2024 Annual Parish Meeting

Present:

Chair:

Cllr John Papworth (Vice-Chair of Bardney Group Parish Council)

Councillors:

Cllr Frank Bates, Cllr Julie Hill, Cllr Ken Hutchinson, Cllr Ruth Lane, Cllr Keith Laughton, Cllr Barry Newlove, Cllr Deborah O’Sullivan, Cllr Barry Percival and Cllr Sam Wright

In attendance:

Eddie Findlay (Locum Clerk and RFO)

1.

To consider for approval as Minutes, the notes of the 2023 Annual Parish Meeting of Electors.
Action:  Those present RESOLVED that the notes of the 2023 Annual Parish Meeting of Electors be accepted as minutes and a true record of that meeting.
Proposed by Papworth and approved unanimously.

2.

Chairman’s Report.
Cllr Papworth, acting as Chair, read out a statement with regard to St. Oswalds Field.  It was not his intention to spend time at this meeting to discuss the matter as it was an ongoing agenda item, and any decision would be made in an open and transparent manner.  Records/deeds etc. were being investigated to what if any covenants on the ongoing use of the land were stipulated.  Any help in locating these documents would be greatly appreciated and once all these details are known a cost-effective poll could be considered to ascertain the wishes of local residents.

3.

Accounts for organisations linked to Bardney Group Parish Council.
The Chair reported that as far as he was aware, there were no organisations with accounts currently linked to Bardney Group Parish Council.

4.

Presentation of Awards for The Rogers Shield and Community Champion Certificates.

The Rogers Shield - Awarded to the Bardney Cemetery Improvement Group.

Following the publication of a less than complimentary article regarding the poor condition of the Cemetery, it was decided to form Bardney Cemetery Improvement Team, with the approval of the Parish Council.

Jobs undertaken have included the unearthing of over 120 hidden memorial vases and the restoration (cleaning, lifting and levelling) of a number of memorial headstones.  Monies for these, and similar tasks have been raised by fund raising projects and donations of specifics items such as slabs for the bases for memorial headstones.

Current Team Members
Margaret Sankey - Treasurer & fund raising organiser
Wendy Knowles - Joint Treasurer & fund raiser
Angela Marshall - Fund raiser & working party
Jonathan Sankey  - Foreman of the working party
Steve Otter & John Marshall – working party
Tony Green – Honorary team member.

Community Champions Certificates

Helen Waby, presented by Cllr Laughton
Helen is certainly more than a Postal Delivery agent.  She is also involved in much wider groups and organisations in the community, and always happy to lend assistance and help.

Church Food Bank, presented by Cllr Hutchinson.
Harry Jeffrey had been invited to collect the Certificate on behalf of the Church Food Bank.

Richard Swallow, presented by Cllr Newlove.
Richard was recognised for his continual endeavours in keeping the residents of Bardney dry.  Unbeknownst to many people, Richard patrolled the riverbanks, keeping them clean and tidy and reporting any issues to the relevant authorities.

Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club, presented by Cllr Bates.

Martin Hare was invited to collect the Certificate on behalf of the Bardney branch.

The AFVBC provides a welcoming space and support for all branches of the military, both serving and veterans, to meet and chat and have a good breakfast.

They also provide access to support networks where required.  The AFVBC has grown to not only include UK, but also international clubs.  Bardney branch members regularly visit other local branches.

Donna’s Animal Rescue, presented by Cllr Hill
Donna's Animal Rescue is a non profit organisation, solely run by Donna Johnson and Rob Johnson, had been invites to collect the Certificate on behalf of the Rescue.

All funds are raised by attending and holding craft fairs and selling second-hand goods that have been donated by crafters and the public.  Every penny raised goes towards the animals upkeep.

They rescue only caged animals, rabbits, Guinea pigs, rats, mice and try to find adopted homes for the animals.  They have been established for 7 years, they make visits in the community, nursing homes and care homes with their animals and give talks.

Parent & Toddler Group, presented by Cllr Barry Percival
Laura Shields, Kim Dove, Carol Halford, KLC provide events and facilities locally through fund raising and grant funds.

5.

Items raised by the public.
MOP 1 – asked where the Chair, Cllr Fleetwood was.  It was explained that due to a family bereavement he was unable to attend.

Rev Harry Jeffery wished to inform those present that the IX Sqn Commemorative window was under construction, having been approved by Faculty.  It was planned to dedicate the window during the Service on Remembrance Sunday. Air Chief Marshall Peach was coming to attend the dedication.

MOP 2 – asked what if any Community Speed Watch events had been held and if so, what percentage of drivers had been recorded speeding.  Cllr Papworth explained that due to other priorities, no Team had been set up.  No volunteers had come forward to assist.

MOP 3 – asked why the Precept had been increased by an above inflation amount, when there was a little over £40,000.00 held in the bank.  Cllr Hutchinson explained that following external consultation Council should hold a slightly higher reserve and had raised the Precept accordingly to cover such things as exhumation and an Election.  This was questioned by the MOP and he asked his question again, to which Cllr Hutchinson re-iterated his response.

MOP 4 – asked why it was taking so long to post notes of meetings on the website after meetings and why it was taking so long for email replies to be received.
Cllr Lane responded that Mr Findlay was acting as a locum Clerk and was only contracted to 12 hours, but the MOP felt he was waiting too long from a response.
*  Post meeting note – the phone call was received at 2:47pm on Friday 03-May-2024.  The office was closed as of noon on Friday.  Upon returning to the office on at 2:00pm on Tuesday 07-May-2024, the voicemail was replied to at 2:26pm.

MOP 5 – asked if the District Councillor could hold an open surgery.  This would be put to Cllr Fleetwood.

Rev Harry Jeffery, on behalf of St Lawrence Church wished to thank the Village Handyman, Mr John Major, for all his hard working in maintaining the closed churchyard in such a high standard and wished to thank you the Parish Council for their continued support in allowing the use of the Green for outdoor services such as Carols on the Green etc.  He felt it would be better if the village, pulled together, rather than bickering about minor issues and giving a general negative feeling.

MOP 2 – queried the ongoing issue of double yellow lines outside the Post Office as LCC had no correspondence on the matter.

MOP 6 – queried the signing of some cheques re miscellaneous payments.  Cllr Laughton advised that following the LALC review, it was suggested by them to await the outcome of the Internal and External Audit.  These had been carried out and no irregularities had been noted by either.

MOP 2 – asked whether an Emergency Flood Plan was in place.  Cllr Papworth reported that Bardeny was not classed as a flood risk by LCC, and as such, at present, one was not required.

MOP 7 – asked if a local community flood group could be formed.  There was no reason why local residents couldn’t get together and the Council could assist in this area.

MOP 3 – asked that the Parish Council give an undertaking to provide community events in the coming 12 months.  He also stated that Cllr Fleetwood, if he had been in attendance, should not be Chairing, or answering questions, as the Annual Parish Meeting was a meeting for ‘electors’ and he was not on the Electoral Register.
Cllr Laughton responded that it was the intention of the Council to help organise a community event and that a Christmas Market/.Christmas lights switch on, on the Green was being investigated, in conjunction with local groups and organisations.
Cllr Lane gave a precis on why the previously held St Oswald’s Day event had been cancelled, citing that the Temporary Events Licence previously used could not be used more than twice and insufficient information was being provided by the organising committee.

MOP 8 – spoke in favour of the whole village working together, rather than constant bickering about petty issues and continual backstabbing.  They spoke passionately about village life and working together to make the village great.  This was met with vocal support from many of the members of public present.

MOP 3 – proposed that the Council give an undertaking to act as a conduit to bring groups together to hold a community event in the coming year.  The was seconded and vote by the majority in the room.

The meeting closed at 8:00pm

Signature:

Printed Name:

Date:

06-May-2025