June 2025 Minutes
KIRTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 3rd June 2025
Present: Councillors: Cllr M Sohail, Chair, Cllr A Bowen, Vice Chair, Cllr C. Astill, Cllr F. Baillie, Cllr M Elston, Cllr T Hartfil-Allgood, Cllr P Head, Cllr F Huggins, Cllr L O’Connor, Cllr R Pryke,
Also Present: Clerk D. Fairweather.
Borough Cllr Middleton.
68-25 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs Jarvis and Rylott and recently elected County Councillor Lock. All resolved to accept reasons given.
69-25 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE COUNCIL’S CODE OF CONDUCT RELATING TO BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA
None
70-25 TO APPROVE NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ON 6TH MAY 2025.
Proposed Cllr Elston seconded Cllr Hartfil that these be accepted as a true copy to be called minutes. Unanimous. Cllr Head felt these were incorrect as he was previously on Finance and had not been named this year. Unaware that representatives are voted each year, it was agreed Cllr Head be a member of Finance Committee. Proposed Cllr Sohail seconded Cllr Baillie.
71-25 TO RECEIVE MATTERS ARISING & UPDATES FROM CLERK NOT INCLUDED ON AGENDA
Met contractors with Cllr Elston for walk around advising Council requirements. Quoting for cemetery too.
Met contractor regarding repairs to DSS gate. Will have to take off site, quotation £2500.
Cllr Elston had contacted a mobile welder, met with him, who quoted £120 and completed work whilst there.
Emailed Chris Faulkner regarding war memorial trees.
Craft ladies at coffee morning - weaving was well received putting together a list of future events to advertise!
Still ongoing, complaint against contractors for broken fencing in Lighton Avenue.
Police attended coffee morning and will be doing so hopefully a couple of times a month.
72-25 TO RECEIVE EVENT UPDATES
Picnic in the Park all going well until heard it clashed with an annual event at The Black Bull.
Rearranged for 30th August and to rebook activities.
Bingo – a remarkable success. £303 made on evening. Cllr Astill requested breakdown of takings.
73-25 FINANCE
a) To Approve Payment of Accounts as per schedule and Receive Bank Balances. Proposed
Cllr Sohail, seconded Cllr Elston
b) To Approve Annual Statement of Accounts. Previously delayed due to update of Asset Register. Cllr O’Connor questioned the number of benches at the Town Hall. Register only
states two benches and there are three. Clerk also to verify the benches are on the insurance policy. Proposed Cllr Bowen seconded Cllr Head.
c) To Approve Governance & Accountability Statement. Previously delayed until confirmation regarding accounting system. Proposed Cllr Astill seconded Cllr Huggins.
d) To Approve Donation to Resident for Storm Damage – after a long discussion, it was felt had LCC advised of the facts at the beginning this would not have been prolonged. However, on a majority vote it was agreed no contribution towards damaged property could be made.
e) To Receive Updates from Finance Committee. Cllr Astill commenced update. but it was clear it was affecting staff salaries and was agreed to take this item together with 8,9 and 10 in closed session at the end. Proposed Cllr Sohail seconded. Cllr Head. Unfortunately, due to time restraints this item to be carried to next meeting. Discussion did take place on holiday cover being required by litter picker to be put to Clerk and not agreed between employees.
f) To Discuss Defibrillators for Kirton Holme and Kirton End. An offer had arisen for a substantial saving for replacement defibrillators. As Kirton Holme batteries were at the end of their life and not replaceable and Kirton End had previously asked for one it was proposed Cllr Hartfil, seconded Cllr Head two be purchased. Clerk to speak with Kirton End as they were to fund raise.
74-25 TO DISCUSS BOLLARDS AT TOWN HALL
Cllr Astill had received two quotations for eight static and two retractable bollards to be installed around the side entrance to the Town Hall rec. Within £22 of the other. Following discussions Cllr Head proposed, Cllr Pryke seconded one contract. Proposed Cllr Hartfil seconded Cllr Elston the alternative.
It was agreed on a vote of 8 to 2 to use D Hezzell.
75-25 TO DISCUSS FEASIBILITY OF ALLOTMENTS
Discussed as one item with seventy-seven.
76-25 TO DISCUSS DAME SARAH SWIFT
Due to time, it was proposed Cllr O’Connor, seconded Cllr Sohail that the meeting be extended to continue with important discussions.
An ongoing financial burden, clerk had spoken with the Chairman of Sir Middlecott’s Exhibition Foundation, our landlord for Dame Sarah Swift, who intimated that depending on the PC thoughts the Chairty may not be opposed for alternative use of the field as long as some open space was retained for play equipment. With numerous councillors having spoken with the youth there and their need to keep it, Cllr Hartfil had investigated the area for allotment use and put a proposal to the Council. After some confusion regarding new play equipment being purchased for the area, which was never a proposal of the Council and much discussion it was agreed the Clerk write and ask if part of the area could be utilised for allotments.
Further details could then be put to Council if Charity were agreeable.
77-25 TO DISCUSS NEXT ROUND OF UKSP FUNDING AND PLAY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Next round for up to £25k on play areas is launched on 9th June. This is a match funded opportunity with the section 106 monies received. Clerk issued various ideas of what had been proposed for a previous application. Application to be made for equipment solely for the Town Hall, for all ages including metal gym style apparatus and disabled play.
78-25 TO DISCUSS/APPROVE DOMAIN ADDRESSES
A matter Cllr Bowen had mentioned on previous occasions, which has been recommended by auditors for some time and is envisaged to be mandatory at some point soon. One of the main reasons to use the generic emails is the safety and security of information between Councillors on Parish Council matters. Data protection and security are all compromised with personal emails. With little conversation it was proposed Cllr Pryke, seconded Cllr Bowen Clerk to purchase the domain name to do this. Approx cost £120/£150 but there has been £100 grant available for this.
79-25 PLANNING To Discuss and Report on Applications Received Since the Last Meeting
B/25/0171 1 Kings Arm Close, erection of single storey extension. No objections.
80-25 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
CA – information in the Kirton News is incorrect for the current Parish Councillors
FB – footpath in Hardwick Estate still no work done, also overgrown trees.
AB – dying tree at war memorial bus stop. Response advising tree specialist to take a look.
THA – lights in Hardwick are still not working. As there has been a garage theft could PC write to LHP requesting action, copying BBC and LCC?
PH – road sign for Skeldyke Road still not repaired. Can investigations be made into Neighbourhood Watch, with PCSO being involved.
LO – bear bin in Town Hall has no back and rubbish is overflowing. A new bin is to be placed along with bollard work in rec.
RP – Peacock, environmental officers have inspected building as there are concerns. Owners are not known.
81-25 TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE
Confusion of responsibility of maintenance of Middlecott Close playing field, BBC say it is PC. LCC says it is BBC. Awaiting confirmation.
Cllr Hartfil-Allgood is keen to have an initial casual HR meeting. Cllr Rylott had stepped down from this post.
Both new County Councillors are still busy with training and may not be available for our next meeting but Cllr Paul Lock is to attend a coffee morning.
Correspondence from resident of Saxongate regarding maintenance of a hedge. Asking if PC had any objections to it being moved. Advised not PC responsibility so if hedge belongs to premises they are entitled to carry out any works required.
Date of next meeting 1st July 2025