2024 Minutes

Draft minutes of the full council meeting held by Metheringham Parish Council on Wednesday, the 9th of October 2024 at the Parish Offices, High Street, Metheringham, LN4 3DZ at 6:30 pm. The public session lasted for less than 15 minutes which commenced at 6.15pm, subsequently with the agreement of all members present the Chair opened that meeting at 6:21 pm

 

 

In attendance: Cllr K Parker (Chair) Cllr R Grummitt (Vice Chair) Cllr’s R Castle, Ms A O’Sullivan, D Parry, Mrs F Pembury, Mrs S Peak, Mrs C Redpath, J Simpson, M Westerman. M Wallace, M Worthington. Temporary Clerk J F Money and two co-option applicants

John F Money

Signed:

John F Money

Temporary Clerk (TC)

Metheringham  Parish Council

 

DRAFT MINUTES

1. Chairs comments: The Chair welcomed all to the meeting an went through the usual housekeeping issues.

 

2. To resolve to accept apologies for absence and reasons for giving in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 S85 (1) Cllr R Kendrick LCC/

 

3. Members declarations of interests:

 

• Members may be any decorations of interest at this point but they also make them at any other point doing the meeting recordings with the councils Code of Conduct: None

• Dispensations: To consider and grant dispensation to relevant members in accordance with the councils Code of Conduct: None

4. To discuss and resolve to suspend the events committee and form a working group specifically for the fire and feast: After a short debate it was resolved to defer this item until after the Fair and Feast 2024 had taken place. Action Chair & TC to make it an agenda item.

 

5. To receive update on new container: after a short debate it was agreed that the T Clerk should look into this matter: Action TC.

 

6. To receive an update on roadsweeper : again after a short debate it was resolved the T Clerk should look into this: Action TC.

 

7. To receive an update on the trailer hitch lock: after a short debate Councillor M Worthington agreed to look into this matter: Action Cllr M Worthington.

 

8. To receive an update on the play park tables/benches: three quotes to be sourced once the work is quantified: Action all.

 

9. To discuss and resolve Prince’s Street playpark fence replacement/repairs: 

It was agreed and resolved that five or six rotten posts would be replaced, plus cappings already in our ownership etc, this work would be carried out by the Handy Person sourcing the materials from Eclipse Fencing. Action Cllr Mrs Redpath to communicate on behalf of the council. (Should materials require collecting please contact the TC)

 

10. To receive an update on a new bench to be cited on the Kings Road/Dunston Road junction: One to be provisionally purchased after looking at the siting of it with the highways department of Lincolnshire County Council, whether the highway is actually adopted at this point is unclear: Action TC to approach LCC Highways.

 

11. To receive update on the memorandum of understanding for the Hub users: we will await receiving one. Action Chair.

 

12. To receive an update on the asbestos removal from the allotments and the swimming pool: After a short debate it was agreed that Councillor Mrs Redpath to liaise with the contractor regarding the asbestos rainwater goods on the allotment buildings. Action Cllr Mrs Redpath.

 

13. To receive an update on a complaint relating to the village hall carpark Gardens: The meeting was informed that the handyperson is already working on it. Action the handy person.

 

14.To receive an update on the damaged playpark equipment in the Princess Street playpark: the T Clerk agreed to look: Action the TC.

 

15.Receive an update on the Village Hall car park repairs: it was agree the original  quote was to be resurrected: Action Chair, Cllr Worthington, TC.

 

16. To receive an update on the community speed watch initiative: Action: all to look at this item and report back to the next full council meeting.

 

17. To receive an update on the Metheringham Windmill and arrange a meeting with a Mr P Wakeling;  after some debate on the ownership of not just the mill, but the land surrounding it  which has possibly been purchased by the district council, counsellors went on to discuss the possible purchase of the mill by the parish council as a parish asset, while in principle it may be a good idea certain counsellors thought it could be problematic. It was agreed to seek further information regarding this asset and meet with Mr Wakeling in the meantime. Reporting back to a future meeting; Action Chair & TC make this a re-occurring agenda item.

 

18.To receive an update on the soccer pitch training area refurbishment: Action Councillor Castle and the T Clerk to be involved in the ongoing improvement: Action Cllr Castle & TC.

 

19. To receive an update on the fencing surrounding the parish offices: left in abeyance.

 

20. To receive update on fitting Bird protection over the Beacon: left in abeyance.

 

21. To receive an update on the purchase of a new regulator and butane/propane gas cylinder for use on the Beacon: Councillor Worthington thought he had a gas bottle -et cetera: Action Cllr Worthington.

 

22. To receive an update on the services of the NKDC tree inspection service which was due in September 2024: It was resolved that the tree officer at NKDC continue inspecting the councils trees on a yearly basis: Action TC to inform the NKDC Tree Officers dept.

 

23. To receive an update on the employment of the second and a person/litter picker: this had previously been agreed in principle: Action the Staffing Committee to formulate a job description and advertise the post.

 

24. To receive an update on the subject of the creation of an emergency plan for the whole of the parish: Councillor Castle reported that he had almost completed the emergency plan but needed a parish map which was proving difficult to procure: Action Cllr Castle.

 

25. Co-Option of a Member to fill the vacancy on the council:To allow the candidates to give a short bio those allowing members to interview ask questions of the candidates:The two candidates gave a short presentation of there experience one councillors asked both candidates of there understanding of the statutory powers of the council and what other aspects of the parish the council is involved in. The candidates withdrew to the Clerks office

 

26. The Chair moved that the meeting be moved into Closed Session according to -Thepublic bodies(admissions to meetings act 1960 exclusion of the price of public to resolve that in accordance with section one (2) of the public bodies admissions to meeting at 1960 of the confidence to nature of this business the press and public be excluded  Resolved

 

27. The Chair passed copies of the application forms to the Members after the applications were read and a short discussion a vote was taken by a show of hands with a majority being achieved by one candidate without the Chair using his casting vote. The Chair moved the meeting out of formal session thus suspended standing orders, the Chair asked the successful candidate to come into the meeting room while he went into the Clerks office to speak with the unsuccessful candidate all Members thanked both candidates for there interest and participation prior to them leaving.

 

The Chair returned the meeting into closed session:

28. To receive a complaint from a Member of the Public: Considering this complaint had been lodged with the monitoring officer (MO) the TC advised it would not be right and proper for the council to discuss this until the MO has finished her deliberations.

 

29. To receive an update on the FOIA request: The TC reported that he had collated some of the information requested and he would circulate the FOIA  request to members. Action TC.

 

30. The opening of closed session was not necessary as no Members of the Public were present

 

31. To resolve the co-option of a new council member Mrs June Gwillym had been elected as the new councillor of MPC and The Chair welcomed Cllr Mrs Gwillym to the council.

 

32. The date of the next full council meeting was confirmed as the 30th of October 2024

 

The Chair closed the meeting at 8:41 pm and thanked everyone for their attendance and wished them a safe journey home.

 

TC Note’s: 

Has the employment of a second handy person been budgeted for on the 2024-25 budget/precept request.

Is the Section 137 expenditure being accounted for separately as there is a per-capita limit on S137 spending.

I cannot see where a litter picking grant application has been made to NKDC, again this is calculated on a per-capita/or spending basis and has to be lodged by November 1st 2024. 

 

John

John F Money