2025 Annual Town Meeting

 

Present: There were 23 members of public present.

The Rickard Throphy was presented to Paddy Donnellan. 

 

Agenda: 

 

1) Welcome from Chairman Cllr Matthew Mason

 

2) Notes from the Annual Parishioners meeting held on the 18th April 2024. Proposed and seconded as a true and correct record, all in attendance voted in favour.

 

3) Mayor- Chairman Cllr Matthew Mason gave his report on duties and events in her first year as a Council Chairman – full report attached. 

 

4) Debbie Money Chairman of Coningsby Helping Hands – unable to attend, report attached.

 

5) Coningsby Charity accounts were dropped off to the council to read. No formal report given.  Clerk read the following balances: 

a) The Bankes charity current balance - £277.38

b) The Wisbech charity current balance – £1697.36

c) The Lawrence charity current balance is - £11,151.87

 

Annual report from Lions was read out by 3 representatives in attendance. – See attached. 

 

Report given by RBL and magazines for circulation. 

 

Refreshments were served. 

 

Good evening, ladies gentlemen and fellow councillors welcome to our annual parish meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for attending.

 

I started my mayoral year in May 2024, taking the role of Chairman over from Cllr Bowen who did an outstanding job from 2022 – 2024.

 

This was my second stint as Mayor having served this Council from 2015-2017, so I was aware of the roles and responsibilities or representing this wonderful community.

 

My first role of chairman was to support Cllr’s and the community in constructing the new surface and area around the MUGA due to the recent floods which caused a lot of damage. CTC received funding from the insurance to get this back to a fantastic standard which the community and groups can continue to enjoy.

 

I was also asked in my role of Chairman to support Cllr Bowen in the Duke of Edinburgh awards to be licence holder, working in conjunction with expedition Manager Cllr Bowen who has tirelessly worked with Jenny MacDougall who runs this for the local community. This has been a real community asset.

 

I also worked closely with Cllr Ashton to support him and residents in completing the reinstatement on Hoplands road which was notorious for potholes and bad surface course.  The community and residents are over the moon and happy in what LCC and Highways completed. So thanks go to Cllr Ashton for getting this over the line.

 

In 2024 we sadly lost Mrs Joan Rosevere MBE, a former Clerk to CTC and a key figure in the community supporting the Royal British Legion in selling poppies and many other things. Including the Lancaster Sibsey memorial site. I attended the funeral to represent CTC and the wider community, and it was clear to see she was a very loved lady.

 

2024 saw CTC work in conjunction with LCC namely Cllr Ashton to finally get Hawthorne Hill/Dogdyke road speed restrictions in place. These are now 40MPH roads as opposed to 60 MPH and this will greatly benefit the wider community and motorists in keeping the roads safe.

 

There has been good progress and intake from youngsters to DIVSS youth club, run and supported by Cllr Bowen, which is run weekly at the Allen Barker pavilion and my extended thanks go to Cllr Bowen and other supporters as this greatly helps youngsters in keeping them entertained.

 

CTC have worked in conjunction with Caroline Dawson in purchasing and erecting two defibrillators, one at Dogdyke and one Hawthorne Hill. 

 

CTC are working with CFC to secure funding to purchase a container for Coningsby football club to house all their goods. A planning application was submitted and approved for this container to be housed at the Allen Barker field.

 

September saw the local awards being presented by Council and chairman and the Ramshaw business award winner was Aggregate Industries Ltd Woodhall Spa, who during the flooding caused by storm BABET burst into action and supplied manpower and goods to try and help provide damage limitations to all that they could, not only in con but in the surrounding villages.

 

The Fred Bailey Front Garden Award was this year presented to Mary Walker and John Pinion of High Street Coningsby for all year round displays not only floral but also Coningsby scarecrow who is always changing with the seasons and events and is enjoyed by all!

 

October saw the appointment of Committee and working groups, support groups which include HR and finance, cemetery and amenities and sports and pavilion. These are members of council who work tirelessly to safeguard expenditure and work in the best interests of the community.

 

The skate park extension was funded and completed on the Allen barker field and a special thanks to our Clerk Sarah for getting the funding and Woodhall aggregate industries for supplying the materials at no cost. This can now be enjoyed by all.

 

CTC have been looking for a suitable area of land to be the new cemetery, ongoing investigations by a specialist geological company have not been in favour of this land but Coningsby will work tirelessly to find another suitable location.

 

I as chairman was informed of the shock news that our past clerk, Kathy Roberts was intending to retire and leave CTC Post as clerk after 18 fabulous and hardworking years. We then had the hard job of replacing her and thankfully this role was fulfilled by our Deputy Clerk Sarah Kulwicki who continues to do a sterling job.

In November I attended both ceremonies namely, Remembrance Day at Coningsby St Michaels church and the war memorial and the afternoon service for the youth and children at the cemetery. This was run for many years by the late Joan Roseveare and continues to be a success as always, long may it continue.

Myself and other Cllrs also attended RAF Coningsby remembrance service which was well attended by local schools and other local groups.

 

Also came the shock news of Cllr Johnson, handing in his resignation in his role of Cllr after many years’ service. He did a great job for many years and will be missed.

 

December saw me attend the Xmas lights switch on at St Micheals church, which was well attended, my thanks go to local businesses for supporting this and especially Cllr Donellan and other members of council and community who year on year make this a success.

 

December was a very challenging and difficult times for myself as I sadly lost my father after a short illness. So, I would like to thank my fellow Cllrs and Clerks for supporting me in this difficult time. Namely, Cllr Kevin Moorhouse who was a pillar of support in dealing with the running of council duties. Thank you.

 

I would also like to thank other Cllr’s for their support who worked tirelessly in making this a great community, namely Cllr Ashton, Cllr Foster, Cllr Knowles. Without you guys and your hard work we would be lost.

 

I would also like to thank the local groups including Lions, Rotary, Scout groups, youth groups for your continued work within the community.

 

A big thank you must go to Sarah, our Clerk who does a wonderful job in keeping council affairs in the community running efficiently for which she goes above and beyond.

 

I would like to thank my family for the support in this role of mayor to the wonderful town. I will continue to give it my full support in the next term of office from 2025-26.

Thank you.

 

This year we have held numerous events including two of our infamous cream teas. One held in April and one in September, a lovely afternoon seeing people come together to enjoy deliciously prepared food all at a very reasonable price. 

The wonderful May Tea as always was enthusiastically enjoyed by 120 senior citizens who enjoyed a delicious salad along with trifle, plum bread, delicious cakes and beverages, all finished off with sherry or a soft drink. This followed entertainment by the dream bells who once again had the crowd singing and dancing. A big thankyou to Coningsby and Tattershall LIONS for contributing towards this event and also for their assistance on the day. 

We held a successful Xmas fayre with local traders selling their gifts, a Santas grotto and other fund-raising stalls, and a New Years eve dance which was also well attended. The entertainment was excellent and enjoyed by all. 

The ever so popular breakfast with Santa was absolute madness again with 40 children having a blast and enjoying a scrumptious breakfast, crafts, dancing, entertainment, visits from the grinch and the Christmas nutcracker, Santas grotto and each child took gifts home. 

We also attended the Tattershall with Thorpe fete with various games and had a stall at the Dandelion nursey Christmas fayre. 

Donations this year include £120 from the ladies group, £122.28 from warren for his scrap metal sales, £300 from Tattershall bingo, £75.00 from Coningsby Football club after a charity match and a staggering £1040 from a football match organised and played by Man VS Fat at Boston. 

We have also sold helping hands merchandise this year at our local events including mugs, flasks and glasses. 

We are also in receipt of many other donations many from people showing gratitude for our work in the community or for the hire of equipment. Weve also had donations in lieu of flowers from loved ones passed away. 

Thank you to each and everyone who give so generously enabling us along with our fundraising to carry on proving the service we do. We as a committee are extremely grateful. Thank you to the people who support our events and to the town council. 

Thank you to the many people who help us at various functions throughout the year their time is so valued ad to each and everyone of the committee for all their work throughout the year. 

This year we have purchased bed tables, a bed rail and scooter batteries, also paying for the servicing and upkeep of the many scooter we have out on load £1400 has been spent this year on repairs, servicing and batteries alone. 

So we continue into 2025 with the same ethics and enthusiasm, supporting those in need so thank you for helping others. 

The accounts have been to Dexters and have been audited. A copy is available.

 

Coningsby & Tattershall Lions have been providing service in Coningsby, Tattershall, Tattershall Thorpe and Mareham Le Fen, and sometimes a little further afield as required, for over 28 years! We are proud to be part of and to help out at the heart of our local Community. In the past 3 years we have completed roughly 22,275 hours of service. We are all volunteers and for a relatively small club that is quite an achievement. You may wonder where that vast number of volunteering hours comes from As you are aware, we were even volunteering during the lockdown period and many of our service activities from then still continue as well as other new and annual service activities Here are a few examples: Prescription collection and delivery and shopping for housebound individuals, which started in lockdown, continues. Food purchases, plus donations received from local well wishers, primary schools and our store business partners, we are able to supply to families and individuals in need. We receive emergency requests from local government bodies to help individuals who have recently moved into the area, or are having financial difficulties, with food and utility supplies. We have links with Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service and the East Coast Food directive co-ordinators and together we work towards a common goal in providing local welfare. Lions and Leos have also supported the East Coast Homeless Outreach with donations of food and all weather sleeping bags. Our Leos, who are the younger version of Lions, are a very active and enthusiastic bunch of 12 -18 year old members. Lions have big hearts and an unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and mostly underrated gift we can share. But kindness is more than just deeds; it’s an attitude, a gesture, a look and some days a smile can make a difference to a lonely person. Or a cup of tea or coffee….the Lions den is open 3 mornings, and on alternate weeks for 4 mornings, for Coffee and Chat sessions, providing a warm and welcoming space. These sessions are provided by organisations working together: the Royal British Legion; our club members and volunteers who are raising funds for the Getaway club in Horncastle or to provide special outings or treats for coffee and chat attendees We have donated baby items to Pilgrim hospital; two of our club members volunteer there each week. It’s always a pleasure to support a fellow charity and we enjoy supporting Helping Hands during the day of their May Tea. It’s on May 10th this year!! We know how to paint the Town red...well, maybe that’s an exaggeration! We help to put up the Lamppost poppies! Our Christmas Toy and Gift collection which we first started during lockdown has gone from strength to strength. We were particularly surprised and overwhelmed with our Christmas 2024 appeal when donations far exceeded expectations especially during the cost of living crisis. Local schools, businesses and individuals were so generous that we were not only able to furnish local families known to us in Coningsby & Tattershall but also, via Children’s Links and the Community Co-ordinator for East Lindsey, plus Barnardos, we were also able to bring a little happiness to children and families in the wider East Lindsey community. Santa Claus was indeed coming to Town! Over 700 gifts were wrapped and delivered. This little light of mine, I’m gonna make it shine….so we put up and took down the Town Christmas Trees; it’s always a pleasure to do this for the local community. Our Sleigh run was successful and in spite of some bitterly cold and wet nights we managed to do all our routes. We care about our Environment. We have planted an oak tree under the late Queen Elizabeth’s green canopy and have erected a bench in her memory. Some of our Lions who live just outside Coningsby & Tattershall also serve as Wombles in their local area. Our Plant sale is always popular; this year’s event is on May 10th! Yes, it’s same day as the Helping Hands May Tea but we have the capacity to split into two Prides so we can actually be in two places at once!! But it’s not all hard work! Some of our fundraising events are fun for us and the community. For example our Beer festival may involve some logistical challenges but we do have a great time meeting and serving the locals with Craft Beers and Ciders and food all at reasonable prices. We know how to dosey do and split the willow; we’ve had plenty of practise these past 28 years and our Barn Dance provides entertainment for all the family. Two left feet are optional!! We run an eggciting Easter competition where we egg people on to buy our Easter egg squares. Yes, the Easter Bunny loves us! It’s chocolate heaven! We recycle spectacles and have almost 1,000 ready for transportation for their onward journey to support Eye Camps in the developing world. Your pre-loved spectacles and grant the gift of sight to an adult so that they can work and support their family and to children so that they can actively engage in lessons at school. Our fundraising activities allows us to make donations to local, national and international charitable causes: We have donated to East Coast Homeless, LIVES; the Ambucopter; Both St Barnabas and the Butterfly hospice; Holy Trinity, Tattershall Primary and Coningsby St Michael’s schools; ; Barnes Wallis Academy; 2nd Tattershall Brownies; Coningsby Youth Project; the Getaway club in Horncastle; Meningisitis UK; Motor Neurone Stoves for Ukraine plus our Lions Clubs Foundation Disaster relief fund. However, our largest local outlay is for food welfare. Much of what we do we could not do without the support of the local community attending our events or from business sponsorship we receive throughout the year. We are grateful for all the support we receive because it helps us to help others. Together we are making a difference! So, if you have ever put a coin into a collection or supported one of our projects or attended one of our events then THANK YOU! Together: Thank you for listening!!