Great Hale Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 5 Sept 2016 at Hale Magna Village Hall, Great Hale.

PRESENT Cllr Mrs V Kemmett Cllr Mrs E White Cllr J Cope Cllr M Weston Cllr M Barnatt Cllr N Turner Cllr S Needham (arrived at 7.20pm) Clerk Mrs V Young

District Cllrs Mrs S Tarry and S Ogden (both arrived at 7.15pm and left before agenda item 14 closed session)

5 members of the public were present

Cllr Mrs E White chaired the open forum which began at 6.30pm. Two members of the public made statements related to agenda item 14. The open forum ended at 6.45pm

Cllr Mrs V Kemmett resumed the Chair and introduced Mr M Grosvenor from the windfarm action group “Heckoff” who gave a presentation to Council which ended at 7.15pm.

The formal Council meeting opened at 7.15pm

1. CHAIRMANS REMARKS

The Chairman Mrs V Kemmett welcomed everyone to the meeting

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies were received

3. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Cllr Mrs V Kemmett declared a personal interest in agenda item 14 (closed session)

4. TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MONTHLY MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4th July were signed as a true and correct copy. Proposed by Cllr Mrs E White and seconded by ...... and agreed by all those eligible to vote. Cllr Mrs V Kemmett duly signed the minutes

5. HECKOFF

After discussion it was decided by a majority of 5 to 2 Cllrs not to offer any further support to Heckoff

6. PUBLIC MATTERS This agenda item was in error

7. CLERKS REPORT ON ANY MATTERS OUTSTANDING

Nothing reported

8. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES

District Cllr S Ogden confirmed that planning permission had been given for new houses to be built opposite the cemetery at Heckington. Concern was expressed that this would increase the pressure on local services.

9. ORCHARD GREEN MATTERS

9.1 The grass had been cut twice in July and twice in August. The Clerk was asked to request two more cuts in September.

9.2 The July inspection was carried out by Cllr N Turner and the August inspection by Cllr M Weston. The inspection sheet is now in the notice board. It was noted that one of the fence posts has rotted and may need replacing. The retaining screws on the swings were also loose. Cllrs Barnatt and Cope to check both items.

9.3 A letter had been received from a resident of Orchard Close complaining of possible lewd behaviour by youths on top of the youth shelter. PCSO Welby-Everhard has been advised.

10. GROUNDS MATTERS

10.1 Cllr Mrs E White reported that litter picks had been carried out in July and August by herself and 3 parishioners. The village was surprisingly litter free. The next litter pick will take place on 1st Sept 2016.

10,2 Grass cutting Churchyard and Village

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10.3 Amenity Grass Cutting

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10.4 The millennium seat has been cleaned by a parishioner and will be painted by Cllrs Mrs E White and M Weston when time permits

11. PLANNING MATTERS

Nothing to report

12. FINANCIAL MATTERS

See financial statement

13. HIGHWAYS MATTERS

13.1 The potholes on part of Great Hale Fen road have been repaired, but those on the south part of the road have yet to be repaired. Cllr J Cope reported that the road surface was bad near the railway crossing. The large pothole on Grove Street had been repaired.

13,2 The Clerk was asked to send a letter to Mr Mulraney in response to his complaint concerning the hedge obstructing the footpath on Little Hale road. The Clerk was also instructed to send an urgent letter to Highways in respect of the overgrown footpath on Little Hale road and also in High Street.

14. CLOSED SESSION ITEM ONE

This item was chaired by Cllr Mrs E White. Cllr Mrs V Kemmett left the room at 8pm. At the end of the closed item a vote of confidence in Cllr Mrs V Kemmett was proposed and upheld by all Councillors. Letters of response would be sent with a copy to the Chair. Cllr Mrs V Kemmett returned to the room at 8.45pm.

15. CLOSED SESSION ITEM TWO

This item was chaired by Cllr Mrs V Kemmett. The Clerk to the Council Mrs V Young left the room at 8.50pm. After discussion Councillors agreed that a contract of employment would not be given but that a further probationary period of 3 months would be offered. The Clerk to the Council Mrs V Young returned to the room at 9.10pm, and agreed to accept the extension to the probationary term.

16. CHARITIES

To be discussed at October meeting.

17. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION AND NON AGENDA CORRESPONDENCE.

Nothing to report

18. MATTERS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

Nothing to add to standard agenda.

19. DATE OF NEXT MEETING.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 3rd October at 7.30pm.

20. CLOSE OF MEETING

The meeting closed at 9.30pm

As no notes were produced by the Clerk, following her resignation, the minutes have been compiled by the Chair and Vice Chair and as such may not truly reflect the meeting of the Council

Chair......

Dated......