27 January 2025 Parish Council Meeting
Draft minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.
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Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 19:30hrs, Monday, 27 January 2025, at The Hub, 48 Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3RU
Present: Cllr James Avery (chairman), Cllr Andy Chamberlain, Cllr Geoff Garner, Cllr Audrey Gregory, Cllr Sam Jeffery, Cllr Terry Moore, Cllr Peter Ruysen, Cllr Ann Savage, Cllr John Smith, Cllr Phil Tweddell, Cllr Oliver Wood, Mr Robert Smith (clerk), Mrs Nicola Jowett (Administration Assistant), District & County Cllr Sneath. No members of the public.
Absent: Cllr Emma Beavis, Cllr Dean Roizer.
Unless otherwise stated, actions to be undertaken by the clerk.
25.001.Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Beavis and District Cllr Slade. There were no declarations of disclosable interests, nor requests for dispensation.
25.002. There were no declarations of disclosable interests, nor requests for dispensation.
25.003. There were no representations from members of the public.
25.004. It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 16 December 2024.
25.005. The Chairman had no matters to report.
25.006. Clerk’s report / matters arising not on the agenda.
01. Planning comments had been submitted to the District Council (SHDC), as resolved.
02. The Pinchbeck Carnival Committee had been written to, as resolved.
03. Insurers were still considering the claim for the bus shelter damaged in December’s storm.
04. The GrassRoots grant fund had provided the hub & library with £20,571.97 of support.
05. Cllr Moore was to agree a date for tree planting. The local schools could then be invited to help.
06. Cllr Smith reported that the District’s Love Parks event had been booked for Thursday 31st July, to coincide with the 2025 Family Fun Events.
25.007. Financial matters.
01. It was resolved to approve bank reconciliation to 31 December 2024. (see appendix 1).
02. It was resolved to approve January payments (see appendix 2).
03. It was resolved to approve 3rd quarter budget report (see appendix 3).
04. It was resolved to approve financial budget y/e 31 March 2026 (see appendix 4).
05. It was resolved to approve the Parish Precept for 2025/26 at £144,642 a 4.8% increase on the previous year. This equated to £1.37/week per elector at Band D.
25.008. Correspondence.
01. It was resolved to lend Donnington Parish Council a Community Speed Watch radar gun for a 6-month period, subject to it taking responsibility for any damage caused to the equipment.
02. Councillors were invited to complete the National Highways & Transport survey.
03. An update from National Grid on the Eastern Green link was noted.
04. Burmor Construction’s offer of Community engagement was to be responded to with a suggestion of it helping with the installation of community benches.
05. It was noted that Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) would be starting works on improvements to Spalding’s footway and cycle links early February 2025, with works taking up to nine weeks.
25.009. Planning applications
01. H-14-1052-24: 131 Spalding Road. It was resolved to support the proposal.
02. H-14-1042-24: 8 Church Street. It was resolved to support the proposal.
03. H-14-1030-24: Wardentree Lodge. It was resolved to support the proposal.
25.010. The Council noted the following South Holland planning decisions.
01. H14-1025-24: 9 Spalding Road. Works to trees in Pinchbeck conservation area. Approved.
02. H14-1027-24: Eight Horse Barn. Condition Compliance. Approved.
03. H14-1014-24: Felstead, Small Drove. Single storey extension. Approved.
25.011. Highways matters.
01. Cllr Avery, Cllr Moor, and Cllr Savage would meet a Highways officer 18 February 2025.
02. Following an invitation from the chairman, Cllr Sneath reported that Highways had cycle racks available for siting between Spalding and Pinchbeck to help with sustainable travel. Blue Gowt Lane Cemetery and the Hub & Library were suggested as suitable locations.
25.012. As a Working Party, Cllr Ruysen, Cllr Smith, and Cllr Savage were to consider involvement in the Britain in Bloom competition and ask whether those involved in the previous Pinchbeck Community Garden would be willing to volunteer. Also, seek sponsorship from local businesses. The same Working Party would complete the Emergency Community Plan.
25.013. As a Working Party, Cllr Avery, Cllr Savage, and Cllr Moore would consider ways to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day 8 May 2025 and VJ Day 15 August 2025.
25.014. Next meetings.
01. Special Parish Council meeting to discuss proposed PlayZone, 19:30hrs Monday 17 February 2025 (see item 25.017 below).
02. Annual Parish Assembly 18:30hrs 17 March 2025.
03. Parish Council meeting 19:30hrs 31 March 2025.
20:32hrs: District & County Cllr Sneath left the meeting.
25.015. 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).
25.016. Regarding the new Cemetery, Cllr Moore reported that, weather permitting, tarmacking would be completed by the end of the week, leaving only final landscaping to finish the project.
25.017. Parish Council land.
01. It was resolved to delegate the revision of Heads of Terms relating to the use of The Glebe Field to the Glebe Field Working Party, in consultation with solicitors.
02. Finalisation of Heads of Terms relating to the use of Leaveslake Drove Playing Field was awaiting a response from Spalding United (Youth) FC.
03. A report on the resolution of boundary issues at Starlode Drove was awaited from Longstaff & Co.
25.018. It was resolved to hold a single agenda item Parish Council meeting to discuss the PlayZone 19:30hrs Monday 17 February 2025, after the Open Spaces & Assets Committee meeting. Cllr Smith to provide business plan and discussion document to go out with the agenda.
25.019. Quotes for works.
01. It was resolved to consider further options for hardstanding for bench at Blue Gowt Cemetery.
02. It was resolved to approve the quote of £441.60 to help with the planting of 60 fruit trees at the new cemetery.
03. It was resolved to ratify decision to extend the tarmac surfacing at the new cemetery @ £3,200.00 + VAT.
04. It was resolved to approve the quote for works to replace the bus shelter from R&B Weld @ £4,715.35, subject to insurer’s approval.
05. It was resolved to defer a decision on the quote for a replacement inverter for solar panels at the Leaveslake Drove clubhouse
06. It was resolved to approve the purchase of 100k dog poo bags @ £1,187.00 plus VAT. Cllr Ruysen and Cllr Savage both kindly offered to help with storage. An existing bag dispenser was passed to Cllr Tweddell to put up at the new cemetery. Dog poo signage was to be investigated.
25.020. There were no staffing or administration matters to report.
The chairman closed the meeting at 21.10 hrs.