MINUTES – 13th May 2025 at 730pm Location – Leven Sports Hall
Present :Cllr. S. Mathison (chair) Cllr. L. Burrows, Cllr. A. Fearnall, Cllr. F. Hood, Cllr. G. Jones, Cllr. I Lamping, Cllr. J. Richardson (vice chair), Cllr. D. Robins, Cllr. K. Roydhouse, Cllr, B. Towse
In attendance: A. Woodward (Clerk)
2 members of the public were present
Public Session – an opportunity for the public to raise any questions -limited to 10 minutes.
No one spoke
Co-Option of a new Councillor – opportunity for candidates to speak to the Parish Council
Only one application was received, the candidate had already attended a previous meeting. It was agreed unanimously to co-opt Graham Oldroyd
25/26
15 Apologies for absence
None Chairman
16 Declaration of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests
Cllr. Hood item 28/b
17 Approval of minutes of the last meeting as a true record
Agreed proposed Cllr. Richardson, Seconded Cllr. Burrows Chairman
18 Report from East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC)
Cllr. Smith was not in attendance as he had to leave in the Annual Meeting
19 Report from Humberside Police Did not attend
Cllr. Jones commented on a report she made to Humberside traffic police re a lorry parked on the pavement opposite Charters. She had been notified that nothing could be done as an officer had not witnessed it.
20 To receive and approve the Clerk’s Report
Since returning from leave the clerk has been finalising the end of year
accounts and preparing submission to the external auditor. The internal audit has also been completed.
The rest of the time has been taken up preparing for tonight’s meeting and dealing with issues that came up whilst the clerk was on holiday.
The clerk will renew the list of parish councillors and their contacts etc after this evening’s meeting and update the emergency plan.The clerk has taken up a free trial of Adobe Acrobat as it is essential for managing PDFs and AI going forward, so many governments and local government documentation relies on this converting and amending is time consuming. Monthly or annual subscription after that £230 a year after trial. The clerk will bring any request for expenditure for this to the next meeting.
21 To note and update the Parish Action Tracker
Discussed and noted
22 To consider and comment on (ERYC) planning applications
A) Change of use of self-contained annexe to holiday let (retrospective)
8 The Bryants, Leven Hu17 5QD
Councillors discussed the application and written representations from the applicant and a resident close to the property.
It was AGREED unanimously to not support the application
23 To note ERYC planning decisions
Erection of a single storey extension to the rear following demolition of existing conservatory, East Street had been granted
24 To note and consider correspondence
A letter from Holy Trinity Church regarding Grass cutting
The Church has requested that the Parish considers supporting the cost of the grass cutting in the churchyard, in line with its grants policy.
This was supported in 2024/25. It was AGREED to issue a grant for
£1000 from the section 137 budget. It was also agreed to speak to the church and consider in the future whether the parish should pay this fee annually after retendering in 2026/27 its current grass cutting contract
25 Finance
A) To note and consider the budget monitoring report
Noted, the clerk will commence placing this report on the website in 2025/26
B) To note and AUTHORISE bank reconciliation Noted and AUTHORISED
C) To note and AUTHORISE payments: Salary Clerk April 25 £834.90
Salary Handyman April 25 £452.50
Robinsons Builders Merchant Concrete mix £25.44 Scribe Subscription April £37.20
Salary Handyman May 25 £558.30
Salary clerk May 25 £834.70
Scribe Subscription May 25 £37.20
AK Sheetmetal Fabrication Ltd (VE Day Memorial) £882 Phils Garden Services £90
Stationary Amazon £13.48 Stationary Amazon £15.49 Grit Bins x 2 Amazon £299.98 Stationary Amazon £35.61 Time Capsule VE day £57.89 Internal Auditor £100
All AUTHORISED
E) To AGREE whether to continue ERNLLCA subscription and AUTHORISE the payment of the annual fee of £942.64
A discussion regarding the services provided to the Parish Council by ERNLLCA took place. It was noted that Leven is a light user of the services provided. The implications of cancelling membership were discussed.
The high cost of the membership was a concern for councillors. The exchange in emails and a telephone call with ERNLLCA was discussed and noted.
It was AGREED unanimously to discontinue membership for 2025/26 but this would be reviewed annually.
F) To note receipts
ERYC precept part one payment £10526.25
G) To AGREE the annual accounts report – AGAR and the dates for the publication of /exercise of public rights
The clerk outlined the annual accounts process and the content of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for 2025/26.
The clerk reported the relevant dates for publication of the AGAR via the Exercise of Public Rights
The outcome of the AGAR was AGREED unanimously and cleared for publication and submission to the External Auditor.
H) To consider and AGREE the report of the internal auditor
The clerk outlined the findings of the internal auditor and her report to the Council. One recommendation was noted, to post the minutes of the Finance subcommittee meetings on the website. This has been resolved retrospectively for las years meeting and will be posted going forward.
The Parish AGREED the internal audit report unanimously
26 To consider training and development needs
None identified
27 To receive and discuss Cllr. Representative updates
A) Playing Fields Association – Cllr Fearnall
The meeting planned for this week had been cancelled
B) Recreation Hall – Cllr. Richardson Yet to be invited to a meeting
C) Walking for Health – Cllr. Jones
52 members of the group with a regular group of 20/25 joining the walk weekly. The church now provides refreshments after the walk
D) Leven School – Cllr. Jones
Cllr. Jones attended a very positive meeting at the school and will be having a full tour of the school soon.
E) Scouts – Cllr. Robins
Numbers are high, scouts just completed a camp at Raywell.
28 General Purpose Matters
A) Commuted Sums Action Group update
The questionnaire seeking the views of local residents on priorities for Leven about sport and recreation will be circulated at the end of the month with the newsletter. Return boxes will be placed in Budgens and Charters. A meeting of the group will then be scheduled for July to consider the results.
B) Items for newsletter/social media/print media and AUTHORISE any expenditure for printing
A draft of the newsletter was circulated for comment a few changes were made to the items.
C) Love Leven 2025
It was AGREED that this year each previous sponsor would be asked for a donation capped at £100 . It was agreed to canvass for new sponsors and include a piece in the newsletter
29 Co-Option of a new parish Councillor
This was agreed at the start of the meeting as it was uncontested
A member of the public commented on the ability of residents to contribute to a meeting of the parish council. The regulations and procedure were explained. It was AGREED that the public input rules would be made clearer at the beginning of each meeting going forward and covered on the Parish Facebook page
Next Meeting: Tuesday 3rd June 2025 7pm Leven Sports Hall
Ann Woodward
Clerk to the Parish Council
Chair: Stuart Mathison