2025 Minutes

KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2025

Present: Councillors: Cllr D Jarvis, Chair, Cllr A Bowen, Vice Chair, Cllr C. Astill, Cllr F. Baillie, Cllr M Elston, Cllr P Head, Cllr F Huggins, Cllr R Pryke, and Cllr M Sohail.

 Also Present: Clerk D. Fairweather.
                       County Cllrs Austin & Brookes

                       Borough Cllr Middleton.

 
REPORTS FROM ELECTED COUNTY COUNCILLORS & BOROUGH COUNCILLORS
Cllr Brookes - Kirton End Speed limit reduction to 30mph, and Willington Road (Kirton End to Kirton) speed limit reduction to 40mph. A job has been issued to install new signs for the new speed limits with target dates for delivery in early Spring.

London Road Kirton. Request from a resident attending the previous months’ meeting for speed limit to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph. Highways manager is forwarding this request to the Traffic Regulation Order team for assessment. Cllr Austin is also discussing this with the highways manager and may well report on it herself, as resident lives in her area.

Cllr Austin. Continuing from Cllr Brookes comments, Cllr Austin had attended with Highways Officer on London Road, in Princess Road area but a proper survey could not be carried out due to temporary traffic light restrictions which affected the normal traffic flow.

Cllr R Pryke Reports from BBC. Pylon Scheme link and Green Link 3 and 4. National Grid have produced an update on their website. Environmental Agency have advised BBC they are to amend the warning for flood alerts. Also advising Parish Councils. Policing Plan 2024/2025. To be put on website. Police in Lincolnshire have to reduce numbers    significantly but this will be through natural wastage. Perhaps matter to discuss with Mr Richard Tice MP. Clerk informed Police Inspector Cotton is happy to attend the May meeting.
Lincolnshire Plan, consultation link for public to complete, to be put on FB.
Boston Plan 2023, planning for celebrations of the Mayflower event, 400th anniversary of Boston USA’s foundation which Boston are joining in with. Consultation Planning Event but details of which are not
clear.
Boston Plan 2040, consultation now to February 7th, only online. Important to make representation for parishes as it is felt they are forgotten, and plans are all focused on Boston Town.

10-25 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllr L O’Connor, and Cllr C Rylott All resolved to accept reasons given.

11-25 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE COUNCIL’S CODE OF CONDUCT RELATING TO THIS AGENDA None 

12-25 TO APPROVE AND SIGN MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 7TH JANUARY 2025.
Proposed Cllr Pryke seconded Cllr Baillie that these be accepted as a true copy to be called minutes. Unanimous.

13-25 TO RECEIVE MATTERS ARISING AND CLERK’S UPDATES FROM MINUTES NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA
Dame Sarah Swift - Advised BBC no longer wanting to continue with inspections. Latest correspondence from BBC advised inappropriate graffiti that should be dealt with, and park should be closed. Received some more reported and notification they are working on getting together old reports, as requested some time ago.
Town Hall Recreation Bin. Quotation for installation, £366. Will try and include in UKSP works.
Green Lane disappointing response that area is not sufficiently poor for works at this stage. Town Hall Roof Tiles - will include with UKSP works.
UKSP
CCTV fitted, images very clear, with vehicle registration. Received details of legal requirements from Peter Hunn at BBC.
Trees at War Memorial. Have requested permission of bus company for temporary closing for tree works. Contract may be able to carry out work on a Sunday for less disruption.
Church wall cost of material know known, awaiting how many pupils from Boston College will be on site at any one time.
Orthodox Chapel – Following correspondence from PC, Florin Buda apologised for the traffic at Christmas and advised if there was photographic evidence he would mention it to the guilty owners. He did advise there were many people from afar attending that were not aware of their parking rules.    Florin Buda had previously mentioned that they may be interested in maintaining the area around the chapel. Having asked the question, they would only be interested if the property would be sold to them.
COVID Celebration Day for 5-year anniversary. Plaque to be organised, best place being Town Hall. Could bench be purchased in time? Cllr Pryke proposed there be something in situ for the date on 22nd March. Clerk to obtain quotation for next meeting. Cllr Pryke looking into a standard template.
New planter being purchased with UKSP funding for War Memorial, plaque could be placed on that.

14-25 TO RECEIVE EVENT UPDATES
a) Art Trail – Businesses have been contacted, posters displayed. Map to be drawn when applicants all submitted. Cllr Sohail will produce map showing where pictures are on view.
It was agreed to hold the Best Kept Garden competition again. A scarecrow competition suggested in the Autumn.
Christmas Senior Meal – Wednesday 3rd December already booked. Change to Tuesday 9th December.
VE day celebrations. Kirton Holme having already commenced preparations. There is a correct course of procedures for the day to be adhered to. Kirton PC preferred to be involved a little more in the preparations and not just make a financial donation. Agreed for Kirton Holme to continue but Clerk to speak with Royal British Legion on their wishes for the day.
Lighting of beacon 8th and Picnic in the Park to be later in the year. Cllr Huggins to be the point of contact, for the Kirton Holme beacon. 
b) To Nominate Representatives For An Events Group. Following discussion, it was agreed there was not the need for a Committee/Group but to nominate personnel depending on event being arranged.

15-25 FINANCE - £126878.62
To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule and Receive Bank Balances Proposed Cllr Astill, seconded Cllr Elston.
Cllr Astill asked for a list of direct payments made.
Payment rejected for mole eradication due to state of cemetery. Cllr Elston felt work in cemetery was not of a good enough job for the money. Clerk reported contractor does make regular visits and makes contact with clerk if problems. Clerk to speak with contractor and ask to visit and make a concerted effort to eradicate before breeding commences.
3 invoices rejected for maintenance. The hedge on Town Hall boundary not cut along the top and damage to a resident’s fencing. Clerk to speak with contractor.

16-25 TO DISCUSS BBC CCTV
Following the Council Leader conversation with the Chair, an offer had been issued to the PC to either pay the outstanding invoice and keep the old cameras or to relinquish the cameras if no payment made. It was unanimously agreed the cameras were of no use due to their age. Proposed Cllr Jarvis, seconded Cllr Baillie to confirm Parish Council would not be making the final payment for the CCTV’s.

17-25 TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON STREETLIGHTS
Clerk had been advised by BBC, the PC should not be replacing bulbs, as streetlights were not our asset. There was no communication in the transformation details of 2016 that the PC could not do this, but neither was there anything to say that BBC must. Is causing a problem as the bulbs had already been purchased and half of the work completed. Awaiting to hear from BBC what course of action they are to take. Concern being will BBC invoice for only low wattage bulbs in 2026. Clerk to ask for clarification that this will be the case and confirm exactly which bulbs the PC have changed.
Confirmation as at last written by BBC the lamps are insured by them for liability.

18-25 TO APPROVE TENDER SPECIFICATION
Documents sent for Councillor to review in advance of tenders being requested for maintenance work for the coming year. Approved.

19-25 TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF DAME SARAH SWIFT
Comments heard by PC that skate equipment should not be removed. Justified as the cost of repair and ongoing financial commitment to the Parish Council was not one that could be accepted. Clerk had sourced someone to take away equipment free of charge.
Handrails at top of skate equipment to be salvaged for future use. Cllr Elston advised it could still be an open space for wildlife, dog walking etc. Cllr Head reminded there were a couple of goals available for this area if required. Proposed Cllr Baillie to close park and remove equipment, with any new equipment being placed at Town Hall. Seconded Cllr Astill. Cllr Head wished for clarification that we were to remove equipment. Cllr Pryke advised Kirton has the smallest open space per head than any other parish in the Borough and was opposed to removal of equipment. 8 fore 1 abstention.
Cllr Astill advised the gate required attention as it had dropped. A mobile welding company required. Funding opportunities to be sought for further new equipment. Cllr Head asked if there is mileage in a Youth Council. To be brought to a future meeting. 
20-25 TO DISCUSS THE PERIMETER AND EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE TOWN HALL PLAY AREA
Cllr Astill advised that boundaries of Town Hall were unkempt and require attention. Clerk had spoken with contractor to clear before growing season begins again. New specification should resolve this for the future.

21-25 TO DISCUSS BOLLARDS FOR TOWN HALL SECURITY
This had been discussed previously but no action taken. Some metal work from skate ride could be used to keep large vehicles off the grassed area. Agreed to deal with skate ride initially.

22-25 TO DISCUSS PARISH NOTICE BOARDS FOR KIRTON & KIRTON HOLME Some time ago an additional noticeboard for Kirton Holme had been discussed. Cllr Astill suggested, now the one at the bus stop is not used, could it be taken to Kirton Holme. Clerk felt it was too large as it had previously been agreed by the Chapel a second notice board acceptable the same size as existing. Cllr Huggins to check on this.

23-25 PLANNING – To Discuss Applications Received Since Last Meeting B/24/0176/NMA – non-material amendment to Land north of Oak Tree House, Horseshoe Lane

24-25 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
DJ – Peacock, rubbish has not been moved. Trying another avenue as Environment Agency at BBC have made no progress.
CA – fallen tree in Drainside North RP – car back on roundabout on A16

25-25 TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE Officer from BBC
Email stating, we wish to cease playground inspections at Dame Sarah Swift play area. The inspection was carried out last week and the report sent. Inspections will cease as from 14.02.25.
They are still working on scanning all past inspection sheets as per previous requests. There are still archived inspections that need to be located and scanned.
Email from Leader of Council – following Cllr Jarvis’ conversation with Leader, we have been asked for all dates and times we have contacted BBC on any subject and not had a response. Replied to confirm details of CCTV, Streetlights and Dame Sarah Swift will be forwarded in due course.

DHSC Community AED Grant Team – Clerk had previously made application of interest in for this. Unfortunately, were advised we had not been successful.

Inspector Ian Cotton – had previously advised he would be willing to come and speak with PC – 4th May has been confirmed.

West End Road Resident – disappointed with results of survey as they do not prove sufficient evidence for static speed camera. Asking if a speed reactive sign can be installed. Advised it is in Frampton area and should contact the Clerk there. She is also keen to be part of CSW and advised they would have to do training.

Kirton End Resident - clerk had been in correspondence and has asked Clerk to visit him to look at work he has done and would like to do, to make sure acceptable. 
Sir Thomas Middlecott Exhibition Foundation – advising the rental invoice will soon be due and had the Parish Council any thoughts of their intentions?

Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Community Liaison Group.
Letter to invite a representative from the Parish council(s) to represent and attend an Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting focussed on the proposed Substation location, which is near Surfleet Marsh (sometimes referred to as Spalding Marsh). Date: Tuesday 25th March. Time: 7pm until 8.15pm
Location: Tonic 44 Community hub, 44 Station Rd, Surfleet, Spalding PE11 4DA

Boston Borough Pumping Station – received numerous emails from local clerks regarding the decommissioning of the pumps at Boston. Should the Parishes group together and put a plan forward?

Date of next meeting 4th March 2025