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 21st NOVEMBER 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’Connor, I Cole, R Champion, I Turner

Also Present:   Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council

Public Forum

3 residents attended. All had come to observe. 2 were new residents in the Parish and the other has applied to be co-opted.

172/19   Chairman’s comments

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting.

173/19   Apologies for absence and reason given

Cllr Austin sent her apologies and reasons for absence which were accepted by the Council. Cllr Welton did not send his apologies but was absent.

174/19   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 relation 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 P Watson is on the Boston Borough Planning Committee and will take no part in item 14 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.

Cllr O’Connor is involved with mental health charities.

175/19   Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

Cllr Bemrose proposed, with a second from Cllr Watson and unanimous agreement, that the notes of the meeting dated 17th October, previously circulated should be recorded as the minutes.

176/19   Police Matters

No Police attended but reported via email that 3 crimes had been reported since the last meeting, namely: 1 x theft of a motor vehicle – 1 person arrested

1 x assault – under investigation 1 x assault – 1 person arrested.

The Clerk informed members that she has now signed a statement stating that the Parish Council wished to proceed with restorative justice with regards to the 4 youths interviewed after the fire in the park (as per agreement reached with the police after the fire had happened). The next steps will be to meet with a panel and the youths.  Further information will be given as the stages in the process are reached.  The information on the youths that we know at this stage is that they were not known to the police prior to the fire, nor were their families.

Cllr Turner reported that the situation with youths riding around the village without lights, pulling wheelies in the road in front of traffic, intimidating residents is not improving. He raised concern that nothing seems to be happening. It was resolved that the Clerk should put a piece on Facebook asking people to have zero tolerance and to report any incidents on 101 or on the website link.  Also, the Clerk should write to the Police Inspector and ask for her help. Cllr Watson will forward her email address to the Clerk.

177/19   Viewpoints on questions from members of the public

Nothing to report. No action required.

178/19   Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Councillors/Boston Borough Councillors Cllr Brookes reported that the flooding investigation is still ongoing. The internal drainage board is investigating the Willington Road/Penny Gardens floods and also the Green Lane floods. The Chairman reported that after the last rains Dennis Estate needed to be watched. Cllr Brookes said that it was on the radar and is being observed.

Cllr P Watson reported that after his request for a litter bin at the bus stop to the Borough, they have said that they will not service it even if the Parish Council buys and installs one there.

179/19   Accounts for payment/Finance

It was resolved to accept the payments as per payment sheet dated November 2019 8 of 12.

180/19   Report from the minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report

181/19   Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on

1.   Kirton Brass Band have replied to the request to play at the light switch on in the village. They will be able to play for approx. 30 mins on Saturday 7th December. They have asked whether the Parish Council will announce on the 7th December that they are also playing at the Church on 8th December.

2.   Lincolnshire County Council – Temporary Road Closure: essential works by Telec Utilities on 02.12.19-04.12.19 at Clough Lane (from Seadyke Road/Low Mill Lane to a point 150 meters north).
 
3.   Lincolnshire County Council – Parish Agreement Scheme, Urban Highway Grass Cutting, 2020/21 – does the Parish Council wish to enter into this agreement for the next financial year.

Members resolved to enter into the agreement for the next financial year.  Clerk to inform LCC.

4.   St John Ambulance – restart a heart. St John’s Ambulance are offering free sessions to members of the public called restart a heart. Does the Parish Council wish to take this up? Is it something that the Council wish to offer to residents within the village, if yes then consider booking the Town Hall?

It was resolved to find out the level of interest in the Parish by doing a Facebook poll. Cllr S Watson agreed to set one up.

5.   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 – carried forward from last month’s meeting

Members were keen to be involved but had questions that needed to be answered before they agree to take part, namely, how much does it cost to join the group; what are the time issues (demands); what sort of involvement do they want from the Parish Council? Clerk to email and ask.

6.   Cllr Lidgett had been involved in a project to bring together memories of Kirton not previously published. She had carried this out with a resident who has since passed away, Mr Colin Cumberworth. Mr Cumberworth’s wish was that the finished book/memoir be given (2 copies of) to the Parish Council.

7.   Consultation on Lincolnshire Admissions Arrangements for September 2021 received from Lincolnshire County Council – affecting various schools, none local running until January 2020.

182/19   Town Hall

Cllrs Sharp and Champion attended the recent meeting at the Town Hall.  The Town Hall’s recent events have all been successful and they have more planned in the next few months.

Due to bookings coming in for 2020 the lights switch on has already been booked as the 5th December 2020.

183/19   Cemetery

Cllr Brotherton reported that the gate was now in place at the rear of the cemetery.

Members discussed the proposed 3 cuts per year of the maintenance strip and agreed them.  Clerk to inform contractor to add to the schedule for next year.

184/19   Parish matters

1.   Reports from committee meetings held since last Council meeting. The OAP party ticket sales are going well.

The Build a Better Kirton suggestion of a drop in for 14-17-year olds has been arranged for Thursday night at the Town Hall, donation of the room was from the Town Hall, and refreshments from Cllr Bemrose.

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

Members were asked to decided whether to accept the 25% reduction in monies from the insurance loss adjuster to enable different play equipment to be purchased, or to take the full value and replace a similar piece of equipment lost to the fire in the rear of the Town Hall. Members voted unanimously to replace the equipment as it was used well. Clerk to inform insurance loss adjuster and go from there.

3.   Consider VE Day commemorations for May 2020

Various suggestions were made but nothing firm decided. Members were asked to come back to the next meeting with actual ideas which could be taken forward so that a committee can be formed to take the necessary steps for the commemorations.
 
185/19   Reports for Various Bodies

Members were all given a draft Co-option Policy document along with a draft application form for prospective councillors hoping to be co-opted. The application form was adopted and will be sent out to the recent applicant. The draft policy gave options, namely a panel meets then draws up a report for the council as to whether they find the candidate suitable or not then the Clerk will invite if suitable to the next meeting where the LALC drawn up procedure kicks in or whether a panel is not necessary and just the LALC procedure applied. Members voted in favour of a panel first. Clerk to amend document to show this and it was adopted.

Cllr Bemrose reported that 4 of the event poppies have been stolen. She said she would put an amnesty on Facebook for them to be returned.

It was reported that the ground adjacent to the Methodist Church is a real mess again. Clerk to report to enforcement officer at the Borough and ask him to get it cleared up.

186/19   Planning applications:

B/19/0428 – subdivision of building to form individual units comprising either officers (class B1) or General Industrial (Class B2) or storage and distribution (Class B8) including building alterations at Kings Road tyres, Station Road, Hubberts Bridge – THERE COULD BE TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHICH CANNOT BE RULED OUT DEPENDANT UPON THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES END UP AT THIS SITE. ALSO THE LACK OF OPPERATING HOURS KNOWN MEANS THAT THIS CANNOT BE COMMENTED ON AT THIS STAGE TOO.

B/19/0444 – Prior approval for a proposed change of use of agricultural building to a two-storey dwelling at The Farm Yard, Mill Lane, Kirton  End – NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO THE ONES PREVIOUSLY SENT IN FOR THIS APPLICATION SITE

B/19/0420 – Erection of first floor side extension with rear balcony and erection of rear conservatory at the Orchards, London Road, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS

187/19   Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date & Time of the next Meeting will be held on Thursday 19th December 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.