April 2024 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 2nd APRIL 2024
Present: Councillors: Cllr P. Watson, Chair, Cllr D Jarvis Vice Chair, Cllr C. Astill,
Cllr F. Baillie, Cllr A Bowen, Cllr M Elston, Cllr Pryke, Cllr J Stevenson and Cllr S Watson.
Also Present: Clerk D. Fairweather.
Borough Cllrs Pryke & Rylott.
County Cllrs Brookes
PUBLIC FORUM
Following the complaint to the Monitoring Officer, against the Chair, the Chair read out a letter of apology to the named party.
In response the member of the public accepted that apology and hoped to move forward.
Town Hall footpath, to be discussed. Diagonal footpath proposed with foot fall being quite high. felt it may be the best idea to persuade people to walk that way in order for them come from behind the Town Hall nearer to the zebra crossing.
Town Hall Car Park- suggestion would an additional entrance work on road between Town Hall and Fire Station.
Resident thanking Cllr Astill and contractor for putting in new step at rear entrance of Town Hall.
Disabled parking space to be highlighted again. Asking if the original car park sign be returned. As it was previously. They felt it would alleviate problems when an event was held at the Town. Hall.
REPORTS FROM ELECTED BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
Cllr Brookes – Bungley Lane is ongoing. Highways are checking on original drainage. Once checked they will put together a project to resolve the issues.
Kirton End Speed limit – requesting a reduction in speed from 40 mph to 30 mph is still awaiting the speed survey to be conducted.
Drainside North – poor condition with eighteen potholes. Reported to Highways as reported by Cllr Rylott and clerk. Has been reported to fix my street but Cllr Brookes and asked if it could be investigated further. Hopefully by next meeting he may have an update.
Cllr S Watson noticed the increasing in fly postings and asked if Cllr Brookes knew of this. Not all lamp posts belong to County and therefore difficult to monitor. It is against the law, but Highways can only remove from their own assets, but Cllr Brookes will report it to Highways.
Cllr Pryke – had reported this some months ago and the County had removed many August/September last year.
Cllr Rylott – on fly posting, report to BBC who will act.
As Chairman of Performance and Environmental, spending time trying to put together a joint scrutiny regarding the Pylon proposal. Takes time to organise but there is concern regarding the pylons and as Councillors we need to be seen to be acting on it.
Cllr Brookes advised that LCC has officially objected to the application.
Cllr Pryke – potholes reported in Marsh Road, together with missing road signs. National cycle route signs have been replaced by Sustrans.
Request for additional rubbish bins between Middlecott School and the village. Felt children need educating more than providing additional bins.
Speed limits. Had contact regarding fatal accident on A16 asking why speed limits are not reduced. Cllr Pryke wanting to put to LCC with Parish Council support.
Middlecott House Nursery. New applicant has been sourced and a new lease being drawn. Hope to open before summer term.
At recent BBC meeting payments approved for salaries to employees. Boston increase slightly higher than National.
35-24 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive and accept apologies for absence as given to the Clerk prior to the meeting by Cllr O’Connor. All resolved to accept reasons given.
36-24 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr Rylott sits on planning so will take no part in planning discussions.
37-24 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ON 5TH MARCH 2024.
Proposed Cllr Elston seconded Cllr Stevenson that these be accepted as a true copy to be called minutes. Unanimous.
Cllr Bowen commented on a statement made at the previous meeting regarding publishing in the Kirton News and it being accused of not printing articles when asked to do so. Declared an interest as he works with the editor but asked the question and the statement made was not in fact true. The editor will not now publish anonymous letters. Felt this was unfair on the Kirton News as they do sterling work and Cllr Bowen asking for the statement to be retracted.
38-24 TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM CLERK
Townhall Broadband. Clerk obtaining quotations from Quickline and Lightspeed.
Streetlights. – received cost of electricity. Now waiting for Ray Frankish to give a quotation for replacement bulbs.
Solar panels – following conversations with Town Hall, it was felt we should go for another company.
Damage shed in Hemington Way. LCC are wanting cost of replacement.
Orthodox Chapel agreed on new rent and 5 years invoices sent.
Cllr S Watson asking for updates on war memorial works. Clerk had asked Skillingtons, to look at work required. Grant application to be submitted when costings known.
Town Hall tower – Ray Sellars could not get to the top floor as the first level was not safe to continue. It would be a case of doing works and then looking again for further works and costs. Clerk had authorised work to be done to the next stage.
Cllr S Watson advising that Councillor details are still incorrect in Kirton News. Cllr Bowen works with the editor and will get details updated.
Cllr Elston asking for updates on renovated benches. Gentleman asking for them to be collected from his property now.
39-24 TO CO-OPT NEW COUNCILLOR
Cllr Claire Rylott – proposed Cllr Elston seconded Cllr Bowen. Unanimous. Cllr Rylott back on the Council to help all she can.
40-24 TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITY OF BICYCLE RACKS IN TOWN HALL CAR PARK
Cllr S Watson requested to be on agenda. Seen at other village hall and we had none.
Cllr Jarvis suggesting item is deferred until work on footpath had been discussed regarding to their siting.
Bicycle racks in the village are at the Co-Op, Church, and One Stop. Cllr Stevenson advised these must be permanently fixed to the ground. Cllr Astill asking how many are required as there is sufficient for twenty-three bikes at present, are they used, are additional racks required. Cllr P Watson advised that many children attend school on bikes and visit the Town Hall playing field on them. So, Bike racks would be an advantage. Clerk advised this should be discussed with the Town Hall Committee.
Proposed Cllr P Watson, seconded Cllr Elston that this be discussed with the Town Hall Committee at their next meeting, with ideas of designs. Clerk suggested the Town Hall representatives of the Parish Council and the Town Hall Committee walked the grounds together to decide best siting. Cllr Bowen and Ann Booth to meet to look at this. Everyone agreed.
41-24 TO APPROVE COMMUNITY HUB
From the discussion at the joint Town Hall Management Committee and PC Cllr Elston and Clerk took forward ideas to promote increasing footfall at the coffee mornings on a Friday. We were contacted by South East Lincolnshire Partnership with a new initiative that had been successful in East Lindsey but was not available yet in Kirton.
Clerk had spoken with the coffee morning people who had no objections but did not feel digital and media would be of any assistance to the people of Kirton.
Cllr Elston went on to speak of what SELP could offer. There had been a bid for finance from the UKSP from Boston Borough, East Lindsey South Holland partnership. Fuller funded facility run by Lincs Digital from Horncastle that offer services locally to anyone they can help. They bring equipment with them and help on ‘How to’ several things, for example, housing benefits, online banking, mobile phone, employment etc. PC have also been in contact with local Doctors who are also keen to come on board to hold meetings on men’s mental health, menopause etc.
It is money available to offer this service which is not available in the Borough at this moment. If we decide not to take on board it will be offered to another parish.
Grantham College have also been in touch regarding assistance in ‘getting back to work.’
If we accept it will be offering benefits to the youth, mental health and categories that will be of assistance in the future for grant funding.
Cllr Pryke asked how many hours? Envisaged 9 – 12 to capture parents too.
Cllr S Watson proposing we accept offer. Seconded Cllr Elston.
42-24 TO DISCUSS CAR PARKING AT TOWN HALL
Town Hall Management Committee has discussed this and agreed they wish for the car parks to be separated again and to go back to how it was, and they will monitor their car park themselves.
The only thing requiring discussion therefore is how to monitor the PC part of the car park and that a public meeting was now not required. Do you require parking restrictions or just a height restriction.
Cllr Astill advised we had promised the public a meeting and we should therefore hold a meeting.
Cllr Jarvis felt appears to be working well as people are not aware there are no charges at present. It will cause an issue for parents dropping off children if car park closed. A deplorable amount of time has been spent on this subject which still has not been resolved.
Cllr Bowen, heated conversation in August 2022 Chair said that if the new system were not successful then it would return to how it was at that time before Car Park monitoring. Because of problems experienced as a Parish Council we must decide what is it we need of this car park and how can we attain it. Admits when there are problems, the members of the Town Hall and Parish Council should not suffer verbal abuse.
Cllr Elston, if we had promised the public a meeting, to have that meeting.
Cllr Pryke, it was definitely promised to the public to have a meeting. Look at options from surveying the car park and give suggestions from that.
Cllr Astill, to solve the problem of the ownership of car park put the original sign back, saying Town Hall car park. Asking confirmation, the current car park company have been notified the PC will not be renewing the contract.
Cllr Elston, there are other options than the one picked previously.
Cllr S Watson, agreeing with Cllr Astill should revert to one car park.
Proposed Cllr Astill seconded Cllr Elston to bring all parking information to a meeting with the Town Hall Management Committee to be discussed at a further meeting.
43-24 TO DISCUSS GENERIC EMAILS
Despite having confirmation from external auditors that our generic emails did cover us legally, we now have new information available plus we are just waiting for the latest JPAG Practitioners’ Guide, therefore the guidance will be updated soon.
44-24 TO DISCUSS/APPROVE REPLACEMENT PATHWAY BEHIND TOWN HALL
Cllr Jarvis advised PC to decide which of the options is required before any further discussions can take place. I.E. make good the original or, as suggested by a member of the public, lay the diagonal one to encourage the use of the zebra crossing.
Cllr Astill obtained quotations from three companies, originally for making good the existing path as per the suggestion of last meeting.
Following discussions and on the knowledge that although not originally budgeted for in the precept, there was finance available to complete the work.
Cllr Baillie proposed the diagonal path to be installed, seconded Cllr Elston. 7 for, 1 against 2 abstentions
Agreed contractor.
Cllr Pryke had previously asked if the railings at the zebra crossing could also be extended around the corner of the junction. Can the PC please now write to Highways regarding this.
45-24 FINANCE
a) To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule. Proposed Cllr Elston, seconded Cllr P Watson
b) To Approve The Governance & Accountability Statement - Proposed Cllr S Watson, seconded Cllr Elston
c) To Approve The Annual Accounts – proposed Cllr P Watson seconded Cllr Jarvis.
46-24 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting
B24/0086 4-6 Willington Road
B24/0115 Land Off Wash Road- Major concerns on the access to this development. The original application for this site for thirty-one houses with access off Station Road. This application was accepted. Another application was made to build on the site marked in this current application, with the demolition of the current bungalow and being re-sited at the opposite end of the site. The owners of the bungalow took money for its demolition but never had it rebuilt. Traffic on that site was to continue through to Station Road.
With fourteen industrial units on the existing site and its corresponding work traffic with access via Wash Road, it is imperative that the original plan of access from the site to Station should include these additional four houses.
The junction at Wash Road cannot take any additional traffic, it is a danger spot now.
Cllr Pryke – had asked the question at the original application why access was through Station Road as that would be opposite another road and close to the roundabout and was told that under no circumstances could access be at Wash Road end of the site.
On the original application, when the bungalow was on site giving one access onto Wash Road, the new application gives now three.
The Parish Council therefore objects to this planning application and demand that access is at Station Road.
B24/0120 Burton House, Nidds Lane
B24/0086 – Saffron Restaurant, Willington Road, application for a non-illuminated fascia sign. PC concerned regarding varying different applications for this site. In a conservation area and PC to write to advise BBC of this.
47-24 MEMBERS REPORTS
FB – residents of Hardwick Estate complaining of cars parking on grass. Perhaps it is time to remove some of the grass verge to make room for cars. LHP land. Clerk to contact LHP.
CA – There has been water problems on Station Road for many years, can anything be done. Also area at crossing. Clerk to report to Highwways. LHP have problems with parking in various areas of the village. Also, problems with potholes on these estates.
Planters are overgrowing with weeds. Can we have volunteers to clean them please.
JS - LHP have massive problem with parking all over the country. Idea to contact Director of Customer Support.
AB - Pertaining to a comment made by a Councillor last meeting regarding the schooling at Woodlands being part of the CIT. This is not the case as they are a maintained trust and cannot have independent schools within their retinue. Cllr Bowen has had confirmation of this also.
Called into the Home Education Group which is held on Fridays at the Town Hall
CR – can rubbish bin at Kirton Holme been purchased please. Will assist in moving flower planter Local resident advised they are willing to water the planter.
SW- requesting update on substance being poured into drain. Environmental have visited and there was evidence of rats but regarding the substance it will have to be witnessed for them to take any action.
48-24 TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE
Information on pylons, Cllr Rylott is hopefully to hold a scrutiny meeting for Parishes to attend.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 7th May 2024
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