2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 5th March 2019 at 7.30pm at the Memorial Hall

Present: Cllr. Hutchinson Chairman, Cllr. J Thompson (Vice Chairman) , Cllr. A Critchley, Cllr. J Critchley Cllr. I Hammond, and Cllr. I Stokes

Also in attendance were Alison Mavros and Robert Plant who have expressed an interest in becoming Councillors.

1. Apologies:

Cllr A Maughan – Work Commitments
Cllr. R Kaberry-Brown – No Parking available
Cllr D Watson - Sickness

Apologies to be recorded only.

2. Declarations of Interest/Dispensations

None reported.

3. Minutes signed from previous Meeting

The Minutes from the previous meeting were signed as a true record proposed by Cllr J Critchley and seconded by Cllr. Hutchinson.

4. Official Correspondence and Circulation

Report received from LLC Cllr. Maughan for submission to the Parish Council as follows:-

• LCC Budget: In February the council approved it's budget for the 2019/20 financial year. This will be the final year of the current local government funding settlement. The revenue budget shows spend of £460m on service delivery (excluding schools) with a use of reserves from the financial volatility reserve of £3m to balance the books and protect services. As previously reported, the budget included a council tax rise of 4.95% for the County Council element, with the additional increase equating to an extra £12m for LCC to spend on services next year. You will also be aware that since 2011 the County Council has had to find approx £300m in efficiency savings as a result of year on year decreases in the main grant we receive from Government.
• Highways Budget: the council approved the reinstatement of two full weed cycles in the coming year (cost of £150,000), funding for three rounds of safety grass cutting (cost of £300,000) and a full cycle of gully cleaning (cost of £370,000) in 2019/20.
• A current hot topic from County Hall is the consultation on the future delivery of the Council's Heritage Service. Essentially the Council would like the service to become cost neutral and pay for itself. This means a number of changes are being proposed in order to both improve the offer and make it financially viable. One of the more controversial changes is the moving of some of the items and artwork from the Usher Gallery to The Collection to allow some space at the Usher Gallery to be used for the Registrar Service and Coroner's Court. The reason being that footfall at the Usher is low and there is not enough room for all the items to be on display. The Usher, under these plans, would still be home to some artwork and exhibitions. I appreciate the most controversial aspect relates to places in Lincoln but if you do wish to have your say on the proposals you can follow the link: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/local-democracy/your-comments-and-feedback/future-of-the-heritage-service-consultation/

An email received from CPRE informing that Great Gonerby village had been awarded a brass plaque in respect of being Joint Runner up in Class 2 in the 2018 Best Kept Village and Small Town Award. This has been duly received. A discussion took place and it was decided the plaque should be put on the Clock Pelter’s plinth.

A letter received from Community Lincs informing the Parish Council that from the 1st April 2019 they will no longer be handling the administration of our insurance policy and Zurich will become our direct contact for mid-term adjustments, day to day enquiries and claims handling.

Email received from LALC with regard to annual subscription – it was agreed that this should be renewed once the invoice has been received.

Further email received from LALC with regard to registering for their Annual Training Scheme. It was decided to continue paying ad-hoc for courses attended.

Email received from Julie Edwards with regard to the forthcoming Parish Council Elections and how to handle vacancies arising within 6 months of 7th May.

Updated Register of Electors received from SKDC as at 20th February 2019

Email received from Highways advising that Highway Issues should be reported via www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/faultreporting. The online system is the quickest and easiest way to report problems.

An up-date has been received from Anne Samuel with regard to ownership of the hedge to the side of her property, the matter is still not resolved.

An email received from LALC advising that they will have to charge VAT at the going rate on all training invoices.

Email received from LCC with regard to implementing Traffic Regulation Orders.

Circulation

Clerks & Councils Direct

InvstSK – Skills Summit and other notifications.

Community Lincs – Village and Community Hall Cluster Meetings – Spring 2019 information

5. Clerk and Members to report back on matters Outstanding:-

Clerk Report

a) Security Cameras: The Clerk spoken to Bill Wilson with regard to the Security cameras - Bill has advised that Global Vision who installed the original security system need to put right alarm problems with the doors and carry out an annual service soon. Once the problems have been fixed and the service taken place it is the Memorial Hall’s intention to switch the Security Contract to All Secure and up-grade the camera system at which time they will come to the PC for their contribution.

b) Hill Top Fence – The Chairman advised that four quotations had been received but unfortunately none were like for like. It was agreed to ask Belvoir Tree Services to amend their quotation to include two gates and posts together with three runs of barbed wire. The Clerk agreed to contact Belvoir Tree Services to request the revised quotation. Subject to the quotation being within the agreed budget it was agreed that Belvoir Trees would be asked to carry out the work. The Clerk agreed to advise the Councillors once the amended quotation had been received.

c) Verge Grass Cutting – The Chairman advised that two quotations had been received for Verge Cutting, one from BDG Mowing Contractors and the other from SK Environment.
Cllrs Hutchinson and Stokes declared an interest in the quotations provided by SK Environment.It was agreed to accept the quotation from BDG Mowing as they are the Parish Council’s current contractors for grass cutting in the village.
d) War Memorial - The clerk advised a Completion Report had been submitted to the War Memo

rial Trust together with updated photos, just waiting for Grant monies to be received. A discussion took place with regard to applying a brass plate to the War Memorial, but this was not thought necessary.

All of the above proposed by Cllr. Thompson and seconded by Cllr J Critchley.

6. Financial Matters

a) Petty Cash – The Clerk apologised but the Petty Cash report was not available due to problems encountered during the change of Bankers. The Clerk reported the change of Bankers was now complete. HSBC acknowledged that their performance during the changeover had been very poor causing many of the councillors to have repeated visits to the bank. It apologised for the inconvenience and issued a compensation payment of £200 to those councillors affected. It was agreed that the money would be put towards a Christmas meal and be held in a separate deposit account until December.

b) Accounts for Payment

The above were agreed proposed by Cllr. Hammond and seconded by Cllr. Thompson

7. Advisory Groups

a) Planning

Planning: (SK Planning Meeting 6th March, 3rd April)

S19/0080 Richmond House, Occupation Lane Rear and side extension to Warehouse

S16/2816 Land at Rectory Farm – Further information – The Chairman is to approach SKDC with regard to footpath provision through to Great Gonerby.

S16/2819 Land at Rectory Farm – Further information

S19/0144 Everards Brewery – Listed Building request for a raised external seating area, erection of fencing and installation of festoon lighting

S19/0240 22 Long Street – Single storey extension to include balcony above (Section 73 Amendments to S18/0766)

No objections received to the above.

Planning Permission has been granted for the following:-

S18/2382 – Walnut Cottage, 44A Covill Close – reduction of Walnut Tree

S18/2217 – 1 High Street – Two storey extension to rear and single storey extension to side of existing dwelling

S18/2295 – Peascliffe Farm, Gadds Lane – Section 73 application to vary Condition 3 (Use of different materials.

Cllr. Stokes advised the meeting that a decision on the Easthorpe Road Development had been withdrawn to the next SKDC Planning meeting due to a technical issue.

b) Environment – Cllr. Thompson spoke of his ongoing concerns regarding a missing link in the Footpath 4 which runs through to Manthorpe. Cllr. Thompson is to contact LCC again with regard to this.

c) Amenity Areas – Cllr. Thompson acknowledged that two heritage signs need to be put up and he will do this.

d) Highway Matters

An updated Highways Report received from LCC

LCC have advised of a temporary road closure between 14th April 2019 and 31st May 2019 affecting Easthorpe Road, Covill Close, Church View, Emminson Way, Threadgold Avenue, Cross Walk, Swadales Close, Woffindin Close and Holden Way for Carriageway Slurry Seal Works

LCC advised of a further Temporary Road Close in Long Street (Manor Drive to Easthorpe Road) from 22nd April to 26th April 2019 for essential maintenance works.

Update received from Fix My Street to acknowledge the Street Light on Newark Hill has “action scheduled”.

Pond Area – The Clerk reported that it has proved extremely difficult to obtain a quotation for the completion of the area but Gonerby Moor Construction have now been approached to provide a quotation. It was agreed that Cllrs. Thompson, Hammond and Hutchinson would meet with the proposed new contractor to discuss a final specification and way forward.

8. Notice of motions for future meetings

There were no motions.

9. Staffing Matters

The Clerk requested that consideration be given to increasing the number of hours she is paid for. It was agreed the Clerk would provide a time sheet for the hours worked during the coming three months. This request is to be discussed later in the year.

10. Matters for Urgent discussion

The Clerk was requested to obtain a new rope lock cover for the flag pole.

Cllr. Thompson reminded the Councillors of the Red Cross First Aid Session being held in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday 13th March at 19:15.

The Chairman advised that he had received an enquiry from Downtown to purchase the area of Poor Land near to their premises. The Chairman is to contact the Charities Commission to get guidance on the sale and will advise the Parish Council when matters have progressed further as to the best way forward.

The Chairman is also to seek guidance on the definition of “Poor” and ascertain who can benefit from the likely increased income.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.10

Flag Flying Days:

12th March Commonwealth Day

April 21st Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II

April 23rd St. George’s Day

8th May V.E. Day (Victory in Europe)