Nothing has been received. Most parishioners who replied to the Facebook poll on the noise levels from the track agreed that it would probably be of insufficient decibels to warrant further action by the authorities.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING THURSDAY 5TH JUNE 2025 6PM SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL