Annual Parish Meeting 2022

Draft notes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Bracebridge Heath held on Monday 25th April 2022 at 7pm at the Methodist Church Hall.

Present: Cllr Callan chaired the meeting. Clerk to Council Mrs S Knowles & Assistant Clerk to Council Mrs R Fraser were in attendance.

20 members of the public were present.

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. Apologies for absence – Apologies for absence were received from Mr G Simpson, Cllr A Walker, Cllr C Broad and District Councillor P Burley.

2.To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting – 2nd March 2021 - The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting, held on Tuesday 2nd March 2021 were accepted as a true record and signed by the chairman.

3. Presentation by Debbie Barnes OBE, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council – Debbie Barnes gave an inspirational presentation about her personal leadership journey which began in Bracebridge Heath where she grew up as a child. Debbie described the role of the community in her childhood and explained that strong community support and cohesion is as important today. Following her career progression, Debbie became Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council in January 2020, obtaining an OBE in 2018 for services to Children’s Social Care.

Questions and comments:

Q. There are many tiers of local government. How can we make it simpler for people to find out who does what?

A. The opportunity to explore a unitary council model would help to make this simpler. Devolution could also help Lincolnshire to obtain a proportionate share of government funding. It is Debbie’s ambition that Lincolnshire be considered for the second round of structural changes to local government. A unitary model would enable Parish and Town Councils to play a greater role in the delivery of services at a local level.

Q: During the presentation, you discussed career and leadership opportunities in Lincolnshire. How do you envisage that good quality teaching and leadership with education is retained in Lincolnshire?

A: The role of the County Council has changed within the education sector following the onset of academisation of schools. Debbie explained that local decision making and leadership was an important aspect of achieving good quality teaching and learning.

4. To receive a report from the Chairman of the Parish Council – A written report had been submitted by Cllr Callan.  An overview of Council activities was given. In particular, the Chairman thanked Council members, staff and the community for their contributions over the last year.

5. To receive parish council reports –

1. Amenities committee – A written report had been submitted. Cllr Trought reported on the work of the committee.

2. Environment committee – A written report had been submitted. Cllr Manders reported on the work of the committee and in particular noted the successful adoption of the Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr Manders also thanked Lincolnshire County Council and Cllr Lindsey Cawrey for their contribution to improvements in the former St John’s Hospital Cemetery.

3. Finance & Policy committee – A written report had been submitted.  Cllr Manders gave an overview of the report and noted the Council’s achievement in obtaining the foundation level of the Local Council Award Scheme.

4. Executive sub-committee – A written report was submitted.

6. To receive a report from Lincolnshire County Councillor – Cllr Cawrey reported that:

• A County Views Citizen’s Panel was being developed to enable the people of Lincolnshire help to set the County Council’s priorities. Members of the public and local organisations can register at https://www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/hub-page/county-views.
• Good Citizen’s Award nominations were open for those who have gone the extra mile. Closing date – 6th May 2022.
• Library and Community Hub in Bracebridge heath – Thanks were given to the Council for working alongside the County Council to effect the necessary repairs.

Questions and comments:

      Q: Road surfacing seems to have improved and repairs are being carried out quickly. Thank you.

A: Residents often ask about the prioritisation of repairs to roads. Cllr Cawrey explained that there were two separate programmes of work – preventative work and repairs. Some of the village’s newer roads were receiving preventative works but this doesn’t mean that they have been prioritised over older highways. These roads require a different type of repair and are prioritised separately.

Q: Would it be possible for Parish and Town Councils to obtain a 3-year agreement for services and funding from the County Council? Currently the library revenue grant is being administered on an annual basis. Similarly, the Parish Agreement for Grass Cutting also only allows councils to tender on an annual basis. Providing a 3-year agreement for funding or contracts for provision of services would help parish councils to achieve better value for money for residents.

A: Cllr Cawrey agreed to follow this up with officers at Lincolnshire County Council. 

7. To receive reports from District Councillors – No reports were given.

8. To receive reports from village organisations - Written reports were received in advance from community groups. Further comments were made by representatives as recorded.

Verbal reports were provided by:

Matt Rigden from The Heath Christian Partnership

Mrs Linda Jones from the Heath U3A

Rev Jacqueline Bell from St John the Evangelist Church.

Mrs Manders from St John’s Primary Academy.

Katie Mcloughlin from the Bracebridge Heath Women’s Institute

9. To thank community volunteers and receive volunteer reports – Thanks and appreciation were given to all of Council’s volunteers who continue to make a difference to the community of Bracebridge Heath.

Miss Alison Peden gave a report from the Bracebridge Heath Community Library and specifically thanked volunteers from the hub.  

10. Questions or points raised by residents and members of the public – Executive Officer for RAF Waddington gave an overview of the arrival of the Red Arrows to Waddington. It was explained that the aircraft and support staff would be arriving during October 2022 but training would continue in the airspace over Scampton. The RAF Engagement Team would continue to keep local communities up to date with any changes.

Q: Will the RAF Waddington Air Show be retuning?

A: There are no immediate plans for the air show to return.

Cllr Cawrey noted that construction of the North Hykeham Relief Road which would complete the bypass around Lincoln would being in 3 years’ time.

Cllr Cawrey also noted that the event programme for Lincoln Castle had been agreed which would see a number of events such as a big screen to watch Wimbledon, a Queen’s Garden Party and the Steam Punk Festival over the summer.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending. The meeting was closed at 20:49.

Signed_________________________________Chairman