February 2023 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 28th February 2023
Present: Councillors: P. Watson, Chair, D Jarvis, Vice Chair, F. Baillie & R. Pryke,
Acting Clerk D. Fairweather.
Also Present: County Cllr Brookes and sixteen members of the public.
Not Present: Cllrs Brotherton, Crisford, O’Connor and S Watson
PUBLIC FORUM
Public do not hear responses to the public forum until the following meeting. Can draft minutes be available online within 7 days in order the public are aware. Can also be displayed on Town Hall notice board.
Resident of Church Lane asking if Parish Council were to comment on application for her neighbour’s application for an extension as it invades their privacy and cuts out light to their property. Council agreed to comment.
Several residents present regarding the restrictions on the parking in the Town Hall. Whilst the Parish Council had taken on board all the comments, their prior concern had to be the use of the Town Hall. Complaints once again that a public meeting should have taken place, rules unlawful as land not owned by PC. Some residents told ‘not to worry’ as cameras are not monitored. Following a very heated exchange of words, Chair reiterated this had been discussed and agreed in June and some changes had been made, i.e. return now within 2 hours not 4, at the request of the complainants but the contract was to remain for the two year period.
POLICE REPORT Despite writing to PCSO Williams no updates given.
REPORTS FROM ELECTED BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Cllr Brookes – No further updates from last month as all issues are ongoing. Gave details of The Lincolnshire County Council Highway Service is planning to deliver another programme of Social Value Volunteering Days and is now ready to receive further nominations for 2023/2024. Improving church gardens, painting benches, play equipment and bus stops, erection of community signs. PC has to purchase any equipment required it is the labour that is given. Applications to Cllr Brookes by 1st April. He can pick only one project from all the wards he is County Cllr of.
Cllr Austin - The biggest issue is Drainside South. A couple of holes have been filled with limited resources on a “make safe” pretence. A full-scale scheme with be undertaken by the Asset Team in April, to include complete resurfacing and other work as appropriate.
I have still not had any notification about the footway along Horseshoe Lane but will continue to press for this to be done. We are rapidly approaching the new fiscal year when it has been promised.
Another drive around with Division is to be arranged to pick up the parts we could not get to in January and any new issues.
Will put forward the pedestrian crossing by the Town Hall for some work and will check on issues in the Skeldyke / Bucklegate / Seadyke areas.
The street lighting team are working on faulty lights all over Kirton. These are items that are reported on Fix My Street.
The Levelling up Scheme for the Kirton Roundabout was dropped as there is expected to be overspend on the other schemes along the A16. This was referred to by Matt Warman last month.
11 -23 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Following the disqualification procedure disagreements in the January meeting with Cllr Pryke not agreeing with the Clerk’s definition of the six-month rule, confirmation of that action had been distributed by the Clerk from LALC stating that if a Councillor does not attend for six months’ with no apologies they are disqualified. If apologies are received and accepted, it has to be resolved to accept those apologies. Cllr Pryke requested that the six month disqualification rule advice from LALC on 27th February 2023 (inserted at the request of Cllr Pryke) be an agenda item at the next meeting The above being said apologies were received from Cllrs Brotherton, Crisford, O’Connor and S Watson it was proposed by Cllr Baillie seconded Cllr Pryke, with no objections, that is resolved to accept the reasons given
12 -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.
13 -22 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS 24TH JANUARY 2023.
Proposed to accept as a true copy Cllr Baillie, seconded Cllr Jarvis, carried unanimously.
14 -22 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Town Hall Car Park – Company have relented into allowing return time to be only two hours now. They are now issuing tickets.
New car park – Received confirmation that Fire Brigade had no objections on the proviso that there are no bollards on their land and future maintenance of the road to be discussed due to the increase in traffic over it.
CCTV – the connection to ours keeping dropping but that is nothing to do with the BBC one as they are on a separate line and different I.P. address.
Contractors have surveyed cemetery gate, awaiting cost but delegated powers in order to proceed before next meeting, as it needs repairing.
War Memorial Railings – meeting with contractor for quotation for railings only. Awaiting confirmation from Skellington’s at Grantham for works to the actual stone memorial.
Visited Cheers to pick plants required this year planting. Although they will not be ready in time for Coronation, red, white and blue had been selected.
Following complaints of a significant amount of moles in the cemetery, contractor called to look and set more traps. He is trying to deal with problem as it is coming to breeding season and need action before that.
Planning training was useful and I have attached presentation for your information.
15-23 TO CO-OPT NEW COUNCILLOR – unfortunately the candidate was ill and could not attend. To co-opt next month.
16-23 TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF CCTV IN VILLAGE
Following recent requests of BBC for CCTV coverage on the war memorial and damage to Tommy, were advised that there had been several outages and the cameras do not actual focus on the memorial but the roads and footpaths going through the village. Chair asked of outages but only dates could be given, not time or length of outage.
Alarmline recently attended for the PC cameras and advised that the outages at BBC were nothing to do with the PC system as they were on separate socket and I.P. address. The cost to the Parish Council is £2500 per annum and the PC wonders if the residents are getting service for that cost. There is an electric supply at the war memorial. Clerk to obtain quotation for PC cameras to be erected there. Clerk to ascertain from BBC the contract the Parish Council have with them. Agenda for next meeting.
17-23 TO DISCUSS SALE OF ORTHODOX CHAPEL resolved to take in closed session.
18-23 TO APPROVE NEW CONTRACT FOR CLERK’S POSITION AND REVISED FOR RFO
Clerk presented meeting with details of standard clerk contract, her original and revised to include cemetery manager. It was felt that cemetery manager would link better with RFO due to the income for the PC being mainly that from the cemetery. Clerk felt that with RFO post would equate to 8 hours per week but the clerks’ position still supported 16 hours per week due to the communication required between the two officers. Clerk also advised additional hours may still be required and this was accepted but with the approval of the Parish Council at any one given time. Proposed Cllr Baillie, seconded Cllr Pryke that these figures appear acceptable, the post will be advertised on Scale LC2 (24 -2 8) depending upon experience. Unanimous.
19-23 TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL CORONATION EVENT
The question of whether to hold an event or not. Graves Park were not. There had been talk of individual street parties. Kirton Town Hall Committee are not available that weekend. Do people to prefer to stay home and watch coverage on T.V. Standing Orders suspended for public consultation. Public felt it would be good to hold something. Although the Parish Council had budgeted for this in the precept it was agreed the event could not be as large as the Jubilee as many local businesses had contributed to this. It was proposed Cllr Watson, seconded Cllr Baillie to ask public if they wanted an event, what kind and would they be prepared to volunteer their assistance. Meeting to be arranged for oncoming week. Agenda for next meeting. Standing Orders resumed.
20-23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FOR POTENTIAL SOLAR PANELS
Quotation received for twenty-four panels and two isolators for £17795. It was agreed this was a competitive quotation but now need to discuss in detail with Town Hall Management Committee how committed they are financially to project. All agreed an initiative-taking move for the Council. Clerk to request additional details from the company and bring back to next months’ meeting.
21-23 FINANCE
To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule
To approve the gentleman that had been assisting with little picking whilst PC contractor on holiday be used for odd jobs in the village, paying the minimum wage. Proposed Cllr Jarvis seconded Cllr Pryke, unanimous.
22-23 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
Cllr Watson left the table.
B/23/0057 Land off Avalon Rd proposed two industrial units. – no objection
B/22/0527 proposed single dwelling at land adjacent to Kelvyn, Wash Road. – no objection
B/23/0058 – single storey extension to form parts intake area, Land Rover, Avalon Road. – no objection.
B/23/0053 Leyland, 322A Willington Road, Kirton End – change of use from agricultural to domestic garden and storage to residential annex. – no objection.
B/23/0064 Extension to 5 Church Lane – comments made of deprivation of light and privacy to adjacent property.
23-23 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
Cllr Baillie confirmed Quick Line were in the village with their faster fibre connections. Not all of the village is to be included.
24-23 CORRESPONDENCE
Received from Commonwealth War Graves – signage for the old cemetery. No cost to the PC. Councillors given details of signage available for discussion at next meeting.
17-23 TO DISCUSS SALE OF ORTHODOX CHAPEL resolved to take in closed session. Clerk had received a more acceptable valuation and is to approach the priest with this offer. Proposed Cllr Pryke seconded Cllr Watson.
Date of next meeting 28th March 2023