2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN UPSALL ROOM, KIRTON TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY 17th OCTOBER 2019.

Present:

Councillors:   C Sharp – Chairman
   
Councillors:

R Bemrose – Vice-Chairman

S Watson, P Watson (and Borough), C Brotherton, M Brookes (County), C Lidgett, L O’Conner, I Cole, R Champion

Also Present:     Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council

Public Forum

6 members of the public attended the meeting, 2 of whom were attending re the co-option.

1 member of the public is a business owner in the village, she would like the council to consider changing the length of parking around the War Memorial to 3 hours instead of the current 1 hour. She also commented that the enforcement officer is not enforcing all cars parked illegally/going over the parking time limit.

One resident complained that after the recent rains flood water outside 26 and 36 Horseshoe Lane is not disappearing immediately, it takes approximately a week of dry weather for the standing water to go.

One resident who is a co-founder of Build a Better Kirton updated members on what they had achieved so far and what their plans were longer term. She also asked members whether funding could be made available for extra nights in the Youth Centre.

One resident wished to get information regarding replacing equipment lost in the fire in the park. The business owner left the meeting.

155/19   Election of Chairman

The vice-chairman Cllr Sharp took the meeting following on from the resignation of Cllr Danby. He asked for nominations for Chairman. Cllr Brotherton proposed Cllr Sharp this was seconded by Cllr Bemrose and voted unanimously in favour. Cllr Sharp asked for further nominations of which there were none. Cllr Sharp accepted the role as Chairman and signed the acceptance of office.

156/19   Apologies for absence and reason given

Cllrs N Welton, A Austin, I Turner sent their apologies and reasons for absence which were accepted by the Council. Cllr Blackman did not send his apologies but was absent.

157/19   Receipt of any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act  2011, and to consider any written requests for dispensations in rela tion to members’  disclosable pecuniary interests.

Cllr Bemrose declared a personal interest in Town Hall on the agenda as her mother is Chairman. She is also a parent governor at the Primary School.

Cllr Watson is on the Boston Borough Planning Committee and will take no part in item 16 on the agenda (planning).

Cllr Sharp declared an interest as he is on the Kirton Youth Challenge as a trustee, he is also on the 4th Boston Scout Committee.

Cllr Lidgett declared an interest in matters which involve Thomas Middlecott Trust as she is a trustee.

158/19   Consider co-option of 3 applicants

The 3 applicants’ information had already been given to members. The two applicants present left the meeting whilst members voted. All 3 applicants were voted unanimously to fill the vacant positions within the council. The 2 applicants were invited back into the room where they were welcomed to the council. The 3rd applicant was unable to attend the beginning of the meeting due to work, but came in late and was also welcomed in as councillor.

159/19   Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

It was resolved that the notes of the meeting held on the 2nd  October 2019, previously circulated, should be recorded as the minutes.

160/19   Police Matters

No Police attended but PCSO William had emailed the information over to the Clerk prior to the meeting which was as follows:

3 crime reported since the last meeting in September:
1 x Arson – 4 offenders identified and interviewed – investigation is ongoing 1 x Actual Bodily Harm – under investigation
1 x drunk and disorderly – 1 arrested and charged.

161/19   Viewpoints on questions from members of the public

Members discussed changing the number of hours cars can park around the War Memorial and resolved that there was ample suitable parking for longer periods within the village and so an application to extend the time would not be pursued. Members were concerned that one blue badge user is not being penalised for parking all day on double yellow lines when others are getting tickets as they should be. Clerk to ask parking enforcement to investigate.

The second matter, re flooding on Horseshoe Lane will be reported to LCC by the Clerk.

Members were keen to congratulate the good work that Build a Better Kirton Group has done and said that they would support where possible.

The query regarding the replacement play equipment was explained to the resident. Members were informed by the Clerk that play equipment could go on the grass to the rear of the Town Hall without planning permission subject to sizes.

162/19   Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Councillors/Boston Boro ugh Councillors

Cllr Austin had sent a report for the council in her absence. She will chase up outstanding matters prior to the next meeting.

Cllr Watson informed members that the enforcement team had visited Kirton 5 times recently. They have issued 1 fine for £100 for someone dropping a cigarette butt.  They also issued 2 x fines each of £400 one for fly tipping and one for irresponsible householder who had paid ‘man with a van’ without checking he had a waste disposal licence.

Cllr Watson also updated members regarding planning applications that the council had concerns about and had written to the Borough about.

Cllr Brookes informed members that with the daylight hours changing, the sensors on the part time street lights may take a little while to readjust when the clocks change, this is due to them adjusting to the number of daylight hours.

163/19   Accounts for payment/Finance

It was resolved to accept the payments as per payment sheet dated October 2019 7 of 12.

Cllr Champion declared an interest in the Band payment as he is a member of Kirton Brass Band.
 
164/19   Report from the minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report

165/19   Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on

1.   Rural/Market Towns Group – call upon local authorities to raise the profile of rural communities. Would like to know if Kirton would like to be involved in helping create this group.

Members resolved to carry this to next meeting to enable them to look further into it.

2.   Boston Borough Council – development off Willington Road.  Hyland Close has been proposed by the developers as the name for the new development. Clerk reminded the Borough that the Parish Council had asked for a name incorporating Lee – the developers have been informed but want to stick with Hyland Close.

3.   Request from Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church asking whether the Parish Council will sponsor a tree again in the Church Christmas Tree Festival.

Cllr Sharp and his wife will dress a tree in the Church.

4.   Email from resident who is trying to get a street light reinstated on Priestly Close after it was knocked down approximately April this year.
 
This is ongoing although a job has been raised. It should be reinstated within 3 months.

166/19   Town Hall

Cllr Sharp informed members that the shutters have now been completed. He also informed members that the Town Hall Management Committee will be sending David Danby a letter of thank for all the work he has done to during his time as Chairman of the Council.

As usual, the Town Hall has a busy schedule of upcoming events.

167/19   Cemetery

Cllr Brotherton informed members that he has organised a gate for the far end of the cemetery as approved previously. It will be installed soon.

168/19   Parish matters

a.   Reports from committee meetings held since last Council meeting.

Last Night of the Proms was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. However, the band say that they have also seen a decline in numbers over the last couple of years.

b.   Update on Park Inspections/Public Meeting/Insurance etc following on from the fire.

The insurance investigator has confirmed that they will pay out on the claim. They are now waiting for a second quotation to complete the work.  Clerk in contact with suppliers.

c.   Staffing committee/Events Committee and Finance Committee/Town Hall Committee all under number – need one more member on each

New members made themselves available and the vacancies were filled.

d.   Reminder regarding social media – members must follow the adopted Social Media Policy at all times.

e.   Consider whether to take a regular advertising place in the Kirton News (at a cost of £300 per year)

It was resolved not to do this as the Kirton News are always so accommodating with items that need to go into the magazine, but to be mindful of the dates that things are needed so that they can get included prior to printing.

169/19   Reports for Various Bodies

Cllr Bemrose asked that a reminder for times etc be sent out to all councillors prior to Remembrance Sunday.

170/19   Planning applications:

B/19/0367 – Erection of a detached garage at 9 Meeres Lane, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS

B/19/0355 – Residential development of 15 dwellings and associated garages, parking areas, landscaping and access road replan of 15 of the 102 previously approved dwellings (B/18/0398 and B/15/0391) at Land off London Road, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS

Determined Applications

B/19/0265 – first floor rear extension at 29 Horseshoe Lane, Kirton – GRANT

B/19/0238 – Erection of a single storey dwelling at Land at Kelvyn Wash Road, Kirton – REFUSED

171/19   Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date & Time of the next Meeting will be held on Thursday 21st November 2019 (Upsall Room, Kirton Town Hall) beginning at 7pm. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance, and declared the meeting closed at 9.10pm.