INGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of Ingham Parish Council
Date: Monday 13th October 2014
Venue: Ingham & Cammeringham Village Hall
Attendance: Councillors: M. Dickinson (Vice Chairman), D. Howe, J. Baker, V. Kitchin, M. Nicholson and M. Duckworth. Also attending: G. Monks (Clerk), D. Booth (Village Caretaker), District Councillor Patterson
489/October 2014 Apologies for absence
Councillor K. Wagstaff, Councillor C. Slater, S. Skayman (P3 Liaison Officer), PCSO McFaul
490/October 2014 Consideration of Public Session comments
None to consider.
491/October 2014 Notes of the Monthly Meeting of Ingham Parish Council held on Monday 15th September 2014
Proposed Councillor Howe seconded Councillor Nicholson and RESOLVED unanimously that the Notes of the Monthly Meeting of Ingham Parish Council held on Monday 15th September 2014 be approved as Minutes, with one amendment.
492/October 2014 Police Report
PCSO McFaul sent apologies.
493/October 2014 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding
386/May 2011 Footpath outside 5 High Street – it is not a priority to patch this year;
562/December 2011 – The subsiding roadside on Stow Lane – works to repair the verge where it has subsided are complete. Highways will continue to monitor the carriageway;
059/March 2013 - Footpath outside the Village Hall – quotes have been requested;
136/June 2013 - Bus Stop sign, Lincoln Road – Installation of new bus stop signs at Churchfield and the Surgery is awaited;
239/ November 2013- Tree on Grange Lane –the Clerk has spoken to the landowner who is reluctant to cut back a tree so close to power lines. The Clerk has asked Northern Power to cut the tree back instead;
297/ January 2014 - Anglian Water reports – The Clerk has sent a further letter reminding them that the Parish Council will erect a warning sign next to the dyke as there has been no response to date;
298/ January 2014 - Grange Lane hedge – LCC Highways have not got the budget to complete the work during this financial year;
368/ April 2014 - Wildlife Area – Ingham School will consult with Hill Holt Woods for the best location for the area;
399/May 2014 - County Councillor Kinch complaint – a complaint letter has been sent to Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association. A response is awaited;
337/March 2014 - Double yellow lines on Lincoln Road – A further letter has been sent to County Councillor Kinch with no response to date;
421/June 2014 - Tennis Court Post –The Clerk has spoken to the bus company who have agreed to pay for a repair. A quote has been requested;
433/June 2014 - Grange Lane Grasscrete – no work has been undertaken yet;
454/July 2014 - Online Banking – This was discussed in a later agenda item;
468/September 2014 - Glentworth to Harpswell cycle path – Glentworth Parish Council have requested that it is reinstated. It is currently 150th on LCC’s list of work, however, they have requested it to be higher priority; Stow Lane Give Way Signs/ Trees – the Clerk has asked Highways to clean the signs and cut back trees on the approach to Crossways junction; West End trees interfering with power lines – the Clerk has asked Highways to cut the trees back;
471/September 2014 - Wooden fence, The Hollow – the Clerk has asked Highways to renew the fence adjacent to the highway.
494/October 2014 Village Caretaker’s Report
The Village Caretaker reported the following:
· Litter picks and safety inspection have been completed;
· Tyres have been removed from behind the bowling green;
· An area to the south west of the bowling green is very wet. This will be monitored;
· The Village Caretaker met the Clerk to inspect ivy growth on a pole near to the BT Infinity box on The Green. It was decided that the Clerk would ask Northern Power to remove this;
· The branches overhanging the footpath in the Hollow have been cut back and the cuttings will be moved to the bonfire site;
· The two ‘Ingham’ signs have been treated with preservative;
· Some litter bins continue not to be emptied. This will be monitored for another week and if it continues the Clerk will be notified. The Clerk will produce a map of bin locations in the village and number each one;
· A rubbish spill on Church Hill has been cleared;
· Beer cans near left the scrap yard entrance have been removed.
Councillor Baker requested that the Village Caretaker check for preservative in the Caretakers shed so that Little Acorns shed can be treated. The Village Caretaker will liaise with Councillor Baker with respect to this.
494/October 2014 P3 Liaison Officers Report
The P3 Liaison Officer sent apologies. Councillor Duckworth noted that the footpaths had been cut recently by Green Grass Contracting.
495/October 2014 Items raised by Councillor’s for future Agendas
Councillor Howe noted that PCSO McFaul had been following up the incidents of arson and vandalism during the summer and culprits had been identified. Councillor Nicholson said that damage had been caused by youths on the school roof.
Councillor Howe made Councillors aware that there had been another accident at the junction between Stow Lane and Lincoln Road. Councillor Duckworth noted that a parishioner is recording numbers of accidents and starting a petition to improve the junction safety.
Councillor Baker pointed out that there is a weight limit for vehicles on Stow Lane and he didn’t believe this was adhered to. The Clerk will ask Highways to clean the weight restriction signs.
Councillor Howe asked for the Parish Meeting minutes to be an agenda item at the next Parish Council meeting for approval.
Councillor Baker said that on 5th November the Village Hall car park would be used for bonfire night and therefore the fish and chip van could not park there. The Clerk will inform the fish and chip van owner. Also, Councillor Baker asked why the bus shelter at Churchfield had not been treated. The Clerk explained that this will be done when the Village Caretaker can fit it in. It was also noted that key copies were needed for the lock to the playing field gate. Councillor Kitchin offered a combination padlock with all Councillors being given the code. This will be an agenda item at the next meeting.
496/October 2014 County Council Issues
No apologies were received.
497/October 2014 District Council Issues
District Councillor Patterson informed the Parish Council of the following:
· The first round of public consultation on the draft of new Local Plan to guide the location and development of housing, jobs, shops and schools over the next 20 years has opened and will run until 11th November. A draft electronic copy has been sent to the Clerk who will circulate to Councillors. District Councillor Patterson will confirm the date to the Clerk of the meeting in Sturton by Stow. He noted the importance of feeding back views at this early stage. A District Council meeting will be on 22nd October, from 6.30pm at Epic Centre to discuss the plan. Following further drafts in 2015/16 the plan should be adopted in November 2016. The plan will be an agenda item at the next Parish Council meeting;
· The West Lindsey District Council Citizen of the Year Award will be open for applications soon;
· District Councillor Patterson will now be the ‘Lead for Democracy’.
498/October 2014 Annual Return 2014 fee
The Clerk explained that the Annual Return fee is set based on a national scale applicable to Parish Councils and the fee had changed from last year due to an increase in income earned by the Parish Council pushing the fee into a higher band. Proposed Councillor Baker seconded Councillor Dickinson and RESOLVED unanimously to pay the fee of £240 (including VAT).
499/October 2014 Community Speed Watch
Proposed Councillor Kitchin seconded Councillor Duckworth and RESOLVED unanimously to pay the £48 (including VAT) application fee for passive speed signs.
500/October 2014 Monthly Financial report including resolution to make payments:
Cheque Number Payee Amount
1124 Grant Thornton UK LLP (annual return 2014 fee) £240
1127 G Monks (salary September 2014)
1128 D Booth (salary September 2014)
1129 HM Revenue & Customs (Quarterly PAYE) £78.60
1130 Playmaintain (Play Area Re-Paint) £1,932
1131 Green Grass Contracting (Grass cut 5/8/14) £357.60
1132 Selmec (Replacement lamp Saxon Way street light) £105.14
1133 D Booth (mileage) £3.60
1134 Lincolnshire County Council (Passive speed signs) £48
Proposed Councillor Baker seconded Councillor Dickinson and RESOLVED unanimously to pay cheques 1124 and 1127 to 1134.
The Clerk noted that he had requested the Amenity Cut contribution from LCC and requested a VAT refund relating to the last 12 months. He also pointed out that the Parish Council needed to start considering a draft budget for 2015/16 and if Councillors had any items for inclusion, increase or decrease then they should let him know prior to the next meeting.
501/October 2014 Planning Matters to be Reported and Considered
With respect to planning application 131889, The Barn, The Cliff, Ingham, Conversion from a commercial building to a dwelling, proposed Councillor Dickinson seconded Councillor Howe and RESOLVED unanimously to submit the following comments: Surface water should not drain into the foul sewer; The escarpment is considered an area of outstanding landscape value and dwellings were only allowed with agricultural conditions; The original barn conversion created jobs and complemented other business properties in the area; It appears contradictory to previous planning policy to now seek to convert this property to domestic use; This site is not a sustainable venture for a sole residential property in a remote rural location.
502/October 2014 Payment Control methods
The Clerk updated the Parish Council about findings to date. It was suggested that he contact HBOS to find what they can offer. The Clerk will also contact other Parish Councils to see if they have found a provider.
503/October 2014 Youth Shelter
Proposal to ask for parishioner support for a youth shelter, to help with grant applications, using a Village Venture note, AMENDED, Proposed Councillor Baker, to include the proposed footpath outside the Village Hall in the note (1 vote for (Councillor Baker) not seconded due to no vote). Proposed Councillor Kitchin seconded Councillor Nicholson and RESOLVED unanimously to publish a note in Village Venture to ask for parishioner support for a youth shelter, to help with grant applications.
504/October 2014 Risk Assessment
Councillor Slater sent apologies. The Clerk read out the Risk Assessment report. It was noted that Councillors Duckworth and Dickinson had fixed the Tennis Court fence wire.
505/October 2014 Flooding, Highways, Grass Cutting
Councillor Duckworth updated the Parish Council as follows:
· Footpaths have been cut by Green Grass Contracting;
· The bell mouths to cottages on Long Lane have been renewed by Highways, including new raised curbing;
· Highways have inspected a surface water drain that runs through the bell mouth to the caravan park and found it is blocked. They do not believe that they are responsible for its repair. The Parish Council will monitor the situation.
· Councillors Duckworth and Baker found contractors were about to dig up two roads and part of the Village Green to connect electricity to the new BT Infinity box. It was pointed out to them that they did not have agreement from the Parish Council to do this and that ducting was in place already to run a supply through. This had not been utilised due to ivy growing on the electricity pole that would be used. The Clerk has contacted Northern Power to arrange for its removal and will then re-schedule the power supply connection to the box;
· The Clerk and Councillor Duckworth have identified locations for new passive speed signs in the village;
The Clerk noted that he was looking in to the possibility of a 20mph limit on the High Street due to the proximity of the school.
506/October 2014 Best Kept Village Competition
The Clerk read out the final report from the competition and referred to a letter received that requests the Parish Council to select a prize of a tree for winning the small village competition. The Clerk will ask Mr M. Jackson for his advice on the tree type and location. The award presentation will be on 18th November, attended by Councillor’s Wagstaff and Dickinson.
507/October 2014 Spring Flowering Bulbs for public greens
Proposed Councillor Baker seconded Councillor Kitchin and RESOLVED unanimously to allow the planting of spring bulbs around the base of trees on the Village Green.
508/October 2014 Correspondence received
All items of correspondence related to agenda items except for information from City of Lincoln Council relating to Planning Consultation dates, a response from WLDC about planning consultation and a letter from WLDC about the Lincolnshire Energy Switch scheme.
The Meeting closed at 21.55.
Date of the next Parish Council Meeting: Monday 10th November 2014.
509/October 2014 Proposal to move to closed session, in accordance with the Public Bodies (admissions to meetings) Act 1960, that in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are therefore instructed to withdraw from the meeting for the following items of business.
Proposed Councillor Dickinson seconded Councillor Kitchin and RESOLVED unanimously to move to closed session.