January 2020 Minutes

KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN UPSALL ROOM, KIRTON TOWN HALL ON THURSDAY 16th JANUARY 2020.

Present:

Councillors:   C Sharp – Chairman
   
Councillors:   R Bemrose – Vice-Chairman

S Watson, P Watson (and Borough), C Brotherton, C Lidgett, L O’Connor, I Turner, M Brookes (County), I Cole, R Champion, A Austin (County), D Brown (Borough)

Also Present:     Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council

PCSO Williams

Public Forum

1 member of the public attended. He is employed by Coop and came to introduce himself and the role of working with communities he has taken on. Members were invited to leave him their email address and he will be in touch with further information.

(Member of public left)

01/20   Consider co-option of applicant

There is still one vacancy.  Members were asked to help advertise this vacancy to see if the council could get back up to full strength.

02/20   Chairman’s comments

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and wished everyone a Happy New Year. The Chairman thanked all those for their help in taking down the Christmas lights and tree. The coloured lights have been left up for VE day.

03/20   Apologies for absence and reason given

Cllr Welton did not attend nor did he send his apologies.

04/20   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 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 S Watson declared that her husband Cllr P Watson is on Boston Borough Planning Committee. Cllr Lidgett is a trustee on the Thomas Middlecott Trust.

Cllrs O’Connor, P Watson and S Watson also declared that they are part of Boston Mental Health Group.

05/20   Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

It was resolved that the notes of the meeting dated 19th  December 2019, previously circulated should be recorded as the minutes.

06/20   Police Matters

PCSO Williams reported that there had been 4 reported crimes since the last meeting: 1 x assault – 1 arrested and charged

1 x damage to a motor vehicle – ongoing investigation 1 x assault – 1 arrested and charged

1 x theft from property – 1 arrest and matter still under investigation.
 
Cllr Bemrose reported that she observed a group of youths coming into the village from Wyberton way and again they have no lights on their bikes. PCSO Williams confirmed that the Police are threatening Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are going to be issued to these youths. The Police want the parents to take responsibility for their own children. No lights – don’t go out type of action, but unfortunately parents are not taking responsibility for their own children’s actions. Councillors were supportive of the ASBO route.

PCSO Williams also reported that some youths had managed to get up to chimney height on the scaffolding at the former Kings Head. The developers have been asked to secure the scaffolding/site better.
(PCSO Williams left the meeting)

07/20   Viewpoints on questions from members of the public

Nothing further to action.

08/20   Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Councillors/Boston Borough Councillors Cllr Brookes reported that after a meeting with the Highways Manager, she has agreed to review the speed limit on Boston Road, but would like this request formally through Cllr Brookes. Clerk to arrange.

Cllr Brookes reported that the Highways Manager will review the speed limit as per current policies.

Cllr Austin reported that she had seen the chevron on the A16 roundabout and will report it. She also reported that she had had a drive around with the Highways Manager who will look at the Station Road/Horseshoe Lane pathway issues with the Highways Officer dealing to see when this work is actually going to be done. The Highways Manager was also sympathetic about the speed limit issue on Skeldyke Road and will take this matter up too.

Cllr P Watson reported flooding on Lenton Way, but as this is in Frampton ward he will report this on Fix my Street.

Cllr Turner challenged the Borough Councillors about the 50% increase in brown bin collection fees. Cllr P Watson reported that he had voted against the increase. Cllr Brown reported that this increase was due to increased fuel prices/collection costs and the rise in minimum wages from April and that the price had not increased for 4 years.

Cllr Turner said that the Borough should have consulted residents before such a big hike in price.

09/20   Accounts for payment/Finance

Cllr P Watson queried the amount paid to the Pest Control company. The Clerk explained that the fee was so high due to the number of visits and ongoing issues with moles in the cemetery. The Park at the moment had no issues with moles. Once the developments around the cemetery are complete the number of moles should massively decrease. After a proposal from Cllr P Watson, seconded by Cllr Turner, members voted to make payments as per the payment sheet dated January 2020 10 of 12.

10/20   Report from the minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report

January 2020 tbl1

11/20   

1.   Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on Rural/Market Towns Group – call upon local authorities to raise the profile of rural communities.

Further information previously requested, now received.

Members discussed this further and resolved to not take this on. It was resolved that this could be looked at again in the future.

2.   Princess Road Hedge – LCC – consider way forward regarding its maintenance.

LCC has reported that they ended up responsible for the maintenance of this hedge by default really. Previously it had been the responsibility jointly between the Borough and Mayflower and LCC but since austerity cuts have been made and LCC ended up with the job of maintenance.

However, they do not want to add this to their maintenance schedule have proposed the following solutions:

- Kirton Parish Council continues to report the maintenance issue to Lincolnshire County Council and we will deal with the request in a reactive manner.
- Kirton Parish Council works with Lincolnshire County Council and undertakes maintenance of the hedge as and when required.
- Lincolnshire County Council removes the hedge and reinstates the verge to grass.

Members discussed this and resolved to leaving the hedge in situ and just reporting it to LCC as necessary. They didn’t want the hedge to be removed.

3.   Governor vacancy has arisen at the Thomas Middlecott Academy

-   No one wished to take up this position at this time.

12/20   Town Hall

Meeting to be held next week. Cllr Sharp will introduce Cllr Cole to the committee.

Ann Booth, the Chairman of the Town Hall Management Committee has been recognised in the Community awards.

It was resolved that the Clerk should write to Mrs Booth and thank her for her part in making the recent OAP party such a success.

13/20   Cemetery

The Christmas wreaths will be removed during the February half term. Clerk to ask former Councillor Foster to provide a trailer which will be paid for to remove the wreaths.

Cllr Brotherton said that where the new gate has been put in an additional bit of work is necessary to stop people pushing past the gate and into the cemetery. He will sort it out.

14/20   Parish matters

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

The Neighbourhood plan is now ready to make a formal application to the Borough Council, however a meeting needs to happen with the Borough (at the Borough’s request) first to ensure all is in order. Clerk to arrange.

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

The money from the insurance claim will be paid into the bank in the next week to 10 working days.

15/20   Reports for Various Bodies

Cllrs Turner and P Watson will cut back the overhanging trees outside of the war memorial area.
 
A meeting will be held next week with the Royal British Legion to debrief on the last Remembrance Parade. It was decided that this was a good time for the newly formed VE committee to meet too and start proceedings.

Cllr Turner proposed a re-siting of the bench outside the “Woodlands Nursing Home” be moved further down to the bus stop. Cllr Bemrose seconded his proposal and it was unanimously voted for the move to happen. Parish Clerk to investigate costs and next steps

16/20   Planning applications:

Determined Applications:

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 – GRANT

At the recent planning committee meeting held at the Borough Council, the development application off Station Road was discussed. Cllr Sharp represented the Parish Council with the objections held by the members. It was GRANTED by a majority of 9 to 3. Cllr P Watson wanted it noted that he did vote against the application. Members wanted the Borough Council reminded that the Parish Council would still like to name a road/street after the late Cllr Alan Lee. Clerk to remind them and to ask whether this development could be considered.

17/20   Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date & Time of the next Meeting will be held on Thursday 20th February 2020 (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 8.55pm.