2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

PINCHBECK PARISH COUNCIL

COUN. J. AVERY presided at the meeting of the Pinchbeck Parish Council on Tuesday 27th September 2022 held at Pinchbeck Community Hub & Library, Knight Street, Pinchbeck commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Attending were:        

Coun. Mrs. L. Andrew
Coun. Mrs. E. Beavis
Coun. Mrs. S. Jeffery
Coun. Mrs. A. Savage
Coun. D. Dickens
Coun. D. Houghton
Coun. T. Moore
Coun. P. Ruysen
Coun. O. Wood                        

together with Clerk Mrs. Barbara Camps
                        
Also in attendance

County Councillor Elizabeth Sneath
and one member of the public

The Chairman welcomed everyone present and advised upon conclusion of the meeting there would be a loyal toast to King Charles III.

Prior to moving on, a two-minute silence was held in respect of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September and also the recent passing of a long-serving parish councillor Brian Wells who had served the community for approximately thirty years.

Before commencing with Item 1 on the Agenda, Julie Collins, Pinchbeck resident who has raised funds for many projects within the parish, spoke to members and advised she would like to fund, at a location agreed, additional seating for young and old to use.  Currently she has funds of £855.  Julie was particularly keen to locate seating to enable the elderly and the young community to have somewhere to sit and rest at certain locations.  Councillors meanwhile, to bring to the table possible locations for the benches.  Photographs of various benches/seating were circulated round the room and it seemed that Phoenix seat available from Glasdon was the favoured choice.  Julie also floated the idea of a Graffiti Board for the local graffiti artists to display their talents and requested that the parish councillors consider this.

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence received from Coun. Mrs. A. Gregory and Coun. A. Chamberlain.

2.  DECLARATION OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS

None were registered.

3.   CONFIRM MINUTES (Circulated)

The minutes were approved and agreed as follows:

Full Council Meeting – 25th July 2022

Proposed by Coun. Mrs. A. Savage/Seconded by Coun. T. Moore

4.  REVIEW ACTION TABLE: - FULL COUNCIL MEETING –  25TH JULY 2022

Coun. Mrs. A. Savage reported she had spoken to shop owner relating to delivery vehicles parking on pavement (Item 6 – re parking Knight Street).  Parking on Knight Street to be included on agenda of next meeting.   All other items within the Action Plan assigned and actions taken, except for those awaiting updates, as shown.

5.  TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION FOR TWO VACANCIES ON PINCHBECK PARISH WARD
It was proposed by Coun. J. Avery and seconded by Coun. Mrs. A. Savage that Mr. G. Garner, resident of West Pinchbeck be co-opted to the Pinchbeck Parish Ward.  All agreed.  

6.  CORRESPONDENCE

List of all planning and tree determinations circulated to all present.

Email from Spalding United Youth Football Manager who requested information on any parking spaces that may be available for a football tournament held at West Pinchbeck during May/June 2023.  Coun. D. Houghton stated West Pinchbeck Village Hall could hold only 100 cars.

Update from Nigel Holly advising of work required to trees in Pinchbeck conservation area, including St. Mary’s Churchyard and Memorial Ground.  Clerk to obtain prices.

PCSO Colin Abbotts reinstated as the PCSO for the parish.  A Police Surgery to take place on the 24th October 2022 at Pinchbeck Library.

Mention was made of creation of two reservoirs in Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties.  

Chairman reported was in receipt of correspondence regarding use of Glebe Field by other groups.  Agreed that Chairman and Clerk look at updating current tenancy agreement.  

7.  HIGHWAY MATTERS:

UPDATE ON TRAFFIC SIDs - DATA

Coun. T. Moore updated members of the current SIDs owned by the Parish Council, one purchased from Stock Signs and two from Elan City.  Two have been damaged, one from each seller.  Elan City sign repaired FOC.  The Stock Sign SID ceased working on two occasions, now returned but with PC paying carriage.  Coun. T. Moore gave thanks to Mr. Dave Savage for his assistance in moving the signs around the parish and also for downloading SIDs’ data.  Elan City sign captures vehicles travelling in one direction only whilst Stock Sign captures vehicles travelling in either direction and identifies date/time the vehicles are travelling. The Elan City equipment could also display messages to drivers – current teething problems with regard to this capability, but they anticipate being able to display appropriate messages in the future.  Reports circulated to all present identifying roads experiencing serious speeding problems and/or heavy traffic.

PINCHBECK HGV SURVEY

Traffic survey carried out at the front of the Baptist Church with County, District and Parish Councillors together with parishioners who had volunteered to assist.  Report on number of HGVs was captured and this report passed to all present.
    
PURCHASE OF POSTS TO HOUSE SIDS

Two posts ordered for new sites, one located Dozens Bank and the second on bend upon leaving Pinchbeck Church in direction of Spalding.
 
TO UPDATE PARISH TRAFFIC STRATEGY

Coun. T. Moore reported that he had recently reviewed the Parish Traffic Strategy and his opinion was  it did not require any modification.     

OTHER TRAFFIC MATTERS

The Chairman advised of a meeting scheduled, with assistance of County Coun. Mrs. Elizabeth Sneath, to meet and discuss traffic issues with Highways Officers on 10th October 2022.  Coun. Mrs. A. Savage and Coun. T. Moore to also attend. 

8.  TO UPDATE PARISH GRASS CUTTING SPECIFICATIONS AND LOCATIONS

Agreed that the Chairman and Coun. T. Moore meet to put together a detailed tender process in preparation for renewing the grass cutting contracts throughout the parish in preparation for 2024 grass cutting season.  

9.  UPDATE ON DEFIBRILLATOR FOR WEST PINCHBECK

Proposed by Coun. J. Avery and seconded by Coun. T. Moore that Coun. Mrs. A. Savage and Coun. T. Moore source a fourth Defibrillator for the parish which would not be dependent upon electricity and would be installed northern end of Six House Bank. Agreed.  The current defibrillator to be either located to alternative site in the parish or to be returned to the supplier. 

10.  VOTE ON PROPOSED PINCHBECK WOOD EXTENSION

Coun. Mrs A. Jeffery, following a discussion on this agenda item, formally withdrew her proposal regarding an extension to the Pinchbeck Wood. This was accepted by the Parish Council.

11.  TO AGREE TREE PURCHASE FOR NEW BLUE GOWT CEMETERY AND TO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED COSTS

Coun. T. Moore has secured funding for 170 fruit trees which will require planting, together with stakes and ties, in preparation for planting Autumn or early Spring.   Costs involved would include stakes, ties and any machinery/labour required.  This was proposed by Coun. T Moore and seconded by Coun. J. Avery.  Agreed.  

12.  UPDATE ON PARISH FLOAT FOR FLOWER PARADE – 6TH MAY 2023

The Flower Parade Organisers notified the Parish Council that the Parish Float was to represent the 1920s decade.  The Tractor/Trailer to be sourced.  Trailor should be covered with flowers.

13.  TO AGREE TO REVIEW STANDING ORDERS AND TO INCLUDE FINANCIAL ORDERS TO COVER PAYMENT OF PURCHASES BY BGC

It was agreed the Parish Council review the Standing Orders and update the Financial Orders to cover future payments of purchasing by Bank Giro Credit.  This new process would require the approval of Parish Council Chairman and the Vice-Chairman. 

14.  TO DISCUSS AND RENEW ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL INSURANCE

It was proposed by Coun. Mrs. S. Jeffery and seconded by Coun. J. Avery that the Parish Council Parish accept the proposals from Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited for a three-year contract for the parish council insurance.  Agreed. 

15.  TO CONSIDER TO OPT OUT OF SMALLER AUTHORITIES’ AUDIT APPOINTMENTS FROM 2022/2023 TO 2026/2027

Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. (SAAA) is an independent, not for profit, limited company established to procure external audit services and appoint external auditors for smaller authorities.  All smaller authorities are invited to Opt Out of the next round for the 5-year audit.  All authorities require an appointed external auditor.  During the previous 5-year period which ran from 2017/2018 through to 2021-2022 no authority decided to opt-out and follow the complex procedures required under statute to appoint their own external auditor.   

It was proposed by Coun. Mrs. S. Jeffery and seconded by Coun. Mrs. A. Savage the Parish council do not opt Out of the Small Authorities’ Audit Appointments.  Agreed.

16.  FINANCIAL REPORT/TO PASS ACCOUNTS

All present were furnished with a set of accounts for the present financial year first quarter, covering April through to end of June 2022.

Financial Report presented and accepted upon proposition by Coun. J. Avery and seconded by Coun. Mrs. L. Andrew.  Agreed.

17.  AOB

Coun. T. Moore advised that Freshlink would be happy to avoid certain roads in the village at the request of the PC.  They would be pleased to meet with the Parish Council and update them on their recent and future plans.  Agreed that Coun. T. Moore would set up mutual meeting date.

County Coun. Mrs. Elizabeth Sneath advised that she had recently been talking to Freshlink relating particularly to parking.  Freshlink have recently opened up a lorry park with showers and parking for drivers.

Coun. Mrs. E. Sneath also reported having spoken to a resident on Spalding Road who believed speeding had increased on the road since traffic lights have been relocated.  

Number 1 Six House Bank has a hedge which is obstructing vision.  CSC to be notified.

The bus shelter to the front of Pinchbeck Hall owned by LCC is in need of repair.  Clerk has already reported this.

Requested, that the bin at the end of Church Walk, alongside the B1356 be exchanged for a larger bin as should be bin on Market Way. 

Questions raised regarding the available funding for cycling routes.  This to be included in discussion with LCC at a meeting scheduled for 10th October 2022. 

Clerk advised that via Mr. George Scott £500 of funding had been secured for the Community Hub & Library.

18.  CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS

There were no planning applications to present at the meeting. 

Before closure of the meeting the Chairman paid homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II.  The meeting finally closed with a loyal toast to King Charles III, with whisky and port being kindly donated by Coun. D. Dickens.

The meeting concluded at 9.30 p.m.