June 2023 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 27th JUNE 2023
Present: Councillors: Cllr P. Watson, Chair, Cllr C Astill, Cllr F. Baillie, Cllr C. Crisford, Cllr M Elston, Cllr R. Pryke and Cllr M Sohail
Acting Clerk D. Fairweather.
Also Present: County Cllrs Austin & Brookes
Borough Cllr Middleton & seven members of the public.
PUBLIC FORUM
Positive feedback on removal of Townhall Car Park sign, to show just Car Park.
Father of recipient of a parking ticket complaining that inconvenient for family visiting. Asking for update. Clerk had replied to daughter but unfortunately the rules were quite clear at the time.
Can new notice board be put in situ? as noted in minutes some time ago.
TO RECEIVE CHAIRMANS REPORT FROM KIRTON TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - Ann Booth had confirmed bookings were beginning to increase but they had to raise prices by 2% to take into account increased cost and wages. Had advised the committee that this would be her last year as Chair, obviously willing to assist, but would like to take a back seat.
Annual accounts submitted to Parish Council.
POLICE REPORT nothing to report.
Cllr Baillie advised vandalism in Churchyard had been reported on 28th April, but no crime number issued. Another crime reported on 27th June with incident number.
REPORTS FROM ELECTED BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Borough Cllr Middleton – building a relationship with volunteer groups. Litter pickers are doing a sterling job. Christmas light tenders sent in order to prevent the farce and expense of last year.
Borough Cllr Pryke – Planning matter. Number of houses on development in Middlegate Road to be increased. Frampton PC are against the application. A selling point being all the facilities in Kirton, which could be questioned. Question as to why no section 106 money available for parishes. Borough Cllr Middleton agreed, numbers on Bungley Lane have stayed under 9 to avoid section 106.
Applications should be for houses applicable to the area.
County Cllr Austin – Drainside South surface repairs completed. Awaiting surface dressing.
TO RECEIVE PRESENTATION FOR E.V. STATION
Mix up dates, but it was agreed that as we had the presentation electronically and PC aware of prices Cllr Astill suggested with all that is happening now, is more important at this present time and proposed the E.V. points be postponed for six months, seconded Cllr Crisford. Three for, three against, one abstention. Chair casting vote agreed to suspend for six months.
55-23 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received and the reason accepted from Cllr Jarvis. Also received from Borough Councillor Rylott
56-23 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
None
57-23 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 25TH MAY 2023.
Proposed Cllr Baillie seconded Cllr Crisford. Unanimous that these be signed as a true copy.
58-23 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Solar panels, another contractor to give quotation before meeting with Town Hall Management Committee.
CCTV war memorial Openreach looking into as they don’t usually allow in case of interference. There may be a metal bracket for the top of the pole which can be adapted.
Awaiting quotation for cleaning – Skillingtons.
Flower tubs in village – Cheers will be emptying soil and refilling with new compost in the coming week, to plant up the following week. It is late in the year but that is what has been inherited. They are grown for July. Cheers are not really equipped as landscapers but agreed to do them for the village on the understanding that they were done when their busy season, providing plants for supermarkets/garden centres etc is over. Agreed next year to have the plants requested for perhaps May and to find a solution to planting them ourselves. Suggested that perhaps perennials could be used for all year colours. To be discussed later in the year. Clerk has already spoken within the village for this to happen.
59-23 TO CO-OPT NEW MEMBER
Proposed Cllr Baillie, seconded Cllr Elston that Sandi Watson be co-opted back onto Council. Declaration of Acceptance of Office signed.
60-23 TO DISCUSS CLERK POSITION
Cllr Pryke was not aware that post had been advertised and suggested it be advertised of the LALC site. Cllr S Watson reminded Council that they had agreed to advertise on the website only. Clerk willing to continue as Clerk. Proposed Cllr Astill seconded Cllr Elston D Fairweather to be permanent Clerk. Unanimous. Clerk requested an appraisal as had not had one or approval of increase in National salary guidelines. HR Committee to agree date.
61-23 TO DISCUSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
Representative from the Church happy to speak with the PC as they dispute some of the comments being made regarding their Easter weekend. It was reported that there are always a significant amount of people attending for only portable toilet. It has also been witnessed they are taking many containers of water from the cemetery for the event. Clerk advised they are breaking their Heads of Term of the agreement. PC agreed a meeting to be arranged.
PCSO Williams attending on Sundays and has spoken of problems with parking but it how to Police it. The Church are keen for anyone to intervene to make their members adhere to rules on parking.
62-23 TO NOMINATE SIR THOMAS MIDDLECOTT FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE
The Parish Council should have a representative on the Middlecott Foundation, but this has not happened in recent years. As Cllr Pryke is representative on another Charity, he proposed he would like to attend. No further nominations agreed unanimously.
63-23 TO DISCUSS PUBLIC SESSION IN PARISH OFFICE
Discussed previously but conversations being made regarding the public sessions perhaps to take place in the library. Cllr Astill felt best place for people to discuss any Council business would be the Town Hall and suggested they be held on Friday mornings when the coffee mornings are in the Hall. First and third Fridays of the month from 9.30 – 10.30. All agreed.
Cllr Elston asked if a rota is required, but Cllr Astill agreed that the first and third Fridays of the month would be acceptable for him to run the sessions and would advise if he needed cover. Advised an A4 sandwich board required for car park to advise people and to put on notice board, website, and newsletter.
64-23 TO REVIEW COMMUNICATION AND COMPLAINTS POLICY
Unanimous that these are up to date.
65-23 FINANCE
a) To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule
Proposed Cllr P Watson, seconded Cllr Astill.
b) To Discuss Dog Bins Around the Village – number of complaints there are insufficient bins in certain areas. Cllr P Watson agreed to survey the village to list current locations.
66-23 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
None this month.
67-23 MEMBERS REPORTS
RP – requesting in list of streetlights I held. Clerk to forward copy.
FB – Town Hall solar panels – resident had asked if the roof was sustainable for the weight of the panels. Clerk advised company that carried out survey would advise on this.
Holes in churchyard had not been filled yet. Clerk to address.
Cllr Sohail left meeting at 9.35.
CC – parking at zebra crossing with delivery vehicles causing problems. Has been reported to Highways. Kirton in need of the Traffic warden again.
Date of next meeting 25th July 2023
Meeting closed 9.45 p.m.