January 2022 - Minutes of Ordinary Meeting
HEMSWELL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of an ordinary meeting held by Hemswell Parish Council on Monday 24th January 2022
at 7.15 pm at Hemswell & Harpswell Village Hall.
This meeting replaced the scheduled meeting on the 17th January which was cancelled due to a village hall booking error.
PRESENT:
Cllr. B. Mander (BM)(Chair); Cllr. J. Roberts (JR) (Vice-Chair); Cllr. C. Black (CB); Cllr. M. Foster (MF);
Four (4) members of the public.
95-21/22. Apologies.
Cllr. P. Watkinson (PW - apology sent prior to the meeting but not viewed by the clerk till after the meeting), District Cllr. P. Howitt-Cowan (PHC), PCSO Julie McFaul (JM),
96-21/22. Adjournment for Cllr reports and members of the public.
a. County Councillor Report - none provided
b. District Councillor Report - The District Councillor's January Report 2022 was circulated prior to the meeting and can be found on the District Councillor's Report section of this council's website. No questions were forthcoming.
c. PCSO Report - 09/01/21 reports of hare coursing. Upon police arrival there were no dogs. 24/12/21 - concerns for safety for elderly person (all in order). 19/12/21 - Reporting of a dog incident at Low Farm Hemswell. The owner has been spoken to by the police and advice provided on being a responsible owner. If incidents are witnessed, please call Lincolnshire Police on 101 to report the incident.
d. Members of the Public.
i. Mr W. Calton enquired if our County Councillor had attended any of our council meetings. He was advised not for some time although we had been receiving a written report from the county councillor (none this month). Mr Calton expressed his view that our County Councillor should attend these meetings. Mr Calton also advised that the potholes and defective street signs that he advised the council off at the July 21 meeting had not been rectified. The clerk advised that he regularly requests updates of outstanding issues from LCC Highways however no information is forthcoming. The clerk also advised that members of the public should in addition to informing the council, report any issues on the appropriate Highways online reporting tools as this was the most effective way of reporting, and generating a record of the logged issue. Clerk to chase issues with LCC Highways.
ii. Mr S. Hilton reported further incidences of traffic speeding through the village (into the village down Bunkers Hill). This was particularly noticeable every weekday between 15:00 hrs and 16:00 hrs and on a Monday evening between 19:00 hrs and 19:30 hrs with patrons attending the Butchers Nook Social Club. Clerk to pass on information to the police (JM) and write to the social club committee asking them to remind their patrons to observe the speed limits. The clerk also advised that once the council obtained the Speed Indicator Device (SID), the traffic could be monitored, and the data provided to the police.
Meeting Reconvened 19:25 hrs
97-21/22. Declaration of Interests.
No interests declared.
98-21/22. Approval of Minutes from previous meetings.
It was unanimously resolved to approve the presented draft minutes as an accurate account of the following council meetings.
a. Ordinary meeting held on 15th November 2021.
b. Extraordinary meeting held on 10th December 2021.
99-21/22. Actions from Previous Meetings.
a. Purchase of Speed Indicator Device (SID).
BM informed the council that following the authorisation to purchase the SID in November, he had confirmed with the supplier that the unit could be installed and commissioned by the council without invalidating any warranties. A pro forma invoice had been raised excluding the installation and commissioning costs and a cheque issued to cover the purchase of the device and associated bracketry. Delivery is expected mid-March 2022. For members of the public present, BM reminded the council of the consultation that took place with Mr Butler from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and the location of the 5 locations identified as suitable for siting the unit around the village. The SID will be installed by BM and moved randomly around the sites to deter speeding motorists and to collect data which can be forwarded to the police.
100-21/22. Planning Matters.
a. Notification of planning appeal APP/N2535/W/21/3282132 Land adjacent to 19 Brook Street ref 141128 (The Forge).
BM advised the council that an appeal had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate for the above property. A decision date has not as yet been published. Information regarding the appeal can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3282132. For the benefit of the members of the public, BM read out the information on the matter contained in the District Councillor's report.
101/21-22. Parish Grass Cutting.
BM advised the council that he had received notification from Mr R. Marfleet that he would no longer be renewing the contract to cut the village grass. The council wished to thank Mr Marfleet for his years of service to the village and the excellent service he has provided over and above his contracted duties to keep the village, the cemetery and Beck Lane looking tidy and attractive.
Action: Clerk to write to Mr Marfleet expressing the council's thanks for his years of service to the community.
a. Contractor selection procedure 22/23.
The council discussed how to find a new contractor to replace Mr R. Marfleet.
Action: Clerk to contact suitable contractors and request quotations for the grass cutting. Councillors to forward any contacts of contractors to the clerk.
b. Highway Verge Parish Agreement 22/23.
The council debated if they should renew the LCC Highway Verge Parish Agreement for 22/23. as we did not have a contractor identified, it was unanimously decided that the agreement should not be renewed for 22/23 to ensure at least the minimum two safety cuts provided by LCC would take place.
Action: Clerk to advice LCC that the council would not be taking up the parish agreement for 22/23.
102-21/22. Donation for The Church of All Saints Hemswell - Grounds Maintenance.
Proposed: JR Seconded: MF
The clerk advised the council that they had received a request from Hemswell Parochial Church Council (HPCC) for a donation to cover the church yard grass cutting for 2021. Copy invoices totalling £520.00 accompanied the request. The council unanimously agreed to provide a donation to cover the full costs of the grass cutting as they had in previous years.
Action: Clerk to raise and issue a cheque for £520.00 to HPCC.
103-21/22. Aggressive Dog - Low Farm.
BM had advised that he had personally been involved with an attack by an aggressive dog attack from Low farm. The matter had been reported to the police and the owner had visited by the police and advise given to them regarding being a responsible dog owner. The matter had also been reported to the landlord of Low Farm who advised they would be conducting a property inspection.
104-21/22. Build-up of Litter - Entrances to village.
Item removed from the agenda as the proposer PW not in attendance.
Following the meeting the clerk reviewed PW's apology and noted that he advised that our district councillor PHC was pursuing the litter problem and arranging for it to be cleared (not discussed in the meeting but included for information).
105-21/22. Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations.
The council discussed whether it should organise activities for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations. It was agreed that the Village Hall Committee (VHC) should be contacted to identify what activities they were planning and the council would consider liaising with the VHC to provide funding or apply for grants.
Action: Clerk to liaise with the VHC and report their findings to the council.
106-21/22. Maypole preparation (May Day celebrations).
BM raised the appearance of the Maypole and suggested that it should be cleaned and possibly the corrosion at the base addressed prior to the May Day. It was agreed that the clerk should obtain quotations for cleaning and rectification of the corrosion.
Action: Clerk to obtain quotations.
107-21/22. Finance
a. Financial status review.
The clerk provided the council's financial position for review. No remedial actions were identified.
b. FY 22/23 final precept planning.
The council reviewed the budget precept proposal for FY 22-23, agreed at the November 21 meeting. No changes were deemed necessary.
It was unanimously agreed to accept the proposal of £7,000.00 as the precept to be requested from WLDC for FY22-23.
Action: Clerk to obtain the relevant signatures and to forward the precept claim to WLDC prior to the deadline of the 28th January 22.
c. Cheques to authorise.
i. Speed Indicator Device (approved December 21) £ 2787.60
ii. Cemetery Green Bin Service £ 39.00
iii. Church yard grass cutting (donation) £ 520.00
d. Payments Received.
i. Savings account interest Dec 21 / Jan 22 £ 0.28
ii. Interment Charges £ 200.00
e. Purchase Orders Received.
No purchase orders were received in the period.
f. Appointment of Internal Auditor.
It was unanimously agreed that the clerk should contact LALC to obtain the services of an internal auditor.
Action: Clerk to contact LALC and obtain the services of an internal auditor.
108-21/22. Reports.
a. Village Hall.
Item removed as no report available.
Following the meeting the clerk reviewed PW's apology and noted the following report had been provided -
- Limited activity due to Covid and Christmas.
- For the New Year, two fitness classes on a Wednesday evening, Pilates and Trampolining.
- Local Authority Covid grant applied for and pending decision.
- Medium and Children`s groups continue as regular bookings.
- End of year accounts and insurance due next month.
- Following these items and the decision on the Covid grant, decisions will be implemented regarding investment into the fabric of the building:
- Heating
- Other energy saving measures; lights, hot water, etc.
- Damp/pointing.
- Play Area Equipment.
- Internal Decor.
This report was not provided in the meeting but has been included for information.
109-21/22. Burial Authority Activities.
No activities were declared.
110-21/22. Date of next meeting - 21st March 2022.
111-21/22. Meeting Closure.
Meeting was closed at 20:14 hrs.
Signed: B C Mander Date: 1st February 2022.