2018 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held at The Chapel, Little Hale on Monday 6th November 2018 at 7.48 pm.

Present: Cllrs N Rooke, P Ireland, D Cox and J Stapleton and Cllr Sally Tarry (NKDC), Mrs D Scott (Clerk).

One member of the public attended the Public Forum and raised questions about the roadworks advertised for the end of the month; he also expressed concern about the surface patching carried out on Fen Road and the notification he’d received about the power being off on Fen Road and Main Road; he asked about progress on the application to Triton Knoll for the Broadband project. Discussion followed about the levels of traffic through the village. Councillors were able to confirm that responsibility for the roads lay with LCC and their decisions re timing and prioritising areas for re-surfacing/patching were largely budget-based. Similarly it was understood that the WPD work to lay cables underground was being done as and when funds were available.  The Clerk agreed to investigate the proposed closure of Main St (nr no 6) for more detail. Cllr Ireland gave a brief update on the Broadband project.

89/18 Cllr Rooke welcomed all to the meeting.

90/18 Apologies for Absence – Cllr S Poulton, Cllr Stewart Ogden (NKDC)

91/18 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

92/18 The notes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on 11th September 2018: Proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Stapleton and agreed unanimously, that these were an accurate record.  

93/18 Finance 2018-19.

1. The Clerk circulated updated financial statements, showing a balance of £1694.44, in the Lloyds account before this meeting’s payments
2. The following payments were approved: Clerk (October & November) plus expenses (reimbursement of travel) £155.35, HMRC (mth 8 due 19/12/18, to be paid by bank transfer) £35.40 and £40 due to the Information Commissioner for the Data Protection Registration renewal.

94/18 Finance 2019-20

The Clerk circulated a set of draft budget figures. She reminded Cllrs that the balance at the bank included the restricted defib funds. Cllr Tarry kindly agreed to ask NKDC for any information about when the precept information would be available.

95/18 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence.

1. HMRC re new online VAT claims process - noted
2. LCC re Privacy Notice re Clerk’s details - noted
3. Environment Agency – Confirmation of plans for de-maining selected watercourses, inc Northlands Dyke reverting to Black Sluice IDB responsibility - noted
4. Royal Mail – poster re Scam Post - noted
5. NKDC Chairman’s Charity Film Night 9th November- noted
6. NKDC Comms Team – 11/11 info for NewsNK - noted
7. Richard Higgs HAVCS AGM 31st October and request for funding – It was noted that the LH Charities would be discussing a donation the same evening. Cllrs were happy to support the request in principle but agreed to defer the decision to the next meeting. Clerk to update Mr Higgs.
8. NKDC re Dog Bins being too high - noted
9. LALC re training on 29th November – Emergency Planning, Neighbourhood Planning - noted
10. Environment Agency – update on Black Sluice Pumping Station - noted
11. Lloyds Bank Statement - noted
12. LCC School Admissions - noted

96/18 Policing Update - none

97/18 Highways Matters

1. Joint Letter from 6 parishes – no update.

1. LCC TSG – Bus timetable updates October – noted, but concern re lack of details.
2. Fen Road roadworks – WPD - noted that these had been completed.
3. Planned Road Closure on Main Road 26-29 November, as discussed in the Public Forum, Mrs Scott to check actual closures.
4. LCC Winter Self Help scheme – gritting etc (now extended deadline to 30th Nov) - noted.
5. LCC Grit Bin filling and process for requesting new bins – noted and agreed that no extra bins were required at this time
6. Footpath obstructions on Fen Road – concerns had been raised about stone blocks placed on the footpath, presumably to stop lorries. It was noted that Highways did not permit such obstructions and the Clerk was asked to write to the resident concerned, asking for their removal.

98/18 Broadband – Cllr Ireland reported that he had spoken to Ms Fortune and she had advised that the application would need to be very robust and supported by good evidence of need. Cllr Ireland had devised a questionnaire which he would be delivering to all residents, to collect up to date evidence. He understood that BT would be unlikely to deliver fibre Broadband to the outlying properties but it could be possible for a ‘hub’ to be established in the village which would act as a ‘hotspot’ for properties outside the village. It was noted that at least one house-sale had recently fallen though because of the lack of broadband. The next deadline for submission to the Triton Knoll fund was in March.

99/18 Planning Matters – see www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planningonline

1. Central Lincs Local Plan – updated maps - noted
2. NKDC Brownfield Land Register review consultation – noted
3. New planning application – see below

100/18 Planning Inspectorate Matters

1. Viking Link Interconnector Project – it was noted that the planning application, 17/1200/FUL for works to facilitate the electrical interconnector had been approved by NKDC
2. Triton Knoll – no further update

101/18 Community Defibrillator – Checks continued.

102/18 Dog Fouling – No problems reported.

103/18 WWI commemorations – it was noted that very few tickets were still available for the event on 11th November. Further arrangements were agreed.

104/18 Dates of Next Meetings, as agreed: for 2018-19 at 7.30pm

8th Jan 2019, 5th Mar, 7th May (APM and Annual Meeting)

In addition, the Clerk reported that an application regarding rendering of 14 Main Road had been received too late for the agenda. Cllrs agreed that it didn’t merit convening an extra meeting and the Clerk was asked to submit their informal comments.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm

8th Jnauary 2019 - The Minutes were agreed as a true record and signed by Cllr Nicki Rooke