2023 Minutes

April 2023 Minutes

Sturton by Stow Parish Council met on Wednesday 5th April 2023 in The Old Schoolroom following the Annual meeting of the Parish.  Meeting started at 7.32pm

Meeting chaired by the Chair Cllr Gilbert.  Present:  Parish Clerk, Cllr Christie, Cllr Cook, Cllr Hawke, Cllr Hoyland, Cllr Taylor and 3 members of the public.

Cllr Gilbert welcomed everybody to the April Meeting.

  1. Recording of meeting

It was noted no one was recording the meeting.

 

  1. Apologies

No apologies- All Cllrs present.

 

  1. To receive declaration of interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011

None.

 

  1. Meeting opened to the public.

Meeting opened to the public at 7.41pm. One member of the public wished to speak.

 

Cllr Butroid updated Council on the use of double yellow lines to be painted around the Saxilby Road/Tillbridge Road junction to act as visual reminders for motorists not to park outside the co-op and to use the car park provided. Pavement repairs on School Lane is on the list the works are to be timetabled. Cllr Butroid supports the need of a crossing at the Tillbridge Road/High Street junction and is hopeful that it will happen in 3-4 years. Cllr Butroid to report street lighting on Fleets Road to Head of Highways.

 

Meeting closed to the Public 7.57pm

 

  1. To approve minutes of previous meeting in March 2023

An amendment made to capitalise fleets road to Fleets Road. It was agreed and RESOLVED that the minutes be approved.

 

  1. To approve minutes of Extraordinary Meeting in March 2023

It was agreed and RESOLVED that the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting in March be approved.

 

  1. Matters arising from minutes.

The handy man has repaired the OSR door and secured the neighbourhood watch signs.

Sturton by Stow Parish Council has been shortlisted for the Co-op Community Champions Scheme, voting takes place from the 3-16 April. Clerk to post link on social media.

The FCC Community funding has been applied for. If successful, the funding will replace the rockers in the play park behind the village hall for an all-inclusive basket swing.

Quotes for play park works have been accepted by both manufacturers. Works to be scheduled soon.

We are to defer payment for the new accounts package as we have been offered a 3-month trial. Payment will be obtained after the 3 months.

Clerk reported blocked gulley on the High Street this is in progress on Fix My Street.

Clerk has reported the overhanging brambles on Saxilby Road near the village sign. This has been moved to enforcement.

Clerk has reported Swan Drive sign on Fix my Street- no update has been given.

Footpaths have begun to be repaired around the village. Clerk to speak to highways to see if this is the final result of repair as resident are unhappy with the final condition.

No update from the solicitor regarding the Recreational Committee and the Land Registry.

Clerk to order new Coronation Cup to award for the Best Kept Coronation Garden.

The Coronation mugs for the Primary School and Pre-School have arrived.

To defer both payments to the new bank account on the agenda and instead transfer £500 to cover the one-off charge card and monthly payment of the card and bank account.

  1. Correspondence received.

General correspondence circulated in bag.

 

  1. Planning Applications

Application Reference- 146434- Tizzy’s Barn 9a High Street- Planning application for extension of existing dwelling being variation of condition 2 of planning permission 143788 granted 6th December 2021 re: extension to east elevation. It was agreed and RESOLVED to make no observations to the planning application.

Application Reference- 146430- 8 Manor Farm Drive- Planning application for first floor extension and single storey rear extension. It was agreed and RESOLVED to make a general observation.

Full comments for the above application are available to view on West Lindsey planning portal.

  1. Planning Granted

Application Reference 145832- 23 The Glebe- Planning granted for proposed extension and alterations to existing dwelling.

Application Reference- 146060- Westwoods Farm- Planning Granted for removal of existing outbuildings and erection of a new butchery.

  1. Other planning matters

Application Reference-146099- Tizzy’s Barn 9a High Street Prior Approval to extend dwellinghouse 7.8 metres from rear wall of original dwellinghouse, 2.4 metres to height of eaves of enlarged part of dwellinghouse and 3.7 metres to highest point of enlarged part of dwellinghouse. Planning approval refused.

Application Reference-146121- 8 High Street- Prior approval to extend dwellinghouse 3.96m from rear wall of original dwellinghouse, 2.4m to height of eaves of enlarged part of dwellinghouse and 3.53m to highest point of enlarged part of dwellinghouse. Prior Approval granted.

 

 

 

  1. Accounts: cheques to be issued

 a) Payments agreed              i) Salaries-Clerk/trainee clerk and expenses/litter picker/OSR Cleaner

                                                   ii) LALC- Annual Training Subscription Invoice (ATS) £140 + VAT

                                                   iii) Easy PC Accounts Package £90 (Deferred Payment)

                                                   iv) Unity Bank - Charge Card £50 + £3 a month (Deferred Payment)

                                                   v) Cauliflower Group LTD- Coronation Mugs £947.92 ex VAT

                                                   vi) Continental Landscapes – Hedges £709.61 excluding VAT

                              

   b) Payments to be agreed         i) Hire of Village Hall- Riparian Project- £33

 

Transfer £500 to new bank account to cover monthly costs of new bank account.

                   All payments were agreed and RESOLVED.

Payments up to year end April 2023

c)Direct Debits paid                 Multidata £46.05 (March)

                                                     British Gas OSR £27.61 excluding VAT

                                                     British Gas Village green £12.73 excluding VAT

                                                     ID Mobile £20.99

 

d) Monies Received                Interest - £2.76

                                                    Councillor Initiative Fund- Village Hall Litter bin- £396.00

                                                    West Lindsey reimbursements for Multidata (Jan, Feb and March) £133.87.

                                                    Bank Compensation £70

 

End of year Bank Balances following all payments up to 31st March 2023

C/A £2,682.77                D/A £1,465.97                    Nat Savings £26,853.18

 

 

  1. Accounts April 2023 summary –circulated.

It was RESOLVED to agree the accounts and defer payment to Easy PC Accounts and Unity bank and to transfer £500 to the new bank account to cover monthly costs.

 

  1. To agree purchase of tools for Jubilee Wood management work

Wooden hay rake 0247167080 x 4 @ £39.94 each = £159.76

Manure fork 1711045470 x 4 @ £24.90 each = £99.60

Anvil loppers BD1101RW x 4 @ £26.97 each = £107.88

Sub-Total = £367.24 inc VAT

Husqvarna pruning saw 300 CV 284062 x 2 @ £37.96 each = £75.92

Roughneck bowsaw 66-822 530mm x 4 @ £13.82 each = £55.28

Sub-total = £131.20.

Grand total = £498.44

Cllr Hawke abstained from voting. It was agreed and RESOLVED to purchase the tools for Jubilee Wood. The tools are to be locked in the old cleaning cupboard in the clerk’s office. New keys to be cut for Cllr Hawke for access.

  1. To discuss annual walkabout and asset update.

It was agreed and RESOLVED to remove the Recreational Ground and village gateways off the assets list and to add on the two sand bins, Clerks phone and Jubilee Wood equipment then to divide the village up as per the previous year for Councillors to complete a walkabout in a different area of the village.

Meeting opened to the public at 8.25pm to bring Cllr Butroid up to speed regarding the Land Registry of the Recreational Field. It has been made clear where the responsibilities and rights lie. The Parish Council has no responsibilities to the Recreational Ground and the land will be registered through the trustees.

Meeting closed to the public at 8.30pm

 

  1. To agree to change to a higher plan on the ink subscription to £4.99 a month (100 pages)

It was agreed and RESOLVED to change to a higher plan on the monthly ink subscription.

 

  1. Organise a HR Committee

It was agreed and RESOLVED for Cllr Taylor and Cllr Christie to act as HR Committee to deal with grievances, salaries or appraisals if needed.

 

  1. To discuss feedback from internal audit.

The feedback from the internal audit was positive. It was highlighted that there are a few policies not visible on the website and to note powers used by the council in the minutes.

 

  1. To review flag flying procedure.

Information from the government website agrees with the flag flying procedure already adopted by the Parish Council. The Ukrainian flag will be removed during the Kings Coronation, and we will address the re flying of the flag at a later date. The use of a flag weight would be beneficial to help the flag fly. Cllr Taylor to look into this.

 

 

  1. Confirmation of the updated Community Emergency Plan.

The Community Emergency Plan has been updated and forwarded to the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum. Clerk to create a sanitised version with no names and addresses for emergency box along with a mobile phone and charger in The Old Schoolroom. It was noted that in the case of an emergency where possible for the Cllrs/responders to use their own mobile phones. It would be beneficial to organise emergency plan exercise in the summer to uncover any weakness with the procedure.

 

Meeting opened at 8.53pm to Cllr Butroid who was in agreement to the that it would be best practice to hold an emergency plan exercise to highlight an amend any weaknesses that might arise.

Meeting closed to the public 8.54pm

 

  1. Update on the Riparian Project

The meeting had a good representation from agencies who could provide the information needed. We have gained some useful information from some landowners in and around the village. Overall attendance from residents was around 20-25. The National Flood Forum Charity are keen to develop a Flood action group and they will lead with the arrangements. Cllr Cooke to provide a summary of the event in an article for the next newsletter.

 

  1. Reports from local organisation.

Cllr Taylor- Village Hall- The May market will be cancelled due to the celebrations of the Kings Coronation. The village hall has been offering free tables to try and increase stall holders. The easter market was busy. There have been some historical finds for the village which could be displayed. These have been shared with the History Society.

 

  1. General maintenance in the Parish
    1. To discuss parking on the grass on High Street

Clerk to liaise with the school regarding the parking on the High Street to put a notice out to parents.

  1. Ask school to remind parents that parking on the footpath/grassed area is undermining safety of all children.

Clerk to liaise with the school, regarding the irresponsible parking and that they are undermining the safety of the children.

  1. Ask Village Hall if signage can be improved to encourage use of the rear carpark.

Meeting opened to the public 9.12pm

This has been discussed on the village hall agenda. The village hall is in agreement of improving the signage to the new car park to help reduce parking on the road. Provisions have already begun to support this.

Meeting closed to the public at 9.14pm.   Two members of the public left.

  1. Items to be noted for the next meeting.
  2.  

 

Meeting closed at 9.15pm.