September 2021 Minutes
GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 7th September 2021 at 7.30
at the Memorial Hall, Belton Lane, Great Gonerby
Present: Cllr. B Hutchinson (Chairman), Cllr. H Fletcher (Vice Chairman), Cllr. J Critchley, Cllr K Davey, Cllr. A Mavros, Cllr. M Neal, Cllr. R Plant
1. Apologies for Absence: Cllr. T Critchley (work commitments),
Cllr I Stokes (work commitments)
Cllr M Davey Dunerdale (Work Commitments)
2. Co-option of New Councillor
The Chairman explained the Councillor vacancy had arisen following Cllr. Thompson’s retirement in July and welcomed the two applicants who had come forward ; Christian Cundall and Tim Bridle. Both applicants were invited to introduce themselves following which a show of hands vote took place to elect the new Councillor.
Four Councillors voted in favour of Tim Bridle and three in favour of Christian Cundall. Tim Bridle was duly elected as a Councillor for the Great Gonerby Ward.
3. Declarations of Interest/Dispensations
None.
4. Minutes Signed from Previous Meeting
The Minutes were duly signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr. Davey, Seconded by Cllr. Neal.
5. Clerk and Members to Report Back on Matters Outstanding
a) Queen’s Jubilee Beacons: Cllr J Critchley advised the meeting Cllr. T Critchley had the matter in hand and would report back at the November Parish Council meeting. Following a discussion it was thought a gas Beacon would be safer.
b) Pond Bench – Cllr. Hutchinson has been in touch with the manufacturers several times but not received a response. He advised he will continue to chase for costings.
c) Village Hanging Signs – Again Cllr. Hutchinson advised that dimensions had been sent and again waiting for costings to take the project forward.
6. Official Correspondence and Circulation
Email received from J Thompson with regard to the watering pump advising it was no longer functioning and suppliers had agreed to a full refund.
He advised he was using the cordless drill with a pump attachment to water the High Street planters.
Further email correspondence received from Jeff Thompson following his retirement at the July meeting thanking everyone for their excellent and appropriate gift and acknowledging his 51 years as a Councillor had been wonderful.
SKDC forwarded details of Electoral Register Updates for August and July
Email from Cllr. Maughan regarding Homeowner Property Flood Resilience Assistance Scheme. Discussed but not thought applicable to Great Gonerby
Eon advice re price increase from 1st September 2021in respect of the electric supply to Hill Top Cemetery CCTV and lights.
Correspondence from HM Treasury detailing proposed changes to the terms and conditions being applied by the Public Works Loans Board from September 2021.
Email correspondence from parishioner regarding overgrown state of vegetation on the Grantham Hill footpath. Discussed and recorded under 9b.
Email correspondence from EnvironmentSK with regard to termination of weed spraying contract
Email correspondence from SKDC with regard to Litter Bin at the top of Spring End and confirming bin is emptied twice a week.
Email from Cllr. Stokes regarding Section 106 monies in respect of the Eastthorpe Road development and confirming the monies were allocated to the Walton Academy for additional science classrooms.
Circulation:
Information regarding speed sensor cameras was distributed. As discussion followed asking if this could be revisited again in November as though might be the best way forward.
Two Clerks and Councils Magazines were also made available.
7 Poor Land Update
Cllr. Hutchinson advised that he had been in touch with the Land Agents. No progress has been made. The tenant has been given 12 months’ notice to vacate the land which expires in December. The Chairman explain to the new Councillor about the Poor Land and how it was donated to the village.
8. Remembrance Sunday Arrangements
Arrangements are to remain the same as in previous years. The Clerk was requested to contact
Peter Jennings to enquire if he can assist with the flag lowering and raising again on Remembrance Sunday.
9. Confirmation of M L Hall as Internal Auditor and LALC Proposals
The Clerk confirmed that Malcom Hall was happy to continue as the Parish Council’s Internal Auditor. LALC’s proposals are in hold in case needed in the future.
10. Financial Matters
a) Accounts for Payment
The following Accounts were presented for payment:-
ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
01.07.21 B & Q Wood Filler for Charlie £5.50
05.07.21 HM Revenue & Customs Tax Payment £400.80
05.07.21 Time Assured Church Clock Repairs £996.00
05.07.21 Timpson Key for Memorial Hall £10.50
06.07.21 BDG Mowing 2 x Cemetery Grass Cuts £178.00
06.07.21 EnvironmentSK June Verge Cut £345.10
06.07.21 J Walker (Rasells Nurseries) Plants and compost for Pond Planters £84.85
08.07.21 Argos Bookcase for Book swap £25.00
12.07.21 E J Walker Mileage March/July £18.90
12.07.21 E-on Hill Top Electric£ 145.27
12.07.21 Plantscape Planters for High Street £121.56
12.07.21 Crimson Kings (Midlands) Ltd Removal of Dead Tree St. Sebastians £225.00
27.07.21 Staff Salaries July salaries and computer £551.53
27.07.21 Syston Doors New metal shutter for High Street Bus Stop £1,284.00
04.08.21 BDG Mowing 2 x Cemetery Grass Cuts + 2 Weed Control at Cemeteries £214.00
06.08.21 EnvironmentSK 2 x Weed Control at Cemeteries £33.09
06.08.21 EnvironmentSK 1 x Verge Cutting £345.10
09.08.21 Community Heartbeat Annual Support £162.00
12.08.21 Wood Finishes Direct Oil and cleaner for Charile £35.69
16.08.21 Currys PC World Sandisk for New Councillor £9.99
27.08.21 Staff Salaries August Salaries & Computer £551.73
27.08.21 EnvironmentSK April Verge Cutting £345.10
30.08.21 EnvironmentSK August Verge Cutting £345.10
30.08.21 PKF Littlejohn LLP External Audit Fees £240.00
30.08.21 Amazon Pump for Watering £11.99
RECEIPTS
05.07.21 G H Linnell Cemetery Fee - Norris Plot N12 £100.00
13.07.21 Virgin Money Cash Back Rebate £0.89
30.07.21 Virgin Money 95 Day Deposit Interest £7.22
18.08.21 Virgin Money Cash Back Rebate £0.24
31.08.21 Virgin Money 95 Day Deposit Interest £3.86
Payments were duly authorised proposed by Cllr. J Critchley and seconded by Cllr. Neal
b) Year to Date Budget Report
The following report was presented by the Clerk:
As we come towards the end of the Half Year I can report as follows:-
Payments:
The Memorial Hall Rent has been suspended this year, so no payment due.
LALC Annual Subscription in the sum of £458 paid.
Office Costs to date stand at £132 against a budget of £515
Donations/grants- none made
Insurance- Paid but £20 outside budget
Audit fees- £120 paid to Malcolm Hall and £240 to External Auditors total £360 against budget of £415
Training Fees none to date but the clerk is to attend a web training refresher course in October.
Expenses to date total £568 against a budget of £700 for the year.
Grass and Verge Cutting costs are running within budget
S137 – No expenditure
Staff salaries total £2539 to date against an annual budget of £8000.
Receipts:
Burial fees received to date are well below budget only £100 against a predicted annual income of £1000.
Virgin Money Deposit Account Interest earned is In excess of budget at £35.00
Bank Balances as at the 31.08.21 were:-
Current Account £800.15
Expenses Account £38.74
Deposit Account £9,996.74
95 Day Notice Deposit Account £30.301.90
c) External Auditors Report
The External Audit Report has been returned advising Sections 1 and 2 of the AGAR were in accordance with Proper Practices and no other matters came to their attention giving cause for concern.
11. Advisory Groups:-
a) Planning
The following were presented to the meeting:-
APPLICATIONS
S21/1344
Miss Holly White
College Farm, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby
Advertisement consent
S21/1445
Moto Service Area, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby NG32 2AB
Submission of details reserved by Condition 4 (External Lighting) of planning permission S20/1485
S21/1561
Mr L Collins
35 Belton Lane, Great Gonerby
Rear single story extension, double story side extension, new driveway, detached garage.
S21/1624
Mr B Murphy
Sutton Lodge, 20 Green Street, Great Gonerby
L1, L2 & L3 to cut down/heavily prune to re-form at 12ft hedge. L9 and H Leylandii and Holly Tree to cut down/heavily prune both of them to form a 12 – 14 ft hedge. L4, L5, L6, L7, L8 Leylandii – To remove.
APPROVED
S21/0881
Kate Draper
54 Green Street, Great Gonerby
Two storey rear extension
S21/1257
Moto Service Area, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby
Minor alteration of internal access to allow retention of trees
County Matter
PL/0080/21
Land at A1 Gonerby Moor, Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby
Comments for change of use of land to skip hire operation
SKDC no objection to raise
Cllr. Maughan advised Marston PC have discussed concerns about the consultation process Lightsource BP have carried out with regard to the solar farm application and have requested assistance with regard to a joint letter being sent pointing out the shortcomings. It hoped that by pointing this out they may reconsider the amount of Community benefit which is due.
It was agreed that the Chairman could certainly jointly sign the letter Marston are proposing to send. Cllr. Maughan will advise Marston PC.
b) Amenity Areas:
Grantham Hill Footpath
Following an email from a resident regarding the overgrown state of the vegetation on Grantham Hill Footpath, Cllr Maughan has actively chased LCC Highways who have advised that this matter is receiving attention. It is proposed to severely cut back the hedges and vegetation soon and the local farmer has also been contacted requesting that his hedge is cut back
It is proposed that the Parish Council will take on the responsibility for verge cutting both sides of the footpath as from April 2022.
Request from Memorial Hall Trustees
A request has been received from the Chairman of the Memorial Hall committee requesting help towards the cost of the upgrade of the playground.
A lengthy discussion took place concerning various difficulties facing the Trustees at the present time and Cllr. Hutchinson has agreed to speak to Ian Skellern with regard to his requests and the matter will be discussed again in November.
Tree Planting – LALC have forwarded details of a tree planting scheme but it was thought the village had enough trees at the present time.
Barbara Mooney PCSO had written to advise she has been monitoring the parking situation in the village and has spoken to the school and some drivers re the problems..
She has also been investigating the report of excessive noise etc coming from the Memorial Hall facilities.
Height Restriction Barriers for Hill Top Cemetery
This proposal was discussed but decision delayed until the November meeting.
Cllr. Critchley advised there had been a lot of disruption to the farm fence at Hill Top. And unfortunately one of their cows had died as a result of eating yew tree leaves. Barriers have been put in place to stop this occurring again.
It was advised that the Hall hedges were too high and needed cutting back as they were obstructing the CCTV. It was confirmed this is in hand.
The Parish Council had arranged to remove a dead tree from St Sebastian’s unfortunately after the removal it was reported that the tree was a memorial to a villager’s deceased daughter. It has been agreed to pay for a replacement cherry tree.
Cllr. Fletcher Update on Village Amenities
New roller shutters have now been installed at the High Street Bus stop
The Book Exchange is proving very popular
The Gas light lamp post has received a coat of paint
New plants are now blooming on the Pond area
Wood filler and a new wood preserve have contributed to an improved look for Charlie
A Pond area clean is scheduled to take place on the 27th September together with weed treatment.
The broken white post on Grantham Road has been replace, unfortunately there is now another broken post which needs to be replace. The clerk will make arrangements for this to be done
White Posts to the front of St Sebastian’s are still awaited, the Clerk will chase for an instalment date
Cllr. Davey advised the picnic bench for the field is on order and will be delivered towards the end of September.
12. Notice of motions for future meetings
Height restriction barriers for Hill Top Cemetery to be re-discussed.
13. Any Matters for Urgent Discussion
Cllr. Davey advised that she is still waiting for information regarding proposed open air cinema for Queen Jubilee in 2022.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.30
Flag Flying Days: October 1st Lincolnshire Day
October 21st Trafalgar Day
11th November Remembrance Day
10th November Remembrance Sunday
14th November Birthday of Prince of Wales