Wind Turbine Community Fund Management Notes

Public

Tony Lazell, Michael Kennedy, Peter Hill, and Noel Mitchell addressed the WTC with their various opinions and questions.

a. Tony Lazell voiced his opinions over local authority structures and circulated documentation which was followed by objections from the WTC once Tony announced plans to read personal emails.

b. Michael Kennedy and Peter Hill voiced their opinions based on their experience.

c. Noel Mitchell asked about approval of meeting minutes, so it was explained the WTC meeting result in notes rather than minutes. John Hodge reinforced that the WTC is operationally independent of the Parish Council, which allows for non-elected committee appointed representative residents to take part. Post meeting note: residents who, unlike Parish Councillors, are not subject to local authority structures.

Action: Parish Councillor representation on the WTC will be followed up in item 3.

Action: The conditional solar grant, awarded in February 2021, will be followed up in item 7.

1. Apologies

Kate Berridge, Sarah Howard from 7.40pm

2. Chair’s annual report 2020-2

The WTC received the report as part of their prep for the meeting.  

Action: John Hodge to publish on the parish website.

3. Great Carlton Councillor resignation and replacement

Carole Lazell has resigned from the WTC.

Decision: The WTC accepted collective responsibility for the weakness in the governance document with reference to item 2 and 4.2.                                                   

Action: John Hodge to include the item on the draft Parish Council agenda for Thursday 9 September 2021.

Action: WTC to review their governance, as scheduled, in February 2022.

4. Approve the final verification of accounts 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021, through Duncan & Toplis Accountants

The WTC received the accounts as part of their prep for the meeting.  

Decision: The WTC confirmed their acceptance of the accounts following the Parish Finance Committee recommendation.

Action: John Hodge to e-sign on behalf of the chair followed by associated actions of receiving and publishing the final accounts and the processing of the accountant’s invoice.

5. Current bank reconciled accounts

Bank reconciled balances were read out.

6. Investment for future Carltons generations including further discussion to approve the way forward as we seek to maximise our return on investment for the benefit of the Carltons

The WTC received a report as part of their prep for the meeting.

Actions: Sue Hebden to continue gathering details of investment options and initiate discussions with representatives of Gayton and Theddlethorpe. Sue will also explore the option of securing the services of an Independent Financial Advisor as to help maximise the return on investment, for the benefit of the Carltons. Post meeting note: Sue will reach out to Saltfleetby as they actively took part in joint pre-COVID-19 discussions as all 4 parishes, benefitting from the community fund, shared good fund management practice. 

7. Progress report on existing grants including a wider discussion to agree a practical way forward to improve the effectiveness of historical, in addition to the largely existing financial, record keeping for the benefit of the Carltons

The WTC received a report as part of their prep for the meeting.

7.1 Carltons History Group: no further decisions or actions

7.2 Vicarage Road Woodland: no further decisions or actions

7.3 Great Carlton War Memorial: no further decisions or actions

7.4 St Edith’s Churchyard Mowing: no further decisions or actions

7.5 Village Green Mowing: no further decisions or actions

7.6 Footpath Mowing: no further decisions or actions

7.7 Footpath Spraying: no further decisions or actions

7.8 St John the Baptist Church gate: no further decisions or actions

7.9 St John the Baptist Church drive: no further decisions or actions

7.10 Sir Edward Smith Trust: Michael Kennedy, as grant applicant agreed to provide a signed statement, on how the grant has supported families during the COVID-19 pandemic, as to show probity on the disbursement of the grant money listing the amounts and individual items of expenditure.

7.11 Village Hall fence: no further decisions or actions

7.12 Solar Panels for Village Hall decisions and actions: the WTC felt they had further questions of the applicant David Reetham and will present questions to the applicant no later than 16 September 2021. The applicant will have until 30 September 2021 to answer the questions. The whole WTC will have a one agenda item informal meeting on 7 October 2021 to review the status of the conditional grant. All questions to the applicants will be overseen by the two remaining members of the sub-committee, Angela Arden and Sue Hebden in their capacities as chair and vice-chair. In the meantime, Angela Arden will alert the grant applicant. John Hodge will check village hall access for 7 October 2021. Post meeting note: all WTC members wishing to raise a question should send to Angela who will act as the WTC coordinator with David. This will significantly reduce the number of emails to the whole WTC.   

7.13 A further associated action: Sue Hebden to amend grant documentation to include a template for the applicant to fill in after their project has been completed, in order to provide a local historical record of spending. This will need to be ready in good time for applicants intending to apply for the next round of grants that have a deadline of 1 February 2022.

7.14 The WTC rejected the idea of attaching representative members of the committee to support potential and actual grant applicants.

8. Next meeting – Thursday 17 February 2022