Metheringham Parish Council
Metheringham Parish Council Meeting Minutes
Minutes 06/2011 of Metheringham, Sots Hole and Tanvats Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 25th October 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
PRESENT: Councillors Dr M J Allen (Chairman), N Dobbs, Mrs J Finegan,
P D Ford (Vice Chairman), Mrs M Kristen, Mrs L Lacey, Mrs S Peek, M E Reynolds, G H Roland, P Saffin, J Money (District Council), Mrs P Bradwell (County Council) and Ms S N Wetherall (Clerk).
1. To resolve to accept Apologies for absence and reasons given:
Apologies were received from Councillors M Haisman, Mrs S Wilson
and R Kendrick (District Council). It was resolved to accept the apologies and reasons, this was proposed by Cllr Saffin, seconded by Cllr Dobbs and all were in favour.
2. Members Declarations of Interests: Declarations of interest were made by the following Councillors:
Cllr Ford declared a personal interest for agenda item 6b because his wife is receiving a salary.
Cllr Dr Allen declared a personal interest for agenda item 17 because of a code of conduct matter.
Cllr Saffin declared a personal interest for agenda item 18 due to matters relating to the swimming pool.
3. Reports from representatives on outside bodies:
a) Cllr Mrs Bradwell informed members the speed indicator device scheme was not available to the parish. County Councillors have a £2,000.00 fund available for their ward, Cllr Mrs Bradwell suggested this could be put towards the swimming pool. Cllr Ford suggested the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
b) Cllr Money to follow up on enquiries previously made by Cllr Kendrick relating to solutions to anti social behaviour. Cllr Money had received some complaints about sewerage problems on Londesborough Way, apparently the manhole covers have been lifting.
c) The Chairman asked Cllr Dobbs about the situation with the Village Hall Management Committee, it would appear the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are due to resign at the end of the year. The Chairman asked if plans were in place to advertize and fill the vacancies.
d) The Clerk read the dog warden report. Church Walk still appears to have the highest incidents of dog fouling and because of this the area is being patrolled on every shift. A further sign on Bentley Way is out of date, details are to be passed to NKDC to replace. NKDC contact information on two bins are peeling off, these will be reported to NKDC. An FPN was issued to a dog owner for not removing fouling on Church Walk on 14th October 2011.
4. Notes of the Council Meeting: Held on 27th September having been previously circulated, be approved as the minutes – It was resolved to sign the minutes as a true record of the meeting, this was proposed by Cllr Reynolds, seconded by Cllr Dobbs, two abstentions (Cllr Ford and Cllr Roland) and six were in favour.
5. Clerks report on matters outstanding:
a) Pot Hole on Hall Yard reported to LCC for repair.
b) Cycle Rack outside the post office has been re-installed by the co-op.
c) New litter bin is to be installed on Prince’s Street near to the cadet hut.
d) E-mail sent to community Lincs to establish if there are any training sessions for People Responsible for a Children's Play Area, this will be arranged for November, waiting for confirmation of date, time and location.
e) 16’ Christmas Tree has been ordered from Doddington Farm Shop.
f) Brackets have been manufactured and have now been installed by Paul Chambers on the relevant properties in the High Street.
g) Cllr Mrs Bradwell has been asked to make enquiries regarding funding for permanent speed indicator devices.
h) Sycamore Tree – Drury Street – Tree and stump have been removed. Working group has met to discuss the planting of the area – Paul Chambers will carry out the work asap.
i) Grit bins - Cllr Mrs Peek has checked the stock of grit in the bins. LCC requested to re-stock bins on 04/10/2011.
j) Request to NKDC for official ‘No Littering’ Signs for Prince’s Street playing fields.
k) The public toilets on Fen Road, are currently owned by NKDC, The Clerk has written requesting the building is transferred to MPC at a cost of £1,000.00. The executive board have agreed the toilets will be transferred to MPC, Clerk has provided NKDC with MPC solicitor details. The transfer is in process NKDC to notify us when a completion date is confirmed.
l) Letter received from land registry re: MPC have four areas of land registered. All other areas of land to be registered, by the Clerk.
m) NKDC market stalls. The stalls have been collected from Sleaford by Darwood Builders with the help of Councillors Mrs Finegan, Reynolds and Mr Finegan. A trailer can be hired from Scotts Trailers for £50.00 per week.
n) Community Plan Steering Group further people are required to help move this project forward. This may be a Parish Council/Community Project. As the Localism Bill is being considered at the moment there is the possibility that Community Plans will be superseded by Neighbourhood Plans, therefore it would be sensible to wait until a decision is made.
o) MPC Emergency Plan – draft document produced, business details and key holders to be identified. Copy of document passed to Cllr Mrs Finegan to view/action. Cllr Mrs Finegan asked for volunteers to assist with the plan, Cllr Reynolds and the Clerk offered, a meeting is to be arranged. A flood plan is required and a flood warden. It was suggested members should attend a training session.
p) The recent Call for Land for affordable housing has not identified any areas, a meeting with John Mather and Jemma Empson took place on 20th September, to try and identify any areas of land available. Jemma Empson has had a response from E.on they will not release their land, and no response has been received from Blankney Estates.
q) Neighbourhood Watch Signs – some signs are in poor condition, these are to be removed. PCSO Duckworth has provided contact details for a new scheme called Lincs Alert. Clerk to contact.
r) Metheringham Parish Council have contributed £25.00 for advertising on the Metheringham Primary School Calendar.
6. Financial matters:
a) Bowls Club: To consider a request from the Bowls Club Committee to fund the refurbishment of the bowls club pavilion, to include disabled facilities in the changing rooms and toilets at an approximate cost of £5,000.00 this will be budgeted over a two year period – The Chairman explained that the £2,500.00 budgeted for 2011/2012 would be used and a further £2,500.00 would be in the budget for 2012/2013. The existing pavilion is to be refurbished and a further sectional building will be erected to the rear, this will include DDA facilities. The bowling club has fifty members and an excellent bowling green. It was resolved to fund the refurbishment, this was proposed by Cllr Ford, seconded by Cllr Roland and all were in favour.
b) To consider accounts for payment:
| Payment to | Amount £ |
|---|---|
| Wilkinson – Photo frames | 4.60 |
| Sainsbury – Branston Ltd (drivers thanks) | 34.00 |
| Metheringham Post Office – postage | 26.25 |
| British Red Cross – First Aiders | 136.80 |
| County Cups – banners | 60.00 |
| T Miah – Bollywood Dancers | 300.00 |
| R Crookes – Zumba | 100.00 |
| Joe Gray & Friends | 50.00 |
| S Parker – Atlas | 50.00 |
| T Pearson - Strutting Secrets | 50.00 |
| Gemma Norman – Guitar | 50.00 |
| Silver Sounds Band | 100.00 |
| Lincolnshire Poacher – Morris Dancers | 80.00 |
| Lincoln Scout Band | 100.00 |
| Feet First | 110.00 |
| Rob Gray – Compere | 180.00 |
| John Marshall – Lincs FM | 108.00 |
| Earthbound Misfits | 200.00 |
| Bootleg (band) | 350.00 |
| A Ford | 25.00 |
| G Ventress – making steps | 240.00 |
| Kwik Skips – skip hire | 208.33 |
| Best stall/business | 50.00 |
| M Credland – expenditure | 50.00 |
| M Allen Associates – printing | 50.00 |
| Mission X | 50.00 |
| The Mowgli – reception refreshments | 126.85 |
| Fayre & Feast Expenditure 2011 | 2889.83 |
| Play Safety - RoSPA annual play park inspections | 162.00 |
| Wybone – Litter bin | 133.04 |
| Wybone – Street orderly barrow and litter picker | 474.97 |
| A Hey – Professional fees re: lease | 311.67 |
| E.on – Quarterly energy supply | 1178.30 |
| Eclipse Fencing – materials for play park | 57.82 |
| ESPO – outstanding MADSPA gas bill | 1301.27 |
| MVHMC – Hall Hire | 39.00 |
| Clerk Salary & Expenses | 1104.85 |
| Village Caretaker Salary | 248.69 |
| Public Toilet Caretaker Salary | 145.32 |
| LCC Pension Scheme | 332.25 |
| HM Revenue & Customs | 450.30 |
| Shiregate Play Park Warden Salary | 176.40 |
| Parish Dog Warden | 360.00 |
| Handyman Salary & Expenses | 318.84 |
| BACS Payments – October 2011 | 6794.72 |
| J Haresign – assisting handyman - fitting benches. | 15.00 |
| P Chambers – Plants for war memorial planters | 20.00 |
| B Blackband – keys for gate to pavilion | 12.00 |
| Metheringham School – Advertising on school calendar | 25.00 |
| A Ford – plants for planters at public toilets | 4.60 |
| Total General Expenditure October 2011 | 6871.32 |
| TOTAL OCTOBER 2011 | 9761.15 |
It was resolved to make payment of the accounts, this was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Saffin, one abstention (Cllr Ford) and seven were in favour.
c) To receive a report from the RFO on the PC finances, Income and Expenditure – Cllr Ford stated if the accounts did not include the Fayre & Feast expenditure and the outstanding MADSPA ESPO gas bill the accounts for payment would not be excessive. There were no questions or queries on the financial position.
7. Planning Committee:
a) Notes of meeting: Held on 12th October 2011, having been
previously circulated, to be approved as the minutes – It was resolved
to sign the minutes as a true record of the meeting, this was proposed
by Cllr Dobbs, seconded by Cllr Mrs Finegan, two abstentions
(Cllrs Ford and Saffin) and two were in favour.
8. Correspondence:
a) To note general correspondence.
It was resolved to vary the order of the agenda, Item 11 was taken before item 9, this was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Saffin and all were in favour.
11. Recreation field and related issues: A forward planning meeting took place on 19th October. The proposal to council is that one final meeting will take place with LCC to finalize details, Cllr Mrs Bradwell is to provide dates for a meeting. LCC have not yet paid the outstanding invoice. The Chairman, Cllr Ford and the Clerk are to meet with our solicitor to seek advice. This was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Ford and all were in favour.
ACTION: Working Group
It was resolved to suspend the meeting at 8.20pm for a short refreshment break.
Cllr Money and Cllr Mrs Bradwell left the meeting at 8.30pm
The meeting resumed at 8.43pm
9. To receive reports on Outside Meetings:
a) To receive a report on the Metheringham Area Cluster Group meeting
held on 6th October 2011 – The Chairman, Cllr Mrs Finegan and the Clerk attended. The Clerk gave a short report; the Sleaford swimming pool is to be refurbished at a cost of £2.6 million and will be closed for 50 weeks, this work is to be completed from reserves and borrowings. A new five year NKDC corporate plan has been approved and adopted. The Egyptian Olympic Team will be visiting Lincoln University. The Olympic torch will be entering NKDC but at this stage the details have not been announced. NKDC are trying to establish which parishes have beacons, in preparation for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
i) To consider long term maintenance of the Metheringham Area Speed Indicator Device – As a large village the SID should be utilized more frequently in Metheringham, than the smaller villages. It was agreed in principal that the maintenance costs should be shared, but a more detailed costing is required.
ii) To consider proposal from the cluster group to reduce the speed limit of the B1188 to 50mph or below – Following a short discussion all members were in agreement that the B1188 speed limit should be reduced.
b) To receive a report from members on ‘Help your community flourish
. . . ‘ workshop held on 13th October – Cllrs Mrs Pembery and Mrs Wilson attended the session but unfortunately were not at the meeting to give a report. Cllr Ford stated that the event had been useful.
c) To receive a report from members on the Lincolnshire Association of
Local Councils (LALC) AGM and conference held on 15th October 2011 – The Chairman, Cllr Mrs Finegan and the Clerk attended, the AGM covered the election of Honorary Officers, Cllr Gary Ellis was re-elected as Chairman. The guest speaker Ursula Lidbetter, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Co-operative Society gave an excellent key note speech on the values of the co-op and the community work they carry out. Martin Hutchings, Project Manager, Planning Advisory Service, gave a presentation on the planning changes to be introduced via the Localism Bill and the government proposals for a National Planning Policy Framework. Finally an organizer from First Contact gave details of the scheme which is to ensure over 60’s are gaining access to the help they are entitled to.
10. To receive reports from Working Groups:
a) Allotments – New tenants are now occupying plot four.
b) Children’s Playgrounds and Playing Fields – RoSPA report has been received copies have been given to the working group and Paul Chambers. Cllr Roland is to arrange a meeting to review the report and produce an action plan.
ACTION: Working Group
c) Christmas Celebrations: The Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will take place on Sunday 4th December. A meeting took place on 4th October Cllr Mrs Kristen supplied a copy of the notes to all members. A small budget is required, it was agreed this would be added to the next agenda. ACTION: Working Group
d) Consultation and Questionnaires – Nothing to report.
e) Fayre and Feast – The event was a success and the reception at the Mowgli Indian Restaurant was excellent. The de-briefing meeting will take place on Thursday 17th November at 7.00pm in the pavilion.
ACTION: Working Group
f) Forward Planning – In the past the forward planning group has mainly focused on the land issues. The group are to be more proactive, to identify key projects, decide what is viable and produce a five year plan. The plan will then be presented to council for approval, if approved the working group can then progress. A forward planning meeting is to be arranged, all members are welcome to attend.
ACTION: Working Group
g) Highways, Footpaths and Car Parks – Working group members are surveying different areas of the village. Clerk to report to LCC. Cllr Mrs Lacey had received a complaint about vehicles parking across the drop kerbs on Station Road. Clerk to contact LCC to request the white line markings are placed on the road. ACTION: Working Group/Clerk
h) Risk Assessment – The Risk Assessment document is to be amended
and a further meeting will be held before the document is presented to council.
ACTION: Working Group
i) Street Lighting – A column on High Street has had the cover removed.
Clerk to report.
ACTION: Clerk/Working Group
j) War Memorial and Spring – New seats have been installed in the war
memorial. Slabs have been laid under the seats to make them easier to access. Cllr Mrs Peek suggested a ramp should be installed at the entrance to make the garden accessible to disabled users, Cllr Reynolds has looked at the possibility of doing this and believes it is feasible. Paul Chambers to investigate further. ACTION: Clerk/Working Group
12. Anti-Social Behaviour: Regular meetings are taking place with MPC, Lincolnshire Police, NKDC, LCC and residents to try and resolve the issues of ASB. A youth worker is required to assist with the formation of a youth drop in and a youth forum. CCTV in Prince’s Street has been successful and CCTV is to be installed in the High Street. MPC to obtain quotations to install permanent CCTV in both of the locations. Any incidents of ASB are to be reported to the police, providing details of the date, time and location. ACTION: Clerk/Councillors
13. Bus Shelter: Lincolnshire Co-operative Society are producing a licence agreement, so MPC can install a bus shelter on co-op land to the front of their store. LCC have confirmed MPC have been accepted to the funding scheme for the bus shelter. A site meeting is to be arranged with LCC and the working group. The type of bus shelter is to be chosen and the recommendation taken to council.
14. Remembrance Day Service: This year’s service will take place on 13th November, at the Methodist Church at 10.00am, a meeting has been arranged with Reverend Martin Amery at 3.00pm on 3rd November to confirm details.
ACTION: Clerk/Councillors
15. Date, time and venue of next meeting: Tuesday 29th November 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 10.21pm.
Addendum 06/2011 of Metheringham, Sots Hole and Tanvats Parish Council Meeting, held on Tuesday 25th October 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
1. Public Forum
There were 5 members of the public present at the meeting. They were residents from High Street and Dunston regarding the ongoing problems of anti social behaviour in the village. The residents from High Street expressed their ongoing problems with large groups of youths gathering outside the grocer’s store and asked if the licence times were to be reviewed. If they are to be reviewed this will be dealt with by NKDC. The Chairman explained that MPC, Lincolnshire Police, NKDC, LCC and residents are having regular meetings to provide solutions to the ASB. MPC are considering a youth drop in, but a suitable location is proving to be a problem. MPC are also considering employing a part time sports outreach worker.
2. Police Report
Inspector Mike Jones and PCSO Carol Daman-Willems were present at the meeting. During the period 27/09/2011 and 25/10/2011 there have been 4 crimes recorded, which relate to:- 1 - theft, 1 – burglary other and 2 – theft from motor vehicle. The thieves that have been targeting properties with caravans, when occupants are on holiday have been detected.
The Speed Indicator Device that was stolen from Metheringham, is to be replaced.