2019 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held at The Chapel, Little Hale on Tuesday 5th March 2019 at 7.49 pm.

Present: Cllrs N Rooke, P Ireland, D Cox, J Stapleton and S Poulton, and Mrs D Scott (Clerk) and five members of the public.

Members of the public attending the Public Forum raised questions about the recent road closures and traffic problems with HGVs not using the advisory one-way system.

HGVs: the resident reported that he had written to Highways as suggested and had received an auto-reply and a request for further information but nothing since.

Road Closures: the resident reported that he had made an enquiry about the numbers of offences committed by undertakers (Utility Companies) in respect of highways work and had been informed that in Lincolnshire between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2018 (2 years) there had been 1661 cases of issues of ‘notices to take remedial action’, 1870 Fixed Penalty Notices (fines) and no prosecutions. He felt this indicated a high level of non-compliance not being taken seriously by the authorities.

18/19 Cllr Rooke welcomed all to the meeting.

19/19 Apologies for Absence – Cllrs Sally Tarry and Stewart Ogden (NKDC)

20/19 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

21/19 The notes of the Parish Council Meeting, held on 8th January 2019: Proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Cox and agreed unanimously, that these were an accurate record.  

22/19 Finance 2018-19.

1. The Clerk circulated updated financial statements, showing a balance of £1833.64, in the Lloyds account before this meeting’s payments. She pointed out that this included restricted sums of £673.22 (Defib), £35.40 (Community Building) and now £682.00 (War Memorial Fund).
2. The following payments were approved: Clerk (October & November) plus expenses (reimbursement of travel) £153.70, HMRC (mth 12 due 19/04/19, to be paid by bank transfer) £35.40.  It was also noted that the cheque for £20 to HAVCS had been returned with an error in the date and would need correcting. It was noted that after these payments, the amount available to spend was £253.62.
3. Insurance – the Clerk reported that Community Lincs had handed the Parish Council’s account over to Zurich who would be in touch in due course about the renewal.
4. HMRC had written with instructions re paying online. The Clerk reported that she had checked with the HMRC website and all payments due were correctly listed as received.

23/19 Finance 2019-20

The Clerk reported that the precept form had been submitted in good time and its receipt had been acknowledged.

24/19 Parish Council Policies

i.      Standing Orders

ii.     Financial Regulations

iii.    Equal Opportunities

iv.    Publication Scheme

v.    GDPR policy and privacy statements

It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed, that the above policies be re-adopted subject to including references to GDPR where relevant.

25/19 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence.

1. NKDC – Register of Electors – revised copies for Councillors – handed out
2. NKDC – JB’s response re Litter Bin not being locked - noted
3. LALC – Buckingham Palace Garden party nominations – noted that unfortunately the nomination had been unsuccessful this year but should be worth trying again.
4. NKDC - mobile phone reception survey – noted, all completed.
5. LALC - Lincs Environmental Awards – circulated - noted
6. NKDC - Voter ID – Pilot scheme, posters etc – noted, copies to be left in phone box etc.
7. Keep Britain Tidy – Great British Spring Clean 22nd March to 23rd April - after discussion it was agreed to organise ‘Spring Clean’ on Sunday 7th April at 10am, meet at the bus shelter. Clerk to ask NKDC re Rubbish disposal etc. Cllr Poulton kindly agreed to provide Hi-Viz vests. It was also noted that a Dof E student was keen to do regular litter picking around the village, protective equipment would be provided by his family.
8. NKDC – Candidates’ briefings and nomination packs – noted. Clerk had collected the packs and agreed to deliver the completed forms to NKDC.
9. Lloyds Bank Statements - noted

26/19 Policing Update – none.

27/19 Highways Matters –

Roadworks – A further notification had been received, regarding maintenance works on the Fen to take place in the summer. Advanced signage had been promised. This was welcomed but it was hoped that the works would not obstruct harvest works.

Advisory One-way system – it was noted that the Clerk had received an auto-reply but nothing since. Cllr Poulton had produced a flyer which he brought to the meeting. A member of the public kindly offered to deliver the flyers around the village during the week. The Clerk agreed to resend the emails to Cllr Young to follow up the issues raised.

(The meeting broke briefly to allow members of the public to speak)

The Clerk was also asked to raise the following points:

• Who is responsible for monitoring the road closure procedures to ensure closures are carried out properly?
• The frequency of signs being left on site after the work, and closure signs not being removed when the work doesn’t in fact merit a full closure, both mean that signage had lost its credibility.
• Inadequate/misleading diversion signage causes confusion and frustration for motorists.
• The communication between Serco and Highways seems to be an issue.

28/19 Broadband – Cllr Ireland reported that he had made no further progress. It seemed that most residents were now relying on mobile broadband. He explained for the benefit of residents present, that he had received quotes of around £80,000 to upgrade the village and £153,000 if the Fen properties were included. He felt that Onlincolnshire could have been more helpful and was concerned that the District Council was funding the organisation. Clerk to raise this with Cllrs Tarry and Ogden.

29/19 Planning Matters – see www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planningonline

1. 18/1730/HOUS – Extension and alterations to create home office, Home Farm House, Little Hale Drive – after discussion it was agreed that there was no objection to the proposal
2. LCC – Lincs Minerals and Waste Planning, Statement of Community Involvement - noted
3. 19/0104/TPO – tree works at Fordyke House, 18 Main Road – noted informal no objection submitted to NKDC 5th February.

30/19 Planning Inspectorate Matters

1. Viking Link Interconnector Project – no further update
2. Triton Knoll – no further update – Councillors discussed other potential applications ot the Community Fund.

(The meeting broke briefly to allow members of the public to speak)

31/19 Community Defibrillator – Checks continued. NR was authorised to order a new battery and the Clerk was authorised to make the payment by bank transfer. It was also noted that the light had gone again. Cllr Cox kindly offered to replace the bulbs.

32/19 Dog Fouling – no major issues

33/19 WWI commemorations – The Clerk reported that the War Memorial Trust, having assessed the Pre-application, had now invited a full application. She had requested updated quotes (one original now out of date) and having consulted with Mr Rooke and Mr Priestley, would be submitting the application on behalf of the Burial Board.  It was expected that the result would be known some time after the closing date of 31st March.

34/19 Matters for the next meeting: Highways issues

35/19 Dates of Next Meetings, as agreed: for 2018-19 at 7.30pm

7th May (APM and Annual Meeting).

The meeting closed at 8.37pm

7th May 2019 - The Minutes were agreed as a true record and signed by Cllr Paul Ireland