2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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 SEPTEMBER 2020.

Present:

Councillors: Cllr I Cole, S Watson, P Watson (and Borough), C Brotherton, L O’Connor, M Brookes (County)

Also Present: Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council

Public Forum

There were no public but a resident did email a complaint in to the Clerk and the Chairman.

128/20 Chairman’s comments

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting.

The Chairman was pleased to report that the Police had made an arrest which followed on from the antisocial behaviour occurring around the Churchyard.

He was also please to confirm the memorial bench was now in situ in the War Memorial gardens.

He thanked all those Councillors, past and present for their contributions from getting this sourced through to its installation.

129/20 Apologies for absence and reason given

No apologies were received from Cllrs Welton or Brown who did not attend.

130/20 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

131/20 Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

It was resolved that the notes of the meeting held on the 20th August 2020 previously circulated, should be recorded as the minutes.

132/20 Police Matters

No Police attended, however the Clerk did get the following report from PCSO Williams after the meeting on email:

24/08/20 – Public order, Craven Avenue – under investigation

27/08/20 – Attempt theft from vehicle, Sentence Crescent – undetected

07/09/20 – Criminal damage, Thomas Middlecott Drive – undetected

08/09/20 – Assault, High Street – under investigation

08/09/20 – Burglary and theft from vehicle, Drainside North – under investigation

In addition to these reports, there was also a misuse of drugs warrant carried out at a property. One female at the property was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and a significant quantity of money and mobile phones were seized from the address. Since the warrant was conducted, we have noticed a visible reduction in the number of persons suspected to be involved in drugs use/supply around the village – most notably in the churchyard. We will continue to monitor the situation. We are aware of some continuing issues relating to drugs in the village and are looking at further enforcement action where necessary. The local policing team are actively listening to our community and their concerns surrounding this issue and we thank them for their assistance and information in making Kirton a safer community. Inspector Harrod at Boston also thanked the public for their part in the intelligence gathering to enable the warrant to be issued for the above via an email to the Clerk

Inspector Harrod also said in her email that following on from the fire at Dame Sarah Swift Park, the youngsters who pleaded guilty to the crime at the time have been assessed by a panel (Joint Diversionary Panel) with the aim of maximising the chances of stopping the young person from committing further crime. This is true of every youth case in Lincolnshire where an admission of guilt has been made in interview. This panel has decided that the youngsters should have interventions relating to arson specifically, including that delivered by the fire service.

Despite Kirton Parish Council, with the suggestion and guidance of the local Police, requesting restorative justice, the panel has decided the youths’ fate and as such there is nothing further that the Police or the Parish Council can do. With the current situation regarding COVID, it is felt that this intervention could potentially be more effective/impactive than indefinitely postponed/cancelled reparation would have been.

Cllr O’Connor wanted the Parish Council to do more to prevent further incidents such as happened last week where a young girl was hit by a car crossing the road on King Street. She is concerned that the COVID situation means parents are encouraged to drive their kids to school rather than letting them catch the bus, this plus the additional number of dwellings within the village and therefore the higher number of cars, she fees that they all contributing factors in the child getting hit by the car.

Cllr P Watson had seen the footage and the child actually ran out from behind a car, and that the driver didn’t stand a chance of not hitting her.

Cllr Austin asked Cllr O’Connor to email her over the cctv footage and the facts to fully get her up to speed.

133/20 Viewpoints on questions from members of the public A letter of complaint was received from a resident specifically 3 members of the Parish Council. (The Clerk included the complaints procedure with the letter of complaint to all members)

The Clerk advised that rather that members actions had escalated the situation recently and that members should let the matter lie and try and move on rather than keep going backwards and going over old ground. Cllr S Watson reminded the Council that if there is a complaint that involves members of the Parish Council that the complaint will be under section 3.3 of the Parish Council Complaints Policy and as such should be forwarded to the Borough Council’s Monitoring Officer. The Clerk advised members that this was one option but felt in the current circumstances the escalation to the Monitoring Officer would be unnecessary.

Cllr Brotherton expressed a view that the matter should be left to lie.

The matter was discussed. The Clerk said that after having spoken to the complainant that the best course of action in her opinion would be to let matters lie and that she would reply to the complainant that no further action will be taken, this was agreed unanimously by members. 134/20 Matters for the attention of Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough

Council from/to County/Borough Councillors Cllr Brookes informed members that he had met with the Highways Manager regarding the following:

- flooding of High Street and Station Road – LCC flood management, Highways, Anglian Water and Black Sluice will be meeting in October to discuss how this potential scheme is to be funded and the way forward.

- Willington Road pipe system needs jetting out and Black Sluice have said that this will be done by March 2021 – it is a big job. It is hoped that this solution will clear the problems.

- Priestley Close – the thought is that the pipework joins onto the Willington Road system.

This has been a recent problem and highways will look at the pipes around Priestly Close and see why this has begun.

LCC is setting up Have your Say in which residents in the county can have their say in how decisions are made and what is important to them. Cllr Brookes will send the link to the Clerk to share.

Cllr Brookes informed members that regarding getting the 30mph limit extended to the Middlegate Road crossing the process is taking time due to the backlog of applications for this type of order.

However, it is supported by both Cllr Brookes and the Highways manager to have the investigation done. Cllr P Watson thanked Cllr Brookes for taking this forward.

Cllr Austin informed members that the drainage scheme for the village following on from the floods is still the Highways Manager’s priority, however, there may be other parties that pay for the scheme, or at least contribute towards it, and as such there may be some monies to enable the Horseshoe Lane pavement to finally get done.

Cllr Austin also informed members that the Skeldyke Road signage should be the easiest to solve, despite the time it is taking. It is hoped that doesn’t have to go to full committee. Street lights go to Ripe Now and as such the sign could get extended back to Ripe now for the 30mph limit to begin, or at least to Hall Weir.

Cllr Cole asked Cllr Austin for an update regarding the superfast broadband scheme which is due to come to an end. What happens about all those residents who are still suffering with slow broadband? Cllr Austin said that she is going to take it up with Matt Warman as this scheme hasn’t covered the full area it was meant to, leaving many homes still struggling.

Cllr Austin didn’t feel that the double yellow lines on the square were a top priority at this time, but she will go and look at the site and come back.

Cllrs Brookes and Austin left the meeting.

Cllr P Watson informed members that he had managed to get hold of some dog fouling signs and asked for ideas where they would be most beneficial.

He also informed members that he had continued to get the bin outside Jhay stores kept on the radar with the Borough to get to the bottom of who is dumping household rubbish in it.

He informed members that Community Speed Watch was still looking for more volunteers. The Clerk will put the advert onto Facebook again.

135/20 Finance

Accounts for Payment – as per payment sheet dated September 2020/21 (6 of 12)

- It was resolved unanimously that the payments should be made.

- It was also resolved after a proposal by Cllr P Watson, with this seconded by Cllr Brotherton, to stop the payment to the Youth Club for the time being until we get the information about the bank account. The amount approved will then be able to be paid as a lump sum and when groups start again this donation can begin again.

136/20 Report from minutes of the previous meeting/Clerk’s report

Key:Highlighted Green – new to report Highlighted Yellow – updates on this report (Webmaster's note: Colours cannot be displayed on this page)

The Clerk also informed members that initial contact from residents regarding the need to provide allotments has been reasonable. The cut off date for initial contact is the end of October 2020.

137/20 Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on

1. Lincolnshire County Council – temporary traffic restriction – for Culvert Repair Works at Station Road, between Pells Drive and A16 between 15.10.2020 and 30.10.2020

2. RBL would also like to meet to discuss this year’s Remembrance Sunday. Clerk to arrange

138/20 Town Hall

Ann Booth will forward the report and the Annual Accounts.

139/20 Cemetery

No issues at this time.

140/20 Parish Matters

1. Reports from committee meetings held since last Council meeting

None held

2. To consider whether to hold zoom meeting for October or physical meeting for Parish Council Meeting on the 15th.

It was resolved that due to the ever-changing situation, it would be decided nearer the time that the Agenda goes out, but to hopefully hold a physical meeting with Councillors, but zoom for residents.

3. To consider accepting the addendum to contract of employment for the Clerk as circulated to all members at the last meeting.

It was resolved unanimously to accept this addendum.

4. To update Clerk’s findings regarding investment accounts for Parish Council

No accounts were found by the Clerk that held any really different (better) interest rate. It was therefore resolved after a proposal by the Chairman and seconded by Cllr P Watson and agreed by the remainder to leave in the account it is in for a further 12 months.

5. To consider a handyman for the village as a new employee

It was resolved to look at this again in 3-6 months

6. To consider a tool library

This also was resolved to look at again in 3-6 months.

7. To consider meeting with the PCC to discuss matters in the Churchyard

Clerk to arrange

8. To consider quotations for the fencing at the Town Hall play area.

Members considered the quotes and agreed on a contractor. The Clerk is to contact the contractor and get the work done as soon as possible.

141/20 Reports for Various Bodies

Members asked if quotes for the war memorial could be revisited again after the contractor originally appointed let us down. Clerk to get more quotes.

142/20 Planning applications

B/20/0293 – Residential development consisting of 42 dwellings, estate roads and landscaping at

Land at 31-33 London Road, Kirton – No Objections, request S106 monies towards play equipment at the rear of the Town Hall.

B/20/0310 – Proposed construction of 5 no. new dwellings at Land off Penny Gardens, Kirton – Members will email Clerk with observations by Friday 25th September as this application had only come in today.

Determined Applications

B/20/0241 – Prior notification for the erection of machinery store building at Swallowfields, Donington Road, Swineshead – Prior Approval Not Needed

B/20/0199 – Erection of a single storey and a two-storey rear extension and installation 2 windows in original dwelling at 293 Willington Road, Kirton - GRANT

143/20 Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date & Time of the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 15th October 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 9.35 pm.