Minutes 2023

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 11th SEPTEMBER 2023

IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:          Barling (Chair), Bayston, Gallagher, Hadfield,

    Mrs Hopkins, Hurst, Spence,

    Richardson, Williams, Wilson

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith, 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

1.   Apologies for absence. (Reasons to be given to the Clerk in advance of the meeting)

Apologies were received from Cllr Barnshaw who had family commitments and Cllr Sanders who had covid.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Bayston that they accept the apologies and reasons for absence.

All agreed.  Carried.

2.   Declarations of interest for any agenda item.

None.

3.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 10th July 2023.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Bayston that the minutes of 10th July were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

All Agreed, Carried.

4.   Finance

a)  Monthly finance report – to receive and accept the monthly finance report.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Wilson that the finance reports be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

b)   Authorising of the payments. To resolve to authorise the BACS payments listed by the RFO and certify invoices.

It was proposed by Cllr Wilson and seconded by Cllr Williams that the BACS payments and invoices could be signed.

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that anyone Councillor can email her asking for items to be put on the agenda.  Cllr Hadfield had emailed asking for some things to be put on,

• Weeds and roots in road storm drain on Grantham Road
• Grass verge outside no 46 / 48 Station Road
• Projector.

The Clerk had emailed County Cllr Dyer regarding the first two items, as they are a highway issue and had already bought the projector, therefore they were not put on the agenda.

Cllr Gallagher had been approached by a resident about the amount of dog poo on the High Street, he came in and spoke to the Clerk and after a discussion she is going to find some signage to put up.

We have received an invitation from NKDC, to attend a Community Group and Partner Engagement Event at Whisby Natural World on Thursday 28th Sep or Tuesday 10th Oct, 6pm to 8pm,  we are allowed to send 3 people.  It was agreed that the Clerk should attend with two Councillors, Cllrs Williams and Barling will check their diaries.

The Village Hall bar. The Clerk has met with Paul and Paula White who own ‘The three horseshoes’ and they are looking forward to working with us.  They have looked round the bar area and have been in contact with the licencing team at NK.  They hope to start as soon as possible.

Christmas dinner, before covid a small team, including Ged Hallam, ran a Christmas dinner for the residents who may be alone at Christmas.  After speaking to people through the warm rooms and with Rev Simon, the Clerk would like to do this again this year.  She has spoken with Jenne from the freedom church and is trying to find some people to come onboard to help with the cooking, once she has found someone, she will advertise this and see how many people would like to come along. 

The Village Hall Stage.  David and the drama team have done an amazing job of replacing the stage floor, along with repairing the steps and painting the frontage.  The Council were shown some pictures of the work. 

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they send them a letter of thanks.

All agreed.  Carried.

Email received from Fosse Green Energy, they are holding public consultation events between 11 Sep to 20 Oct. 

Saturday 30 September, 10.00 - 14.00, Witham St Hughes Village Hall

Wednesday 4 October, 15.00 – 19.00, Oliver Roper Parish Meeting Room, Thorpe on the Hill

Thursday 5 October, 15.00 – 19.00, The Venue, Navenby

Saturday 7 October, 10.00 – 14.00, Hammond Hall and Sports Centre, Bassingham

Wednesday 11 October, 18.00 – 19.00, Online event.

6.   Matters arising from the last meeting.  Only for discussion.

Cllr Williams asked for an update on the defibrillator and school access from Redwood.

The Clerk informed that the defibrillator had been ordered and the school had been contacted before they broke up for the summer, but had got nowhere, so she was going to send them a letter.

Cllr Hurst informed that the quote had just been received for the cladding at Redwood, at £12,800.

7.   To review and re-adopt the orders / regulations / Terms of Reference:  you should already   have copies of these, however if you do not and require a copy before the meeting, please contact me.

1. Planning Committee                 (last re-adopted Sep 2022)
2. Finance Committee                  (last re-adopted Sep 2022)
3. Risk Assessment                      (last re-adopted Sep 2022)

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they re-adopt all the orders.

All agreed.  Carried.

8. Grass Cutting.   Discuss the number of cuts budgeted for and how the grass cutting season maybe extended due to the weather.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Bayston that if needed they go ahead with up to 2 further cuts.

9 Agreed, 1 Against.  Carried.

9. Playing Field Trust.   To receive a report from the trust on the cricket pavilion and to discuss the thoughts going forward.

The history of the cricket pavilion was discussed and the proposal to have a cheaper wooden pavilion was discussed.

Cllr Mrs Hopkins requested that we check with the insurance company to see if they would cover a wooden pavilion and that maybe a portcabin is looked at.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Williams that the Council would help fund the cricket pavilion to help obtain grant funding.

8 Agreed, 2 Against.  Carried.

10.  Redwood Drive Playing Field.  To discuss the byelaw and residents using the gates, to access the playing field and using it as an extension to their garden.  Cllr Bayston

The Clerk informed that after some research, she could not find a bye-law for Redwood Drive Playing Field.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Williams that a letter is sent to the residents who back on to the field, every year reminding them that they have no legal right to have a gate onto the field.

8 Agreed, 1 Against, 1 Abstention.  Carried.

11.   Urgent matters for attention – Items which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency due to special circumstances.

None.

12.  ‘In Camera’ item.  Resolution: In view of the special/confidential nature of the business about to be transacted it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.

1.  Complaint.   To further discuss the complaint following the last meeting.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they send a letter informing that we have followed our procedures, in offering her a date to meet, and matter is now closed.

All Agreed.  Carried.

2. Pay and Working Conditions Policy.  To review and re-adopt.  (Last re-adopted Oct 22) 

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they seek legal advice from LALC and check the costs involved and revisit it at the next meeting.

9 Agreed, 1 Abstention.  Carried.

13.   Date of the next meeting.  Monday 9th Oct 2023 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Open Forum

County Councillor

Cllr Tom Dyer informed that the Hykeham Relief Road had today been put before the Scrutiny Committee, who had unanimously passed it.

Anglian Water are currently putting in a new pipeline near the A607, this will be closed from 7pm on Friday 13th October to 6am on Monday 16th October.

Some residents had been chasing up about the change in speed limit on the south end of the Grantham Road, this has been approved and is waiting on the contractors to come and do it, as it is not straight forward, as it is a lite sign and therefore requires electricity.

Cllr Gallagher asked if they would be reconnecting the streetlights within the 30mph area.

Cllr Dyer replied that no they would not.

Cllr Bayston informed that he had taken his scouts to the Anglian Water site to see the archaeological finds, it was very interesting.   He asked when highways were going to replace the bus stop sign on Station Road.

Cllr Dyer informed that it was taking a little longer as they believe it was knocked down on purpose and so it will be replaced with something a bit more robust. 

The Clerk informed that they were given s106 money from the Lakeside development to install 3 bus shelters on Station Road, and one was supposed to be placed there.  Years ago she had had a phone call from someone asking if when they were installed if the Parish Council would adopt them.

District Councillors

Cllr Pennell informed that the summer quiet period was finished.  The licensing committee were looking at Martyns Law, which is being introduced following the terrorist attack at the Manchester.  The law states that any venue that can host over 100 is required to do a risk assessment, this will affect all the Parish Council owned buildings.

Over the next few months, they will be carrying a review of the polling places, this is to be done every 5 years, the last one was done in 2018.

Tomorrow night they have a Planning meeting, one of the items is one of the solar farms within the district, they do not approve these plans, they just submit a local impact report to the Secretary of State for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who makes the decision.

Cllr Cooper sent his apologies.

Cllr Sanders sent his apologies.