2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL

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

Present: Cllr. Hutchinson Chairman, Cllr. J Critchley, Cllr A Critchley, Cllr. K Davey, Cllr H Fletcher, Cllr. I Hammond, Cllr A Mavros. Cllr R Plant and Cllr. I Stokes

1. Apologies: Cllr. J Thompson – Family Commitments

Cllr R Kayberry-Brown (SKDC)

Apologies to be recorded only.

2. Declarations of Interest/Dispensations

Cllr A Mavros declared an interest in Planning Permission Granted in respect of 10 High Street

3. Minutes Signed from Previous Meeting

The Minutes from the previous meeting were signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr. Fletcher and seconded by Cllr. Davey.

4a. Matters Arising

None

5. Official Correspondence and Circulation

Correspondence:-

Email received from the Valuation Office regarding revaluing Hill Top Cemetery, Great Gonerby. A reply was sent by the Clerk offering to meet on site.

Following a report of over grown vegetation from the Parish Council a letter was received from LCC regarding Restricted Byway 5, Spring End to Barrowby, advising works are subject to Finance and availability of Workforce.

Email received from LCC Highways advising Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, Colas Ltd and WSP Ltd have been recommended to deliver highways services for LCC from 1st April 2020.

Email received from Malcolm Hall, Internal Auditor, advising he will carry out the audit again in 2020

Email correspondence received from a Parishioner regarding dog mess and the provision of further Bins in the village. The matter was discussed at length it was agreed the Clerk would write to SKDC asking if further bins could be supplied and the likely cost involved. It was proposed to site one bin at the top of Pond Street/Green Street and the other at the back of Cox’s Walk but depends on costs.

Email correspondence received from a Parishioner regarding ownership of Hill Top grave plots and problems encountered with regard to extra memorials placed on the graves and comments re the state of the driveway, infiltration of stones onto the graves, dog fouling and lack of lighting.

At a recent meeting between the family , the Chairman and Vice Chairman to resolve the issues it was agreed the extra memorials would be removed in line with the terms and conditions of ownership and in return the Parish Council acknowledged the need to carry out maintenance works at Hill top including the installation of lighting subject to Parish Council approval. This request was unanimously approved and the work will be included in the budget for next year.

Letter received from LCC confirming adoption of the LCC Statement of Community Involvement (SC1) 2019 which replaced the Council’s previous SC1 (2014)

Following a request, Cllr Thompson submitted an article to the Grantham Journal with regard to problems with the Pedestrian Crossing in the High Street. A discussion took place and the Parish Council acknowledged the problems with the crossing and it was agreed Cllr Maughan would contact the LCC Highways Manager to arrange a site meeting, hopefully at the end of November. Cllr. Fletcher also spoke of problems encountered by the elderly using public transport crossing the road.

Letter received from SKDC regarding Planning Consultations be held on the 30th September and 11th November 2019

Email received from CrowdFundSK regarding a new funding platform for improving places and people

Robin Road sent information regarding a mobile app platform for Councils and Local Authorities.

Email received from a Parishioner requesting permission to install a bench at St Sebastian’s. This was agreed as long as it was of a good standard and similar to the ones installed at Hill Top.

Email from Best Kept Village And Small Town Competition. Sadly we did not do so well this year but will look to improve next year.

Copy Letter to Dr Caroline Johnson MP received from Cllr A Maughan with regard to A1 Road Safety and Economic Growth. At a recent A1 meeting held at Marston it was understood that the work needed to improve safety could not take place due to budget problems.

Email correspondence to Cllr. Maughan regarding overgrown vegetation on Gonerby Hill. The welcome to Grantham sign is now visible but the two signs on entering Great Gonerby are still obscured.

Letter received from SKDC confirming payment of half year Community Cleaner Grant

Email received from LALC confirming Cllr. Davey’s appointment as a representative to sit on LALC County Committee.

Circulation:

LALC Annual Report and Clerks and Councils Direct circulated.

6. Clerk and Members to Report Back on Matters Outstanding

Cllr. Plant confirmed that vegetation along The Hemplands had been trimmed back

Cllr Critchley – advised that to find a large Elm log for the proposed seat for the Pond area would be prohibitively expensive. Further ideas are to be discussed at the January meeting.

Hedging for Hill Top – To be discussed at the January Meeting

The Clerk reminded Cllr Hutchinson regarding the set-up of a Parish Council Facebook Page.

7. Review Disciplinary & Grievance Procedure,

Freedom of Information Scheme, Data Protection and Complaints Procedures

It was agreed all of the above are running well and there was no need for any changes to be made. Unanimously agreed.

8. Poor Land Update

The Chairman advised he had further discussions with Downtown and it has been established that the way forward having had the Land Valued is for Downtown to be in direct contract with the Charities Commission, Land Valuers and Solicitors. This means that the Poor Land Charity and The Parish Council will have no further dealing in the matter. The Charities Commission is agreeable to this and it also means there will be no expenses incurred by the Poor Land or the Parish Council. Downtown will be paying the costs involved.

9. Financial Matters

a) Quarterly Summary of Accounts to 30th September 2019

The Clerk advised Payments were mostly running within budget with a couple of exceptions, one being expenses and the other Maintenance at Hill Top Cemetery which ran over budget due to new gates being needed when new fence installed.

Receipts in respect of Burial fees are in excess of budget, as is Interest from the Bank as there is £30K on Term Deposit,

The Accounts and Bank balances were reconciled at the end of Quarter 2 and again at the end of October.

b) Budget Setting for Next Year

The Budget for next year was discussed and it was agreed the only increase would be to the Expenses budget to £700 from £500. Provision would also be made for vegetation trimming on Gonerby Hill going forward.

Cllr. Thompson forwarded an email requesting the Council revisit the School Bell Tower project, after a discussion it was thought that this work could not be carried out during 2020/21 as the Council has further maintenance works to be carried out at Hill Top

Cemetery where £5000 has been allowed for in the Budget.

The Clerk advised that it was originally agreed by the Amenities Advisory Group in July 2013 that we would provide one seat a year at the Hill Top Cemetery up to a maximum of four and asked the purchase of a further bench could be made this year as there was money in the budget to cover the cost in the sum of £726. Agreed. Proposed by Cllr. Hutchinson and seconded by Cllr. Davey

c) Petty Cash – The Petty Cash was counted and Agreed. The clerk asked if the Petty Cash could be closed down with the residual balance paid into the Expenses Account at the Bank. This was unanimously agreed.

d) Accounts for Payment

The following Accounts were presented for payment and unanimously agreed.

e) Acceptance of quotes for Grass, Hedge Cutting and weed spraying

Having received quotations from BDG Mowing and Environment SK for Grass cutting at St Sebastian’s and Hill Top it was agreed to accept the quotation from BDG Mowing for both cemeteries.

BDG Mowing and Environment SK quoted for verge cutting and it was agreed to accept EnvironmentSK’s quote in this respect.

Belvoir Trees and EnvironmentSK quoted for hedge cutting at the two cemeteries and also along Grantham Road and it was agreed to accept EnvironmentSK’s quotations.

f) Budget Loan Repayments – Loan repayments are fixed and no alteration is proposed to these repayments.

g) External Audit Report was received from PKF Littlejohn advising that in their opinion the information in Sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR was in accordance with Proper Practices and no other matters have come to their attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met. The Chairman thanked the Clerk for all her hard work which was unanimously endorsed.

10. Advisory Groups a) Planning

S19/0210 Mr B Duggan – Mill House, Gonerby Grange, Gadds Lane, Belton

Removal of Condition 5 relating to glazed entry areas around courtyard (S08/0579)

S19/1660 – Mr M Gaunt 59 Belton Lane, Great Gonerby

Creation of new vehicular access off classified road, with new boundary wall, stone pillars and electric swan neck gates.

S19/0210 – Mr B Duggan Mill House, Gonerby Grange, Belton

Replacement windows from timber frame to conservation style flush casement upvc.

S19/1789 - Mr M Davis

Application for consent to carry out tree surgery on trees included within Tree preservation order T13 and T14. Minor pruning to lift crown because of low over hang in garden and on Church Lane

S19/1138 – Longhurst & Havelock Homes Ltd Land of Easthorpe Road, Great Gonerby

Construction of 46 dwelling, including vehicular access, pedestrian and cycle links etc

Planning Granted:-

S19/0638 Mr M Birtle – Rose Garden Place, Toll Bar Road, Marston

Change of use of land from Agriculture to contractor’s yard

S19/1197 Mr Britain – 10 High Street, Great Gonerby

Installation of replacement signage and lantern and repainting to exterior

S19/1303

Mr J Meadows – 30 Elms View, Great Gonerby

Erection of single storey side extension.

S19/1367 – Mr and Mrs D Skinner 3 Pond Street

Erection of single storey extension to dwelling

Appeal

S18/1858 – Land Off Easthorpe Road, Great Gonerby. Notice of a hearing following refusal of Planning Permission

b) The Environment

It was reported that the wild flower area of the field looks a mess and needs trimming back. This will be reported to the Hall Committee for action. A request was also made for the grass to be trimmed back leading to the gibbet to create a small path.

It has been noted the road sign on Marratt’s Lane needs to be changed as it still points to the Village Hall which is now in Belton Lane. Cllr. Maughan agreed to arrange for a new sign.

It was mentioned that cars were once again parking on grass verges at the new Memorial Hall. It was acknowledge that the car park at Hill Top is very dark but once lighting installed the matter would be addressed.

c) Amenity Areas

The Chairman agreed to hang the Christmas tree lights which will be in situ from 1st December to 5th January. It was agreed that a payment of £35 would be made to Mr Brearley for the supply fo electricity.

d) Highway Matters

A discussion took place regarding the cleaning of the bus shelter in Kelham Road and it was agreed to monitor this going forward and not to have a formal clean this year.

Cllr. Fletcher advised the bus shelter on Grantham Road is being subjected to vandalism. Again this is to be monitored.

The Council were made aware of parking on verges in Long Street causing problems to pedestrians and wheelchair users. This is to be monitored and reported as necessary.

Following a Parishiioners complaint a report to Highways had been submitted regarding potholes along the path leading from Cox’s Walk to Long Street. LCC Highways are to monitor the situation and will carry out works as necessary.

The latest LCC Highways Hough report from Highways was made available to the Council.

11. Notices of motions for future meetings.

None.

12. Any Matters for Urgent Discussion

The Chairman asked for permission dog fouling notices are to be installed at Hill Top. This was unanimously agreed and the clerk will arrange for suitable notices.

There being no further Parish Council Business the Meeting then moved into closed session to discuss staff matters

The meeting Closed at 21:15

MEETING DATES FOR 2020

Meetings held on Tuesdays at the Memorial Hall Belton Lane Great Gonerby

7th JANUARY 2020 7.30 PM

3rd MARCH 2020 7.30 PM

5th MAY 20120 ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING - 7.00 PM

5th MAY 2020 7.30 PM

7th JULY 20120 7.30 PM

8th SEPTEMBER 2020 7.30 PM

3rd NOVEMBER 2020 7.30 PM