30 September 2024 Parish Council Meeting

Draft minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.

Select for downloadable / printable pdf version (incl. appendices)

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 19:30hrs, Monday, 30 September 2024, at The Hub, 48 Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3RU

Present:    Cllr James Avery (chairman), Cllr Emma Beavis, Cllr Geoff Garner, Cllr Sam Jeffery (until 20:20hrs), Cllr Terry Moore, Cllr Peter Ruysen, Cllr Ann Savage (vice-chair), Cllr John Smith, Cllr Phil Tweddell, Cllr Oliver Wood, Mr Robert Smith (clerk). No members of the public were present.

Absent:     Cllr Lynne Andrew, Cllr Andy Chamberlain, Cllr Audrey Gregory, Cllr Dean Roizer, Cllr Ben Sear.

Unless otherwise stated, actions to be undertaken by the clerk.                                               

24.166.Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Andrew, Cllr Gregory, Cllr Roizer, Cllr Sear, and District & County Cllr Sneath.

24.167.There were no declarations of disclosable interests, nor requests for dispensation.

24.168.As no members of the public were present there were no public representations.

24.169.It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 29 July 2024.

24.170.It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Extraordinary Parish Council meeting held 11 September 2024.

24.171.Chairman’s report.

01.Thanks were expressed to Robert Browning from RB Wood & Weld Ltd for doing a fantastic job renovating the cemetery gates and railings and the Parish Council’s benches.

02.As in previous years permission was granted for Mr Gary McNab to undertake a charitable camp-out in the Memorial Park, on behalf of the RBLI (Royal British Legion Industries).

24.172.Clerk’s report / matters arising not on the agenda.

01.Planning comments had been submitted to the District Council (SHDC), as resolved.

02.The Parish Council’s insurance had been renewed with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance, effective from 21/09/24 @ £3,350.41 incl. IPT (2023/24 £3,228.24 + 3.8%).

03.The three Parish Council defibrillators had their quarterly status checks kindly undertaken by Annie Wakeford and these details have been updated on The Circuit. There are four other third party defibrillators currently listed by The Circuit as available for use in the Parish: The Village Hall, Knight Street; GC Godfrey Ltd (in administration), Glenside South; Screwfix, Unit 1, Wardentree Court (opening hours only); and Howdens, Unit 6, Wardentree Court (opening hours only).

04.Quotes were being obtained for repairs to play equipment in the parks. Several pieces of equipment were currently out of service due to damage.

05.A new electricity agreement with Yu Energy had been agreed supplying the hub.

06.A letter has been sent to the managing agents for the Bull Inn, Criterion Asset Management Ltd, asking that they remove the fridges and tidy up the property.

07.The VAT reclaim for Quarter 2 was to be submitted shortly.

08.Work renovating the Hub had been largely completed.

09.Work renovating the gates and fencing at Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery had been completed.

10.Reseeding of the front of Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery was pending.

11.Resurfacing of the Parish Council’s car park at Six House Bank had been completed.

12.Following a complaint about rubbish at the communal refuse compound at Porthouse Drive off Flaxmill Lane, the area had now been cleared. Thanks to Cllr Smith for his help with the matter.

13.Mr Dave Savage was kindly helping with the digitalisation of cemetery records.

24.173.Financial matters.

01.It was resolved to approve year-to-date receipts, payments, uncashed payments, and the bank reconciliation to 30 July 2024 (see appendix 1).

02.It was resolved to approve year-to-date receipts, payments, and the bank reconciliation to 31 August 2024. (see appendix 2).

03.It was resolved to approve payments for the month to 30 September 2024 (see appendix 3).

04.The balances of capital and earmarked reserves were noted.

05.The external auditors report for y/e 31 March 2024 was received with the exception report noted. This had been published on the Parish Council’s website.

24.174.Correspondence.

01.A letter from the District Council about pest control was noted.

02.A complaint about high trees on Rotten Row Playing Field was considered under agenda item 14.

03.The District Council’s consultation on the introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in respect of dog controls was noted. The chairman would complete the survey.

04.A Lincolnshire County Council letter (LCC) concerning Greater Lincolnshire Devolution was noted.

05.Notification of public meetings about the Outer Dowsing Offshore Development was noted.

06.An LCC notice of the proposal to restrict the speed limit on the B1180 was noted.

07.Regarding a query about trees on land at Kelly Close, Burma Avenue, and Mountbatten Avenue, whilst the land was not registered with HM Land Registry, it was believed to belong to SHDC.

24.175.Planning applications

01.H14-0795-248: Benner Road, PE11 3TZ. Details of Flood Management Plan condition compliance. It was resolved to support the application as being appropriate for the development.

02.H14-0790-24: Anglia Business Centre, Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. Additional self-store containers & vehicle storage. It was resolved to support the application as appropriate for the area.

03.H14-0784-24: Willowlea Barn Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. Change of use from residential annexe to self-contained dwelling. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the area.

04.H14-0747-24: Land off Elsom’s Way. Condition compliance. It was resolved to support the application as being appropriate for the development.

05.H14-0717-24: The Old Gatehouse, 117 Wardentree Lane, PE11 3UF. Change of use from storage & Distribution to Hand Car Wash. It was resolved to support the application as appropriate for the area.

06.H14-0707-24: Land to rear of Shetland Cottage (North Plot), Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. Demolition of agricultural building & erection of dwelling. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the area.

07.H14-0709-24: Land to rear of Shetland Cottage (South Plot), Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. Demolition of agricultural building & erection of dwelling. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the area.

08.H14-0704-24: Lilac House, Herring Lane, PE11 3ST. Extensions with internal alterations, detached annexe & timber garage. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the area.

09.H14-0692-24: 1 Primrose Crescent, PE11 3RT. Replace hedge & brick dwarf wall with high brick wall & piers. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the street scene.

10.H14-0648-24: Land at Spalding Road. Modification of s106 Agreement relating to affordable housing. It was considered that there was insufficient information to resolve on the matter.

11.H14-0635-24: Pinchbeck Industrial Estate, Wardentree Park, PE11 3UG. Facilities for buses. It was resolved to support the application as in keeping with the area.

20:20hrs: Cllr Jeffery left the meeting.

24.176.The Council noted the following South Holland planning decisions.

01.H14-0720-24: 47 Church Street, PE11 3UB. Tree works. Approved.

02.H14-0682-24: 20 Church Street, PE11 3UA. Tree works. Approved.

03.H14-0672-24: Northgate Farmhouse, Northgate, PE11 3TB. Condition compliance. Approved.

04.H14-0654-24: Barn on Glenside South, PE11 3SA. Conversion of agricultural building. Refused.

05.H14-0651-24: Northgate Farmhouse, Northgate, PE11 3TB. Condition compliance. Approved.

06.H14-0653-24: 93 Starlode Drove. PE11 3TD. Replacement extension. Approved.

07.H14-0625-24: Land off Bervor Close, Wardentree Lane, PE11 3FZ. Condition Compliance. Approved

08.H14-0583-24: 8 Benner Road, PE11 3TZ. Storage building. Approved.

09.H14-0454-24: Northgate Farmhouse, North Gate, PE11 3TB. Fertiliser tanks. Approved.

10.H14-0422-24: 1 Forge Crescent, PE11 3TN. Two storey extension. Approved.

24.177.Highways matters.

01.The chairman would chase LCC Highways to arrange a meeting.

02.Flooding outside W Hargrave & Son Ltd on Knight Street had been reported to Highways.

24.178.Committee reports

01.Community Hub & Library Committee.

i.The draft minutes of the last committee meeting held 16 September 2024 were noted.

ii.Cllr Smith reported on the success of the recent ‘Love Your Heart’ event held at the Hub.

iii.Feedback reporting on the success of the ‘Summer Family Events’ held at the Hub was circulated.

iv.Cllr Smith reported that the Tesco grant bid for cookery lessons had been shortlisted for its customer blue token voting system which would be running in stores in the area until January 2025.

v.Cllr Smith reported that a bid for £3,000 grant for LCC multiply champions had been successful. It was resolved to approve the signing of the grant agreement.

vi.It was resolved to accept the circulated annual plan and budget for The Hub & Library, which would be included in the forthcoming financial budget for 2025-26.

02.Opens Spaces & Assets Committee.

i.The draft minutes of the last committee meeting held 9 September 2024 were noted.

ii.It was resolved to delegate approval of works addressing damage to play equipment to the clerk, in consultation with the chairman and/or the chairman of the committee.

iii.Cllr Moore reported on good progress being made on the construction of the Blue Gowt Lane Cemetery. Subject to any weather delays, there was approximately 5 weeks work remaining.

03.The Remembrance Day Parade

i.The annual parade would be taking place on Sunday 10 November.

ii.Following a proposal from Cllr Moore, it was resolved to make payment of £150 for the provision of a marching band at the parade. This was to be provided for from the Chairman’s allowance.

iii.The application for the required LCC road closure permissions was being undertaken by the clerk.

iv.The application for the display of poppies on LCC streetlight columns was being undertaken by the clerk.

v.Cllr Beavis reported that St Mary’s Church was closed until repair works for an electrical fault had been completed. The completion date for the works was uncertain.

04.Personnel Committee

i.The draft minutes of the last committee meeting held 9 September 2024 were noted.

24.179.Reports from outside representatives.

i.Cllr Garner reported on the Annual General Meeting of the South Holland Parish Voluntary Car Service, which he had attended on 7 August 2024 as a Parish Council representative. At the meeting Cllr Garner was appointed as a trustee.

ii.Cllr Garner reported that he had attended a meeting of Spalding United Youth Football Club at Leaves Lake Drove playing fields on 19 August 2024 as a Parish Council representative, at which improvements to the club’s grounds maintenance arrangements had been discussed.

24.180.Trees

01.Cllr Moore would put forward proposals for an application to LCC for a community orchard.

02.It was resolved to approve the Parish Council’s tree policy as circulated.

03.It was resolved to accept the kind offer of rare black walnut trees for later planting a Blue Gowt Lane made by Mrs Fairchild Fenton, SHDC Trees & Nature Conservation Officer.

24.181.It was resolved to move into closed session on the grounds of confidentiality in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1(2).

24.182.Quotes for works.

01.Prior to submitting a proposal, Cllr Smith would undertake further investigations into the installation of a sensory room for use by people with special needs, at the hub.

02.It was resolved to approve the purchase of a recycling station @ £146.95 + VAT.

03.Subject to demand, it was resolved for Cllr Smith to organise self-funded defibrillator and CPR awareness training.

04.The clerk was to secure quotes for the installation costs of benches at the Six House Bank carpark and at the Barbara Camps memorial tree at Blue Gowt Lane. Also, a quote for the restoration of and possible repositioning of the Parish Council’s notice board at the Six House Bank carpark.

05.Further to previous resolution 24.160, it was resolved to approve the purchase of a new laptop and ancillary equipment @ £2,124.00 + VAT.

24.183.It was resolved to commit matched funding of up to £75K of the Parish Council’s S106 earmarked reserve to a Playzone, to allow further planning for the project to proceed.

24.184.Regarding matters relating to its land, the Parish Council resolved appropriately.

24.185.To consider staffing & administration matters and to resolve appropriately.

i.The clerk reported that it was planned to undertake interviews for the position of assistant to the clerk w/c 7 October 2024.

The chairman closed the meeting at 21:45hrs.