July 2023 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 4th July 2023 at The Library.
Present Cllrs Lovell, Burdall, Harris, Hawkins, Geaney, King, Lunn, Slater, Stanley, Walsh, and Wray. Clerk Diane Fairweather
PUBLIC FORUM
JP – MFBHH - Benefactor has come forward, he is a previous resident of the village and wishes to help with the fund and any other funding available of which he has knowledge and experience in.
59/23 APOLOGIES none
60/23 TO RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr Geaney as part time employee of the Thomas Cowley Academy.
Cllr J King as a Governor of The Thomas Cowley Academy.
61/23 TO RECEIVE DRAFT NOTES OF LAST MEETING OF 18th MAY AND CASUAL MEETING OF 1st JUNE 2023
Both were signed as a true copy, to become minutes. Proposed Cllr King seconded Cllr Stanley.
62/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Asset registers issued to Councillors following the request from Cllr Harris.
Boundary map of parish issued to Councillor following the request from Cllr Harris
Lease of Mill Pond – still causing problems as the tenants are wanting to put conditions of the release of the lease regarding use of the driveway. Advised solicitors the PC are not willing to accept any conditions.
Walking trail sign still not return, despite Cllr Kings request. Clerk to now write and ask for it to be replaced.
Market Place wall rebuilt.
63/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CHAIR
Chair reminded Councillors, Cllr King is to have walk-around with Highways officers, and they should forward any observations to the clerk before this date.
Matthew Flinders signs on entrances to village in need of a clean-up, particularly the one on Quadring Road as it is barely visible. Clerk advised Highways had been approached for this to be moved, but advised cannot be put closer to the highway because of the junction.
64/23 TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE PAYMENTS OF ACCOUNT
Council payments authorised as per schedule.
Cllr Harris requesting details of quotation and invoice for Market Place electricity box. Had called and felt it had not been done to the standard he would have expected. Clerk to forward on. Requesting if the Council had works checked after completion to make sure they are done to a satisfactory standard.
Clerk advised if a contractor were qualified to quote, they would not get a second contractor in to checks works.
Cllr Harris also questioned if there should be a finance meeting before Parish Council meetings for the payments to be approved. Questioning if the Parish Council had sufficient knowledge to authorise such payments. Clerk advised most payments made are either contactors that have been agreed at the beginning of the fiscal year or additional works which have had quotations and been approved at a council meeting previously. All agreed there is no need for the finance meeting to hold an additional meeting for this. Prop Cllr Geaney seconded Cllr Burdall, therefore approved payments as per schedule.
Finance meeting agreed for 12th July.
To Receive Updates From Cemetery Committee of Their Meeting With Contractor
Cemetery committee gave update of meeting. Quite successful and contractor agreed works had not been to their best and was disappointed in the areas particularly around the boundary fencing, and the grass on the pathway. Agreed to investigate this and indeed prior to this meeting the areas had been dealt with. All had agreed the area had not actually received attention until very late in the season, and with growing season being longer and longer each year, this needed addressing. To address in future years.
When tendering next year, specific details of works required to be given in order that contractors can give a like for like quotation for works.
Looking into old part of the cemetery to consider ideas to be able to keep it clean but allow wildflowers to grow in their season.
Trees in cemetery would require attention over the coming years. Clerk would ask arborist to survey for the PC.
65/23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES OF ACTIVITIES OF P.C. REPRESENTATIVES
Cowley Foundation – first meeting due on 6th July 2023
Millsons Charity – only meet to distribute Christmas Donations
Poor Lands – only meet to distribute Christmas Donations
Library – all running well.
Red Cow Lock Up – to be taken in committee.
IDEA – have meeting on Monday. Still persistent rubbish in park. Vaping in park, parents should educate children in the danger of them. Reports of 12-year-old youth vaping at fishing lake also.
66/23 TO DISCUSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS MONTH.
H04-0568-23 Thomas Cowley High School – replacement fencing
H-04-0577-23 – convert outbuilding to annex – previously wanting to build additional building on plot. Very close to neighbouring property.
H04-0582-23 Goxhill Avenue – resubmission of previous application.
Stephen Wright had written to Parish Council to ask for support over the resubmission of land off High Street. Although proposed development in centre of commercial area South Holland does not use this as a detriment to the area. Clerk to put response for Councillors before submitting but as yet application not at South Holland.
67/23 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
NB – resident thank you for mended tap in cemetery.
KG – Asking if Standing Orders had been revised. To be part of next month’s meeting together with couple of other policies that required reviewing.
SH – fly tipping in dyke in Towndam Lane.
DH – requesting, following speed checks on A52, is refuge in centre of highway proceeding?
JK – felt a difficult meeting with lack of information of new councillors, resulting in ill feeling of the Clerk and Council. Planters all set up so require watering regularly. Cllr King had asked shop keepers close to relevant planters. Cllr Lunn advised there is money in the Bloom account to pay someone to do regularly.
GL - had received notification from a resident that the PC had been asked if they would like notices on entrance to cemetery advising there are War Graves. Clerk had received this, but it was for Kirton, whom she had been a temporary acting Clerk. Clerk to speak with ~War Commission. Cllr Geaney to ascertain how many graves we had in the cemetery.
Application for Post Code lottery submitted.
PS – persistent problem with dog pooh. Following a request, he made on Facebook there was a general feeling there were not enough bins. It still requires the owners to be responsible. Cllr King had meeting with dog warden which Cllr Slater asked if he could attend.
Raised BT manhole cover in Malting Lane as risk hazard.
JS – can Cllr King once again request extension of double yellow lines in Church Street. Footpath from Church Street to Church is overgrown and requires attention.
CW – drains in park leading to pond were not the responsibility of BSIDB.
67/23 – TO RECEIVE CORREPONDENCE
Request from resident in Salters Way asking if grassed area there can be used for dog training and nature space for
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Although meetings not held in August normally, new Councillors had suggested with the current projects pending, it was voted six for, one against and four abstentions to hold a meeting. Therefore, Thursday 3rd August 2023 approved for next meeting.