2025 Annual Parish Meeting

DIGBY ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Minutes from the Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at 7.00PM at DIGBY MEMORIAL HALL

There 7 parishioners present

1. CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave a brief message on why the meeting is held and that was not a parish council meeting but as the acting Chairman of Digby Parish Council, it was her duty to preside over the meeting and the Clerk would take notes.

2. APOLOGIES – 

Apologies were received from District Councillor Bailey, PC Green, Steve Priestley, Neil Bathard, Ian Hodson and Maggie Carr.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2024

The Clerk read out the minutes from the last Annual Parish Meeting that was held on 22nd April 2024.  These minutes were approved by Mr Garton as a true record.  The Chairman signed the minutes.

4.  PRESENTATIONS 

• Digby Parish Council – 

The report from the Chairman, covered the major events of the year, including the rebuilding of the dug-out and the extension to the playing field road. 

The Clerk distributed copies of the income and expenditure accounts for 2024-25 and gave a brief explanation of the headings.  

There were no questions

• Lincolnshire County Council

Cllr Rob Kendrick reported the County Council are financially sound, but under pressure due to the NI rise that will cost the council an extra £5million a year.  Tourism is important to the county The Lincoln Museum is having a refit this year.  Highways have been repairing/resurfacing smaller connecting roads during the last 12 months and 100 thousand pot holes have been fixed.  Please use FixMyStreet.  The Grantham southern by pass is continuing, the Lincoln by pass is still waiting to be government money to be approved. Regarding flooding in Lincolnshire, the results of Section 19investigation are now known and additional funding has been allocated for improvements.  Solar farm consultation still continues and there are concerns with the speed for the latest round has been announced.

There were no questions. 

• North Kesteven District Council – 

Cllr Bailey sent her apologies but sent a report that was read out by the Clerk.

• Local PCSO  - PC Christopher Green has sent his apologies.

• Digby Bowls Club – Sam gave a report explaining the club set up100yrs ago, membership has dwindled so this means low income for the club.  The covid grant enabled repairs to the club house to take place and work on the green, and now they would like to see more members.

Over the last 2 years they have attracted 13 new members.  The club is active and sociable, so please come along and join in.  There has been some antisocial behaviour that has caused damage but hopefully that has now run its course.

There were no questions

• Village Hall Committee - Apologies were received from the Chairman, Steve Priestey, they sent a report that was read out by the Clerk

There were no questions 

• Allotments -  Sally gave the report, stating all the plots are occupied, the maintenance costs have been kept low due to self help and there have not been any water leaks.

Thanks were passed to the parish council for the help with repairing the roads and clearing the dykes.  It has been a challenging year and it was the first time someone has been asked to leave a plot due to anti-social behaviour.  The social events at the allotments will be published and they hope everyone will attend.

There were no questions

• Digby Primary School – Donna Winters, Executive Head Teacher gave the report.

The year has been very positive there are 57 pupils at the school and the preschool is at capacity, Ofsted expected soon. Sport and PE is a big thing at the school and they have achieved the platinum mark.  Extra curriculum activities are very popular, he gardening club is going very well and the raised beds are full of seeds planted by the children, there are also craft clubs, recorder lessons and singing., A careers week was held recently and people from Construction industry, the military, hairdressers etc. came and talked about their work.

Theres to be improvements to the fabric of the building are to take place, there will be a new canopy area with soft flooring, the fence nearest to the church is to be replaced, the playground is to be resurfaced once a line of conifers are removed and a new roof for parts of the school.

There were no questions

• St Thomas Church – Apologies were received from Maggie Carr as the Parochial Church Meeting has been booked for the same evening. 

• Community Speed Watch Team – Apologies received from Neil Bathard.  The Clerk to read out the comments sent

• Emergency Plan Team – No-one was present to speak.

5. PUBLIC FORUM

There were no questions or comments

19.50pm The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and declared the meeting closed