January 2023 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 24th January 2023
Present: Councillors: P. Watson, Chair, D Jarvis, Vice Chair, F. Baillie, C Brotherton,
C Crisford, L. O’Connor, R. Pryke, S. Watson
Acting Clerk D. Fairweather.
Also Present: County Cllr Austin, Matt Warman MP and twenty-one members of the public.
PUBLIC FORUM
Further complaints from the public regarding the car park restrictions. Repeated concerns that no consultation took place with the businesses or residents. Return parking within 3 hours would be more suitable. How much was this costing the residents. It was of general concern that this action would be detrimental to the businesses both for employees and clients. Chair reiterated this was all discussed and it was of the view of the Parish Council that parking for events at the Town Hall took preference. It is at no cost to the public. Question of where disabled people/contractors for local properties and family visitors etc are supposed to park. The Town Hall Management Committee are looking into the disabled parking bay. Any query of this nature to be directed to the Town Hall Management Committee. PC also reminded that there is an appeal policy for genuine circumstances.
PC have been listening to the comments and criticism and some amendments on timing are being looked into.
Resident asking if existing car park signs could be amalgamated now as there is effectively only one car park. Also asking how many vacancies are therefore parish councillors at present? Advised there are four.
Report that footpath along London Road to the Doctor’s surgery requires attention.
Reports of poor condition of Bungley Lane and Drainside South. Resident to escort Matt Warman MP after public forum to Drainside to look for himself.
Matt Warman MP attended to express his disappointment at the referendum and the use of public money for a futile reason. Also confirmed that no final decision has officially been made on the Kirton roundabout about but works had started at other points of the project. Difficult to turn away significant amount of money for levelling up and therefore looking into alternative projects for the village. He reiterated LCC Highways are keen to work with the Parish Council.
A meeting with officials from all parties for the final steps of the levelling up funding to approve. Mr Warman is confident they will agree and removal of the Kirton roundabout will not happen.
Chair reminded Mr Warman that the referendum was not at the parish council request. The unfortunate cost to the residents was approximately 70p per household and although frequently asked the two County Councillors could give no news for the Parish Council and the idea that Mr Warman felt the PC should have kept the residents informed was not an option as there was nothing to inform them of.
Cllr S Watson asked if Mr Warman was also to attend the Frampton and Wyberton parish councils regarding the same, to which he advised he would not be making personal visit.
Cllr Pryke felt LCC were not communicating well and why could MP’s make statements if CC’s could not. Updates from Cllr Davies as portfolio holder were not forthcoming and the matter had been handled poorly.
POLICE REPORT – communications with Chair over vandalism of Tommy.
At present Police are concentrating on the four fatal road crimes, mobile phones, seat belts, drink driving and speeding, particularly speeding following reports from many villages of speeding in rural areas.
REPORTS FROM ELECTED BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Cllr Brookes
Correspondence and plan for the reduction of the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph along Boston Road. something the parish council requested a couple of years ago.
London Road highway drainage issues. Investigation is still ongoing.
Priestly Close. The LCC flood risk team are dealing with enforcement of clearing restricted flow in dyke (privately owned) at rear of houses.
Kirton End Speed Limit Review for reduction from 40mph to 30 mph. Still awaiting assessment.
Donington Road/Blackjack Road through from Kirton End to A52 at Swineshead. The speed surveys completed at different points along this stretch of road over recent times (most recent last November) together with accident records do not support a reduction in the speed limit from national speed limit. Cllr Brookes requested the County Council have a look to see if some or all might qualify for a reduction under the development part of the speed limit policy. The County Council will look at this at the same time as the Kirton End Speed Limit Review which has already been waiting over 12 months. This should hopefully speed up the process.
The Asset team have now secured funding from the Flood and Water team for Bungley Lane and Drainside South and will prioritise the programming of these works. In the meantime, minor repair work will be carried out by the reactive crews to keep serviceable.
Cllr Austin had received late in the day confirmation of Mr Warman’s comments. The white markings on the roads in the area were for utility audits. The long saga of works to Horseshoe Lane footpath will be financial year 2023/2024.
Looked into complaints of Bucklegate and Seadyke Lane but roads were not as poor as others in the parish and could not justify works at this time.
Cllr P Watson, BBC. CCTV coverage in the village does not cover the war memorial, so vandalism to Tommy could not be detected. There had been 6 outages over the last 12 months and Chair had
requested further details of dates and times. Agenda item for next meeting to discuss viability of the future of the CCTV in the village.
1-22 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Brookes.
2-22 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 being married to P Watson who is on the Planning Committee.
3-22 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING OF 22ND NOVEMBER 2022.
Cllr Pryke disagreed with the wording ‘resignation’ of Cllr Brown minuted; he believed the Councillor was already disqualified due to non-attendance. Clerk confirmed apologies had been received and the minutes had been approved as a true copy for those meetings. Clarification of this had been received by clerk by LALC, however Cllr Pryke insisted that legal proof be brought to the next meeting. It was proposed Cllr P Watson and seconded by Cllr Crisford that the minutes be signed as a true copy. Seven for – 1 against.
4-22 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Trees in Churchyard. Church has never said at any point that they ae willing to pay for the tree works in the cemetery. This being the case planning application now submitted for only the necessary tree works now.
No further updates on finding fencing contractors.
Following a previous meeting discussions on the cemetery, clerk requesting if Garden of Remembrance could be changed to ashes going into grassed area and not the current vaults with tubes. When second party to be interred, stone must be lifted together with the memorial. This new method would be easier and what most other cemeteries do. It would be less costly to the Parish Council as the plinth for the memorial tablet would be supplied by the stonemason and not the Parish Council. Council in agreement.
5-22 FINANCE
a) To Discuss/Approve Precept for 2023 – 2024. Following the finance meeting, budget proposals were distributed. The Parish Council felt at this financially challenging time for residents they did not wish to increase the precept and after discussion of various projects in the coming year it was proposed by Cllr S Watson and seconded Cllr Pryke that the precept remain at £85000 for financial year 2023 2024.
b) To Approve Contract for New Clerk. Acting clerk felt the cemetery manager should be partnered with the RFO as most of the finance is from funerals. With two positions required the original contract of 21 hours per week is not sufficient. Cllr Pryke asked what hours it was felt were required for the post. Clerk to try and do a time study to ascertain hours required for full post and for the two separate ones. Details of existing and new contract to be brought to next meeting before post of Clerk only is advertised.
To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule
Proposed by Cllr Baillie, seconded Cllr Jarvis payments approved as per schedule.
6-22 TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL CAR PARKING AT REAR OF TOWN HALL
Following the concerns over restricted parking the Parish Council are looking into additional car parking perhaps behind the Fire Station. Quotations received for differing options from £10k to £17K. Clerk advised permission will be required from Fire Brigade who own roadway. All agreed may be solution to parking concerns and to make further enquiries for next meeting. Cllr Crisford asked if Dame Sarah Swift could be used but advised it could not and people would not wish to walk that far into the village.
7-22 TO DISCUSS CORONATION EVENT AND APPOINT A COMMITTEE
It was agreed that perhaps appointing an Events Committee should be an agenda item when new council in situ. Questions of if anything is to be done for Coronation, the PC had not planned anything as it felt streets may be doing their own thing. Questioned whether to join forces with Graves Park but had ascertained they were doing nothing after the large event for the Jubilee. Cllr S Watson asked if any memorabilia were to be purchased for the school children and perhaps a working party could look into cost of varying items. Agenda item next meeting.
8-22 TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL SOLAR PANELS FOR TOWN HALL
Initial enquiries as to whether the Parish Council felt this to be a useful project. Town Hall Management Committee are in favour and would be willing to contribute towards the cost. Clerk to obtain prices for next meeting.
9-22 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
B/23/0002 proposed extension The Bungalow, Station Road, Hubberts Bridge – no objections
B/22/0525 proposed 4 detached buildings land adjacent to 87 London Road, discharging conditions - no objections
10-22 MEMBERS REPORTS
FB – update from Town Hall Management Committee meeting.
Looking into cost of fencing at rear of Town Hall.
Changing all lights inside of Town Hall to LED for more efficiency.
Car Park – agreed that 4 hours non return was probably too long and could it be reduced?
Agreed for Parish Council to investigate cost of solar panels.
They have booked a couple of quizzes for March and November, the Last Night of the Proms and a brass band for the coming year so far.
Date of next meeting Tuesday 28th February 2023
Meeting closed at 9.25.
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