Annual Parish Meeting

Present:                       Cllr Chris Stephenson, N Bush (Clerk)

Also Present:               7 others including 5 Parish Councillors and Cllr Mike Brookes (County Cllr) Cllr Stuart Evans (Borough)

Meeting started 7.00 pm

25/078 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

None

25/079 Draft minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 28th March 2024 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

It was resolved to accept the above draft minutes.  They were confirmed as minutes and signed by Cllr CS.

25/080 To receive the report from Amber Hill WI

It has been a positive year for Amber Hill WI in 2024-25 with yet again a range of excellent educational speakers and lots of opportunities for local ladies to socialise and offer friendship and support. We began the year with 32 members and throughout the year we have welcomed guest members, gradually gaining a thriving membership of 40 members. All of our monthly meetings have continued to be held at Hubbert’s Bridge Community Centre in the main hall. The charity elected by members for this year was the Boston Woods Trust.

Our programme of speakers commenced with Martin Fish, renowned RHS judge entertaining members, guests and fellow WI members from local groups to help us celebrate our 89th Birthday. Following on from our annual meeting we have had a tap-dancing demonstration by the inspiring Pinchbeck Tappers, and a wide range of talks on the history of the kimono, the history of canal boats with traditional boating songs and a pictorial history of Lincoln in photographs. Other guest speakers have educated us on the farming of blueberries, the benefits of medicinal plants in your garden and we have been introduced to the voluntary work of the Wyberton Wombles of Boston Common, and the positive impact of the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.

Food and friendship have continued to be an important theme of the Amber Hill WI. At every meeting, members enjoy refreshments and a light supper provided for each other by the members. In October to coincide with our Harvest Auction, members enjoyed a fish and chip supper and then at Christmas, in addition to a Christmas sing-along everyone was served a baked ham and quiche platter with a selection of desserts, mince pies and festive mulled punch.

There has been a range of social visits over the year with members being able to meet outside of meetings to attend the Beauty and the Beast pantomime at Blackfriars, Lincoln Bomber Command, the Kinema at Woodhall Spa, walk around Boston Woods, and a ride on the Prince George to Anton’s Gowt for lunch. The final visits of the year are the annual Lincs Federation WI meeting at Springfields and the Red Dress Project at Stanhope Hall, Horncastle.

Rachel Hunn - Amber Hill WI President

25/081 To receive the report from Amber Hill Playing Field

It is 25 years since our first meetings, re the setting up and fund raising for the playing field, Ros Bowler played a huge part in funding raising, along with advisors from The National Playing Fields in Trust. We appreciate all the help given by former and present day parishioners, and our little park stands as a tribute to their hard work and vision.

On Saturday 8th March, several volunteers met in the park to clean moss and winter debris off the entrance area & paths and washed the play equipment and benches. 

We spent several hours, tidying up and it looks much better now, though we will need at least one other session to do around the seating area and skate ramps. Volunteers brought their garden waste bins for the moss, and their own equipment. 

The Committee really appreciate their help, and the park looks much tidier now. 

Fund raising continues, but sadly in present times is harder to obtain. We fully appreciate the Parish Councils input on helping us to maintain the park by paying for the grass cutting and hope that will continue.

Jane Webb

25/082 To receive any further reports.

None received.

25/083 To receive the Chairman’s Report on Parish Council Activities for the past year.

Thank you to my fellow parish councillors for their support during the year and thank you Nicky for all you hard work and tolerating us all.

We have seen a significant improvement in the roads in the parish this year.  Fly tipping continues to be monitored successfully by Brian Stevens and Roz Bowler.  Quickline are busy installing fibre optic in the parish with remote properties even being reached.

Ecotricity have finally got planning permission to cover East Heckington with solar panels despite the land being grade II, their donation to the Labour party last year appears to be a good investment.  Wiltrans appear to have left the parish following their breach of planning laws.

We now have a successful second-hand speed indicator in the village, thanks to the generosity of Swineshead Parish Council.

Sheep rustling has been reported recently, and the growing wild deer population is causing concern.

The precept figure for 2025/26 is £3914.

Cllr C Stephenson

25/084To receive the Highways report from the Highways Officer

Cllr E Panton reported a lot of work has been done on the roads, with some more to be done but this is planned in by Lincs Council.

Cllr M Brooks reported that the Highways managers priority two years ago was to get roads around Amber Hill improved and good progress has been made with improvements to the processes involved.

25/085 Any other matters

None

Meeting closed 7.12 pm

Signed: