December 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 17TH DECEMBER 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: Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council
1 resident
Public Forum
The resident attended to inform members that she had been woken up at approximately 3am to the sound of mopeds in Dame Sarah Swift Park. She had reported the incident to the Police. She will keep the members updated via Cllr Wright.
The resident left the meeting.
178/20 To consider Co-option of new Members
Unfortunately, the applicant had been unavailable due to his daughter getting married. The Chairman will continue to try and get a date for interview.
179/20 Chairman’s comments
The Chairman said that 2020 had been a strange year. He hoped all would enjoy a form of Christmas in whatever form it came in this year. He told members that he hoped next year would be a better year for all.
180/20 Appointment of Vice-Chairman
Cllr O Connor nominated Cllr P Watson as Vice-Chairman, Cllr Cole seconded this. No further nominations were received. Vote in favour of Cllr Watson unanimously, Cllr P Watson is the new Vice-Chairman.
181/20 Apologies for absence and reason given
Apologies were received from Cllr Welton as he was attending a meeting at the Borough.
182/20 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.
183/20 Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting
It was resolved after a proposal from Cllr Danby which was seconded by Cllr P Watson, that the notes of the meeting held on the 19th November 2020 previously circulated, should be recorded as the minutes.
184/20 Police Matters
No Police attended.
185/20 Viewpoints on questions from members of the public
Members had advised the resident to keep a diary of this anti-social behaviour as this helped should there be any Police prosecution. The resident was thanked for calling the Police and was encouraged to keep doing so if there was any other incidents.
186/20 Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough Council from/to County/Borough Councillors
Cllr Austin reported that she had put the hedge on Princess Road/Marketstead onto the Community Gang’s list for next month.
She also reported that the hedge on Green Lane would be reported via Fix my Street so that the relevant body would be contacted.
She reported that with regards to the 30mph speed restriction on Skeldyke Road, there were over 300 pending highways requests within the County and as such they were being dealt with on a priority order. So this item will need to wait for the backlog to clear ahead of it.
The Footway on Horseshoe Lane is still on Highways list for the next financial year.
The final matter Cllr Austin reported on was the drainage investigation for Kirton now had a budget allocation secured. The technical engineering group are working on a scheme.
Cllr Brookes reported that Highways were waiting for the formal request from the Parish Council regarding the siting of the proposed bus shelter on High Street.
He also reported that the barrier on High Street (coming from the Church footpath) had now been issued to the contractor who has until the end of March to erect it.
Cllr Watson asked the County Councillors to continue their pressure on LCC to open the tips fully every day. Cllr Brookes said that all of the County Councillors and our MPs have been doing this, but due to Covid restrictions this cannot happen at the moment.
Cllrs Brookes and Austin left the meeting.
Cllr P Watson reported that as happens every year, the bin collection days have changed. Due to the operatives needing to remove their gloves to put the stickers on the bin it hasn’t happened this year.
He also informed members that the fridge/freezer on the corner of Hardwick Estate is still there. He had spoken to the homeowner and told her that it is classed as fly tipping as the item is partially on the public grass. The environmental Enforcement officer is paying her a visit. A fine of £200 could be issued.
There was a parking issue at the rear of Hardwick Estate, which has now hopefully been resolved.
187/20 Finance
1. Accounts for Payment – as per payment sheet dated November 2020/21 (9 of 12)
It was resolved that the payments should be made.
2. Audit report for financial year 2019/20 has been received and there are no issues
3. To consider finance committee’s recommendations for precept for 2021/22 financial year.
Members resolved unanimously to accept the recommendations of the finance committee which met on the 15th December. Namely that the precept should be kept at the same figure as last year.
4. The Clerk ask members for their permission to chase through the courts a contractor who has not carried out the work they had taken a deposit to do. This was agreed unanimously.
188/20 Report from minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report
Date Description Complete Ongoing
30.11.18
03.12.18
21.02.19
18.04.19
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.
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.
21.08.2020 Clerk contacted the Property Manager for The Square regarding his request to get double yellow lines down the roadway to inform him that the Council has contacted the Police to ask for their help enforcing this, plus Cllr Austin in whether she will support this application as is the procedure.
25.08.2020
10.09.2020 Report received by Clerk of flooding on Priestly Close by resident. The resident forwarded photographs which the Clerk forwarded on to Cllr Brookes, he has been in touch with the Highways Manager regarding this and it is to be added to the investigations on this side of the village for flood issues.
More photographs received from same residents of flooding after the 28th August. Forwarded on to Cllr Brookes.
190/20 Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on
1. Letter of thanks for agreeing to pay for the utility bills for 2 quarters, and a copy of the 1st bill received from Christ Church Hall, Kirton Holme for Parish Council
2. Email forwarded from Cllr P Watson after the Enforcement team have visited following on from information from residents about dogs fouling in the village. This has resulted in one £100 fine being issued and other dog walkers challenged to see if they had the means to pick up after their dogs.
3. Letter from resident in Kirton Holme asking whether a bench/picnic table could be erected in the grassed area opposite the church rooms.
Members resolved that this was a good idea. Clerk to write to resident and inform him that this will be done.
4. Lincolnshire County Council – Parish Agreement Scheme 2021-22
Members were asked whether they wished to continue with the Parish Agreement Scheme for urban highway grass cutting in the next financial year. Members resolved to continue this scheme. Clerk to inform LCC.
191/20 Town Hall
The Town Hall Committee is still hoping to reopen as soon as they are able. Cllr Danby will speak to the Chairman and ask whether they have the 3 quotes for the doors yet.
192/20 Cemetery
Nothing new to report.
193/20 Parish Matters
1. Reports from committee meetings held since last Council meeting
Only the finance committee had met.
2. Consider ways to issue Community/Village award certificates
This will be carried forward to the next meeting.
3. Update regarding formation of a new group to do the jobs that the ‘Friday Group’ previously has done.
It is felt that this is going to be an ad hoc matter, where volunteers are call upon for specific things to be done.
4. To appoint members to committees
Members discussed the various committees and representatives were appointed.
194/20 Reports for Various Bodies
Nothing to report
195/20 Planning applications
B/20/0483 – Change of use from financial & professional services (Class E) to self-contained guest accommodation (Class C1) at The Orchard, London Road, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS
B/20/0455 - Addition of one window to side elevation at The Evergreens, Holme Road, Kirton Holme – NO OBJECTIONS
196/20 Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting
Date & Time of the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 21st January 2021 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 9.05 pm.