Annual Parish Meeting Minutes 2025
MINUTES OF THE GRIMOLDBY AND MANBY ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
HELD AT THE PAVILION, GIBSON WAY, GRIMOLDBY
ON WEDNESDAY 21st MAY 2025
Present Councillor T. Knowles (in the chair)
Parish Councillors: T. Vamplew (TV), N. Hind (NH), Mrs. L. Knowles (LK), C. Fairburn (CF) and The Parish Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips were present.
-
Welcome by the Chairman
The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.
-
Minutes of the Grimoldby and Manby Annual Parish Meeting 2024
It was RESOLVED that the notes of the Grimoldby and Manby Annual Parish Meeting which took place on 15th May 2024 should be signed by the Chairman as a correct record of that meeting.
-
Annual Report by the Chairman of the Parish Council
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr. TK informed those present that hard copies of his report were available to view. He ensured that everyone had one which read as follows:
Introduction by the Chairman
It is an honour for me, as Chairman to once again give the Council’s Annual Report.
Council and Committees
Grimoldby and Manby Parish Council has now completed year 2 of a 4-year term. This year it has co-opted 1 Councillor and has seen one Councillor leave. The Council is currently comprised of: Councillors Emma Billings, Michael Bruce, Ant Bunting, Chris Fairburn, Richard Hampton, Noel Hind, Terry Knowles, Linda Knowles, Mike Starsmore and Terry Vamplew. When full, the Council comprises 14 Councillors. Currently there are 4 vacancies.
The Council takes overall responsibility for all decisions but can choose to delegate authority to a Committee or to a Council Officer, it can never delegate authority to a Councillor.
To be more effective, the Council has a Finance Committee which meets to go through the draft budget and makes recommendations to full Council and a Planning Working Group which makes comments on planning applications when ELDC deadlines do not sync with Council meetings. These comments are then ratified by Council at the next opportunity. The purpose of these is to spread the workload and review issues in more detail. Additionally, the Council also appoints a Young People’s Advocate, a Village Hall Representative, a Recreation Representative and a Green Champion.
The Council met on 11 occasions in 2024/25. The Council does not hold a meeting in August. Additionally, the Finance Committee met on 1 occasion in 2024/25.
In 2024/25 the Council continued to object to controversial proposals by National Grid to install pylons from Grimsby to Walpole, one possible route coming very close to the villages. It ensured that the S106 agreement between the developers of a biodigester site on Manby Airfield and LCC contained clauses regarding traffic routing through the village and that a community liaison group would be set up between the developers of the site and interested parties. It responded to proposals regarding the Ossian Wind Farm, Transmission Infrastructure to support those parishes who would be directly affected. It was consulted by ELDC on a Town and Parish Scrutiny survey and it responded to an LCC Rights of Way Improvement Plan survey. It objected strongly to proposals to site a Nuclear Waste Storage Facility in nearby environs.
Planning
The Parish Council is a planning consultee and has no power to approve or refuse applications, it simply gives an opinion. The Planning Authority that determines Planning Applications is East Lindsey District Council.
Grimoldby and Manby Planning Working Group receives all applications by email and members email their comments back to the Clerk and the working group Chairman who collate them. If ELDC’s deadline for comments is before the next meeting of the Council and cannot be extended the comments are submitted to ELDC and those comments are ratified by the Council at the next opportunity. If the next Council meeting is before the deadline for comments the comments are considered by the Council, resolved upon and submitted.
This year the Council considered 14 planning applications as opposed to 15 in 2023/24 and 26 in 2022/23 and in each case the Council decided to support, object or comment. Objections were supported by the relevant planning reasons. In some cases, the Committee’s opinion was conditional. Full details of both our decisions and ELDC’s corresponding decisions are contained on ELDC’s website or can be found in the minutes of this Council. ELDC notified the Council of 14 decisions it had made on planning applications.
The Council also receive notification of road closures/traffic restrictions, proposed works to trees and appeal decisions etc. In 2024/25 the Council received 3 notifications of road closures/traffic restrictions, commented on 4 proposed works to trees and 1 appeal. It was also notified by ELDC that enforcement action was being taken against a local business premises.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee comprises 4 Councillors including the Chairman and Vice Chairman. This Committee has responsibility for examining and monitoring the Council’s expenditure and for considering the setting of the precept each year. In 2024/25 the Committee met to consider budget proposals for recommendation to Council and it resolved to propose that a precept of £21,634.00 be levied in 2025/26 which equated to an increase on 2023/24 of 7% or £1,351.06 and an annual cost to a band d ratepayer of £32.92. (However, the Committee noted that these calculations were based on 2024/25 tax base figures which meant they would decrease further when up to date tax base figures were released by ELDC).
Councillor’s Allowances
Under the provisions of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, Council can resolve to pay its members an allowance. How much is decided by a specialist independent review panel. However, Grimoldby and Manby Parish Councillors choose not to receive an allowance and, therefore, allowance rates for 2024/25 remained at £0.
Members
Members in 2024/25 were: Councillors Bernard Adams (resigned mid year), Mrs. Emma Billings, Michael Bruce, Ant Bunting, Chris Fairburn, Noel Hind, Mrs. Linda Knowles, Terry Knowles, Mike Starsmore, Richard Hampton (co-opted June) and Terry Vamplew.
Grants
In 2024/25 the Council set aside £600 to award in grants, £200 at a time, to successful applicants. Only one application was received and it awarded Grimoldby and Manby Village Hall £200.
General Report
The Council is in a healthy financial position and has set aside money for future projects and to offset future risks, in specified earmarked reserves. It undertook an in depth review of its earmarked reserves this year and resolved to adopt both an Investment Policy and a Reserves Policy. The Council maintains a General Reserve which it can use in case of emergency or for unbudgeted items of expenditure.
Internal Audit reviewed the Council’s Internal Controls for 2023/24 and no concerns were raised. The Council’s Internal Audit for 2024/25 will shortly take place. In June 2024 the Council approved its Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2023/24 and this was submitted to the external auditor for review. In September the External Auditors comments were received. The Council received an unqualified audit.
The Council will receive draft accounts for 2024/25 shortly. Following signing of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return the Financial records of the Council will be open to public inspection for a period of 30 working days. The accounts will be subject to external audit in July 2025 and the Council will formally publish the audited accounts no later than 30th September 2025. The Annual Return will show the actual position and this and other financial information will be posted on the website once approved by Council.
As required, in year, the Council has reviewed its Governance Documents: Financial Regulations, Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, Risk Management Schedule, it’s GDPR policies and its Asset Register. After the introduction of new legislation it also adopted a Sexual and General Harassment Policy. It’s Clerk undertook training in the following areas: Internal Audits, Playpark Inspection, Sexual Harrassment Training, Emergency Planning, Clerks Networking Day, Fire Safety Essentials, Time Management Essentials, Procurement Act 2023, End of Year Audit Process, Allotments and Accelerate Climate Action in your Council. |
In September 2024, in order to safeguard the Council for the future the Council purchased its on laptop for use by the Clerk.
Street Furniture
After advertising, the Council entered into a year long agreement with a local contractor for the undertaking of village maintenance work in 2024/25. This involved reviewing the work it required in the village, how often that needed to take place and how many hours that might take. The whole year’s work was then averaged out so that an equal payment per month could be made. The schedule was reviewed again at the back end of 2024/25 and again the Council advertised for a contractor/self employed person to undertake the work for 2025/26.
The Council also requested that LCC clean or replace the village sign located on the B1200 as you approach Manby from Louth.
Tennis Courts and Play Park
The Council formally took ownership of these facilities in 2022/23 rather than just leasing them. They not only allow for the playing of tennis but also football. The Council’s Recreation Representative inspects the two areas on a regular basis and makes notes. They also empty the bins and keep the area generally tidy. In 2024/25 the Council engaged a tree surgeon to cut the hedge in front of the Tennis Court on Carlton Road down to a height of 5ft. This made the area more visible to the public and hopefully less likely to attract unwanted behaviour.
In 2024/25 following the Play Park’s annual inspection the Council ordered a number of repairs to take place to bring the area into line with legislation and it erected new signs to assist users in the event of an emergency.
Amenity Grass Verges and Parish Paths
For the past few years the Council has undertaken the cutting of amenity grass verges and it again agreed to do so in 2024/25. It also agreed to carry on in 2025/26 and confirmed that it would ensure that even more verge was cut. The Council will have approximately 14,429m2 to look after in 2025/26. An increase of 8,127m2.
The Council also instructs a local firm to clear and maintain the pathways in Grimoldby and Manby for public use, as required. This involves litter picking, strimming and mowing of paths.
Safety
The Council recognises that a safe environment makes for a happy environment and therefore, it maintains a good relationship with the local police. It also owns and maintains a defibrillator which the Village Hall kindly allow us to site on the outside wall of their premises (electricity paid for by the Council) and it owns a reactive speed sign which in 2024/25 was taken down, charged and put up again, moving around the two villages, by the Village Maintenance Contractor. In 2024/25, following concerns raised by a member of the public, the Council wrote to the Police, ELDC, the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and LCC about the prevalence of lorries travelling through the village, how pedestrians felt like they would be sucked under them as they passed by and traffic’s general adherence to the speed limit. It asked ELDC if there were any S106 monies that could be used to help mitigate the problem. It asked the Police if they could increase speed checks in the area. It asked LCC if it could review the speed limits, consider introducing another crossing on the B1200 and consider changes to the footpath. It also asked the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to undertake a speed survey in the area to see if there was any evidence to support the introduction of a static speed camera. Unfortunately, in the end it was mostly met with negatives. Although, the Police do carry out speed checks frequently in the area now.
Bins
In 2024/25 as a result of a review of the bins in the villages the Council obtained permission to site, purchased and installed 4 new bins in the following areas: 1) Corner of Manby Middlegate and Tinkle Street, 2) Corner of Manby Middlegate and Gibson Way/Manby Fields, 3) Next to the cut through from Manby Middlegate to Gauntlet Road/Bulldog Crescent, 4) Corner of Amelia Wood Way and B1200.
Tedder Park
Following the relocation of ELDC on 23rd January 2023 and the sale of their buildings and car park to a private buyer the Council has kept a close eye on the situation. The Chairman has been in regular contact with the new owner and owners of other buildings on the site. Plans for the site are still in the air but the Chairman will continue to update the Council as and when any movement occurs.
Allotments, Pavilion and Football Field
The Council took ownership of the Manby Fields allotments in 2019/20, a sports field and a pavilion for use by the community. The football field and Pavilion are predominantly used by Manby FC who have agreed terms for a licence (reviewed and amended slightly in 2024/25) to use the site and who currently pay £250 rent per year. This year, they also cut the football field to ensure that it was kept to the standard required and they invoiced the Council for that work. A local Thai Chi group rents a room regularly within the Pavilion for use and the Parish Council now also meet here each month. All of the allotments are currently rented out. There have been many discussions on the allotments throughout the year and permission has been granted to holders for a number items e.g., polly tunnels, wooden structures etc. If you are interested in renting an allotment please contact the Clerk who can place you on a waiting list.
Conclusion
The Council continues its work to ensure improvements are made throughout Grimoldby and Manby for the benefit of its residents.
Going forward it intends to look to purchase and install two new decorative village signs. It is also to have the iconic Jet Provost village sign repaired and revamped. It will continue to consider any issues that the public brings to it’s attention and it will represent the views of residents as required and on controversial issues, ensuring that residents are given a chance to voice their opinions in a public arena. It will continue to work closely with the District Council and with the County Council on any issues which might affect the villages striving for outcomes that residents want.
Please do not hesitate to contact your Councillors as follows:
List of Councillors and Contact Details as at 12th May 2025:
Mrs. Emma Billings - 01507 327445 - manbycllr1@outlook.com
Mr. Michael Bruce - 07772591282 - grimoldbycllr7@outlook.com
Mr. Ant Bunting - 07515354119 - grimoldbycllr6@outlook.com
Mr. Chris Fairburn - 07816953167 - grimoldbycllr2@outlook.com
Mr. Richard Hampton - 07907099565 - manbycllr4@outlook.com
Mr. Noel Hind - 07723018170 - grimoldbycllr3@outlook.com
Mrs. Linda Knowles - 01507 601739 - manbycllr2@outlook.com
Mr. Terence Knowles - 01507 601739 - grimoldbycllr1@outlook.com
Mr. Mike Starsmore - 01507 327428 - grimoldbycllr4@outlook.com
Mr. Terence Vamplew - 01507 327235 - grimoldbycllr5@outlook.com
-
Public Forum
No members of the public spoke in the public forum.
The meeting closed at 7.10pm
Signed______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________