June 2019 Minutes
A meeting of Metheringham, Sots Hole and Tanvats Parish Council was held on Tuesday 18th June 2019 in the Village Hall, Middle Street, Metheringham and commenced at 19:15.
Present:
Councillor S Wilson (Chairman) Councillor J Gwillym (Vice Chairman) Councillor N Byatt Councillor I Holmes Councillor J Kendrick Councillor S Peek
Apologies: Councillor D Parry
Councillor S Walker
Clerk: Karen Steels-Tallett
There were no members of the public present.
1. Chairman’s Remarks:
The Chairman Councillor S Wilson opened the meeting and welcomed those present and made the usual housekeeping announcements. The Chairman reminded members that they must abide by the Code of Conduct at all times
2. To resolve to accept Apologies for Absence and reasons given in accordance with Local Government Act 1972 s85(1): Apologies were received from Councillor D Parry (Personal Reasons) and Councillor S Walker (Personal Reasons).
3. Members Declarations of Interests
a. Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting in accordance with Metheringham Parish Councils Code of Conduct. There were no declarations of interest made at this time.
b. Dispensations: To consider and grant dispensation to relevant members in accordance with Metheringham Parish Councils Code of Conduct.
There were no requests for Dispensations.
4. To approve the notes of the Parish Council Meetings held on Tuesday 29th January 2019, Tuesday 14th May 2019 and the Extra Ordinary Meeting held on Friday 7th June 2019.
The notes having been circulated before the meeting were taken as read and it was RESOLVED to approve them as minutes of the meetings.
Councillor I Holmes, Councillor J Gwillym and Councillor J Kendrick abstained from voting with regards to the notes of the meeting Tuesday 29th January 2019. Proposed by Councillor I Holmes, seconded by Councillor J Gwillym and all were in favour.
5. Reports from representatives on outside bodies:
a. To receive a report from the County Councillor R Kendrick
A big thanks to all Lincolnshire County Council volunteers:
National Volunteers Week, 1-7 June, is a chance to celebrate the fantastic contribution made by those who carry out sterling work for the council in their spare time. Council leader, Cllr Martin Hill has written to our volunteers to personally thank them for their efforts. Having managed volunteer services in the NHS for many years I know just how valuable the contribution of volunteers is to our communities. At a local level there are many dedicated volunteers running all sorts of groups including of course all the work done by our parish councillors.
Health visiting and children and young people services rated 'Good The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have rated our health visiting and children and young people nursing services as 'Good' overall, following an inspection at the end of February. Overall, inspectors concluded that services were effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Consultation on how Lincolnshire deals with flood risk and water management:
Lincolnshire County Council is asking residents to have their say on flood risk and water management in Lincolnshire. Working in partnership, the County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, has produced a revised and updated flood risk and water management strategy. The strategy looks at farmland, economic hotspots, businesses and communities across Lincolnshire, in particular the Coastal strip, and talks about what can be done to ensure these are better protected against flooding. It also explores the water resources currently available in Lincolnshire, and discusses whether these are appropriate for housing and economic developments, both now and in the future.
The NHS in Lincolnshire has launched the Healthy Conversation 2019:
An engagement exercise, which will run into the autumn of this year. Information can be accessed at https://www.lincolnshire.nhs.uk/healthy-conversation
We have been asking for NHS organisations to publish their future plans and have an honest conversation with the public for far too long, and at last it seems there is a firm commitment to do this.
Highways work:
Essential carriageway maintenance work will be taking place on the High Street commencing Monday 8th July 2019. This will involve the removing the top 5inches off the surface and replacing with 2 layers which has a life expectancy of 10 years. The pedestrian crossing currently in place will be covered over as this is on private land and not a highways crossing. The work is being carried out at a cost of circa £250,000 which has been increased substantially due to the work being carried out during the night. District Councillors N Byatt and l Pearson arrived at 7.20pm
b. To receive a report from District Councillor L Pearson
Councillors N Byatt and L Pearson are still on their induction programme. We are currently engaged in the first stage of the Local Plan 6 week Consultation with a drop in session being held in Metheringham Village Hall on Wednesday 26th June. The aim is to ensure the plan meets current demands for example: people living longer, single occupants.
Monthly surgeries: are scheduled to take place on the last Friday of the month located in the Parish Council Offices between 10.00am and 12.00noon. Flooding on Park Crescent, Metheringham: Cllrs Byatt and Pearson had contacted Environmental Protection regarding the current sewage issue. Councillor J Gwillym questioned the development of executive houses planned; the reason behind this, affordable housing is needed for the younger population to enable them to get on the property ladder. To meet policies there has to be a minimum of between 10 – 25 affordable housing properties. Under the old Local Plan there were 15,000 houses per year scheduled to be built which has now dropped to 11,000-13,000.
c. Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Planning Team: Councillor J Gwillym confirmed meetings are held on a 6 monthly basis but additional meetings can be organised should it be necessary. Councillor J Gwillym had sent a letter thanking the Team for their help at Wainfleet during the recent flooding. There had been no feedback on the personal items which was stolen at the doctors surgery.
Councillor S Wilson requested that a letter be sent to our local fire brigade thanking them also for their services, they had been on call from 2.40am to 4.30pm in Wainfleet. The Parish Council had now received confirmation that the placque is now ready for the Beacon. Station Commander, Roy Darwood is due to retire from the retained services and a ceremony to receive the placque will be organised at the fire station for a Monday evening.
d. Village Hall Committee: Councillor J Kendrick confirmed that there had been no further meetings and the next meeting was to be held on Thursday 18th July. Councillor Kendrick is unfortunately not available and asked if another Councillor was available to attend?
The Village Hall have a fund raising fashion show on Thursday 20th June but unfortunately the Victorian Tea Party had been cancelled.
e. Swimming Pool: Councillor I Holmes reported that following the grant awarded June 2019 the new windproof covers had now been installed, and are being used on a daily basis. Lifeguards and Tuck Shop volunteers have been trained in use; and so far the gas usage for heating the pool is down by ⅓ (£2,000-£2,500 saving).
A local water meter has been fitted which will be used to monitor usage against usage billed by the School. The Pool now have 6 Lifeguards and are well covered for the summer months. The website has been updated with rota for Lifeguards and tuck shop volunteers. A Barbecue had been organised which had raised £300.
Swimming Lessons are fully booked. The Committee are revisiting the Constitution with an aim to extending it for external fund raising. The slabs around the pool are uneven and a Contractor is to provide a quotation to complete the work with the aim of raising funding for the work to be carried out. The Committee had requested that the Clerk be an additional signatory on the Pool bank account, all were in agreement that the Clerk could be a second signature.
f. Library: Councillor S Peek advised that there had been no further meetings held. Ken Cotton will be leaving the Library shortly and 2 further volunteers have come forward to give their services namely, Pauline Ventress and Julie Kettle. The Chair and Clerk are to arrange a meeting to meet with the Library members to agree a way forward with the Library accounts and procedures. Councillor Byatt pointed out that the old NHS part of the building is rated as a Clinic Class D1. It may be beneficial if the Parish Council were to make an application for change of use to an Assembly Room Class A1 use, there would be a 50% reduction for planning applications made by the Parish Council.
g. Bowls Club: No report due to Councillor S Walker’s absence
6. Clerks Report: The Clerk’s report had been circulated prior to the meeting. Councillor Holmes update Members on the ongoing problem with the Speed Indicator Display Units. The Clerk and Councillor I Holmes are to draft a response to the suppliers. A further update was given by Councillor I Holmes on the Tree Belt adjacent to Dunston Road following his meeting on site with Linden Homes.
7. To consider the adoption of the NKDC Code of Conduct or continue with the existing Code of Conduct: It was RESOLVED to defer the item to the July meeting, proposed by Councillor J Kendrick, seconded by Councillor I Holmes and all were in favour.
8. Financial Matters:
a. Street Lighting: Councillor J Gwillym had met with Kier who had proved to a less favorable option than the existing contractors E.on.
The Parish Council have received a good service from E.on in the past.
It was RESOLVED to replace 10 concrete columns with internal bungs missing needing urgent repair at the agreed rate from E.on as circulated by Councillor J Gwillym. Proposed by Councillor I Holmes, seconded by Councillor N Byatt and all were in favour. The Clerk is to write to the occupant where the column is set within the hedgerow of the property requesting that this is cut back for the works to be carried out.
b. Metheringham Village Hall: To consider a grant request from the Village Hall Committee for redecoration works. It was RESOLVED to approve a grant of £2,500. Proposed by Councillor I Holmes, seconded by Councillor S Peek and all were in favour.
c. Metheringham Swimming Pool: To agree and approve the retrospective grant approved at the meeting 14th May 2019. It was RESOLVED to approve the grant of £5,000. Proposed by Councillor J Gwillym, seconded by Councillor S Wilson and all were in favour.
d. Disabled Access Swing Door: To consider the quotation for the repairs to the automatic swing door in the Parish Office. It was RESOLVED to defer the item to the July meeting to allow the Clerk to obtain 2 further quotations for the work. Proposed by Councillor I Holmes, seconded by Councillor J Kendrick and all were in favour.
e. Accounts for Payment: To consider and approve the accounts for payment. The Clerk circulated the accounts for April and May 2019. It was RESOLVED to approve the accounts, proposed by Councillor J Gwillym, seconded by Councillor S Peek and all were in favour.
9. Parish Council Procedures:
a. Standing Orders: To consider the amendments to MPC/001-R9. It was RESOLVED to approve the amendments. Proposed by Councillor N Byatt, seconded by Councillor J Gwillym and all were in favour.
b. Financial Regulations: To consider the amendments to MPC/002- R3. It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the July meeting and refer back to Lloyds Bank for clarification. Proposed by Councillor N Byatt, seconded by Councillor I Holmes and all were in favour.
10. Correspondence:
To note correspondence circulated to Members. A letter had been received from the SmartGroup regarding the SIDs, Councillor I Holmes and the Clerk are to draft a reply.
11. To receive verbal or written reports from Working Groups:
a. Events: The schedule of the Armed Forces Flag Raising Day had been circulated. Councillor S Wilson had circulated the notes from the meeting with the Christmas Market Committee. It is proposed that the Nativity will take place on 1 December 2019 in the War Memorial Gardens with Carols and the Tree Lighting.
VE Day Friday 8th May 2020: A brainstorming session had taken place and we would need to engage with other organisations and form
a Committee.
b. Project Planning: Councillor S Wilson had circulated the notes and was proposing a Consultation in the Village Hall 17th September. Councillor I Holmes commented that the Parish Council had committed to completing the Neighbourhood Plan. Councillor J Kendrick left the meeting @ 9.00pm
12. Planning: Planning applications received from NKDC
i) 19/0563/VARCON – Waneham Farm Bungalow, Sleaford Road, Metheringham. Erection of Bungalow and Garage.
ii) 19/0660/FUL - The Kitchen, Sleaford Road, Nocton Heath. Change of use of part of the Nocton Heath Truckstop to a car wash (Retrospective).
Planning application decision notices from NKDC:
i) 19/0386/HOUS - 36 Princes Street, Metheringham. Replacement roof and frames to existing conservatory.
ii) 19/0478/LDEXI - Waneham Farm Bungalow, Sleaford Road, Metheringham. Lawful development certificate for an existing use for use of a dwelling without complying with condition 2 (personal use) and 3 (agricultural workers) of NK6544.
13. Date, time and venue of next meeting: Tuesday 23rd July 2019 at 19:15, in the Village Hall.
14. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 Exclusion of the Press and the Public: To resolve that in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and by reason of the confidential nature of the remainder of the business, the Press and the Public be excluded from the Meeting.
It was RESOLVED to move in to closed session.
15. Staffing Matters:
Chairman of the Staffing Committee updated Members on the current position.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21:15