July 20 - Ordinary Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF AN ORDINARY VIRTUAL MEETING HELD BY HEMSWELL PARISH COUNCIL
ON MONDAY 20th JULY 2020 AT 7:30 pm
1. Present:
Cllr B. Mander (BM)(Chairman); Cllr J. Roberts (JR) (Vice-Chairman); Cllr M. Foster (MF); Cllr R. Hazell (RH); Cllr C. Black (CB); Cllr P. Watkinson (PW).
2. Apologies:
PCSO J. McFaul
3. Adjournment:
3a. County Councillor C Perraton-Williams (CPW) provided a report -
i. Corringham Road/Thorndike Way junction. Work to install traffic lights will begin Monday 7th September lasting approximately 12 weeks at a cost of £1.5 million.
ii. New Highways small maintenance teams created and under CPW responsibility. Should speed up minor repairs.
iii. The replacement of the grit bin on Church street is still under review. A site visit was conducted by highways to gather information. Highways are now awaiting feedback from other departments before advising on the relocation of the grit bin.
iv. The drain on Brook Street will be investigated, but no timescale provided. CPW was advised that in the council’s opinion it would be better to investigate the drain prior to further bad weather.
3b. District Councillor. P. Howitt-Cowan (PHC) provided a report
i. Devolution is again being discussed. WLDC are opposed, however it is expected that it will be agreed with implementation in 2022. WLDC are considering a judicial review.
ii. The district council’s commercial portfolio is still performing despite the pandemic.
iii. A £1.9 million Heritage Lottery grant has been received for improvements to Gainsborough town centre. A Heritage Community Engagement Officer will be appointed to manage the allocation of the grant. It is expected grants will be available for building improvements.
iv. Further information provided in the new newsletter “Keeping Connected” July 2020.
3c. PCSO J McFaul submitted a report covering the last 8 weeks via email
i. 22/6/2020 – a witness thought a caravan was being stolen from a neighbouring driveway, this was in fact all in order but a thank-you to a vigilant neighbour.
4. Declaration of Interests
None
5. Approval of minutes from previous meeting
a. Extraordinary Meeting 18th June 2020
Proposed: RH Seconded: MF Carried unanimously
6. Planning
6a. No new planning applications received
6b. 141128 The Blacksmith’s Forge
PC response provided to WLDC
6c. 140636 Land to rear of 12 Weldon Road
The council has received feedback from WLDC planning department that no breach of planning permission has taken place following the erection of a garden shed on the land, as planning has not yet been invoked. Following numerous complaints from parishioners to PHC / WLDC regarding the lack of transparency of the planning process regarding this application PHC has approached the Planning Manager with parishioners concerns and the matter has been passed to WLDC’s Customer Experience Officer for review.
Proposal: The chairman to request a meeting with the Planning Manager and PHC to discuss the concerns the council has with the planning process and the apparent lack of transparency.
7. Highways
7a. Grit bin update
See County Councillor report (3a iii).
7b. Brook Street Drain update
See County Councillor report (3a iv).
7c. Corringham Road/Thorndike Way junction
See County Councillor report (3a i) and separate county and district communications.
8. Review of Policies and Standing Orders
8a. Discussion on how to proceed with review of Council policies and procedures
Following the annual review of the council’s policies and procedures it was proposed that several documents should be updated, and additional documents adopted in line with LALC guidance. The council reviewed the information and unanimously agreed. Revised versions of the Code of Conduct and Standing Orders were reviewed and accepted for adoption.
Proposal: Chairman to review all parish council policies and procedures in line with published LALC model documents and propose amendments for council review.
Proposed: BM Seconded: JR Carried unanimously
8b. Proposal: to adopt an amended version of LALC model Standing Orders 2018 (England),
Proposed: BM Seconded: CB Carried: unanimously
8c. Proposal: to adopt LALC model Code of Conduct
Proposed: BM Seconded: RH Carried: unanimously
Action: All councillors to review adopted documents and return completed ‘Receipt of the Code of Conduct’ form to WLDC within 28 days.
9. WLDC Draft Licencing Policy
The council reviewed the draft policy and had no comments:
Proposal: Clerk to reply to WLDC that the Parish Council had no comments.
Proposed: BM Seconded: MF Carried: unanimously
10. Lincolnshire FieldPaths Association
The council unanimously agreed to continue to subscribe to the FieldPaths Association and pay the annual membership (£5).
11. WLDC Climate, Environment and Sustainability Survey
The council was unable to review the survey questions in full, as the online survey required each question to answered before moving to the next.
Action: Clerk to write to WLDC to ask if a full list of the questions was available for distribution to determine the relevance to the council.
12. Council Insurances
All premiums have been paid and certificates of insurance received.
13. Reports
13a. Village Hall
Events have not yet restarted in the hall. The committee is obtaining quotes for remedial electrical work which is hoped to be completed prior to the re- opening for hire.
13b. Neighbourhood Plan
No change whilst the committee have been discussing with WLDC the lack of transparency in the planning department over recent decisions.
14. Finance
14a. Overview
Presented and unanimously agreed as true record
14b. VAT refund
Received £ 1,125.80
14c. Cheques to authorise
The following cheques were unanimously accepted for payment
Grass Cutting (May & June) £ 300.00
Clerk’s stationary £ 15.31
Lincolnshire FieldPaths Association £ 5.00
15. Clerk Recruitment – No applications had been received for the position following the advertisement of the position on the LALC website and within the LALC Clerk’s social forum.
Proposal: Chairman to review with LALC personnel, options for recruitment. Chairman to adjust advert in line with LALC guidance and remit of council and re-advertise.
Proposed: BM Seconded: JR Carried: unanimously
16. Councillor Vacancy
The council was informed that WLDC had not received sufficient requests for an election to take place. The council is therefore now able to co-opt a replacement member.
17. Burial Authority
17a. No requests received
17b. Review of Burial Authority Information, Charges and Regulations
The current document was reviewed. Unanimously agreed to defer discussion until next meeting.
18. Meeting closure: 21:00
19. Date of Next Meeting: Monday 21st September 2020
To be held: (Medium or establishment to be decided considering social distancing measures in place).
Signed: B C Mander Date: 23rd July 2020