Notes - 28th May 2024
4 members of public present at the meeting
Notes
1. Minutes of the last meeting (18th May 2023)
The minutes were approved as a true record to the meeting.
2. Annual report from the Parish Council Chairperson
Well, it’s been an absolute rollercoaster of a year for the parish!
Firstly, thanks to The Three Horseshoes and Goulceby All Saints Church for letting us use their premises for our meetings during the year, otherwise we would be using the bus shelter!
Secondly, I would like to thank Ian and Graham for completing their first year as Parish Councillors and also Diane who came in as our new Clerk a year ago too, keeping us on the straight and narrow!
Despite a number of appeals in the village newsletter we still only just have a quorum at the Council and have three vacancies. So, if anyone feels that they want a new exciting life-changing experience please contact the Clerk who will be more than willing to sign you up (sorry, there’s no money in it)!
We have also asked local residents, through the newsletter, what they would like the Parish Council to focus on in terms of helping improve or influence change in aspects of the villages and surrounding area. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive any suggestions and as such there is no current parish plan in existence.
As a Council we are very constrained by finance (aren’t we all). We saw a number of increases in areas outside our control which meant that we have had to increase the local precept to cover these. About 83% of our precept (which is about £3,400 a year) goes on admin’ costs required to operate the council and its statutory requirements leaving very little for anything else. However, we did manage to replace an old decrepit wooden notice board next to the community shelter in Goulceby with a 100% grant from East Lindsey District Council which was facilitated by Daniel Simpson (District Councillor). Our thanks go to him for his help with that.
One milestone was the re-opening on the Horncastle Road after months of closure and recognition goes to the protected badgers for causing all that disruption!
The flooding that took place in October had quite a serious impact on a number of properties in Goulceby, and we saw the ford go from its usual depth of about six inches to over seven feet! As a parish council we actually have very little influence over decisions that are taken relating to flood defences and flood control and we sincerely hope that these ‘once in a lifetime’ events do not become more frequent.
I would like to mention that there is an ‘open gardens’ event taking place on 2nd June around Goulceby. So, if you are able to take part, please do so.
It is also worth mentioning that fund raising for improvements at Goulceby All Saints Church by a hard-working group has been quite successful and some work has now been carried out. The efforts of the fundraisers are to be acknowledged and congratulated.
That’s probably all I want to say other than thank you for attending.
There is time now for anyone to raise any issues relevant to the parish.
3. Open forum for residents to put forward ideas for improvements for the village and discuss issues important to residents – one:
Quickline used as a service provider for Broadband – 2 Councillors advised positive feedback to the resident and have been very satisfied.
Meeting Closed at 7.15pm