Coleby Parish Council Meeting
Held at The Village Hall, Coleby on Tuesday, July 7th 2015 at 7.30pm.
MINUTES
The meeting opened with a public forum. There were no matters raised by the Public in attendance. Cllr Davies opened the meeting with a Minutes Silence to remember those who died in the London Bombings on the 7th July 2005 and the victims of the Tunisian shootings. Public Forum closed 7.32pm
14.13 Declarations of Interest: Cllr Vivian 5(a)
14.14 Apologies: District Cllr Conway (at Navenby Parish Council Meeting).
Apology and reasons accepted by all councillors.
14.15 Present: Cllrs Davies, Brown, Long, Shaw, Vivian, Playford, and Warnes, Mrs S Makinson-Sanders (clerk), Cllr Overton and members of the public.
14.16 Approval of Minutes: Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday May 19th 2015 were proposed and seconded by Cllr Shaw and Playford respectively as amended and Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Tuesday 9th June 2015 were approved and seconded by Cllr Playford and Cllr Vivian.
14.17 Clerk’s reports:
a) Agenda sent to all on email list and posted on notice board.
b) Electoral reform: Consultation taking place on Electoral boundaries. Cllrs to await views of District Council.
c) Vattenfall Wind Farm Nocton Fen: Cllr Davies and Cllr Vivian reported on the meeting attended at Welbourn. District Councillor Marianne Overton had collated and presented the available information. Councillors would like to see the visual impact map to include Coleby. Cllr Davies reported that he had tried to get information from Marsh Windfarm Action Group without success. Clerk to contact Nocton Parish Council for information. An objection to be sent when confirmation of visual impact zone obtained.
In principle the Parish Council support objections to the proposed development.
d) Councillor Training Courses: Cllr Playford reported on the Code of Conduct and Standards Training course attended by her and the Clerk. This had highlighted areas that Parish Councillors need to consider. Clerk to forward training notes to councillors.
e) Notice Board Tempest End of Village: A request had been received by the Parish Council for another notice board. Councillors felt this would cause confusion and that most villages only had one board. No further action.
f) Bus Shelter Dovecote Lane/Rose Cottage Lane: Residents had requested a bus shelter at that end of the village. Councillors felt there was a case for bus shelters in both directions at Dovecote Lane and Rose Cottage Lane. Matter to be taken up with Lincolnshire County Council Highways department.
g) Life on the Verge: It was suggested that a strip along the verge on the A607 from Rectory Road to the bus shelter be considered for planting with wild flowers. Costings to be obtained. Cllr Shaw and Cllr Vivian to take this on.
h) Best Kept Village Competition: The Clerk thanked all those who had turned out for the Village Tidy Up. Judging continues until September.
i) Councillor Responsibilities: Cllr Shaw proposed that there be one councillor per area of responsibility. This was seconded. Councillors to notify clerk of preferences and Clerk to allocate and forward to all Councillors.
j) Dustbin Stickers: Cllr Vivian proposed that the Parish Council should obtain speed limit stickers for all dustbins as had been seen in Aubourn. Councillors felt that it would be more appropriate to have stickers that referred to the Park and Stride in an effort to get the parents of school children to park at the playing field. Cllr Vivian to investigate.
k) Dog Fouling: There is a continuing problem and the clerk has received complaints. It was proposed that a further dog bin be installed on Coronation Crescent and that a notice be placed in the Graffoe Link about the problem.
l) Coleby School Governor: Mr R Fletcher remains a governor of the school and there is no current vacancy. The requirements of the type of skills that the governors need have increased and the next vacancy is to be for a parent governor. Cllrs agreed in the circumstances that the Parish Councillor whose responsibility is the school should obtain a report from the school for each meeting and generally liaise.
m) Litter Picker: The Clerk reported that the current litter picker Mr Pottage is to retire in November. The Clerk pointed out the Council’s responsibility to provide a pension for employees and advised that a self employed person may be a better option. Mr Pottage had been self employed and carried out this type of duty for various councils. Cllr Long to speak with Mr Horobin as he may be interested.
n) Tree Coleby Lowfields: The clerk reported that the elm tree on the bends beyond the railway line was dead. The landowner has been notified and is taking steps to have this removed. It is a danger to road users.
o) Pension Contact Nomination: The Parish Council needs to nominate a contact for the Pension’s Regulator. Cllrs approved Cllr Davies as the contact. The clerk to notify the Pensions Regulator.
p) Nomination of the Tempest /The Bell as Assets of Community Value: The Clerk reported that the application for the Tempest had been submitted to NKDC. An update on the position of the application had not been available for this meeting. Cllr Davies with the agreement of all Councillors invited Mr Paul Vidic and Ms Lisa Gregory of the Bell to speak from the floor having explained that the Bell had not been on the agenda for the Extraordinary Meeting on the 9th June but the subject of the Bell had come up at that meeting on the basis that if the Parish Council were considering making an application for one of the pubs should the other not also be included. The application for the Bell had not been submitted as it was felt that the Parish Council should focus initially on the Tempest. Mr Vidic and Ms Gregory were unhappy that they had not been aware of the Parish Council’s interest in the Bell. After lengthy discussion about the need to ensure all interested parties were informed Cllr Brown apologised for the omission. Cllr Long proposed that the Parish Council focus on the Tempest where there is a threat to its existence and not proceed at this time with an application to register the Bell as a Community Asset of Value. Further nomination proposals for the Bell would be the subject of a meeting and discussions. Councillors were asked to vote on the proposal. 5 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal.
q) Local Plan: District Councillor Overton gave dates for the further consultations on the Local Plan. Cllr Shaw raised the issue of a Neighbourhood Plan for Coleby. This had been considered in the past. There are grants available to assist but would need a working party and consultation with the village. Clerk to ascertain from Welbourn, where there is now a Neighbourhood Plan, what is involved and see if the Chairman of Welbourn Parish Council would come to the next Parish Council Meeting and talk.
r) Commonwealth Flag Day: Cllr Long suggested it could be the theme for a local event. Carry forward to next agenda.
s) Speed Limit Policy LCC/Average Speed Cameras: Policy documents circulated to all councillors. Cllr Vivian pointed out that a 20mph could be requested around the school area if congestion gets worse. Policy gives a number of options that may be available to deal with the Rectory Road problems at school times.
t) IT- projector/laptop: Cllr Davies presented his findings on the costs of a laptop printer and projector for the Parish Council. Cllr Long and Mr Bob Alder from the floor indicated that Village Hall improvements were pending and that there may be grants available. Cllrs agreed that the projector should be considered in conjunction with the needs of the village hall in the meantime the Parish Council may have use of Mr Devonald’s projector if one is required. Mr Alder indicated that the applications for grants for the Village Hall were being submitted at the beginning of August and he could include a projector and screen in that application. It was proposed that the Parish Council proceed with the purchase of a laptop, Microsoft office, anti virus programme, printer and toner pack. Proposal seconded.
u) Lincolnshire Minerals and Local Waste Plan: Cllrs had had the notice of the submission of the core strategy and development management process.
14.18 Planning:
a) Tree Works 12A Dovecote Lane –approved
b) Application New Garden Room attached to garage rear of 8 Church Lane-
pending
c) Application Tree Works 4 Rectory Road - pending
14.19 Police Matters
a) Police Report: No police in attendance and no report received.
b) Neighbourhood Watch – nothing to report other than continued warnings about scams.
14.20 County & District Councillors’ Reports:
DCllr Overton DCllr Overton reported on the Electoral Reform Consultation. Proposed that each councillor represent no more than10% of the people. On target in this area. She is fighting to keep the Cliff Villages together (Leadenham to Waddington). Magna Carta – £22m spent in improving Lincoln Castle with a lot of events planned. Hopefully the economic benefit will filter out to the area. D Cllr Overton confirmed that she had been re-elected Vice Chair of the Local Government Assn and the Parish Council offered congratulations. She has access to the Local Government Minister, Greg Clarke, and can put issues to him. From the 18th June 2015 subsidies on wind turbines have been reduced and with immediate effect the Minister can change planning law to stop turbine development if a local community does not want this. The Nocton Fen Windfarm proposal will have a visual impact on Coleby as will the Fulbeck development. The Parish Council can request an extension to submit comments on this. The Consultation dates for the Local Plan are that maps should be available by the end of August and final consultation takes place in September and October.
14.21 Cemeteries:
a) Lowfields: The grass cutters have requested that the internal hedges be trimmed as grass cutting is becoming difficult. Cllr Brown and Cllr Shaw proposed and seconded that a quote be obtained for this work.
b) Far Lane: Cllr Warnes has looked at the latch on the gate and it is not repairable. Leave gate as it is. Cllr Davies and Councillor Playford proposed and seconded the purchase of a garden bin for the cemetery.
14.22 Financial matters:
a) Payments to be made:
i Coleby Village Hall Hire £38.00 (Hall Hire June and July)
ii Anglian Water £10.00 (July/Aug 2015)
iii Anglian Water £14.58 (Mar/June 2015)
iv. Ashtav £15.00
v Grasscutting £366.43 (May 2015)
vi. Grasscutting £549.65 (June 2015)
vii Clerk’s Salary £(July/Aug 2015)
viii Litter Picking £ 60.00 (June/July 2015))
ix S Makinson-Sanders Bin £35.00 (Lowfields)
x G Lindley Installation Benches £200.00
xi Clerks Expenses/Stationery etc £119.14
xii LALC Councillor Training Evening £8.00
The payments were proposed by Cllr Brown and seconded by Cllr Long.
b) Payments received: none
c) Balances: Co-operative Bank £9487.47 at 30/06/2015 and
Nottingham Building Society £6557.76
14.23 Village Reports:
a) All Saints’ Church: Cllr Long reported that the summer garden event will be held at the Old Rectory on the 19th July, tickets available. On the new rector there were two applicants but one rejected by the Bishop and the other withdrew so still waiting. Harvest Festival 4th October. South Aisle roof leaking and the VCC plans to remove the asbestos roof installed in the 1950s. Quotes and grant applications in hand for that together with relatively minor works on the steeple. The Clerk thanked those who had turned out when the church alarm went off. It has now been repaired.
b) Village Hall: Cllr Long reported that village hall extension grant applications for work to begin early next year were progressing. Tickets still available for the Ball on the 17th October. The Village BBQ on the 5th July had gone well. The next Village Hall Committee meeting is on the 22nd July.
c) Coleby School: A report was submitted by Head Karen Espin. Copy attached.
14.23 Website: Cllr Shaw suggested that this be reviewed when the new IT
Equipment is available
14.24 Correspondence:
a) NKDC Community Champions: copy to be forwarded to all councillors and
Carry forward to next agenda.
14.25 Cllr Shaw raised the issue of a defribullator. She had heard a programme
about these and thought Coleby should have one. Clerk to contact Lives and
for a speaker to come and advise at next meeting.
Meeting Closed 9.55pm
Dates of Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 1st 2015 at 7.30pm.
Sue Makinson-Sanders Tel: 01522 810509
Email:
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Coleby/