February 2020 minutes

Sturton by Stow Parish Council meeting was held in the Old Schoolroom on Wednesday 5 February 2020 at 7.30pm.with Councillor Taylor in the chair.  Present were Councillors Mrs Banham, Mrs Christie, Mr Turney, Mr Timmins, Mr Pickering, Mr Hellen, 8 Local Government Electors, District Councillor Tracey Coulson and the clerk.

1. Recording of meeting

Council and public were asked if anyone was recording the meeting. No one advised they were so council did not record.

2 .Apologies-

Received and accepted from Cllr Mrs Gilbert.

3. Declaration of Interests. 

4. Meeting opened for prospective new councillor to introduce themselves

All agreed to open meeting to new prospective councillor.  Mr Michael Moore introduced himself to council and the public. Meeting closed to public.

Co-option of new councillor

It was proposed by Cllr Timmins to co-opt Mr Moore onto the council.  This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Banham.  All agreed.

5. Declaration of Acceptance of Office signed

Mr Moore signed the declaration and took his place at the council table and was welcomed.

6. Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes of previous meeting- agreed by all those present at meeting.

7.      Matters arising.                                                           

a)Footpath outside village shop.                               

  Awaiting report from Cllr Butroid.                         

b)letters from residents re Bransby/Capps Is           

As above.                                                     

c)Highways Depot, lighting                                        

 As above.                                                     

d)Clearance dyke, Saxilby Rd                                     

Farmer who farms land has advised that the remaining original hedge shows the ditch is his side of the hedge, so the responsibility belongs to the residents on Saxilby Rd.  Agreed to write to residents.                                                  

e)Gulleys blocked 4 Fleet Rd                                     

 report from Cllr Butroid                    

f)green box on the green                                             

 as this appears to be in use, it was agreed for the box to remain     

g)Noticeboard,St Hughs bus stop, broken                 

 handyman asked to repair or remove

h)New bus shelter, Spencer Court                               

resident has received planning permission but advised shelter is to be bricked up before new one installed. New shelter to be ordered and licence to erect from                                                                                                                                                               Highways to be chased so funding application can be submitted.                                                                                   

i)sinkhole                                                                       

 Highways/AWA have visited site jointly agreed to fund repairs, to be carried out before financial year end      

j)blocked drain Capps Island                                       

 NFA

k)Give Way/Bransby Sign                                           

   Give Way sign scheduled to be repaired.  Bransby sign not on Highways works, reported by phone.

l)12 Tillbridge Rd, light not working                             

 repaired

m)light Ashfield                                                             

  repaired

n)playpark gate, Allen Close                                         

  handyman investigating if he can repair

o)Newsletter                                                                     

It was noted that one event at the Village Hall had taken place before the newsletter was delivered.  No blame was placed on editors or distributors.  It was felt the newsletter could be agreed by council                                                                                              by email and not go to a parish council meeting for approval; this would allow more time for printing and distribution.  This was agreed.

Cllr Mrs Gilbert entered the meeting during matters arising.                                                                                                                       

8.  Meeting opened to the public.-8.00pm

Cllr Coulson advised that funds are still available from the Councillor Initiative Fund.

Meeting closed to public at 8.01pm.

9.  Y Clark-newsletter £68

  All agreed,

10.  Accounts

Payments authorised as above plus;

Clerk’s salary and expenses                    Village caretaker salary,          OSR caretaker salary 

Multidata £38.92

11.  Police Matters-January report circulated

12.  Local Organisation Matters.

Neighbourhood plan is ongoing with the designation of green spaces still being carried out.

Minutes of the youth club circulated.

Village hall frontage being completed 10-13 March.The Open Day was a huge success and the monthly markets continue to be very busy. Minutes of previous meeting circulated.

It was reported that a complaint had been sent in to WLDC re rubble etc being left following the car park works.The recreation field committee are aware and the matter is in hand.

A meeting is being held regarding the management of the Jubilee Wood on the following Monday.The trees donated by a resident are at the wood ready to be planted.Cllr Hellen agreed to be the new Jubilee Wood rep.

13.  General Maintenance in the parish.

i)the handyman has been asked to look at the Jacques Mayo bench on the green following the damage andoffer his advice for repair

ii)Dog fouling continues to be a huge problem, areas to be concentrating on to be passed to WLDC Enforcement to ask for a visit.

iii)30mph sign near Recreation Field damaged

iv)Door of Old Schoolroom sticking-handyman

v)Following several issues with the flag on the village green and an email from a resident asking if the Lincolnshire Flag could be flown at all times, council agreed that the Union Jack Flag would continue to be flown and the Lincolnshire Flag would be flown on Lincolnshire Day.

14.  Flooding update on issues

Cllr Taylor gave a brief update on the meeting, advising a full report would be sen.  Main points from meeting:

Met at Fleets Road and walked to Manor Farm Drive.AWA were concerned that the culvert was not covered over and agreed to place a non return valve or cover.AWA advised that the IDB do not favour enforcement but they would speak to them to try to encourage them to do the clearance work, not clear if this would be chargeable.

AWA and Highways agreed to the repairs to the sinkhole jointly and advised work would be carried out before the end of the financial year.

It was reported there was a closed ditch Upper Close/Medway.

High Street was visited and the slow gullies pointed out.

Clerk advised meeting is being arranged with Acis re Queensway.

It was agreed a sub group would be set up to collate all the flooding information.

15.  Grasscutting-agreement of spec, 20/21 season

 New spec agreed.  Awaiting prices from current contractor.

 It was noted that there were still issues with lorries turning on The Glebe and leaving deep ruts in the verges which would make grasscutting impossible.  Leaflet drop to be made highlighting and pointing out the residents’ money being used to reinstate verges.

16.  Noticeboard quotes received

 It was agreed to go with the quote from Pelican Trust totalling £893 for a new board on the village green. 

 Existing board to be placed Stow end of village, exact location to be agreed next month.  Funding for new noticeboard to be obtained from Councillor Initiative Fund.

17.  To discuss speeding in village-update

 It was reported that Stow resident are investigating the different speed units available and the parish council at Stow are requesting the 50mph restriction to Sturton to be removed and the 30mph sign to be moved further towards Sturton. There was a consensus that we would support moving our 40 sign further north to the 30 sign in Stow thus eliminating the 50 stretch altogether , rather than extending the Stow 30 limit further south.

18.  Internal audit agreement of fee

Agreed to max £120.

19.  Risk assessment Page 5 review

  Reviewed, no amendments.

20.  Planning  Matters-

To discuss naming of new development Tillbridge Rd-It was agreed to request the name “Lakeside”.

21.  Items of information to be noted and if necessary to be dealt with at next meeting-

  i)It was agreed to ask resident who was bring information re Community Fibre Partnership to the April meeting following the Annual Meeting.

ii)It was reported a complaint had been received re The Plough and live music being played past the licence time.  This has been passed to WLDC Enforcing team.

iii)It as noted the cleaner for the OSR would not be able to clean for 3 weeks in March.

iv)Stow to be contacted to enquire how they got a new larger post box.

v)Cllr Mrs Gilbert advised that the Fleets Road application had been agreed by planning.

Meeting closed at 9.40p.m.