November 2025 Minutes (EOM)
Coningsby Town Council Extraordinary Meeting
November 19th, 2025, at 5:45pm in the Alan Barker Meeting Room
In attendance: With Councillor Matthew Mason as Chair, Cllrs: Mary Walker, Paddy Donnellan, Amanda Bowen, Ray Evison, Ruth Sharples, Derek Mulholland, Tabbi Bannister and Chris Waites.
Clerk – Sarah-Louise Kulwicki
Public forum – None.
25/26- 87. Welcome from Chairman
The chairman welcomed all present and thanked them for coming.
25/26- 88. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies received from Cllr Olive and Cllr Moorhouse.
Proposed, seconded, and RESOLVED to accept the apologies.
25/26- 89. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation.
None.
25/26- 90. To decide the future of Coningsby Christmas tree lighting ceremony - essential repairs needed to the church electricity supply
Councillors were presented with 7 options:
1 - Do not erect the tree.
No costs and a possibility of reselling the tree.
2 - Erect the tree without any decorations.
Cost of labour only.
3 - Erect the tree and decorate with silver plastic film bows etc.
Cost of labour and materials.
4 - Erect the tree and decorate with the Council’s existing LED lights.
I am unable to find any information that would provide a 220 volt
DC (direct current) supply that is required for these LED lights.
Another option would be to use a petrol or diesel AC (alternating current)
and transform the current to DC. This option would require regular
refuelling, noise issues, safety concerns, vandalism and theft.
Cost of labour to install and refuel. Also cost of fuel and the inherent
issues regarding fuel storage.
5 - Erect the tree and install battery powered lights as recommended by the
supplier of the council’s other lights (lights4fun).
19.9mt long string of 200 red, green, yellow and blue LED lights powered by
3 D class batteries. £24.99 per string. Multiple string will be required.
The inbuilt timer would allow the lights to be on for 6 hours and off for 18 hours.
The supplier claims 180 hour run time, if correct this would equate to 30 days of
use. The D type batteries required are available from eBay at approximately £2.06
each three batteries required per string.
6 - Erect the tree and install the council’s existing lights.
The 240 volt supply required could be taken from the CCTV column at the
north east corner of the church grounds. This supply is twenty meters closer
to the tree than the supply in the church boiler room.
The feasibility of this solution would require the council’s electrical contractor
to inspect and quote to install 13 amp outlet with RCD that would be tamper proof.
Est Cost given £125.00 J. Parker electrical
7. Erect the tree and install the council’s existing lights
To connect into a local business or residence with a donation being made towards their electric bill.
Please note Morrisons daily have not responded but the request has been sent to head office.
A local resident has agreed to have the lights connected to their outdoor power supply.
Proposed, seconded, and RESOLVED for the council to do option 6. The chairman thanked Cllrs for the input and research.
Proposed, seconded, and RESOLVED to have a flask of hot drinks and some chocolates outside on the evening after the tree lighting at 6pm.
Proposed, seconded, and RESOLVED for the mayor Matthew Mason to do the switch on.
25/26- 91. To sign and agree an appropriate risk assessment
Proposed, seconded, and RESOLVED.
25/26- 92. Next normal council meeting - 27th of November at 7:30pm in the community hall.
The meeting closed at 6:00pm