2021 Meetings

NORTH SCARLE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Minutes of the Meeting held on

12 May 2021 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall

Cllr David Jennings (Chairman) welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 15th May 2019 were signed as a true record.  There was no Parish Meeting in 2020 due to Covid 19.

Councillor Jennings read out his Report for 2020/21

This has been an interesting and eventful year for the Parish Council as the Covid 19 virus continues to disrupt everyday life.

I was elected as Chairman and Sue Walsh as Vice Chairman while sitting in front of computers and most of our meetings have been to the same format.  Unfortunately, this use of either ‘Zoom’ or ‘Teams’ has reduced the number of members of the public attending but as we gradually return to normality, we hope to see more parishioners at our face-to-face meetings.

Our Parish Council office had to be vacated due to the sale of the Methodist Hall and again due to Covid this caused a number of problems.

Now I would like to thank Hayley Broderick our Clerk for her unfailing support and advice through the year which has had more than its fair share of queries and problems and now for dealing with Parish Council work from her home.

Thank you also to all our Parish Councillors, particularly Vice-Chairman Sue who ably took over the Sewer Working Party.  Sue will give an update in the main Parish Council meeting later.

Thank you also to County Councillor Mike Thompson and District Councillor Peter Overton for their support of the Parish Council.

A big thank you must also be given to the organisers and volunteers of the Covid 19 Support Group who not only delivered prescriptions to shielding people but also did shopping and ran errands for those in need.

Another thank you to the ladies and helpers of the Women’s Institute who have worked hard to improve the ‘Pinfold’ and will carry on with a planting scheme to further enhance the area.

Finally, a thank you to all the volunteers who have helped the Parish Council in some way throughout the year.

One of our Parish Councillors, Robert Cobb, resigned in December but I am pleased to report that Richard Pullen joined the Parish Council in March this year.

During the year, the Parish Council has taken on two ‘Handymen’ and they have worked hard on various projects, moving the Notice Board to its new location by the Post Office, repair of the church hedge etc., and I am sure we will find more for them in the future.  One has also taken on the task of litter picker.

A number of planning applications have been received; some have proved problematic with decision made by a majority and even controversial, but we have tried to give an opinion that is best for the village.

Tenders have been issued for a new surface to part of the cemetery car park and these will be looked at later.

Speeding traffic has been a concern flagged on Facebook and an ‘Archer Survey’ unfortunately proved this to be correct.  I obtained a ‘Smiley Sid’ which at present has been placed on Swinderby Road.  I hope you have been making him smile as another ‘Archer Survey’ is in action at the moment.

The condition of various roads, signage etc. have been an ongoing problem but reporting Highway problems can be done through our Parish Council website which through the heading ‘Report a Highways fault’ links directly to Lincolnshire County Council which leads to ‘Fix My Street’.

With large savings made on various items we were able to reduce the precept for 20 / 21 by £2500.00 thereby reducing the Council Tax charge for Band D by 27.5%. 

There are a number of ongoing matters which will tax us in the future, but I ask that everyone respects other people’s rights as we as a Parish Council respect them.

North Scarle should be a pleasant place to live, let us all strive to make sure it is.

Parish Councillors Susan Walsh reported on the Banks Charity

There are four trustees of the Banks Charity:

Reverend Canon Andrew Vaughan, by virtue of office

Mrs Josie Worrell

Mrs Charlene Dixon

Mrs Susan Walsh appointed by the Parish Council

It is actually The Charity of Hirgo Badger and others:

In 1701, Hirgo Badger bequeathed one house and garden, a close of approximately 4 acres and one close of approximately 11 acres and five pounds ‘to the use of the poor of North Scarle forever.’

The house which became derelict was condemned by the District Council in 1936 and subsequently in 1967 was demolished. The land was sold in 1968 for £425 and the money received was invested in shares of the Charities Official Investment Fund for which investment dividends are received quarterly.

The Banks Charity still holds the assets of the land, which is in the form of two fields, and these are rented out.

Joseph Banks donated £100 in 1827.

At one time the Charity Commissioners required the charity be distributed as gifts of coal or clothing. It was then interpreted that gifts to the poor should be noted as gifts to persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress. The Charity is to help parishioners who have fallen on hard times due to, for example, illness or unemployment. 

Since our last report given by Reverend Canon Andrew Vaughan on 15 May 2019 with a balance of £14,676.57:

Monies have been donated to help purchase school uniforms, travelling costs and childcare costs for hospital visits.

We have also donated money to the school to purchase 6 I- pads to support children’s learning during lockdown.

Rent in since 15 May 2019 £1,100

Interest and dividends £378.96

Total paid out to requests from the Charity £1,755

Balance to date £14,400.53

Roger Honey reported on the Playing Field

Children’s play area has been painted.  Chippings need refreshing.

Restrictions have been lifted on caravans, but only had around 6 pitches taken due to the adverse weather and a small rally was held over a weekend.

The cricket season has started. 

Footballers managed to get a few matches in.

Tennis club has a restricted training scheme for adults and juniors.

Cheques were received over the course of several months from the Covid Restart Grant, totalling approximately £33,000.  Committee now needs to decide how to spend the money – something for the benefit of the whole village.  Suggestions include a new kitchen, solar panels on the roof of the village hall and a purpose-built village hall.

Reverend Andrew Vaughan reported on Church matters

Not a lot happening due to social gathering limits.

Services have been online/Facebook.

Public worship started again before Easter, but Rev Andrew can’t visit all churches due to Covid.  Worship has been restricted to once or twice a month in each church.  Until September North Scarle will have communion on the first Sunday of the month at 10.30am and evening prayer on the third or fourth Sunday of the month at 6.30pm.

Baptisms, weddings and funerals have been limited and pastoral work has been unsatisfactory but have managed as well as possible.

Finances have been affected, approximately £2-3,000 down on previous years.

A pinnacle has been knocked off the church roof and being repaired using a Heritage Grant as it is a Grade I listed building.

Hope to be back to more or less, weekly services from September in the church with a later start time on a Sunday.

There will be changes within the Diocese with Clergy being spread thinner but not sure what this means for North Scarle yet.

One the first Sunday of September to celebrate returning to worship Rev Andrew will conduct all the services in all four churches, running between each church.  This will be a sponsored run from Thorpe on the Hill to Eagle to North Scarle then Swinderby.  PCC members will have sponsorship forms and Rev Andrew will set up an online sponsorship page.

Hopefully will be able to have coffee mornings in the church in the future.

Parishioner comments etc

Parishioner thanked the Parish Council members and Clerk for their hard work on behalf of the parishioners.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.22pm