18th July 2024
Minutes of the Annual Old Bolingbroke with Hareby Parish Council meeting held on 18th July 2024 at 7pm in Ramsden Village Hall
Present: Cllr Pam Powell (Chair), Cllr Isobel Godsell, Cllr Tony Deal, Cllr David Makins, Cllr Charles Routh, Cllr Caroline Wills-Wright
Also in attendance: County Cllr William Gray, District Cllr Will Grover, I Member of the Public,
J Slaymaker - Parish Clerk
18. The meeting opened at 7.01pm
19. There were no apologies.
20. No pecuniary interests were received.
21. It was resolved to accept the minutes of the meeting held on the 16th May 2024 as a true record and the Chair signed the minutes.
22. County Councillor William Gray had sent out his report which will be placed on the Parish Council website. Items included the capping of the £2 Call Connect bus fare (subsidised by LCC), whooping cough awareness, celebration of National Volunteers Week, continuation of the Household Support Fund, high pollen levels. Cllr Gray reported that LCC engineers had recently looked at the sunken corners on the War Memorial triangle and proposed steps which would look better and deter vehicles from cutting the corners. The Parish Council were pleased with this idea and Cllr Gray would obtain costings. The scheme to also include extending the cobbled path to the memorial itself. Cllr Gray will liaise with the ELDC Place Officer to get the interpretation board replaced. Cllr Gray clarified that if trees and hedges were overhanging the highways the Parish Council should write to the owner asking that they are cut back. If there is no response then LCC can take action. There is ongoing discussion regarding Hagnaby Road ditch. Work on the bottom of West Keal Road is expected in the next financial year. Cllr Gray to investigate progress. S.19 flooding investigations are taking place. Residents who have not yet reported flooding of a property/dwelling and still register with LCC.
Cllr Gray left the meeting at 7.30pm.
District Councillor Grover reported that the Councillor Community Grant scheme was open for applications. A Bigger Loan Fund is open now for rural projects. The fixed penalty charge for fly-tipping has increased to £1,000. Cllr Grover continues to chase for an update with Planners regarding the blue container. It was noted that the Devolution process is ongoing.
23. Finance
a) It was noted that the balance of the current account was £6,793.75 and the 32-day interest account: £15,489.43 (last instalment of hall building work still to pay).
b) The bank reconciliations of 7th and 28th June were noted and signed by Cllr Makins.
c) The payments and receipts for the last quarter and balance against budget were noted. There were no questions.
d) It was resolved to approve the following payments:
03.06.24 Andy Jackson grass cutting (Highways Act 1980 s.96) £475.00
28.06.24 Westholme Nurseries plants (Highways Act 1980 s.96) £195.00
18.07.24 SLCC membership 50% (LGA 1972 s.111) £56.00
18.07.24 Scribe Starboard Systems accountancy software (LGA 1972 s.111) £328.32
09.07.24 Andy Jackson grass cutting £345.00
31.07.24 Salary under LGA 1972 s.112 £278.20
31.08.24 Salary under LGA 1972 s.112 £278.20
e) Income received since the last meeting was noted:
31.05.24 Interest £32.81
28.0.24 Interest £29.67
24. Planning
a) No planning applications had been received since the last meeting. An application for tree work at Swynford House, Church Road ref: 0075/24/TCA had been received, Councillors agreed to support this application.
b) No planning decisions and/or appeal notifications had been received.
25. To discuss village issues
a) The Neighbourhood Watch report was read by Linda Creedy. The Chair thanked Linda for the report.
b) The Clerk confirmed she had written to the farmer about the silt on Hareby Road but had received no response. Cllr Wills-Wright had logged it on Fix My Street again.
c) It was resolved to purchase a bench from Mamax for £345 (ex Vat) plus delivery, fixings and installation costs. (Under Parish Council’s Act 1957 s.1.) A The Clerk to obtain approval from County Council if applicable. replacement bench for the church gate was also discussed. Councillors were keen to pay 50% with the Parochial Church Council for a new bench. The design to be agreed. Subject to formal Council approval.
d) It was agreed that further details were required prior to discussing any responsibility for cycle hoops proposed to be installed on the verge to the churchyard.
e) It was noted that the church gate planter had been moved to the verge by the church lay-by. The Clerk to establish land ownership and obtain County Council approval if applicable.
f) The Place Officer at ELDC will make contact to look at replacing the interpretation board located on the Church verge. A new location for the board may be considered.
g) The Clerk to notify ELDC regarding the relocation of the waste bin near the church layby.
h) Cllr Grover to enquire with ELDC to relocate or replace the street light column number 9 located near the church gate.
i) The offer of free trees from the Woodland Trust was discussed and it was decided not to pursue this at this time. The field has had recent tree planting and ongoing maintenance was an issue.
26. To discuss internal Parish Council issues
a) To receive Play Area Inspection Reports and resolve action
b) It was resolved to adopt the new Finance regulations.
c) It was resolved to re-adopt the Safeguarding policy.
Councillor Grover left the meeting at 8.25pm.
d) It was resolved to adopt the Play Area Risk Assessment.
e) Appropriate wording for a play area sign was discussed. It was resolved that the Clerk obtain a quotation and example layout from Sprint Signs (local and known business) to send round to Councillors and if a majority are in agreement to proceed with having a sign made.
f) It was noted that the field path was kindly cut by volunteers and it was hoped this arrangement would continue.
g) The condition of the grass in the play area was discussed. The Clerk to arrange a meeting between the contractor and Councillors to discuss issues.
h) It was resolved to delegate action to the Clerk to obtain quotations for a tree safety report for the Play Area and proceed with the most favourable quotation. (LGA 1972 s.111)
i) It was agreed that the Parish Council as Sole Charitable Trustee of the field had responsibilities for health and safety and therefore it was resolved to delegate action to the Clerk to obtain quotations for a tree safety report for the field and proceed with the most favourable quotation.
j) It had only been possible to obtain one set of quotations for the re-pointing and cleaning of the War memorial. The Clerk had submitted an application to the War Memorial Trust for a grant for the re-pointing but this has not been determined yet. To defer to the next meeting.
k) The Staffing Committee to agree a date to undertake the Clerk’s annual appraisal.
27. Correspondence
ELDC - parcel collection points (no suitable locations identified); LCC – rights of way survey; letter from a resident concerning the Black Horse Inn and registration of asset of community value (it was noted that no money has been spent on the registration and that following the positive feedback from a survey the Council would reapply to register the Inn as an asset of community value); campaign regarding lithium battery safety and disposal (Councillors support the campaign); YMCA training (promote on Facebook).
28. Clerk and Councillor Reports
It was reported that this was the last meeting with Cllr Routh as his resignation had been received. The Chair thanked him for all his support. Cllr Routh confirmed that he could
continue the playground inspections as a volunteer. The Clerk to chase advice from the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils regarding the proposed small claims court action to recover money from the disbanded playground committee. A picnic bench for the play area had been donated by J&A. The Clerk to write a letter of thanks. A defibrillator had a recall check which was kindly actioned by John Taylor. It was reported that a spring had been fitted to the field kissing gate. There was concern that the spring was too severe.
Agenda items for the next meeting: Open Spaces Lead Councillor, church gate bench, vegetation overhanging the highway, war memorial.
29. It was noted that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be Thursday 19th September 2024 at 7pm.
The meeting closed at 9.09pm