Annual Parish Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES of POINTON & SEMPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 7.30pm in St. Gilberts Primary School
AGENDA for the ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.
26033.To elect a Chairman of the Council and sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Cllr Wesley proposed himself and Cllr Christie seconded this. Cllr Keeley proposed Cllr Clarke for the position with Cllr Ross seconding this. A vote was taken and it was 2:2 with Cllr Wesley voting for himself to make it 3:2. It was resolved that Cllr Wesley be elected for the role of Chairman and for him to sign the declaration.
26034.To elect a Vice Chairman of the Council and sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Cllr Keeley proposed Cllr Clarke for Vice Chair and Cllr Ross seconded this. Cllr Wesley proposed Cllr Christie and Cllr Mansell seconded this. A vote was taken and it was 2:2, Cllr Wesley used his casting vote for Cllr Christie. It was resolved that Cllr Christie be elected for the role of Vice Chair and for him to sign his declaration.
26035. To receive a report from the County Councillor. There have been suggestions that a lot of roads will be reclassified as de-metalled. This would mean that roads would no longer have tarmac. The Council would be continuing the footpath towards Billingborough. A consultation on speed is to be carried out – reviewing an extension to Billingborough and from the bridge to Pointon. The PC will be contacted. SKDC and LCC
26036. To receive a report from the District Councillor. Cllr Abel gave an update on the new food waste bins being collected. Most were now being collected with a few issues out in the Fens. There is still an issue with the collection of bulky items.
At the recently held Reform AGM the leader proposed that Cllr Abel was the direct contact with SKDC. The official paperwork will be signed shortly.
Finally, there is a new scheme to ‘Get Moving’ and is being promoted on the socials.
26037. To receive questions from members of the public. Public participation will be moved to the end of the meeting.
26038. To receive and accept apologies for absence. It was resolved that valid reasons for absence had been received from Cllr Clarke and Cllr Somerville.
26039. To receive Declarations of interest for items within the agenda. No declarations were received.
26040. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 6th January 2026 and for the chair to sign. It was resolved to accept the minutes of the meeting held on the 6th January 2026 and for the chair to sign.
26041. To review the members of the Staffing Committee and terms of reference. Cllrs Keeley and Ross expressed that there was no need for a staffing committee and everything should be brought to full council.
The clerk advised that in a previous audit it had been recommended by the Internal Auditor that a staffing committee should be formed. The council resolved that there should be a staffing committee but it would be deferred to the next meeting to determine the councillors on the committee and the terms of reference. Cllr Keeley advised that there should be a lone worker policy.
26042. To review Standing Orders. The clerk advised that with public participation regularly being held at the end of the meeting it would be wise to change the Standing Orders. A member of public asked to speak as if it was moved to the end then the council will have already voted on agenda items. After discussion it was resolved to change the standing orders to 10-15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and the same at the end of the meeting, this will increase the time to 30 mins from 15 mins.
The item will be placed back on the agenda of the next meeting for council to approve.
26043. To review Financial Regulations. It was resolved to approve the Financial Regulations with no changes.
26044. Finances 2025/26
a) To receive a report of payments, made between meetings, in the financial year 2025/26. Cllr Ross queried the clerk’s wages being so different each month. It was explained that the clerk had been on sick and didn’t receive sick pay. Also the that the grass cutting amount is the same as the Aqua sacs and it must be a mistake – both invoices were the same amount.
It should be noted that the Aqua sacs were ordered under s137 but by the time the invoice arrived and paid it was purchased under GPoC.
26045. Finances 2026/27
a) To approve payments as list below:
24/1/26 Expenses - £4.49. It was resolved to accept the expenses of £4.49 from the clerk.
b) To accept the list of payments received:
8/4/26 Precept - £18,150. It was noted that the precept of £18,150 had arrived into the bank account on the 8/4/26.
c) To approve the bank reconciliation and for the Vice-Chair to sign. It was approved to accept the bank reconciliation £23,660.41, as at 31/3/26 as no payments had been made in April. It will be updated for the next meeting for the new financial year.
26046. To review policies listed below:
Grants Policy for 2026-27. It was resolved to approve the updated grants policy.
26047. To approve Insurance for Year 2026/27 at a cost £690.03 with Zurich. It was resolved to approve the Insurance for 2026/27 at a cost of £630.03 with Zurich.
26048. Clerk’s Report. To receive updates between meetings. The clerk mentioned that rumours were going around the village that she had been on sick due to her mental health. She assured people that this was not the case and she would be happy to talk to people.
26049. To consider the interim audit report. The interim audit should have been discussed at the April meeting and it was resolved to defer the item to the next meeting when signing the AGAR off.
26050.To consider the use of the playing field for school sports day on the 15th June with a Portaloo sited day before and arrange grass cutting. It was resolved for the school to use the field for the sports day on the 15th June. The clerk will co-ordinate between the school, grass cutter and the gentleman offering to line mark the area.
26051. To discuss the way forward with the pavilion and the purchase of herras fencing. Cllr Christie updated that the contractor will not sell the fencing to the PC. He has found another supplier that will provide fencing at £300, this will be for the fencing, feet and clamps. The fencing around the play equipment is on loan. It was noted that the football club would like to return to Pointon for next season. Clerk to speak to chairman of FC. It was also noted that there are grants available and a member of public is willing to help with the applications. A working party was suggested with a community day and bar-b-que mentioned.
26052. To receive a progress report on the shed. The shed is partially emptied and will be completed by the end of the week.
26053. To receive a progress report on the play equipment. The new seats for the seesaw are on order and should be delivered shortly. There is tape still on the rockers and this is to be removed. The wet pour is down around with the roundabout but not around the swing and slide. Clerk to chase. A slightly larger area was needed for safety and the excess soil that had to be dug out has been placed near the rocket. The old swing frame is to be removed. Working together to get the equipment painted would be beneficial for everyone. RoSPA needed on tractor.
26054. Planning matters
a) S25/2353, Pointon House, 25 High Street, Pointon – Decision: Approved
26055. The items below were considered in open session as the residents should be aware of costs.
Staffing Issues
– To consider the priority of the workload. After returning to work the clerk will be only working the five hours a week, as contracted. It was resolved to complete first what the council needs to be kept legal and ask if help is needed.
– To appoint a panel to resolve outstanding staff issues. There are outstanding staff issues and as all Cllrs have been informed it can no longer dealt inhouse. Another three Cllrs from an adjoining council could be used or go out to an outside firm.
After advice from County and District it was resolved to go to the Monitoring Officer.
Public Participation.
26056. A question was asked if the public participation could be held at the beginning and the end as if always held at the end then the Council has already voted on the items and the residents may have had comments on the agenda. It was agreed that splitting the public participation would be beneficial.
The meeting closed at 8.37pm.