October 2021 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 21st OCTOBER 2021 (revised)
Present: Councillors:
Peter Watson
Sandi Watson
Colin Brotherton
David Brown
David Jarvis
Ralph Pryke
Lorraine O’Connor
Absent: Councillor:
F Baillie
In attendance:
Clerk Belinda Buttery
Cllr Mike Brookes (LCC)
Cllr Alison Austin (LCC)
PCSO Neil Williams
Also Present:
Mrs A Booth – Chair, Town Hall Management Committee
Mr – Chairman Kirton RBLA
Seventeen members of the public
Prior to the commencement of the meeting Mrs A Booth, Chair of the Town Hall Management Committee gave a short outline of what the Town Hall Committee does and has achieved.
Mr Rowland Reece, Chairman of the Kirton Branch of the Royal British Legion gave an update in respect of arrangements for Remembrance Sunday.
The Chairman opened the public forum and questions and comments included:
Objection to planning application B-21-0433
Update in respect of location of road safety equipment
Opening of Scout Aid charity shop
Concerns relating to broken flag pole
Consideration of letting cemetery area
The meeting commenced at 7.30 p.m.
119-21 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That Cllr Watson be elected as Chairman for this meeting only.
120-21 Vote of No confidence in Cllrs S Watson, P Watson and L O’Connor
Agenda item not valid or discussed
121-21 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Council resolved that apologies were received and accepted from Cllr F Baillie.
122-21 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr P. Watson declared membership of the Boston Borough Council Planning Committee and advised he would not take part in discussions on planning applications.
Cllr D Brown declared membership of the Boston Borough Council Planning Committee advised he would not take part in discussions on planning applications.
Cllr S Watson declared she is married to P Watson who is on the Planning Committee.
123-21 To consider the amendment to Standing Orders to reflect a Vote of No Confidence.
Agenda item not valid or discussed
124-21 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE NOTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD ON 20TH JUNE 2021
Resolved: That the official minutes (as amended) held on 20th June 2021 be approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.
125-21 POLICE MATTERS
PCSO Williams advised that relevant information would be forwarded to the Clerk via email.
126-21 MATTERS FOR THE ATTENTION OF LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL/BOSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL FROM/TO COUNTY COUNCILLORS / BOROUGH COUNCILLORS
Cllrs A Austin and M Brookes gave updates on LCC matters.
Cllr Brookes left the meeting.
127-21 VIEWPOINTS ON QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Agenda item not valid or discussed
128-21 FINANCE
To accept proposed financial payments.
Clerk enquired of the large difference between the invoice for the interim acting Clerk and the interim cemetery manager. The former being higher. The three remaining councillors, following the previous five resignations agreed that the works had been carried out at their request and were unanimous in their approval of the payment.
TA substantial additional payment to the Clerk’s wages was queried. The Clerk explained that the annual increase through NALC had not been paid for 17 months and this amount was back pay updated. Cllr advised this was showing in staff wages and not miscellaneous. Clerk unhappy that wages discussed in main meeting.
Duly amended, it was resolved payments were approved.
It was noted that the meeting was being recorded, which was challenged. Some members were concerned the public were not advised at the beginning of the meeting a recording was being made. A member of the public was perturbed by this. As per legislation it is legal for any meeting, other than closed sessions, to be recorded. Council agreed it would be good practice at future meetings, to advise meeting could be recorded. Any recordings made to not include members of the publics faces.
129-21 Report from the minutes of the previous meeting
Date Raised Issue Raised Completed Ongoing
30.11.18 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.
03.12.18 LCC report that they need to investigate this matter further
21.02.19 Cllr Austin agreed to chase this up.
18.04.19 Cllr Austin informed members that this work has now been scheduled to be done
08.08.19 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.
01.03.21 This work has not yet been done.
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.
23.12.20 Preliminary enquiries made regarding obtaining land for allotments.
12.01.21 Contacted various bodies with regards to obtaining land for allotments. As of yet no success. Query made to Borough Council for further information.
10-03-2021 Ongoing due to waiting for legal clarification as to whether the land already allocated to the Parish Council can be used for Allotment Land (wording of the land registry title deeds)
13-05-21 Ongoing but another request for answers sought.
15.02.21 Still unable to follow up getting quotations for the War Memorial Pillars and brickwork/point due to Covid restrictions.
15.02.21 Requested a warrant be issued with Money Claim Online to recover monies paid to contractor who didn’t do fencing.
06.10.21 Report of damage to the gate at the Town Hall (children’s play area fencing. Despite asking Cllrs S Watson, P Watson and L’Oconnor to physically check if the gate was as bad as it looked, none would/did.
I contacted the company that installed the gate/fence and asked them to make it safe by removing and storing the gate until a suitable solution could be made at the next Parish Council meeting as a health and safety decision. Quotations received to remedy situation
11.10.21 I contacted Longhurst regarding the fencing along the ‘buffer zone’ which is the fence line between Dame Sarah Swift Park and Ostler Walk. This was reported to them in June by a resident and they have still not repaired
the missing slats. I have asked for someone to call me regarding this as a matter of urgency as the youths are using the buffer zone fence line as an area for ‘den building’ which in turn is being used as a drinking/smoking hotspot.
02.08.21 Update on potholes I reported back in May 2021 – 2 large potholes on Marsh Road – now state changed to action scheduled
13.10.2021 Alarmline- Town Hall CCTV maintenance due – booked to be done November 16th
130-21 Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on
As per clerks report.
a. Lincolnshire County Council – Update on the Station Road internal/external flooding – works include construction of a new surface water system with associate chambers to increase attenuation and replacement of existing road gullies to capture roof and highway run-off. There will inevitable road closures and diversions will be in place during these times. LCC has informed local bus companies and schools.
b. Lincolnshire County Council – confirmation of Remembrance Day Events Temporary Road Closure – Kirton included.
Cllrs P Watson and L’Oconnor attended the training session at Nettleham. They said it was raised about insurance cover not being enough in many parishes. Clerk said she had checked this 4 years ago when she did her training at Nettleham but will reconfirm that the Parish is covered (due to the number of residents who attend the event).
c. Email received from resident of Station Road, Hubberts Bridge. He is requesting a speed camera near to his house. Clerk replied to resident to confirm that this request will be made to full council but in the meantime, there is the option of Community Speed Watch. CSW will add to the data that would be required anyway to ascertain whether a speed camera would be suitable for this spot by the Road Safety Partnership and LCC.
The Chairman said he was mindful that the Standing Orders states 2 hours for a meeting and that we were coming up to 2 hours. It was resolved unanimously to extend the meeting by 30 minutes only and the rest of items that were not able to be covered would be forwarded to the next meeting. A quite scan through the remaining items by the Clerk confirmed what could be forwarded to the next meeting with the agreement of all.
d. Following on from an email from the secretary of the Greek and Romanian Orthodox Church who rent our Chapel on Boston Road, in which they enquired whether the Parish Council would consider selling the Chapel to them, the Clerk has contacted Fr Dimitriu with the outstanding question from the Parish Council, in that ‘what do the Church intend to do with the Chapel to want to buy it rather than continue with the peppercorn rent as is the situation now?
Item deferred to next meeting. LALC e- news – Website maintenance. There is a service being offered to maintain the website for the Parish Councils which will be on 2 levels. 1. Basic where advice, guidance, updates and e-group support would be available, or 2. All the previous plus documents uploaded too. 1st level £5 per month, 2nd £15 per month. Item deferred to next meeting.
e. Boston Borough Council – Footway light NN11 opposite Kirton Primary School, Green Lane is not working. The lamppost is an old rusted pole bracket and the lantern has burnt out and the lantern bowl is missing. The recommendation is to replace a new 1m pole bracket complete with a new 19 watt LED lantern controlled by all night photocell including new plastic supply box and overhead connection – Cost of £650 + VAT.
Item deferred to next meeting.
f. Councillor Grants Scheme – runs until the 31st January 2022 and enables the Parish Council to make available £1000 to support local community groups upon application, provided the grant is spent inline with the community champions fund grant conditions.
Item deferred to next meeting.
g. Lincolnshire County Council – Salt bags available for councils. One tonne bags available by application by 31st October.
It was resolved that the Clerk should apply for this salt to be put to the rear of the Town Hall.
h. Lincolnshire County Council – Temporary traffic restriction to installation of new water service on existing main at Holme Road, between Simon Weir Lane and Hammond Beck Bank – 15.11.21-19.11.21 as necessary.
i. Request from resident on London Road to get more of the 30mph plastic passive signs put up on London Road to remind residents of the speed.
Item deferred to the next meeting.
131-21 TOWN HALL
Mrs Booth asked whether the Parish Council wanted to go ahead with the pre-booked pensioners party of the 8th December. It was resolved to go ahead. Mrs Booth informed members that they had the responsibility of booking of the entertainment, and that she would only be doing the food. Cllr S Watson happily took on the task to book the entertainer / entertainment.
132-21 CEMETERY
Clerk reported that there are moles again in the grassed area of the cemetery, but that she has been in touch with the pest control who will attend to them.
133-21 PARISH MATTERS
a. Remembrance Sunday
Members resolved to have the Parade. The Clerk will liaise to the RBL Chairman. Cllr O’Connor volunteered to put an advert on Facebook asking for volunteers to help man the road closures.
b. To consider which members will be on which committees
Agenda item on next meeting
c. To confirm future Full Council meeting dates
It was confirmed that the 4th Tuesday of the month will be the day for all meetings moving forward and there will be no meeting in December. It was also confirmed that the two meetings per year in Kirton Holme will continue to be in April and August.
d. To consider a date to interview RFO’s who have applied for the position. To consider who will do the interviewing.
It was resolved that Cllrs Jarvis, P Watson and Pryke will do the interviews along with the Clerk. Clerk to arrange asap.
e. To consider the budget setting for the 2022-23 year
This item deferred to the next meeting. It was noted that an extraordinary meeting will need to be called in December to set the precept prior to the notice going into the Borough in January as it will be too late to approve at the January meeting.
f. To consider installing more play equipment at the rear of the Town Hall following on from previous discussions by the Recreation Spaces committee
This item was deferred until the next meeting.
g. To consider asking the village caretaker to empty the billy bear bin at the Town Hall as part of her round.
Clerk to contact litter picker and ask her to add to her rounds.
134-21 Reports/Matters for Various Bodies
No Reports
Cllrs P Watson and D Brown left the meeting.
135-21 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
B- 21-0427 – Proposed extension to existing garage for form open fronted area and store at Hambleton House, The Fairways, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS resolved to support.
B-21-0431 – Proposed rear single storey extension and first floor extension including replacement entrance lobby and interior alterations at The Moletrap, Holme Road, Kirton Holme – NO OBJECTIONS resolved to support.
B-21-0433 – Proposed single storey rear kitchen extension and extension above kitchen to create an suite and dressing room at 64 London Road, Kirton – MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THE NEIGHBOURS OBJECTIONS.
Clerk to write confirming this to Planning at the Borough. Resolved to object.
B-21-0420 – Application for a Certificate of Lawfulness to establish if fully rendering the Front and Side Elevations in cream K-Rend is lawful at 39 Horseshoe Lane, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS resolved to support
B-21-0434 – Proposed change of use for extension of residential curtilage and replacement domestic garage at Red Brick Barn, Drainside North, Kirton – NO OBJECTIONS resolved to support
Determined Applications
B-21-0324 – Installation of static caravan unit to be used as ancillary accommodation at 15 Willington Road – GRANT resolution to support
136-21 To resolve to go into closed session to discuss staffing matters
This item was deferred until the next meeting.
118-21 DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL:
Tuesday 23rd November 2021 at 7 pm in the Upsall Room, Kirton Town Hall.