- Present
- Parish Councillors B.Baker, N.Brooks, Ms. R.Collins, J.Downes (Chairman), Mrs. S.Edghill, Mrs. S.Ward. District Councillor S.Clark. 3 parishioners and 3 members of the public.
Welcome
The chairman asked that all phones were put on to silent mode.
- To receive apologies and Declarations of Interest. Apologies received from Parish Councillors T.Bulgarelli (holiday), Mrs. P.Webb (illness), District Councillors Seaton and Barber. There were no Declarations of Interest.
The meeting closed for an open forum. Parishioners are still concerned that the Roman Court building is still a cause for concern. The meeting reopened.
- Standing Orders review. Councillors 4 year tenure will conclude in 2027. This includes the whole council.
- Review of the meeting minutes time scale. It was proposed that ideally minutes should be available to councillors within ten working days of the meeting. For consideration at the Annual meeting.
- It was proposed that councillor training should be completed at the earliest opportunity. Cllr Collins confirmed that she had completed the training.
- The clerk’s pay and working hours had been reviewed by the finance working party but not full council. At this time, the contracted time per week is ten hours and pay £10,000. It was proposed that a 10% increase in salary should be implemented. To be reviewed. The clerk had never received any holiday pay during her term of office. Councillor Edghill will investigate any implications of this omission.
- Appointment of an assistant clerk and duties. Because of the increase in the workload, an Assistant clerk had been in post in 2017 for a year but had not been replaced. It was proposed that an advertisement for an assistant clerk should be for four hours a week. Duties to include, minutes, correspondence, website and media and willingness to complete training. Salary and job description negotiable.
- Appointment of Vice Chairman and description of duties. Councillor Mrs. Sheila Ward is a trained councillor and is a member of the finance working party, a signatory to the accounts, cemetery working party with special duties of meeting bereaved families, is trained in the requirements of monthly inspections of the defibrillators plus noticeboard and memorials monthly inspections. She may be a candidate for the post of Vice Chairman. She will meet with the chairman before the annual meeting and discuss special duties for a vice chairman.
Introduction to Potential Councillor, Mr. Dennis Hedges
Mr. Hedges gave the council his interests. The decision will be made at the start of the meeting on May 26th.
To Agree the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 24.02.26
The minutes were agreed and signed as a true record.
To Agree the Notes of the Parish Assembly
Councillor Baker to be inserted as present.
To Agree the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 24.03.26
To be inserted: Request that the solid white lines are repainted from Rising Sun pub to Almshouse Corner, due to vehicles parking inconsiderately on corners.
To Receive Reports from County and District Councillors
District Report. S.Clark: Roman Court: Work is on hold at the moment due to Health and Safety looking into issues with building.
To Receive a Financial Report
Receipts and Payments
All the paperwork is with the Internal Auditors, Whiting and Partners, Accountants. End of year balances sent to councillors.
| Date | File | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | 28,234.47 | |
| Receipts | 0.00 | |
| Payments | 19.03.26 | 83 Leverington Village Hall Hall hire 39.00 |
| 84 Upwell Computer Repairs 3 invoices | 80.00 | |
| 85 NPower Street light power | 722.56 | |
| 30.03.26 | 86 Transfer To reserve | 10,000.00 |
| 87 Cambs Acre Subscription | 74.50 | |
| 88 HMRC Empl.Contr. Employer Contributions | 187.35 | |
| 89 S.Edghill Annual Councillor payment | 250.00 | |
| 90 Friends of Leverington Church 137 payment | 450.00 | |
| 91 B.Boyce Mnth 12 | 574.33 | |
| 92 S.Ward various | 717.00 | |
| 93 J.Downes Annual payment | 1500.00 | |
| 94 R.Collins Annual Councillor payment | 250.00 | |
| 95 B.Baker ‘ ‘ ‘ | 250.00 | |
| 96 Upwell Computer repairs Monthly payment | 25.00 | |
| 97 Leverington Village Hall Hall hire | 39.00 | |
| BALANCE AT 31ST MARCH 2026 | 13,075.73 |
| Date | File | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opening balance | 140,450.76 | |
| Receipts | 0.00 | |
| Payments | 19.03.26 | Anglian Water Cemetery water 22.81 |
| BALANCE AT 31ST MARCH 2026 | 140,427.95 |
The Bank statement of the Reserve account was received the day before the meeting. The figures were tabled as shown.
| Date | Amount |
|---|---|
| From 01.04.25 | 151,783.64 |
| 08.09.25 Interest | 505.47 |
| 08.12.25 Interest | 445.82 |
| 02.03.26 Interest | 1339.22 387.93 |
| 153,122.86 |
| At 31.03.26 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Street Lights | 27,673.60 |
| Play equipment | 13,000.00 |
| Cemetery extension | 33,000.00 |
| Contingency reserve | 25,000.00 |
| Risk reserve | 6,000.00 |
| Earmarked for major playground expenses: wetpour & painting. | 30,000.00 |
| Working reserve | 18,449.26 |
| 153,122.86 |
Resolved: To leave the Street Light reserve due to an inspection of all lights. The two lights on Horseshoe Terrace will be paid from this reserve. The play equipment reserve can be used. Cemetery extension will be used when required for the extension. The contingency reserve will be used with the play equipment reserve. The risk reserve will remain. The major playground reserve will remain until after December 31st 2026, the notice date that had been given to the Sports and Social Club. The working reserve consists of the interest received. Can be used if required.
Accounts
Quotes Received for Cemetery Extension
Councillor Brooks has found interested contractors but they wish for drawings. Councillor Brooks will investigate architects.
Leverington Parish Council Profile Project
Councillor Brooks proposed Leverington Parish Council Art Day on 15 September. To be held at the Village Hall. The council agreed to the proposal. It was also agreed that new council T shirts should be purchased.
Council Items Needing Attention
Speed Watch
A full report had been sent to the chairman and he sent to all councillors. Report: Despite speed limit signs, vehicles continually go past the school using excessive speed, endangering any parents, grandparents and children when going to and from school. As a CSW team we feel that there should be a police presence for a few days at this point, to drive home the dangers of speeding in an area right by a school. If this were actioned then I am sure many of the villagers here would be grateful. In three years of monitoring traffic in Leverington there has only been a police presence with us twice, and we usually work a session once a week, so twice out of about 120 sessions is not very good. We know that the police are busy with many other problems but I would put the safety and well being of the children and their parents quite high on a priority list!
Flashing Speed Signs
Mr. White has been charging the batteries and asked for a donation toward the cost. The Council sent £50.00. Councillor Brooks will ask an electrician to look at the sign.
Village Entrance Signs
There has been no contact from the County Council. District Councillor S.Clark will follow up.
Public Footpaths
P.Webb report: Had a quick look including a walk along the river and everything seems okay.
Roman Court
As reported by the District Councillor.
Village Hall Report
B.Baker: No report.
To Receive Insurance / Health and Safety Reports from Councillors
Allotments
Mr. Allgar had been contacted regarding the old greenhouse and asked if he will remove it.
Benches
22.04.26. All benches seem in good order.
Cemetery
The chairman will contact the person putting on the reservation markers to get them put on.
Defibrillators
12.04.26 Myself and Councillor Ward checked all defibrillators this morning. All ok. I took Councillor Ward through checking and reporting procedures. Also showed her the re-supply form that is required for each defibrillator separately. Reports forwarded to CHT and EEAS via Webnos site.
Foal Ground Family Park and Playground
Report received from Councillor Edghill. RoSPA report not yet received. The repairs still need attention. The clerk will contact FLP for a date when work will be completed.
Councillor Collins: From last week's walk round. Saw teenagers using the lower branches of trees as a piece of climbing equipment, casually mentioned, they were harming the trees, by doing this, could they refrain from doing so. So they moved to the gym equipment! Should we have signage displayed, about climbing trees.
Grass is growing but pretty sure, it’s due a mow soon. Generally clear of rubbish. Bottom dyke fence in parts, is covered in it and weeds growing from dyke. Gadds Lane side, there is a tree sapling growing in the wire mesh, can this be removed.
27.04.26 Rubber safety mat, under zip line, is a major trip hazard. due to the fact, someone could trip over it or harm themselves if they fell onto it. Weeds growing under Hedgerow.
Still a gap, bottom left corner, under perimeter fence, a child could crawl through into the water course. Signage from gate, broken off gate, laying in grass. now at mine. A sapling/tree growing the fence, bottom left of perimeter fence. Weeds on bottom fence.
Notice Boards and Memorials
No problem with War memorials. Noticeboards okay but weeds growing round the base.
Street Lights
14.04.26 Carried out routine checks at 2045hrs this evening. All working. No’s 2 & 3 Horseshoe Terrace have both had head replacement and are now in light. Had a message from Mr. Palmer sent to Cllr Collins on Facebook thanking council for getting repairs done.
Village Sign
Post not yet painted. Chairman will chase.
Website
Now seems to be working satisfactorily.
Close of Meeting
The meeting closed at 9.00pm. Next meeting of the Council 26th May 2026. Annual Meeting of the Council.