November 2024 Minutes

KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL 
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL 
HELD ON TUESDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2024

Present: Councillors:     Cllr D Jarvis, Chair, Cllr C. Astill, Cllr F. Baillie, Cllr A Bowen,              Cllr M Elston, Cllr P Head, Cllr Pryke, Cllr C Rylott and Cllr Sohail.
                
Also Present:                         Clerk D. Fairweather.
    
Not Present:            Cllrs P & S Watson who have resigned having left the area.

PUBLIC FORUM
Resident advising of dangerous condition on zebra crossing at doctors due to leaves. Cllr Pryke advised this had been reported to Highways.
Pathway around back of Dennis Estate with potholes and uneven surface. Clerk to report.
Resident – Green Lane also uneven and is dangerous particularly now it is dark in the evening. Potholes also on that road.
Resident from West End, previously communicated with PC, Cllr Rylott and Cllr Brookes regarding speed issues in that road and HGV’s vehicles. Every day there is a problem, the footpath is not very wide, and children are having to walk along there to the bus stop.
Cllr Brookes has taken it to Highways.
Cllr Bowen suggested the Community Speed Watch could patrol in that area.
James Cantwell introduced himself as he will be standing for the Boston South in the County elections next year.
Representative from Heritage Lincolnshire attending to advise of the closing of the café at the Kings Head and to answer any questions. Whilst HL worked hard during the last three years, they have not been able to make it financially viable. Happy to collaborate with the community towards a viable opportunity for the building for the residents of Kirton. 

REPORTS FROM ELECTED COUNTY COUNCILLOR.
Cllr Brookes: - Boston Road/London Road junction with West End Road and Middlegate Road. Still awaiting the assessment for a pedestrian crossing. An initial assessment should be conducted in the next few weeks but if it goes forward, a full assessment will not be conducted before the Spring as 10 hours of daylight is required.
West End Road. All the other issues raised by a resident on West End Road, including speeding, HGV traffic and footpath width have all been forwarded to the Highways Manager. He is awaiting information from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership before responding.
Note. The above is mostly in Frampton Parish but have been reported by a resident in the Kirton Parish part of West End Road. Cllr Alison Austin is being kept informed.
Request for a pedestrian crossing Boston Road near Costcutter. The highways manager has visited the site and agreed to put it forward to the Traffic Regulation Order team for an assessment. As experienced with previous requests. These assessments do take quite some time to be completed.
Kirton End Speed Limit reduction to 30mph consultation. No further update at present.
Willington Road speed limit reduction to 40mph consultation. No further update at present.

REPORTS FROM ELECTED BOROUGH COUNCILLORS
Cllr Pryke - Briefing on Emergency Planning advising encouraging Parishes to commit to an Emergency Plan. Cllr Rylott felt Kirton had one some years ago.

130-24 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr O’Connor. All resolved to accept reasons given.

131-24 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr Rylott will not be involved in planning discussions, and she is on the Planning Committee at Boston

132-24 TO APPROVE NOTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON 1ST OCTOBER 2024.
Proposed Cllr Astill seconded Cllr Elston  that these be accepted as a true copy to be called minutes. Unanimous.

133-24 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Broadband – installed and working well. 
PCC – awaiting Heritage Lincolnshire as may be additional funding for wall works.
CSW – registered sites with ‘whatthreewords.’  Awaiting start date.
UKSP grant application – not successful due to other monies received from fund.
LRSP – awaiting confirmation for siting of signs.

Chair requested that the following two items be moved to the end of the meeting in case there is no time to discuss all item. Cllr Astill requested that if Dame Sarah Swift does not get discussed, could it be on the January Agenda in order that the Parish Council were up and ready to go, with whatever action it decides.

Cllr Pryke proposed, Cllr Jarvis seconded that item 134 & 135 be deferred to end of meeting.

134-24 TO NOMINATE A REPRESENTATIVE OF TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - to be taken in closed session.

135-24 TO DISCUSS DAME SARAH SWIFT to be taken in closed session

136-24 TO RECEIVE EVENT UPDATES
a)    Remembrance Day Service – final meeting with PC, RBL and Church been held, all good to go. Kirton Clean Up Squad to clean war memorial on Friday. Bollards are to be placed across the total road junction as volunteers had not been forthcoming.
b)    Senior Citizens Christmas Meal
Cllr Sohail gave updates as far as to what had been confirmed and what Councillors are available. Doors open 4pm, primary school singing for residents to arrive to. Chair to give welcome comments to all, if not available will put together a speech to be read on his behalf. 

Cllr Pryke asking of local Carol Services. The Annual one organised by the New Life Church is to be at the Town Hall on 21st December.
Cllr Rylott advised the Kirton Holme one is 15th December at 3pm.

137-24 FINANCE
a)    To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule -proposed Cllr Jarvis seconded Cllr Baillie – unanimous.
b)    To Approve Donation for Remembrance Wreath – previously £50. Proposed Cllr Astill    seconded Cllr Baillie to donate £75 again.
c)    To Discuss/Approve Increasing Burial Fees – usually follow BBC fees but have not been increased for four years. 
Clerk distributed now and then prices. Cllr Elston proposed to agree with new figures. Some concerns. Following discussion, it was agreed to bring to another meeting with more information available for Councillors to decide.
d)    To Discuss/Approve Precept 2024-2025 – Cllr Rylott proposed to go into closed session for d, e and 138-24, as the figures had raised concerns at the Finance meeting. Seconded Cllr Jarvis
e)    To Discuss Streetlights

138-24 TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF BBC CCTV IN VILLAGE

139-24 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
B/24/0404 275 Willington Road – proposed extension – no objections
B24/0414 Meads Farm, Kirton Drove – proposed extension – no objections.
B24/0426 – Fallowfields House, Washdyke Road – proposed detached double garage – no objections.
B/24/0433 The Gables, Seadyke Road – removal of existing two storey extension – no objections.
Confirmation of receipt of the reduction in speed for Willington Road.
Clerk had spoken with Alan Watts from Planning regarding the Section 106 monies. The 13th house still has not been sold.

140-24 MEMBERS REPORTS
CA – resident at surgery concerned of parking in Willington Road near Penny Gardens. Green Lane is quite narrow. Reported to Clerk, is there any updates? Speaking with residents who are disappointed Kirton News is not reaching Kirton Holme. Has now been arranged and Cllr Rylott delivered to area. Cllr Bowen has a good rapport with children at Town Hall. Feels rapport back with the residents. Cllr Astill would now like for other councillors to assist with surgeries as he has taken them now for 15 months. Communications require addressing as round robin emails are raising their heads again. Village Christmas tree, have we got one, when is going up and when are the lights being switched on etc?
Numerous complaints regarding the colour of the newsagent, being bright blue.
FB - footpath in Hardwick Estate, two large trees overgrowing their fences. On LHP land. Clerk to pass on concerns. New Vicar induction service on 26th November, Chair and Borough Councillors have been invited. Chair cannot attend. Cllr Bowen able to attend. Christmas tree display in Church is to take place again this year.
PH – another two complaints of road sign on corner of Skeldyke Road and Horseshoe Lane. Several residents concerned on footpath along Horseshoe Lane/Station Road. Cannot get pushchairs and mobility chairs due to growth over footpath. Football posts for Rec. Has organised four goal posts for April next year free of charge. Two fixed and two on wheels.
AB – football posts, Local contractor has agreed to install them at no or minimal cost. Had attended new councillor induction which was very informative, and he recommended anyone not having attended to do so. 
RP – Footpaths- Green Lane spoken with LCC regarding this, also footpath at end of TH car park. Various areas with leaves and blocked drains reported. Following up lost street signs, including Station Road. Parking problems on the Edinburgh and Hardwick Estate. The Peacock is a listed building, and should it continue to deteriorate, BBC have the rite to compulsory purchase.
CR – Christmas light switch on in Kirton Holme on Saturday 23rd November.
Clerk – Christmas tree for the village this year is to go on the right-hand side of the main door at the Town Hall, as War Memorial may still be having works done. THMC O.K. with this. May be 30th November.

140-24 TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE.
BBC requesting if Kirton has an emergency Plan. Not at present, but Cllr Rylott thought there used to be one previously. Clerk to investigate.
East Midlands Ambulance Service – confirmation that defib is now registered on the ‘circuit.’
Details of defibrillator training – no qualification received but local training in house to assist residents to feel comfortable using the machine.
Annual Carol Service with New Life Church – Town Hall booked as Thomas Middlecott Academy has not responded.
Silhouette of Tommy has been reinforced and is now in situ back at the war memorial.

CLOSED SESSION
134-24 - TO NOMINATE A REPRESENTATIVE OF TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Proposed Cllr Baillie seconded Cllr Jarvis that Cllr Elston be the representative.

135-24 TO DISCUSS DAME SARAH SWIFT
Report from Cllr Astill – history of DSS shows from previous minutes it has always been a problem, with vandalism etc. It is having been continuously discussed at meetings, but no action ever taken.
Cannot discuss anything further until February 2025 so cannot be discussed further. Estimates to be obtained for various remedial works. Signs for insurance purposes have been in place in that users do so at their own risk. Dilemma  has been brought about as three Councillors had met a member of the public to discuss it being repaired.
Tender for maintenance works end of March.
Cllr Pryke had attended a meeting of the Charity who advised it would be expensive for Council to be released from the Lease.

Chair closed meeting at 9.05 pm. 137d, 137e, and 138 still not discussed.

Date of next meeting 4th December 2024