ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN:
It was PROPOSED by Councillor Mrs Parker SECONDED by Councillor Duggins that Councillor Dr Allen be elected Chairman
It was PROPOSED by Councillor Mrs Webb SECONDED by Councillor Mrs Routledge that Councillor Mrs Honisett be elected Chairman
Following the first round of voting, where each proposition received four votes, it was RESOLVED by majority vote that Councillor Dr Allen be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

MINUTES:
The Minutes of the last Meeting were signed by the Chairman as being a true record.

OPEN FORUM:
Following a question raised by Mr W Glossop, Prince's Street, it was AGREED for District Councillor Chambers to request the District Council to cut the grass verges in Newton Close.

CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLOR:
Following discussion at the last Meeting one person, Mr R P Harrison, Caroline Road, had put their name forward for co-option by the closing date of the Notice on 23rd May 2003. After due consideration it was RESOLVED to co-pt Mr Harrison onto the Parish Council. North Kesteven District Council to be informed accordingly.

ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN:
It was RESOLVED that Councillor Mrs J Honisett be elected Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.

ELECTION OF SUB-COMMITTEES:
It was RESOLVED that the following Sub-committees be formed;
Highways and Footpaths Sub-committee: Councillors Mrs Creasey, Mrs Honisett, Mrs Parker and Waddington Playing Fields Sub-committee: Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors Ford and Mrs Routledge
Children's Playground Sub-committee: Councillors Mrs Creasey, Duggins, Harrison and Mrs Webb
War Memorial, Spring and Open Spaces Sub-committee: Councillors Mrs Parker, Mrs Routledge, Mrs Webb and Westall
Fayre and Feast Sub-committee: Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors Mrs Creasey, Mrs Parker, Mrs Routledge, Mrs Webb and Westall
Forward Planning Sub-committee: Chairman and Councillors Mrs Honisett, Mrs Parker, Waddington and Mrs Webb
Planning Sub-committee:Chairman, Vice Chairman and any other available Councillors
It was further RESOLVED to elect the Street Lighting and Joint Management Committees at the next
Meeting.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
Playing Fields:
No matters were raised for discussion.
Village Hall and Car Park:
Mr S Munday, Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee, was invited by the Chairman to
present a report on the proposed extension to the Village Hall.
Mr Munday reported that although they had been relatively successful in their grant application to WREN, who had agreed to provide £20,000.00 funding towards the project, the Committee still had a shortfall of £4,925.96 for the scheme to commence. After due consideration, where various options were considered, it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would provide the shortfall in the form of an interest free loan, repayable over three years.
Zebra Crossing:
Following the decision at the last Meeting a letter had been received from Lincolnshire County Council
accepting that the Parish Council were unable to allocate additional funding towards the cost of a zebra
crossing over the Bypass and therefore, they would finance the shortfall themselves. Work is expected to commence in the near future.
Anglian Water:
Councillor Mrs Parker declared an interest and took no part in the discussions.
No further information had been received on the question of installing a Sewerage Discharge Outfall in
Station Road, apart from the minutes of the meeting in April convened by Watervoice.
Spring:
Councillor Mrs Routledge reported that the Sub-committee had inspected the stone wall surrounding the Spring and considered it to be reasonably safe. Nevertheless, the situation will be inspected and monitored regularly.

CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter from Miss Hannah Marsh, Warwick University, seeking financial support from the Parish Council
for a Girl Guides UK visit to Belarus on behalf of South Lincolnshire this July. Miss Marsh is a Unit
Guider for the 1st Metheringham Guides. After due consideration it was AGREED that the Parish
Council would be unable to assist her on this occasion since their policy is to only support projects which will benefit the parishioners.
Letter from Lincolnshire County Council offering 25 trees or 200 hedge plants for free to plant in each
parish. It was AGREED for Councillor Mrs Parker to consider the offer for discussion at the next
Meeting.
Letter and enclosures from Lincolnshire County Council in connection with their Bus Strategy initiative,
which was passed to Councillor Waddington for consideration.
Letter from North Kesteven District Council enclosing a calendar of their meetings for 2003/2004.
Letter from North Kesteven District Council clarifying items raised by parishes on footway lighting
matters. From her question Councillor Mrs Parker was informed by District Councillor Chambers that the
District Council had not made any decisions regarding light pollution.
Letter from Council for the Protection of Rural England confirming that Metheringham's application into
the 2003 Best Kept Village Competition had been accepted.
Letter from Lincolnshire Police advising that the next Local Policing Forum in North Kesteven is to be
held in Billinghay Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 24th July 2003, which Councillor Duggins
AGREED to attend.
Letter from Mr T R Stokes enclosing a copy of a letter for information he had sent to the Lincolnshire
Police expressing concern over rowdyism and parking problems on Shiregate. Councillor Duggins
AGREED to also raise the matter at the next Local Policing Forum.
Copy of a letter sent by Mr D Honisett (3P's Co-ordinator) to the Senior Countryside Access Officer
outlining problems with the Parish Paths Partnership scheme in Metheringham and requesting assistance. Mr Honisett would continue as Co-ordinator, but in a much reduced capacity.

DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT:
Having discussed the matter with the Planning Department Councillor Chambers reported that the
removal of a tree and rebuilding a stone wall adjacent to Lover's Walk was in accordance with the
Planning Approval granted for a new dwelling in Drury Street.
Councillor Chambers reminded the Clerk that the District Council were still awaiting the Parish Council
to reclaim street cleansing costs for Metheringham, which the Clerk AGREED to pursue.
SHIREGATE PLAY PARK:
No further action had been taken by the District Council to replace the post and chainlink fence with a
galvanised metal fence on the Children's Play Park.
VILLAGE CROSS:
Councillor Mrs Routiedge reported that English Heritage had visited the site recently and had no
objection to replacing the Village Cross. Although a local quarry had offered to supply limestone free of
charge and carve a new cross it was AGREED that limestone would not be a suitable material. Therefore, it was AGREED for MACLA to give further consideration to the project and present a design to the Parish Council for approval.

PLANNING:
The following applications were considered;

ACCOUNTS:
It was PROPOSED by Councillor Duggins SECONDED by Councillor Mrs Honisett that the accounts be passed and paid. CARRIED

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
From a report by Councillor Waddington it was AGREED for him to monitor builders work in connection with the alterations, particularly the groundworks, at the Lincoln Co-operative Stores which he considered to be hazardous.
Councillor Mrs Honisett was advised that complications had arisen over the ordering of the new seats and notice board, but hopefully the items will be delivered as soon as possible.
Councillor Mrs Routledge was informed that the Parish Dog Warden had agreed to provide a dog fouling
notice at the Spring.
From a report by Councillor Mrs Routledge it was AGREED that the gate to the Spring could be locked
periodically.
From a report by Councillor Mrs Webb it was AGREED to ask the Lincolnshire County Council to
remove surplus tarmac dumped recently near the entrance to Station Wood following repairs to the level crossing.

The Meeting closed at 10.05pm
 

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