2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL 
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL 
HELD ON TUESDAY 28th JUNE 2022

Present: Councillors:     P. Watson, Chair, D Jarvis, Vice Chair, C Brotherton, R Pryke, S. Watson
                Acting Clerk D. Fairweather.
Also Present:    County Cllr A Austin    and one member of the public

PUBLIC FORUM
Member attended that had previously worked on projects like this and found LCC Highways to be a complete shambles and should be answerable for their actions in delays in opening roads again.
Deadline extended AGAIN, BBC not offering any assistance, diversions were not acceptable for traffic. It was felt that LCC had put in an extremely competitive tender but could not reach its targets by assuring it would not overrun.
Clerk had been informed only this day that there is to be a meeting with Matt Warman MP which neither the Parish Council nor owners of businesses had been invited to. Cllr P Watson as Borough Councillor had received invitation and was to ask if PC representatives could attend.
Cllr S Watson asked could Cllr Austin comment at all, but unfortunately, she had no further information than had come to the table. Advised member of public that he could put in a formal complaint.
POLICE REPORT
Some updates now coming through onto website, few crimes within the village, particularly near to the road closures.

REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES
Borough Cllr P Watson – planning on Peacock development. The application has gone to committee for the full council to discuss. There is the opportunity for the PC to put forward their objections at this meeting. Cllr S Watson confirmed she would like to attend if anyone else was interested.
County Cllr Auston – Horseshoe Lane – has not been forgotten, unfortunately not priority.
Skeldyke Road – will go ahead but with large back log no time scale yet.
Roundabout on A16 in the pipeline with provisional plans

61-22 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Were received and accepted by Cllrs Baillie, Brown and O’Connor and County Cllr Brookes

62-22 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 S Watson declared she is married to P Watson who is on the Planning Committee.

63-22 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS HELD 24TH MAY 2022 AND 31ST MAY 2022.
24th May and 31st May proposed Cllr S Watson seconded Cllr Jarvis that these be signed as a true copy. 

64-22 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Staff appraisal on Village Caretake complete. Council is very pleased with work standard and workload and agreed pay increase of £1 above national minimum wage.  Employee also pleased with this additional increase but thought she had been paid above minimum wage due to a previous appraisal, albeit a few years ago. Hours were increased by one, and pay increased above min wage, when she took on Dame Sarah Swift but that appears to have been lost. So will reinstate that + 1 hour for cemetery bins. Clerk to check details of this. Caretakers’ main concerns are always the overflowing bin at A Jays which she often empties on a Sunday and the vandalism in the Dame Sarah Swift Park, which at present has a damaged skate ride panel and table from kiddies’ area in dyke again. She also asked for a visit from the dog warden. I advised the PC is looking into the future of the park.
Clerk to cost a second bin (approx. £200) and check with BBC that it will put on the rota to empty. Also, suggestion of bright labels on bins asking public to look after their village, showing the fixed penalty charge for dropping litter. Clerk to ask if this is also acceptable to BBC.
Last contract received was when doing 5 hours per week. New contract to be finalised which I will send to staffing for approval. Lone working policy also given to her.
Works under delegated powers, update as requested.
London Road/Middlecott Drive, overgrown shrubbery Quotes received for works differing by £1000 so going with cheapest. £800.
Trees in Nightingale Road overlooking the cemetery. To remove overhang of all seven trees £1050
Ash on boundary of Dame Sarah Swift Park, overhanging Church Meadows. Diseased at bottom and intertwined with a conifer so both need to come out. Ash is now starting to affect her roof and telephone wires. £3600 as cherry picker required. Cllr Pryke to advise of a further company to obtain a quote. Cllr Brotherton asked if Treescape had been invited to quote as used previously by the PC.

65-22 FINANCE

a)    To Approve Annual Governance and Accountability. Proposed Cllr S Watson seconded Cllr Jarvis
b)    To Approve Annual Statement of Accounts S Watson, seconded Cllr Jarvis. 
c)    To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule – Cllr S Watson seconded Cllr Jarvis.
d)    To Discuss/Approve Donation to Wyberton Wombles, they are holding a coffee morning for MacMillan. PC cannot donate to a charity and agreed to pay the cost of the Town Hall rental. Proposed Cllr P Watson, seconded Cllr Pryke. Clerk to ask Caretake to invoice PC. Cllr S Watson still had wildflower seeds and asked if any objections for them to be given to the Wombles the use on roadsides. No objections received.
e)    To Discuss/Approve Outdoor Tap at Town Hall – originally on agenda following a conversation with Chair and Ann Booth. Ann agreed not to bother this year as plant tubs are now being water. Budget for next year going forward.
f)    To Discuss/Approve tree protector for oak planted as part of Royal Canopy. Various designs brought to the table.  Following discussion, it was proposed Cllr P Watson, seconded Cllr Pryke that a quarter guide be purchase in galvanised metal painted black. 

66-22 TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO THE TOWN HALL 
Agreed that as Cllr Baillie was now the representative for the PC and not at meeting, would be wise to attend a meeting of the Town Hall Management Committee to understand the workings. Agreed for Clerk to attend also as Cllr Baillie had not attended before but clerk had. All agreed if there is a specific requirement for the Town Hall it would be investigated but paying over £3600 with the balance of savings the THMC is not good practice for spending public money. Council will always support TH but as it is a charity any monies would revert to Charity Commission if Committee disbanded. 

67-22 TO DISCUSS CAR PARKING FOR TOWN HALL AND PARISH COUNCIL PARKING
Cllr P Watson had discussions with a company that installs CCTV, monitors and issues tickets and fines, with no cost to the PC. Detailed discussions took place regarding the time required for parking and length of time before return. Cllr P Watson proposed Cllr Jarvis 3-hour maximum stay with no return in 4 hours. Cllr Brotherton pointed out that could cause issues if a parent needed to return to the school to collect their child mid-way during the day. Cllr P Watson had discussed with the Chair of the Town Hall Committee who was fully in support. Clerk to speak with company to finalise a few minor details. 

68-22 TO RECEIVE END OF PROJECT REPORT FOR JUBILEE ‘PARTY IN THE PARK’
Everyone felt it was a success, due to the sponsorships received. As promised, by the Council, the event had not cost the residents anything and on top of the raffle money taken there was a further £152 profit to be paid to the Church. Cllr S Watson advised there were some pens left. All agreed to donate to care homes, local shops, and the school nursery.

69-22 TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF DAME SARAH SWIFT PARK
As clerk was looking into CCTV agreed to discuss next meeting.

70-22 PLANNING -Applications Received Since Last Month
B/22/0293/CD5 condition for ECV withdrawn
B/22/0246 Erection of1 Agricultural store Allandale, Woodside Road. No objections
B/22/0208 alteration to detached garage roof land at rear of 84 Boston Road
B/22/0238 3 Willington Road. Tree works on TPO
B/22/0253 The Windmills, Boston Road trees works on TPO
Cllr P Watson advised planning application on conversion of The Peacock is to be discussed at full Planning meeting. Members of PC can attend to put forward PC’s comments. Cllr S Watson would attend to represent PC

Cllr Jarvis left meeting at 9.20.

71-22 MEMBERS REPORTS
CB – following on from Road closures feels that another public meeting should be called with Matt Harrison from LCC present to answer concerns from businesses and public.
SW keen to put together a working group for public events. Agenda item next meeting.

72-22 TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE
Thank you from RBL for donation.

73-22 TO RESOLVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS, TRIBUNAL AND COUNTY COURT CLAIM
With communications usually wanting answers immediately it was agreed to give delegated powers to the Staffing Committee to make such decisions.

Date of next meeting 26th July 2022