May 6th 2025 Minutes (Annual Meeting)
MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL
Held at the The Village Hall Rectory Road Coleby on Tuesday 6th May 2025 at 7.15pm
Present: Councillor Alan Vivian, Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Andrew Long, Councillor Jens Pedersen, Councillor Quent Stott Councillor Harriet Earnshaw, County Councillor Ian Carrington, District Councillor Matthew Cooper, District Councillor Lance Pennell and Sue Makinson-Sanders Clerk
Apologies: Councillor Robert Hall
20.58 Election of Chairman: Councillors unanimously approved appointment of Councillor Robert Hall as Chairman
20.59 Election of Vice Chairman: Councillors unanimously approved appointment of Councillor Alan Vivian as Vice Chairman
20.60 Approval of Minutes of Meeting held 14th May 2024: Councillor Brewer proposed and Councillor Vivian seconded approval. Councillors approved the Minutes
20.61 Mattes arising: None
20.62 Confirmation of Clerk’s Employment: Proposed by Councillor Pedersen and seconded by Councillor Earnshaw, Councillors approved the Clerk’s employment
20. 63 Clerk’s Report on Accounts for year 2024/2025: Councillors approved the Clerk’s Report below
CLERKS REPORT ON ACCOUNTS 2024/2025
On the 31st March 2024 the Parish Council ended the financial year with £14395.00 in the current account and ended the financial year on the 31st March 2025 with £11013.52. The lower balance at the year end is mainly due to the fact that £4084.39 of unused grant money for the Neighbourhood Plan Review had to be refunded. The Precept received from North Kesteven District Council reflected an increase on the previous year’s precept with a receipt of £11250.00
The following grants were received:
North Kesteven District Council Litter Picking £ 95.34
Groundwork UK Neighbourhood Plan Review (2nd Grant app) £ 3754.00
VAT was reclaimed totalling £ 999.89
Other income £3651.31 This was for items such as burials, ashes interments, plot reservations and memorials and the wayleave on the telegraph pole in the Lowfields Cemetery in addition to some donations towards planning consultancy fees and repairs to the cemetery wall.
In total the Parish Council received income of £19750.54 in the financial year to 31 March 2025.
The Parish Council’s main expenditure remains grasscutting and salary for the clerk. Total expenditure for the year to 31st March 2025 was £23,132.02 Other than grasscutting and salary the largest items of expenditure were the Neighbourhood Plan Revision for which further grant funding has been obtained, the repairs to the cemetery wall and cemetery maintenance, Insurance and the Coronation plaque which is awaiting installation.
The Parish Council’s expenditure this year exceeded its income by £3381.48. This is partly explained by the fact that the grasscutting contractors are now VAT registered and therefore there is vat to pay on their charges but this will be reclaimed in the next financial year 2025/2026.
VAT reclaimable for 2024/2025 is £1465.28 and a claim has been submitted to HMRC
Donations were made as follows:
All Saints Church for lighting £100
Royal British Legion Wreath £50.00
St Barnabas Xmas Tree Collection £19.93
The Parish Council continues to employ a clerk and to meet all its liabilities.
The internal auditor, Andrea Smith has now audited the accounts and the Annual Audit is to be approved at the Parish Council meeting. Immediately following this meeting.