Troubled parish council set to meet after emergency member voted in to enable it to function

A parish council in the Sleaford area which was left unable to function when five councillors resigned in quick succession is to meet again for the first time since emergency measures were put in place.
Coun Dr Peter Moseley. EMN-201214-191231001Coun Dr Peter Moseley. EMN-201214-191231001
Coun Dr Peter Moseley. EMN-201214-191231001

Only Councillors Roy Greenwood and Corinne Ramm remained on Pointon and Sempringham Parish Council, with vacancies for five new councillors being advertised and an election called, but this cannot be held until May due to Covid restrictions.

Before Christmas, South Kesteven District Council agreed to allow key cabinet member and Aveland ward councillor, Dr Peter Moseley, to be seconded to Pointon Parish Council on a temporary basis for it to be able to carry out its business.

The council is hoping to hold an open parish council meeting via Zoom on Tuesday (January 12) at 7.30pm.

The minimum three members required will make the council quorate and able to sit. It is assumed that the first item of business will be selecting a new chairman and vice-chairman.

There is to be a 15 minute public question time at the start of the meeting.

Coun Moseley had told The Standard that if he did not step in, the running of the parish would have to be taken on by SKDC. Having been a parish councillor in the past, he said: “With all the extra work we (SKDC) are doing I had to think carefully, but it is the right thing to do.

“I just want to help get the parish council into a place where it is fit and ready for parish councillors to be elected in May.”

He said he was looking forward to working with the two remaining experienced members.

Coun Moseley said: “It is very easy to get quite sensitive and heated in parish land and sometimes you need to step back and have a good look.”

Former chairman of Pointon Parish Council Chris South resigned due to ill health, while councillors Clive Burt, Doreen Griffiths, Wendy Moore and Hazel Wells resigned after heated exchanges at meetings in November.

Coun Burt was advised to resign to remove a conflict of interest as he is also director of the company running the Old Ship Inn which was negotiating a three-year lease to renovate and run the Sports and Social Club pavilion on the playing field.

Coun Burt has since claimed he was wrongly advised, but clerk Carol McKenzie insists Coun Burt initially failed to declare an interest.

An advert has been placed for a permanent clerk as Mrs McKenzie was only appointed on a temporary basis.

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