March 2019 Minutes
SOUTH SOMERCOTES PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 5th March 2019 at St. Peter’s Church, South Somercotes
Present:
Chairman Cllr Mr David Poulter
Vice-Chairman Cllr Mr Keith May
Cllr Mrs Corinne Duma
Cllr Mr Igor Duma
Cllr Mrs Rowena Benton
Cllr Mrs Tracey Poulter
Also present:
Clerk Mrs Natalie Fenner
District & County Cllr Mr Daniel McNally (6.35pm)
Members of Public None
Public Forum: No members of the public were in attendance and no matters were raised.
Item 0319/16 Chairman’s Welcome
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.25pm and welcomed everyone to the Parish Council meeting.
Item 0319/17 Apologies & Acceptance for Absence
Apologies had been received and accepted from District Cllr Mr Robert Palmer.
Item 0319/18 Police Matters
No representatives from the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team were in attendance and no feedback had been received. The recent news article in the Louth Leader reporting of a South Somercotes person who has been charged and is awaiting court trial later in the year for sexual abuse towards primary children. This has raised concerns and safe-guarding measures will be investigated and contact with the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team for advice will be obtained.
Item 0319/19 District & County Councillor Updates
District & County Cllr Mr McNally Reported:
• Council Tax Rise – A rise is Council Tax is expected from LCC.
• Weed Spraying – Will recommence, cut before to one but back to two per year.
• Grass Verge Cutting – There will be three safety cuts each year instead of two previously.
• Gullies – Instead of targeting certain issues, all gullies will now get worked on.
• Heritage Proposals Consultation – An opportunity to have your say on the changes that could be made to The Collection & Usher Gallery, Lincoln Castle and other places of interest within the County. Full details available on the LCC website.
• Highways – Four new Pothole Teams will be implemented.
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) – The funding for the CAB will be continued.
• ELDC Budget – For the Council to approve next week. Expecting a rise and an explanation of the approx. percentage/amount for a band D property were discussed relating to the drainage board which is an additional amount that our District Council needs to pay for the vital services that the LMDB provide our district compared to other District Councils.
• Environmental Crime Officer – There will be two officers patrolling hotspots for littering/dog fouling. Fixed Penalty Notices of £100 could be issued to offenders and have been pursued in court. Check backs on fly-tipping will be carried out and any information will be pursued. Cllr Mrs Harrison requests that any fly-tipping that is seen is reported to ELDC with the relevant information.
The Chairman reported on the fly-tipping near to Howells that included mattresses and general rubbish that was spotted by Cllr Miss Sheppard. This was reported to ELDC and has since been removed.
• Vehicle Charging Points – This provision has gone Live in car-parks, a list is available which includes Queens Park Station Carpark. This will be a card/key-fob facility. ELDC received partial funding for this project. Further details can be obtained from the Messenger available on-line along with news on awards.
Item 0319/20 Declarations of Pecuniary Interest in accordance with LGA 2011
None.
Item 0319/21 To Resolve as Minutes the record of the meeting held on 8th January 2019
It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Duma, seconded by the Vice-Chairman that the Minutes of the meeting held on the 8th January 2019 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed and dated the Minutes.
Item 0319/22 Chairman’s Update
The Chairman reported that he had spoken with Wells Farm and there was no grass seed left over from the works carried out on the Jubilee Field. The grass seed was spread twice around the field and will requiring rolling in March, dependent on weather and conditions. Wells Farm have advised that they will not be charging the Parish Council for the labour provided. The Chairman has thanked Wells Farm for their work and full appreciation was given from the Parish Council.
Item 0319/23 Clerks Report
The Clerk distributed the ELDC Nomination Packs for the forthcoming Parish Council Elections that are taking place on the 2nd May 2019.
6.43pm – District/County Cllr Mr McNally then left the meeting.
The Parish Council received an update on the enquiry previously received last month relating to the footpath at The Rectory and the application made to LCC to be placed on the definitive map.
The telephony equipment has still not been removed from the BT kiosk. BT advised that this work was completed. Photo-graphic evidence has been taken to show that it has not been removed and will be sent to BT.
Item 0319/24 Parish Councillor Updates
Cllr Mrs Poulter reported that there are two children interested in joining a Youth Council. Cllr Mrs Poulter will draft a letter to promote, gather interest and distribute around the village. The age range for the Youth Council would be 10-17yrs.
Item 0319/25 Financial Matters
It was confirmed that a cheque had been raised and signed for The Tree Guy between meetings due to the original cheque approved in September 2018 had not been received. The original cheque has been cancelled and the new cheque was hand-delivered.
March Expenditure: MKB Environmental Service (Mole Catching on the Jubilee Field) - £125.00
It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Benton, seconded by Cllr Mrs Duma and resolved to pay the March Expenditure.
The information required to complete the forms to add additional signatories to the Parish Council accounts were obtained from Cllr Mrs Duma, Cllr Mrs Poulter and the Vice-Chairman. The information collated will be submitted, the forms signed by the existing signatories and submitted. Once completed, Mrs D Day will then be removed as a signatory from the accounts. The Chairman asked for more clarity on the accounts by the provision of statements instead of the spreadsheets currently produced. The new cheque book had been received correctly and the outstanding cheque for Frank Forman (Grass Seed) would be signed by the existing signatories asap and delivered.
Item 0319/26 Planning Matters
None.
Item 0319/27 Highway/Lighting/Footpath Matters
The Highways Walkabout meeting took place on the 29th January and the Vice-Chairman attended. The dips at Hallholme Bridge (nr. To East Row) and Billingsgate Junction were noted along with the drainage issues on Town St and drought damage roads. It was reported there is a large pothole located on East Row leading onto Town St and potholes on Cloddygate.
Item 0319/28 Jubilee Field & St. Peters Churchyard
Discussions took place on the Jubilee Field grass-cutting for the forthcoming season. Advice had been obtained by the Chairman and it was proposed that a purchase of a small grass-cutter tractor be investigated further or the possibility of using one. The Chairman confirmed that he has Public Liability insurance to cover the grass-cutting works.
The grass-cutting for St. Peters Churchyard will be put out to tender and the footpath through the churchyard will be looked at to be resurrected.
Item 0319/29 Reports From Outside Bodies
None.
Item 0319/30 Next Meeting – May 2019
It was proposed by Cllr Mr I Duma and seconded by the Vice-Chairman and resolved that monthly Parish Council meetings should be held instead of a bi-monthly Parish Council meeting.
It was Resolved that the next Parish Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd April 2019 commencing at 6:30pm with the Public Forum.
It was Resolved that the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Annual Parish Meeting and the monthly Parish Council Meeting will all be held on Tuesday 7th May 2019 commencing at an earlier start of 6pm.
With there being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 7.45pm.