2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 14th September at 7.30pm at the Memorial Hall

Present:               Cllr. Hutchinson Chairman, Cllr. J Thompson Vice Chairman, Cllr J Critchley, Cllr. H Fletcher, Cllr. A Mavros, Cllr. M Neal, Cllr M Neal, Cllr I Stokes  and Cllr. A Maughan (LCC)

There being a member of the public in attendance the Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming her and advising that 30 minutes is allocated to discuss concerns affecting the village.

The member of the public wished to bring traffic and road conditions in the High Street to the attention of the Council.  A  traffic survey report was presented to the Councillors which indicated that there were a total of 2133 movements during three different hour periods.  These numbers roughly correspond to a traffic survey undertaken about three years ago.    The current survey is appended to these Minutes.

The parishioner advised that the longest period without traffic movement was seven seconds.

The parishioner also spoke of the state of the road and the poor standard of repairs undertaken.  The LCC Councillor advised that he would look into this

The Chairman advised the Parish Council are looking into the purchase of further speed signs to try and deter speeding cars.

A discussion took place with regard to the construction of the Grantham by-pass and it was thought the new road should take some of the traffic away from the village, together with the whole of Grantham and in the long term things will get better.

The Parishioner left the meeting at 19:55 having been thanked by the Chairman for her time and bringing the matter to the Parish Council’s attention.

1.            Apologies for Absence:   Cllr. A Critchley – Work Commitments

                                                           Cllr K Davey – Family Commitment

                                                           Apologies to be recorded only

2.            Declarations of Interest/Dispensations

                None

3.            Minutes Signed from Previous Meeting

Minutes were duly signed by the Chairman with the following amendment

Page 8- the date of V J Day (Victory in Japan) should read 14th August.

4.            Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

It was advised that the planting of the bulbs should be taking place in the next few weeks and Councillors were requested to volunteer to help with the planting.

 It was advised that a walk is to take place along Footpath 4 to establish the original route according to the definitive map.

It was advised that the red sign at the top of Gonerby Hill has still not been fixed.  The Clerk was asked to chase this up.

5.            Official Correspondence and Circulation

Letter received from Yorkshire Bank advising of changes to online banking for businesses.  The Clerk was given authority to register for the new service at the appropriate time.

Email received from Cllr Maughan with regard to a parcel of land adjacent to the A1/Toll Bar Road and rightful ownership.  To be further investigated by LCC as land is thought to belong to them

Updated Register of Electors received from SKDC

Copy email correspondence  to the police received from Cllr. Maughanto police with regard to anti-social behaviour in the village earlier in the summer.

Correspondence received from Cllr. Maughan with regard to a highways survey to take place with regard to the upgrade of the Zebra cross in the village.

Letter from Cllr Thompson received thanking the Parish Council for the glass gift recently presented in recognition of his 50 year’s service as a Parish Councillor.  Letter attached to Minutes

Email correspondence regarding wi-ifi at the Hall.  It has been agreed that the Parish Council will pay a monthly fee of £5 for access to the wi-fi which is needed in connection with remote access to the new CCTV cameras.

Email from Centrebus outlining new timetable for Route 24 starting 1st September.  Timetable will be posted on Notice Board.

Email from Zurich Insurance confirming the addition of the new CCTV cameras and bench .

Email correspondence regarding delay to installation of new defibrillator at Church View.  This is being monitored by the Clerk.

6              a) Bench for Pond Area -   The Chairman advised that over 100 stones had now been collected following the end of Lockdown Rockdown.  The Chairman is to liaise with parishioner who has been collecting the stones to take the project forward.

                b)  Additional Speed Signs – The Chairman advised the cost involved to provide an additional sign for the village would be in the region of £4000 and after a discussion it was thought best to see if parishioners would be interested in speed watch system.  The Clerk agreed to advertise for volunteers using a hand gun on Facebook , Parish Council Notice Board and Post Office to see if there are anyone would be willing to undertake this task and depending on outcome the purchase of an additional speed sign would be re-visited at a later dated as the purchase of this item was not in this year’s budget.

c)  Hill Top Terms and Conditions  The Chairman reported following the last meeting when a Parishioner attended requesting an amendment to the Terms and Conditions regarding rooted plants  a number of Councils had been contacted with the following outcome:-

It was unanimously agreed that the current Terms and Conditions should be enforced and therefore a letter would be written to the parishioner requesting removal of the plants.

It was further agreed to adopt the additional sheet to be sign with regard to Terms and Conditions going forward  so no purchasers understand what is required.

It was further reported that there had been a breach with regard to the installation of a memorial in the last year.  All parties have been informed and no further action is to be taken.

7.            Poor Land Update

The Chairman advised not a lot had happened as still trying to establish likely costs with regard to an eviction. 

He advised that the Charity would need financial assistance once costs were known.  It was agreed that this would be considered once costs known.

8.            Arrangements for Remembrance Sunday

A discussion took place and it was agreed to approach the Church to establish arrangements for this year bearing in mind current Covid restrictions. 

9.            Confirmation of M L Hall as Internal Auditor

                It was agreed to ask Mr Hall to be our Internal Auditor again next year.

10.          Financial Matters

a)  Accounts for Payment  :  The following accounts were presented for payment

All the above were unanimously agreed proposed by Cllr. Thompson, seconded by Cllr. Critchley.

b)  Year to Date Budget Report :  The Clerk presented the following report:-

We are now nearing the end of our second quarter, the budget looks good.

Hall rent paid in the sum of £220

Office costs running well within budget,

Donations are showing an excess due to £500 grant received from LCC for help during Covid lockdown.

Insurance costs slightly in excess of budget by £30

Audit fees paid to Malcolm Hall, PK Littlejohn invoice not received as yet.

No training expenses

Expenses are running within budget.

Maintenance costs are running within budget

Turning to extra expenditure outside the budget for this year the following have been agreed:-

Installation of CCTV Camera at Hill Top £2000

New Defibrillator at Church View£2250

Speed Sign – costs to be established.

Burial Income is slightly in excess of budget

Followed by an emergency report as follows:-

Due to additional expenditure during the first half of this year, the Clerk advised of a cash flow problem until the middle of October when  the next half year precept is paid. The Clerk requested authorisation to request an overdraft of £5000 for approximately 7 days at the beginning of October to enable the loan repayment to be met.  Alternatively a request to the loan board to delay payment date for 7 days.

The loan repayment is due on the7th October and SKDC usually pay the half year precept around the 8t October.

The Clerk advised she had spoken to Yorkshire Bank who advised it is not possible to withdraw funds from the 95 Day Business account.

The above request was discussed and different ways of solving the problem discussed.  The Clerk agreed to make further enquiries of Yorkshire Bank and report back.

With regard to the additional defibrillator unit to go at Church View, progress is slow.

Unfortunately in retrospect it has been advised that there may be a grant available for this purchase, the Clerk to pursue this.

c)            External Auditor Report – The Clerk advised this has not yet been received. 

11.          Advisory Groups

a)  Planning – The following were presented to the meeting:-

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

S20/1152

Longhurst & Havelok Homes Ltd

Land off Easthorpe Road

Section 73 Application to vary Condition 2 (approved plans) and 8 (pedestrian footway) of planning permission S19/1138

PL/0081/20

Development to vary condition 2 and 7 of Planning Permission Ref:  s37/1976/16

To reflect proposed amendments to the site landscape planting scheme

S20/1255

Mr R Mawson

The Old Barn, Pond Street

Trees in CA – Section 211 Notice

Felling due to proximity of structure

S20/1329

Mr and Mrs Fowler Birch

33 Belvoir Gardens

Proposed single storey extensions to side and rear of existing dwelling, incorporating existing garage.

S20/1304

Mr T Whitford

Corrie House, 56 Green Street

Proposed 2 No. Bungalows.

S20/1401

Miss L Parkhouse

26 Covill Close

Single storey extension to front of existing dwelling.

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED

S20/0886

Mr C Harvey

2 Long Street

Single storey and rear extension

S20/0918

Mr and Mrs R Thompson

6 Woffindin Close

Rear extension to bungalow

S20/0942

Mr G Thomas

36 Long Street

Internal alterations and widening of vehicular access

S20/1102

Grantham Solar Farm Ltd

Approval of Non-material amendments

To provide additional security/CCTV coverage of solar array.

S19/0735

Toll Bar Service Station

Erection of a coffee shop with drive-through, car parking, landscaping and associated works.

S20/1053

36 Long Street – Listed Building Consent

Internal alterations including insertion and alteration of partion walling.  Insertion of roof light.

S20/0974

25 Pond Street

Barn Conversion to one residential dwelling and erection of one bungalow

S20/1226

Land rear of 3 Long Street

Non material amendment for the omission of arched brick header to windows and doors and replacement with brick soldier course headers.

S20/1255

The Old Barn, Pond Street

1nr Cyprus Fir – felling due to proximity of structure.

REFUSAL

S20/0667

Mr L Borrett

44 Manor Drive, Great Gonerby

Removal of existing outhouse on the property and replacement with single storey garage to the side.

b)            Amenity Areas:  Street Art  - Cllr Thompson advised the murals had been renovated and all was good.  It was agreed that a payment of £100 would be made for the work involved towards the restoration. Initially a £200 SKDC Councillor allowance monies had been offered to the Parish Council for this project and it was agreed the height of the wall could be raised using the other £100.  All Councillors in favour of the Street Art project going ahead.

                It was further advised that the watering pump used for the High Street planters needed a back-up and it was agreed to purchase a new cordless pump at a cost of £100.  This expenditure is also being covered by SKDC Councillor’s allowance monies.  All councillors were  in favour of the purchase. Proposed Cllr. Fletcher and seconded by Cllr. I Stokes.

c)            Highways –

                Highways England  have given  notice of a survey to take place over night 19/20th October with full closure of south bound carriageway.

                LCC have acknowledged request to cut back bushes and greenery on Grantham Hill.

                The Chairman spoke of an idea of installing white gates on entrances to the village, another measure to control traffic.  It was agreed that this is something that could be looked at when setting next year’s budget.

                It was reported that the repair to the bridge over the railway line at the bottom of Gonerby Hill was not up to standard and enforcements should be installed to prevent a vehicle landing up on the railway line.

                Councillors were informed recent travellers in the area had left behind a lot of mess at the foot of Gonerby Hill and also two dilapidated caravans.  It was thought the resulting problems would be the responsibility of the landowner to clear up.  Cllr. Stokes agreed to make enquiries with SKDC to see if the travellers could be tracked.

                Cllr Stokes spoke of the problem of cars parking on the bank opposite the Memorial Hall on football match days.  A discussion followed regarding placing a white post and chain fence on the area.  Councillor Maughan agreed to approach Highways to seek agreement.

                Width sign at the bottom of Belton Lane has been damaged and will be reported to Highways.

12.          Notice of Motions for Future Meetings

                It was requested the November Parish Council Meeting is held using the Zoom remote facility rather than to meet physically.   This was agreed and the Clerk was asked to arrange to set up an account with Zoom.   Link in details will be circulated to all Councillors and members of the Public.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:55

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

                                                20th November                  Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II Wedding Day