2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Present:               C Karen Cartwright, C Jeb Booth, C Mike Brookes, C Alan Hughes, C Ray Butler, .C Keith Osborne: C Roy Hilton C Roger Welberry, C Mike Welberry-Smith C Pillipa Parnell

Also Present:       C Sharman, G Cornah, N Gooder

Public Forum      

Meeting started at 7.30 pm

19/001   Chairman’s Remarks:        

Cllr KC thanked the Councillors that were there at their last meeting stating she did not feel as Chair she could not let it pass without saying a few words.  She thanked Stacey Hacket in her absence for her 9 years on the Council.  She then went on to thank Cllr Jeb Booth and Cllr Mike Welberry-Smith for all their support to her as a Chair and also the amount of work they have done for the village.

Cllr JB has been on the Council for 22 years and has been chair 3 times and Cllr MWS has been on for 32 years and Chair for 4 times.  They will be missed, they help whenever we have any jobs that need to be done as Councillors  including the xmas tree lights and grass cutting or tree cutting.  Cllr KC presented both with a certificate of appreciation.

19/002  Apologies for absence and reasons given.

C Stacey Hacket and PCSO Williams gave apologies.  It was resolved to accept apologies for absence and reasons given.

19/003     To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr MB declared an interest in all matters of planning under item 8 of the agenda, on the grounds of being a substitute member of the planning committee at Boston Borough Council. 

Cllr JB declared an interest in Allotment rent review due to his son renting one of the allotments.

19/004   Police report.   

PCSO Williams sent in the following report

13/03/19 Damage to motor vehicle, South Street – undetected

19/03/19 Theft from motor vehicle, Packhorse Lane – undetected

05/04/19 Theft of motor vehicle, Abbey Road – under investigation

05/04/19 Assault, Michael Moses Way – under investigation

19/005  Notes of the meetings held on 18.03.19 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

It was resolved to accept the above notes.  The notes were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

19/006   Financial matters: Financial report, accounts for payment and budget figures up to 03/04/2019.

The Clerk confirmed that the agreement with the Pre-school for the rental of the Computer has now ended and the standing order cancelled. - It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment.

The Clerk confirmed that a date has been made for the internal auditor to visit 23rd  May 2019

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments

19/007  Planning Applications –

Ministry of Defence – Airspace Change Proposal

No comments

Action: Clerk to notify Planning department of comments made

19/008  Correspondence

Lincs County Council         Email – Road Closure Coles Lane - Emailed to Cllrs, posted on Website, Facebook & Noticeboard 07/3/19

LALC       Email – Details to changes in election process to remove the requirement of qualifying address on paperwork.  Emailed to Cllrs 11/3/19

Boston Borough Council    Email – information on completing election packs – Emailed to Cllrs 18/3/19

LALC       Email – details of webinar being created by Auditors

Lincs County Council         Email – update on the Parish Agreement for 2019/20. Emailed to Cllrs, added to Agenda 18/3/19

Swineshead Friends           Email – Invitation to attend AGM – Emailed to Cllrs 18/3/19

Boston Borough Council    Email – Proposed planning training – Emailed to Cllrs 18/3/19

LALC       Email – Newsletter – Emailed to Cllrs 26/3/19

External Auditor  Email – Audit instructions for Financial year 2018-19

Planning Dept      Email – Red Arrows Consultation – Emailed to Cllrs 27/3/

Boston Borough Council    Email – Newsletter – Emailed to Cllrs 27/3/19, posted on website, facebook & noticeboard 27/3/19

Boston Borough Council    Email – Remittance Advice for precept.

Resident Email – Regarding 30mph signs for Baby Row

Lincs County Council         Email – new lighting Policy – Emailed to Cllrs 3/4/19

LALC       Email – networking day – Emailed to Cllrs 3/4/19

Lincs County Council         Email – new K59 Bus Timetable – Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website &facebook 3/4/19

The new lighting policy was discussed with regards to putting up flower boxes on lamp posts in the market place.  It was resolved that the costs for inspections and the licence would be too expensive and Cllr RW proposed we look at alternatives places to put them up.

19/009  Councillors reports.

Cllr RW –reported that the grass cutter had gone over where the blue bells grow and it was agreed the area would be marked out next year so he would be aware of where they grow.  In addition he reported a good attendance to the litter picking event which resulted in 30 bags of rubbish being collected.

Cllr KO – asked about the certificates for the children who attended the litter picking event and the clerk confirmed that she would be doing them this week ready for presentation after half term.  In addition he reported a street light outside the Harlox not working and several on King Johns road.  It was resolved the clerk would report these.

Cllr PP – reported that Cllr KO had an impact on the children at the school when he spoke to them about the litter picking event.  In addition she reported that the COOP did not realise we did one and have already volunteered to help with the Boston Big Clean, but would like to help us next year.

Action: Clerk to report street lights on Abbey Road and King Johns Road and speak to the grass cutter regarding the bluebells.

19/010 Clerks report.

Reports to LCC re lights/potholes

• Pot Holes on High Street  - (348121)
  • 26/3/19 – Received update to say action complete
• Drain Blocked opposite Pre-School (348294) reported 07/03/19
• Townfield Lane/ Butlers way (349513) – Potholes – reported
  • 3/4/19 – received update to say assessed and job scheduled
• Blackjack Road – standing water – reported

Best Kept Village Competition

Application form now received

Surface Water – Golden Cross Development

Email submitted to planning officer referring to condition on original permission and including photograph – No reply yet received but works have begun on the car park

Litter Pick – Date confirmed with Jenny Moore and advertised on facebook, noticeboard and website

Browns Drove & Tarry Hill Lights

Tarry Hill – Confirmed light repair to go ahead and works order received 13/3/19

Browns Drove -  Confirmed with Nigel Hall agreement on lights.

Planters for village signs – Chased and awaiting a reply from Carly Jeffries

07/3/19 – Carly replied to say she can not find it so copy emailed across

Resubmitted with Map and sizes

Swineshead Bridge Level Crossing – Still no reply from the Railway

First Aid Course – initially arranged a date with the Red Cross, but the church hall is now booked in an evening.  Cllr KC is going to approach the Football Club as the Village Hall is too large.

A venue for this was discussed and it was resolved that the Clerk would contact the primary school regarding using their facilities

Defib – Funding and location

Quote received and application for funding under way

Memorial Damage – Funding application submitted – no reply received as yet

Footpath (4) to Manwarings – Reported

Market place bricks – Report that it had been done but not to standard

Action. Clerk to contact the primary school with a view to booking their facilities for the First Aid Course. Clerk to feedback to resident.

19/011  Residents feedback & request for signs

The clerk reported on emails she received from residents regarding Housing in the village, the Wheatsheaf Public House, reduction in the bus service, St George’s Day Celebrations and speeding on Baby row and the requests for speed limit signs,

The Cllrs gave responses for each of these items and it was resolved the Clerk would feed these back to the residents.

Housing Development in the village.- 

Decision regarding housing development is with the Local Development Plan for South East Lincolnshire which was developed by Lincolnshire County Council, South Holland Council and Boston Borough Council with decisions on the plan made and approved by the government.  When this plan was developed there were consultation opportunities for the residents of the area.  The plan is reviewed on a 5 yearly basis.  The only way the Parish can influence the Local Plan is via a Neighbourhood plan which has to be devised by volunteer residents within the village.  The Parish Council did support setting up a Neighbourhood plan but there were insufficient volunteers to take this up as only 2 volunteers attended.

Wheatsheaf Public House –There is a conservation order on this property which prevents it being anything other than a public house so cannot be converted into housing

Reduction in the bus service. Last year there was a big reduction in the Bus Service, however the Councillors fought for this to be reversed and the service was improved, but Lincolnshire County Council did state that it would be on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis and therefore it seems the service has not been viable which is why it has been removed.

St George’s day celebrations  The Cllrs advised that the local Scouts, Brownies and Guides all currently take part in the celebrations that are held in Boston.  The Parish Council are willing to support an event if there are volunteers willing to put something together.

Speed Reduction on Baby Row.   – The Council agreed to look into adding passive signs along this road, but are restricted as they are limited to which signage they can be placed on and permission has to be received from Lincolnshire County Council.  It was resolved that a review of the furniture in that area would be made to see if there is any suitable for signs to be placed.

Action:. Clerk to feedback to residents.

19/012 – Parish Agreement Update

Cllr KC proposed that as the Borough no longer do certificates for Service in the Community, that we as a Parish now do this and present them at the AGM each year.  It was resolved that the Parish would do this and names for this year would be proposed and agreed within the closed session at the end of the meeting.

Action: None

19/013 – Parish Meeting Venue

As the Church Hall is now booked on a Monday evening each week it was resolved that the Parish Meeting would be held at the Methodist Chapel.

Action: Clerk to ensure Methodist Chapel is booked

Cllr KC proposed that the meeting be moved to a closed session to discuss the Allotment rent review.  Cllr JB and residents left the room

Following discussion it was agreed who the Service in the Community awards would go to at the AGM in May 19.

19/014 – Allotment rent review.

It was proposed that there would not be an increase in the rent, proposed by Cllr KC and seconded by Cllr KO, and unanimously agreed.

Action: Clerk to update and send out new allotment agreements.

Cllr JB and the residents returned to the meeting.

Meeting closed 8.30pm