Meeting 2025

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Rippingale Parish Council, held in the Village Hall on Monday 14 May 20245
Present: Cllr T Creek (Vice Chair), Cllr J Jones, Cllr A Lumb, County Cllr M Hill and Clerk L Davies.

 Annual Parish Meeting 

The Annual Parish Meeting will commence at 7.00pm as per the agenda below. 
 Welcome by the Vice Chairman & Annual Report. 
Cllr Creek was pleased to present the Parish Council Annual Report to this meeting. Welcome to the Annual Parish Meeting, it is good to see so many people here. This is the first of 2 formal meetings of the Council, please observe the meeting. Before presenting the Annual Report, the parish would like to take a moment to mention someone who regularly attended the Parish Council meetings and supported the council, as well as the wider community. We were saddened at the unexpected passing of Laurie Parncutt last month. He truly was a big character in the village, notably organising the Breakfast Club. His great skills as a recounter, will be missed. He was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed. The Parish Council offer our best wishes to Jean and the rest of Laurie’s family.
It is believed that the Parish Council has collectively worked hard and effectively in the past year, despite a number of personal changes, and some challenging issues. The Parish would like to highlight the commendable efforts of the Parish Councillors and our Parish Clerk Laura Davies who have undertaken their duties diligently, to allow the Council to ably carry out its role. Recruitment of Parish Councillors remains challenging, with a varying number of Councillors over the year; The Parish is currently needing three new Councillors to regain full strength. So, it is continued to ask members of the community, who believe that they can strengthen the Parish Council, to apply and to start to making a difference. Our income via the Precept has risen, for the first time in seven years. The Parish Council’s finances are being well managed and are stable; they meet the Village’s requirements be it the Clerk’s salary, grounds and general maintenance and other spending areas. have agreed to honour 2 initiatives that were previously committed to, namely removal of the old building on the Jubilee Playing Fields and providing water at the allotments, which the dry Spring, this year has proved, is greatly needed This will involve using a significant amount of the Councils contingency, which whilst uncomfortable, will recouped in future years. This year the Parish council hope that those that have attended Parish Council meetings this year have noticed that the Parish Council is focusing on being more open and transparent with regard to budgets and the management of the budgets. Supervision and control of the accounts is maintained by monthly oversight by the Council and through internal and external Auditors. The Parish Council remains prudent with spend and ensure that value for money is provided. In the past year the Finance Sub Committee have performed a deep dive into the budget, to understand where every penny was, both to ensure that budgets The Parish met during the year, and to set the budget for this year. The Parish thanks those that have volunteered to assist around the village with tasks such as the grass cutting of the flood pond at Millers Close and the repair of the Parish Council notice board. Actions such as this ensure that the precept is set as low as possible. The Parish continues to safely maintain both the play equipment and the sports court on the Jubilee Playing Field in conjunction with the Jubilee Playing Field Trust; however, The Parish is saddened to see both of these targeted for mindless vandalism. The Parish took the decision to replace the dilapidated changing cabin on the playing field with a more cost-effective solution, than the previously planned purpose-built sports pavilion. The Parish Council is liable for the bulk of the grass and hedge cutting on the public areas in the Village, which The Parish has to manage through our budget. As The Parish attempt to ensure our Village is as neat as possible, I thank the many residents who cut the grassed areas outside their properties. A major focus over the last year has been to work with the different community groups and The Parish believe that the majority of the groups have reacted really positively. The recent VE80 celebrations were a good sample of this. Starting with families, neighbours and friends enjoying picnics and traditional games on the Jubilee Playing Fields. A full church celebrated VE 80 day on the Thursday with a joyful church service of celebration, remembrance followed by sweet treats baked by the lovely ladies of our village, and culminating in the lighting of the beacon. Lastly on Friday many of us ate tradition fish and chips at Bull Inn. Leo does the best fish and chips for miles. The VE80 were a real demonstration of the community groups getting together. The Parish were also extremely pleased that the Feast Committee has resurrected, and planning is well underway for this year’s Feast. A big thanks to all those that have been, and are still involved with this. As a Parish Council, are receptive to new ideas for community events and will support groups who want to build on our community spirit.
The Parish Council relaxed the rules on allotment hiring for people who do not reside in the village. The Parish is pleased to see that there are a significant of new plot holders and interest. Any community, benefits from new blood and new ways of thinking. As a collective, The Parish have tried to ensure that our communication is improved, whilst understanding that people prefer information to be received in different ways, such as social media, the website, notice boards and the Newsletter. During this year, the Parish Council focussed on the layout of the newsletter to make it more readable. Iain Middleton has taken over the editorship of the Newsletter, and I think most would agree that it is vastly improved. The Parish would like to thank Iain and all the efficient delivery volunteers. This important media product continues to notify the Village of many aspects of its life. Thanks to Laura, the Clerk, who has maintained the website, as well as the Facebook page, along with Councillor Jones. The Parish have started initiatives to seek feedback via ‘street champions’ and to provide a forum for our young people to share their views with us. The Hospital Car Service remains very active and Chris Ross continues to administer this with commitment and skill. In conclusion, I would like to thank all the Parish Councillors, Councillor Dixon-Warren from SKDC and Councillor Hill from Lincolnshire County Council for their support and help. Not everything has been plain sailing and there have been difficult times and issues to resolve. Throughout, the Parish Council has been supportive and positive. All Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers, who care about the community. Our focus for the coming year will be to build on our aim to support those positive groups who share our ethos to make the village a vibrant community to live in. As stated at the beginning, The Parish still require more Councillors, so if anyone shares these aims and want to make a difference, then please consider joining us as a councillor and get in touch with the Parish Clerk.
1.    To approve Minutes of last Annual Parish Meeting 2024.
The previously circulated minutes from 2024 were agreed as a true reflection of the meeting. Resolved 
2.    Receive Reports from Police, County & District Councils 
80th Anniversary of VE Day The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day) on 8 May was celebrated and commemorated in a variety of events across Aveland. Communities came together to honour and pay tribute to the UK, its Allied and Commonwealth Second World War generation. And what a variety – flag raising, proclamation, cream teas, church service, bell ringing, beacon lighting, themed fish ‘n’ chips, ‘Singing for Victory’, picnic in the park, celebration dance and teas in the church. County Council and Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Elections 1 May the Reform Party gained majority control at Lincolnshire County Councils. Six out of 10 upper-tier councils in the East Midlands are now Reform-led. Councillor Martin Hill OBE held his County Council seat in Folkingham Rural Division. Dame Andrea Jenkins, the Reform candidate, won the mayoral election for the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. Fixed penalty notice for roadside fly tipping A £600 Fixed Penalty Notice was made against the owner of rubbish tipped in the countryside near Aslackby, reduced to £300 for prompt payment. The rubbish was left at the side of the road by someone who had promised a householder they would dispose of the waste for them. SKDC identified and interviewed the householder who had not made the necessary checks. It is a householders’ responsibility to make sure none of their waste will be fly tipped and there are ways to check a waste carrier is legitimate. Call 03708 506 506
3.    Receive Reports from Community Groups & Organisations 
a.    Feast Organising Committee 
Planning is well under way for the 12th July, new committee in place. 
b.    Hospital Car Service 
Still a small drivers, who give there time to provide the car service. Still looking for more drivers
c.    Parochial Church Council 
None Provided
d.    Row Garden Allotment Group
The RGAG are working towards an open day, there are changes with in the committee, but will update as soon as decided.
e.    Village Hall Management Committee 
The Village Hall is taking on regular bookings and going strengthen to strength.
f.    Rippingale Jubilee Playing Field Trust
None
 5. Questions & Proposals from the Public 
 Many of the people in attendance raised the parking issues at the Dovecot, that the grassed area is a waste of space and residents have applied for dropped kerbs, some have been approved and others rejected. PC have asked residents to email their corresponded with SKDC. Will place on the next agenda.