December 2023 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7th December 2023 at The Ruby Hunt Centre.
Present Cllrs Lovell, Burdall, Harris, Hawkins, Geaney, King, Lunn, Stanley, Walsh, and Wray. Clerk Diane Fairweather. Dist Cllrs Geaney and Bingham
PUBLIC FORUM
MFBHH - Just for information, Clerk has contacted Western Power/National Grid to cut back trees on Church Road boundary at front wall.
POLICE UPDATE
Details of zoom meeting of open forum for Police to give updates of what the Police are and what they are doing in the area.
TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Cllr King – H.G.V. signs for Mill Lane are being made and will be erected soon.
Cllr Geaney – sad to see one takeaway has been down grounded on food safety and hygiene. Hope will be rectified.
New legislation coming in for varying different categories.
Spalding Lions are to be around village with Santa.
Problems on Maple Way which Cllr King has in hand. Difficulties with residents and parking. Cllr Walsh suggested that residents contact Planning as this is part of the management plan.
Suggestions that perhaps the Community Centre can be used for parking or an event for the day. Parish Council are to put forward idea.
Cllr Bingham – As portfolio holder for Planning and Assets.
TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR
Nothing further to report
114/23 APOLOGIES none
115/23 TO RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr Wray – good friends and known to both candidates for co-option.
116/23 TO RECEIVE DRAFT NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 2ND NOVEMBER 2023 Were signed as a true copy, to become minutes. Proposed Cllr King, seconded Cllr Walsh.
117/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK –
Shedgrounds, Firth’s Blackamore all happy to tender. Asked for end of January return. Will call a cemetery meeting before February meeting?
Trail board – emailed a couple of times and called and left messages for P Lorimer, apparently having difficulty with the gentleman who has done work. Advised the PC will help in any way.
Toilets – both doors done now so up and running but found out as cleaner hasn’t had a key and she cleans out of door opening times hasn’t been cleaning. Electricity certificate received for works.
Christmas trees up thanks to Fire Brigade, we have taken them a gesture of appreciation.
118/23 TO CO-OPT NEW COUNCILLOR
Two candidates, neither of which were at the meeting. Both applicants had forwarded letter of application. Cllr Walsh proposed defer to closed session at close of business, seconded Cllr King.
‘Closed Sessions’ Cllr Walsh suggested of the two what skill set would PC be missing dependant on who was successful. Two very good candidates, a difficult decision. Private ballot requested by Cllr Geaney, seconded Cllr King. Ballot equal on 5 votes each. Chair took casting vote, Cllr Rollinson being successful.
119/23 TO RECEIVE CHAIRS UPDATES
Complaints of rats at Mill Pit. Is PC liable to maintain? Yes, but chemicals cannot be used, as public area. Signs have been erected but taken down again. Chair asked if Cllr Wray is aware of any solution. Clerk advised Environment but nothing can be done in a public area. Cllr Wray suggested speaking with District Council again as pond if fenced off, can poison be used behind fence line? Cllr King to speak with Environment again.
Cllr King not happy with poison due to secondary poisoning of family pets etc.
Chair suggested Cllr Wray speaks with his resource to see if poison would be able to be used.
Chair reported Christmas market well went, asked where stalls are? Cllr Wray has them in storage. These are still used at Flinders Summer Fayre.
120/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM IDEA
Fireworks – lucky with weather £2900 profit. Really successful as many local events were cancelled. Fireman once again set of fireworks. £360 also made on mystery bags in Church at Market.
Four cameras in park, as part of UKSP funding.
Container in park, Chair has been working on roof and it is no longer leaking.
Significant amount of deadwood requiring removing. Also felled tree cut up on footpath to old cemetery requires disposal.
Malcom Mills is interest in doing magazine again with Clerk’s assistance. IDEA in agreement. Cllr Hawkins agreed in that the advertising in the magazine formed a major part of IDEA’s revenue.
121/23 TO DISCUSS IN PRINCIPLE EXTERNAL TOILET UNIT
Figure for installation is £5,000 max, may be ideal for Flinders Park.
Cllr Bingham explained one order was cancelled and the unit is going ‘free’ With Donington expanding and the return of Matthew Flinders felt it may be advantageous to the village. A drop-in unit, self-contained only requires utilities attaching. May fit adjacent to the existing toilets. Dist Council offering to supply and deliver. For a small expenditure this £50k piece of equipment would be an asset.
Cllr Hawkins felt a good idea with Flinders returning home.
Council agreed in principle. Additional works required for siting and costings.
Cllr Bingham to speak with District and clerk to obtain quotation from local firm for works.
Cllr Bingham left the meeting at 7.40.
122/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON WAR GRAVES COMMISSION SIGN FOR CEMETERY
Application form sent but photograph was not sufficient for them so second image sent.
Update from Juliet the project administrator is that it should hopefully be installed within the first few months of the new year, but this is reliant on Operation Teams fitting it around areas of maintenance and routine inspections in the area.
123/23 TO DISCUSS/APPROVE A DISABLED PARKING AREA TO COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS
Chair had detailed plan of area, showing measurements that are legally required for a disabled parking space. Move last bay to left. Leaves 2-foot walkway. Suggestions that bays are marked in yellow, together with the existing lines for spaces leaving a small area for motorcycles. Cllr Burdall asked if lines for marking can be full as opposed the ‘T’ marking at each end at present. Chair proposed to proceed with the project. Cllr Walsh requested a full costing of project before can be approved. Clerk to request quotations for each individual part of the work i.e. regarding lines, parking bays, signage etc.
124/23 TO DISCUSS/APPROVE VANDAL PROOF TOILET ROLL HOLDER AND SOAP DISPENSERS.
Chair suggested purchase of these products from the company employed by South Holland District Council who did the original refit. No figures present. Clerk to obtain and bring to next meeting.
125/23 TO RECEIVE FINANCE REPORT ‘in closed session’.
a) To Discuss/Approve Precept.
Update from HR – Clerk’s appraisal had taken place. No increase in pay for five years and is behind guidelines from NALC. A request for this to be paid if happy with work. All agreed. Clerk also felt the post now afforded additional hours as new Committees require additional meetings and future proposed projects. Committee agreed additional three hours. Council approval, majority, not unanimous approval.
Presentation from Finance.
It was felt with additional costs that will be incurred by Clerk wages and cemetery contractors. Cost of living increase running at 9%. Finance agreed that precept should be increased to £50k.
Concerns for increase to public but with additional residences, the increase in precept will not have a huge effect on Council Tax.
Cllr Wray asked if increase was sufficient as it would not be sustainable to reduce reserves by £30k each year. Projects in hand will be only a one off this year.
Cllr Hawkins concerned that sufficient funding was not being proposed for IDEA. Cllr Walsh, as Chair of Finance, suggested that could not justify £1,000 towards audit each year. Cllr Hawkins felt strongly that the Council must support IDEA, or alternatively volunteers just hand it back to Council.
Suggestions again that should change status to a Charity.
Cllr Lunn advised could not amend status from Limited Company by guarantor as it protects committee members. It was felt that the park is an asset for the village and should be maintained.
After much discussion all agreed it is a difficult year this year for anticipated expenditure.
Cllr Walsh therefore proposed Precept be increased to £50k, seconded Cllr King
Council payments authorised as per schedule. Prop Cllr Walsh seconded Cllr King
126/23 TO DISCUSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS MONTH.
H04/1003-23 24 Chestnut Avenue, single storey rear extension – no objections.
H04/0999-23 2 Goxhill Avenue – retrospective polycarbonate roof to tile roof on kitchen.
H04-1045-23 Plot 1 Off Maple Way proposed residential development of one dwelling, increasing existing application.
H04-1057-23 Rear 15a Red Gables – erection of ¾ bedroomed bungalow – reserved matters. Nothing appeared to have been amended from previous refusal. PC object on grounds of safety to entrance and exit.
127/23 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
NB – MF proposal put forward for event after the ceremony. Required to get together to ascertain proposals. Arrange meeting in January for Councillors wishing to be part of group before asking public if interested.
SH – sign on door for electric opening times.
JK – disappointed at lack of support from Parish Councillors at Market.
Approximately £500 profit.
GL - Park Lane/ Gleed Avenue salt bin, as dangerous. That request and others refilled, already requested by Dist Cllr King.
Correspondence LCC – proposed waiting instructions for the school and School Lane
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 4th January 2024