3rd January 2023 - Minutes
Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 at 7.30 pm.
Present: Cllrs S Poulton, N Rooke, P Ireland and J Stapleton, Mrs D Scott (Clerk)
Cllrs S Ogden and S Tarry (NKDC) and two members of the public
1/23 Cllr Poulton welcomed all to the meeting and wished everyone a Happy New Year.
2/23 Apologies for absence – Cllr A Lennox and Cllr A Key (LCC).
3/23 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none
4/23 Notes of the previous meeting, 1st November 2022 – approved and signed.
5/23 Finance 2022-23
i. Mrs Scott had shared copies of transactions to date, including HMRC’s payment of the VAT claim of £102.69. The balance at Lloyds was £3,867.10 before this evening’s transactions. The balance included restricted funds of £1,607.26
ii. Payments were approved for the Clerk £164.43 by cheque (December and January), and HMRC £39.40 (mth 9 due 19/1/23), by transfer.
6/23 Budget 2023-24. Mrs Scott had previously shared details of the projected spend for the current year through to 31st March 2023 and suggested figures for 2023-24. After discussion, it was agreed that the Precept be set at £2,340 for 2023-24, which, with the slightly increased Tax Base, meant that the average (Band D) Council Tax would be reduced by 2p (0.07%). Mrs Scott would submit the necessary forms to NKDC.
7/23 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.
- Updates from LALC, LCC, NKDC, YMCA, ICO – noted. Councillors confirmed that they had received the latest edition of NewsNK, via Royal Mail.
- Lloyds Bank Statements - noted
8/23 Policing Update - none
9/23 Highways Matters
Culvert Works – it was noted that these had been completed. Thanks were recorded to Cllr Tarry and Cllr Key for their help in pushing for these. It was noted that the works had resulted in the SLOW road markings being partially obliterated. Cllr Tarry kindly agreed to contact Cllr Key to request re-marking.
Fen Road – it was noted that notification of essential maintenance in December had been received, but Cllr Rooke reported that workers had been seen digging small holes in sections of the road but no repairs yet.
10/23 Broadband – none.
11/23 Planning Matters
- Applications – none
12/23 Planning Inspectorate
- Viking Link – Only update in respect or road repairs, as above.
- Triton Knoll – No update
- Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park no update
- Anglian Water Reservoirs Project – Councillors had responded to the Non-Statutory Consultation as individuals. Cllr Tarry had shared NKDC’s response which clearly set out the Council’s expectations of Anglian Water in the ongoing process.
13/23 Phone Box and Community Defibrillator
Reporting – ongoing, thanks to the volunteer group.
Volunteers – Cllr Poulton and the new volunteers arranged to meet to explain how the reporting worked.
EMAS, etc. Concerns continued about the 999 Call Handler scripts and access to the defib. After discussion it was agreed that the code be shared with residents in case of a repeat situation, on the understanding that any access and/or use of the defib be reported to the Parish Council in order that full checks could be made to ensure that it continued to be safe and ready for action.
Spares - it was noted that the battery expiry date would fall in March, Cllr Rooke was authorised to place the order and payment of the invoice between meetings was authorised.
Training – Cllr Poulton kindly offered to provide another training session on the use of the Defib.
(Cllr Tarry left the meeting at 8.02pm)
14/23 Village Event – Mrs Scott reported that Parva House was available over the Coronation weekend. It was agreed in principle that a booking be confirmed for Sunday 7th May, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, with further details of the actual event to be discussed with other volunteers outside of the Parish Council meeting.
15/23 Land at Pump Lane – Bench – Cllr Poulton to look at bench options, to be funded by CIL.
It was noted that the donated Christmas Trees were being looked after and would be planted out shortly.
16/23 Ideas projects for CIL Funding – Bench, as above. Cllr Stapleton explained he would bring prices for the wood for the new Parish Noticeboards for bus shelter (2 outside and 1 internal), as before, to mark the Coronation of HM King Charles III.
17/23 Parish Council Communications
- Website – as before, photos were requested. Updates had been made.
- Newsletter – to include Defib information, Defib training session, Council Tax 2023-24, update on Coronation Event and call for volunteers.
18/23 Matters for the next meeting – Coronation Event, Noticeboards, Bench, other CIL projects
19/23 The Dates of Meetings for 2022-23, at 7.30pm – as agreed, 7th Mar, 16th May
The meeting closed at 8.24 pm.
Agreed as a correct record and signed by Cllr Poulton at the meeting on 7th March 2023