2025 Minutes

No

Action

1.

Chairmans report

Cllr Alcock thanked the Councillors, staff, David Kempton his previous Vice Chairman for all their work and support in the previous year. He also confirmed that Cllr Williams will be his Vice Chairman. Granville Hawkes has arrived as the temporary Senior Clerk with Tina Croxford continuing as the deputy Clerk. The RFO is leaving this month and he thanked her for her work. Following the elections County Cllr Pepper has retired and he thanked him for his many years supporting the town. The new mayoral authority is to be established and the impact of this on the Crowland parish is as yet unknown.

On the finance side the Parish receives income from the annual precept, our owned and rented land and investment properties. The council continues to look as other sources of income. Our costs are well controlled and we are looking to build up our reserves in the coming years.

2.

Amenities sub committee report

Cllr Searle the incoming Chairman thanked Cllr Kempton the previous Chaiman and reported that the office building had been improved with repairs and painting the windows, the bowls club pavilion had also been moved. The refurbishment of the tennis court area had been delayed due to problems with the existing surface. Funding had been found to replace the litter bins in the town. A number of events were planned this year on the Snowden including the Re enactment in June. Projects ongoing included the tennis courts, the pavilion cladding and basket swing for the zip wire.

3.

Planning sub committee report

Cllr Elphee advised that the committee meet monthly to review planning applications.

The VE day celebrations were very successful and she thanked all the volunteers involved. The hanging baskets will be in place again within the next few weeks. There will also be a review of the West St bus stop.

4.

Health and Safety & Security committee

Cllr Davis reported that his committee look after the safety and security of the parish buildings and undertake regular checks on the safety of the zip wire and playground.

5.

Farms and gardens sub committee report

Cllr Boor advised that the grounds staff look after the Snowden, the allotments (for which we have vacant plots), two grass cutting contracts and 25 acres of the Snowden and street cleaning.. They also water the hanging baskets and were involved in the VE day celebrations. He thanked them for all their work in the last year, and the other members of his committee.

6.

Asset working party report

This group look at ways to increase the value and return of the councils assets, an example being the eight investment properties, and the Thorney Road commercial development project. Establishing a new burial ground for which planning has just been granted.

7.

Snowden pavilion project update

Cllr Kempton reported that a replacement pavilion was being considered to provide a larger facility to support both the sport and community activities. A firm of architects have been engaged to progress the type and position of a new building and costs. It is acknowledged by all that raising the funds required will be challenging.

8.

Matters for discussion from the floor

Meridian solar – The Chairman advised that the Council had met representatives of the project three times and remain neutral regarding the project. However concerns have been expressed about biodiversity, food security, and loss of agricultural land and the cumulative effect of the number of projects proposed. A robust approach relating to the community benefit factor had also been taken. The floor felt that the main question for the Secretary of State was had the carbon footprint of the whole project been measured from start to decommissioning?

VE day celebration – those attending wanted to thank the organisers for such a successful event.

The encroachment of hedges generally onto footpaths in the town were a concern.

Parking in the Chase – the installation of disabled parking bays which are not long enough resulting in parked cars extending onto the footpath.

The Chaiman thanked the public for attending.