November 2020 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE UNDER “THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES (CORONAVIRUS) (FLEXIBILITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY MEETINGS) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2020” COMMENCING AT 7.00PM ON 19TH NOVEMBER 2020.
Present: Councillors: Cllr I Cole, S Watson, P Watson (and Borough), C Brotherton, L O’Connor, G Cole, D Danby, S Wright, M Brookes (County), A Austin (County), D Brown (Borough)
Also Present: PCSO Williams
Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council
Public Forum
161/20 To consider Co-option of new Members
A committee had managed to interview via zoom one of the applicants and recommended her co-option to the Parish Council. This was voted unanimously in favour. Sarah Wright was welcomed as new councillor.
162/20 Chairman’s comments
The Chairman reported that he had been pleased to see the community rallying round for Remembrance Sunday. He gave thanks to those that had given their time to clean up the War Memorial area ahead of the Sunday. He also thanked the Young Bee Keepers who donated the large poppies that were on the lamp posts between Kirton and Wyberton. Clerk to contact the Young Bee Keepers to ask for them to now be taken down so that they can be kept for next year.
163/20 Apologies for absence and reason given
Apologies were received from Cllr Welton but he did not give a reason for his absence.
164/20 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 P Watson is on the Boston Borough Planning Committee and will not take part in discussions on planning applications.
Cllr S Watson declared an interest in that her husband, Cllr P Watson is on the planning committee at Boston Borough Council
Cllr D Brown declared he was also on the Boston Borough Planning Committee and will take no part in item 16 – planning.
Cllr Austin also declared that she too was a Planning Committee member at the Borough Council and will take no part in discussions on item 16 – planning.
165/20 Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting
It was resolved after a proposal from Cllr Danby which was seconded by Cllr Brotherton, that the notes of the meeting held on the 15th October 2020 previously circulated, should be recorded as the minutes.
166/20 Police Matters
PCSO Williams attended and gave the following report of crimes reported since the last Parish Council meeting:
22/10/20 Theft of vehicle and Going Equipped to Commit Crime, Lighton Avenue – 1 ARREST
22/10/20 Attempt theft of vehicle, Kirton Primary School – UNDER INVESTIGATION
27/10/20 Theft, London Road – UNDETECTED
29/10/20 Theft of moped, Langley Mews – UNDER INVESTIGATION
31/10/20 Criminal damage to vehicle, Willington Road – UNDER INVESTIGATION
02/11/20 Burglary dwelling, Boston Road – UNDER INVESTIGATION
06/11/20 Arson, Holme Road – UNDER INVESTIGATION
11/11/20 Theft, Costcutter, Boston Road – UNDER INVESTIGATION
14/11/20 Assault and Criminal Damage to vehicle, Franks Close – 1 ARREST
15/11/20 Criminal damage to business premises, Boston Road – UNDER INVESTIGATION
PCSO Williams also reported that they now have released a monthly newsletter which informs residents that they will be tackling this month the issue of road safety.
When questioned on recent events concerning a pupil at a school in Boston, PCSO Williams said that it was unlikely to affect local schools.
167/20 Viewpoints on questions from members of the public
No residents attended.
168/20 Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough Council from/to County/Borough Councillors
Cllr Brookes reported that following on from the Parish Council’s request for a barrier to be erected along the roadside on the High Street exit from the Church footpath, that the County Council has issued a job to completed this work. So the Parish Council does not need to pay for it, it will be done by LCC.
Cllr Brookes also reported that the jobs have been issued for the drainage investigation, however, as yet they have not be programmed.
Following on from the new County Views Panels, this month’s survey is on highways. Residents are encouraged to go to the Lincolnshire County Council website and search for County Views Panel.
The Clerk reported 2 issues which have been longstanding within the village, in that the hedge on Princess Road and the one on Green Lane are causing issues. The Princess Road one is outstanding from Spring and brambles are growing right across the footpath. The Green Lane hedge is so overgrown that it is now a social distancing issue – and as this is the rear entrance to the Primary School it is used by many.
Cllr Danby reported to Cllr Austin that there has been a long term issue with potholes on Station Road footpath. He was encouraged by Cllr Austin to get the resident to report this matter themselves on fix my street. This way the resident gets feed back and updates from Highways.
Cllr Austin informed members that the outstanding issues on Skeldyke Road and Horseshoe Lane are still ongoing due to the backlog. She will be driving the full parish between now and the end of December to ensure that the Maintenance Team, when they visit in the new year have a full list of jobs outstanding.
The Clerk reported that she has received word that following on from a bus shelter query she made, there is funding available for bus shelters. She will make the application towards the bus shelter previously agreed to have on High Street where the bus stops.
Cllr P Watson reported that he had just reported a large fly tip down Horseshoe Lane which he hoped would be removed imminently.
Cllr S Watson asked both County Councillors to pressure LCC to reopen the full tip. No one has an issue with the booking system, but to be able to get rid of all your rubbish in one trip makes more sense.
Cllr Brookes said the County Council had brought in certain waste on certain days because of COVID 19 separation regulations and site capacity issues. Not all onward disposal facilities were available when they first reopened. There are still restrictions on social interaction. He referred to an e mail giving more detail on the current situation from County Councillor Eddy Poll who is the executive councillor responsible for the HWRC's which he would arrange with the Clerk to be circulated to all members. He said the county council was eager to get back to where we were before COVID 19.
Cllrs Brookes, Austin and Brown left the meeting.
169/20 Finance
Accounts for Payment – as per payment sheet dated November 2020/21 (8 of 12)
- It was resolved unanimously after a proposal from Cllr P Watson and second by Cllr Brotherton that the payments should be made.
170/20 Report from minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report
Date Description Complete Ongoing
08.08.19 Uneven pavement reported on the pavement on the Frampton side of Horseshoe Lane, in poor state of repair. Was scheduled to have been done but never carried out. Reported to LCC ref 342401.
LCC report that they need to investigate this matter further
Cllr Austin agreed to chase this up.
Cllr Austin informed members that this work has now been scheduled to be done
The update on the LCC site is:
This fault will be assessed for the possibility of future permanent works and prioritised according to our Highways Asset Management Plan. x
21.08.2020 Clerk contacted Cllr Austin following on from a request from Cllr S Watson to chase up the signage issue at Skeldyke Road. Cllr Austin has raised this again with Highways Manager and is waiting to find out when it will be done. x
The Clerk reported that following on from the deadline of the 31st October to register interest in allotsments has resulted in a decent number of enquiries and interest. With this in mind the council is now obliged to progress to the next step of procuring suitable land. The Clerk will look at the paperwork with regards to the transferred land for the next burial ground with a mind to see if this land can be used.
171/20 Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on
Lincolnshire County Council – reapplication for Brown Signs for the village
Due to the addition of the Former Kings Head plus the opening of The Kirton Cottage, which are different businesses to when the brown signs were applied for previously, it was resolved that the Clerk should contact the relevant businesses in the village and ask them to contribute towards to the application. It was resolved unanimously that the brown signs should definitely be reapplied for.
172/20 Town Hall
Cllr Danby managed to get a meeting with the Chair of the Management Committee prior to lock down. He reported that the Town Hall is financially sound due to the grant they received, plus some additional good management practices in place. They are hoping to re open for a couple of hours on a Wednesday after lockdown, but this is all depending on what is announced. They are keeping the building maintained.
173/20 Cemetery
Nothing new to report. Cllr Brotherton will still go and fit a barrier between the fencing and the hedging to prevent people using the end of the Cemetery to walk their dogs. Cllr Danby will help.
174/20 Parish Matters
a. Reports from committee meetings held since last Council meeting
No community speed watch at the moment due to covid measures in place at this time. One new person is awaiting training.
b. Consider new Community/Village award certificates
Following on from last month this item is now agreed and the Clerk will chase up the artwork with the printers
c. Update regarding formation of a new group to do the jobs that the ‘Friday Group’ previously has done.
Cllr O’Connor has set up a facebook group for those who showed an interest. She will ask for volunteers for specific projects.
d. To consider a way to thank the members of the ‘Friday Group’ for their past work over the years.
The leader of the group was contacted by the Clerk and he said that the members didn’t want to be thanked individually. It was resolved that this was not enough. It was resolved that the Clerk should ask the Kirton News to put a thank you in the magazine to thank all members, both past and recent for all their efforts within the village over the years.
e. To consider the risk assessment sent prior to October meeting
Members were happy with it. The Clerk will do an additional covid one. These will go onto the website when it is up and running.
f. To discuss social media posting
Members were reminded that they post as representing the council despite their comments being on other pages than the Council one.
g. Cllrs were keen to reform committees now there are more councillors on the council. Clerk will add this item to the agenda for next month.
h. The Chairman asked that vote for vice-chairman be put on the agenda for next month too.
175/20 Reports for Various Bodies
Cllr Watson will chase up the contractor regarding the fencing at the Town Hall.
176/20 Planning applications
B/20/0410 – Conversion of existing outbuildings to 2no. residential dwellings (Class C3) and construction of 2 no. residential dwellings (Class C3) to land rear of 24-26 High Street, Kirton – THE ENTRANCE/EXIT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT IS ONTO A MAIN ROAD WITH ONLY ONE IN ONE OUT.
B/20/0448 – Outline planning application for one dwelling with all matters reserved (access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) at land adj to Parsley Cottage, Drainside South, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS
B/20/0441 - Application for a Lawful Development Certificate to confirm that the proposed extension to the existing garage is lawful at Ancaster Lodge, 10 Meeres Lane, Kirton, Boston, PE20 1P - NO OBJECTIONS
177/20 Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting
Date & Time of the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 17th December via Zoom beginning at 7 pm. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance and declared the meeting closed at 9 pm.