80
Wragby Parish Council
MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 6th MARCH 2017
IN THE ANNEX OF WRAGBY TOWN HALL AT 7.15pm
MINUTES
There were 10 members of the public attending the meeting.
Present:
Councillors M Applewhite, N Bailey, K Barker, T Buxton-Rockley, J Cripps, J Thacker and the Clerk – S Wallace
Public Forum
The displays of crocus were highlighted but disappointment was also recorded that a member of public was seen walking their dog through the flowers and trampling them.
The state of the footpath on the Dove Park-side of Church Street was also highlighted although a member of the public did comment that the footpaths had recently been cleared after they had complained to the County Council’s Highways Team.
1. Chairman’s Welcome and Opening Remarks
Cllr Thacker welcomed everyone to the last Meeting of the financial year. She thanked Cllr Bailey for stepping in at almost the last moment to chair the February Meeting and, as she was absent, she also welcomed Cllr Cripps to the Parish Council.
2. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies from Parish Councillors.
Cllr Thacker noted that PCSO Nigel Wass had sent his apologies but had sent the Monthly Incident Report, which had been circulated.
3. To witness a Councillor’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office
Cllr Thacker welcomed Cllr Skerry to the Parish Council, who then read out and signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
Cllr Thacker noted that an enquiry regarding Co-Option had been received since the last Meeting and it was agreed that another recruitment exercise should be started.
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Barker, Resolved – Unanimous
ACTION – The Clerk to advertise for two Parish Councillors by Co-Option with a Closing Date of Friday 31st March 2017 so that Co-Option can take place at the April Meeting
4. To receive Councillors’ Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
There were no declarations of interest.
5. To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th February 2017
The Minutes were agreed, approved and signed by the Chairman.
Proposed – Cllr Bailey, Seconded – Cllr Buxton-Rockley, Resolved – Unanimous
6. To receive Clerk’s report on any matters outstanding from the last Meeting
Councillors noted that all of the actions arising from the last Meeting had been dealt with as follows:-
(a) Public Forum - ACTION – The Clerk to contact the Highways Team regarding the standing water in the layby opposite the Town Hall
The issue had reported to County Council’s Highways Team and the area is now clear.
(b) To consider the employment of a Handyperson – ACTION – The Clerk to have meetings with potentially interested parties and to report back to the next Meeting
This had been actioned and will be considered further as part of Agenda Item No. 11 below.
(c) To consider and, where appropriate, approve the Application Forms received relating to the Parish Council’s Grant Scheme 2017 - ACTION – The Clerk to contact the five Groups whose Application Forms have been approved and to contact the other four Groups to ask the necessary questions to enable Councillors to consider the Application Forms further at the next Meeting
This had been actioned and will be considered further as part of Agenda Item No. 13 below.
(d) To consider and comment on the Planning Application re: 4 The Oaklands (Ref: S/216/02546/16) – ACTION – The Clerk to submit the Council’s observations to the District Council’s Planning Team
This had been actioned.
(e) To consider and comment on the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan – Proposed Main Modifications and Policies Map Modification - ACTION – The Clerk to finalise his work on the documents and, if appropriate, circulate some comments for Councillors to consider and, if approved by the Chairman, submit them to Central Lincolnshire.
The Clerk reported that he had completed his review of the documents and had been unable to identify any direct or indirect references to Wragby and, in these circumstances, Councillors felt that no comments were required.
(f) To receive an update on Planning Matters since the last Meeting – (b) East Lindsey District Council’s Planning Committee will now consider the Planning Application re: Land off Victoria Street (Ref: S/216/02053/16) at its Meeting on 9th February - ACTION – The Clerk to attend the East Lindsey District Council’s Planning Committee Meeting on 9th February
The Clerk reported that, due to a puncture, he had been unable to attend the Planning Committee but had arranged for the Council’s comments to be read out at the Meeting. See Agenda Item No. 14 below.
(g) To receive an update re: the Draft Lease/Licence relating to Dove Park – ACTION – The Clerk to write to the Bowls Club to update them with the latest situation
This had been actioned and will be considered further as part of Agenda Item No. 22 below.
7. To receive the Clerk’s update on correspondence received since the last Meeting
Councillors noted that the following correspondence (including emails) had been received since the last Meeting:-
ELDC
· Planning Committee re: Land off Victoria Street
· Planning Permission granted re: 3a Horncastle Road
· Dog Fouling
· Felling (actual and proposed) of trees in Dove Park
LCC
· Standing water in Louth Road
· Outcome of Highways Restructure
· Streetlighting
Other
· Bardney Group PC re: Handyman
· Bowls Club (Update & Solicitor)
· Cemetery – Funerals & Mole Control
· Co-Option enquiry
· Dog Fouling
· Dove Park Trees
· Grants – Thank you’s & responses to queries
· Information Commissioner re: Data Protection Registration
· Internal Audit
· PCSO Nigel Wass – Monthly Incident Report
· Streetlighting
Community
8. To receive an update re: Pedestrian/Road Safety in the Village
Councillors noted that the regular contact in the County Council’s Highways Team had been transferred to the Road Safety Partnership as a result of a restructure in the Highways Team.
The Reactive Speed Sign had been taken down from Lincoln Road, the battery recharged, the data downloaded and the Sign is currently located on the Horncastle Road. The Passive Speed Signs are also back up around the Village.
The Clerk had previously circulated a sample of the reports available from the software and highlighted some of the data that was highlighted:-
· During the 29 days that the Sign was up, a total of 161,091 vehicles had passed it – an average of 5,555 per day
· The morning peak was between 8am and 9am and the afternoon peak was between 4pm and 5pm
· The average speed of vehicles during the working day was within the 30mph Speed Limit although did increase during the evening and the early hours of the morning
Councillors also noted that a meeting was to be held later in the month with PCSO Nigel Wass to determine how best the data captured from the Reactive Speed Sign could be best used.
Councillors asked whether it would be possible to obtain the number of vehicles travelling at various speeds, eg., 30-40, 40-50, etc., The Clerk said that he would make the appropriate enquiries and report back at the next Meeting.
Cllr Thacker commented that she was pleased that the Parish Council had invested the money and the time in the County Council’s Community Speed Watch as pedestrian and road safety is considered a high priority in the Village.
9. To receive an update re: The Cemetery
New Cemetery
Councillors noted Cllr Buxton-Rockley’s update that one funeral had been held since the last Meeting, that the Council’s Pest Control Contractor had been called out to deal with the appearance of mole hills in the Cemetery, that, as suggested at the last Meeting, a metal plate is to be installed on the top of the pedestrian gate and, finally, that the Schedule of Charges for 2017/18 will be on the next Meeting’s Agenda.
Old Cemetery
Councillors noted that there was nothing to report although grass cutting arrangements will be considered at Agenda Item No. 23 below.
10. To receive an update re: Dove Park
Councillors noted that, as a direct result of Storm Doris, Castle Tree Care were required to inspect and subsequently felled a tree on the west side of the Access Road – the problem with the tree had been originally reported by a local resident. The Tree Contractor also identified another tree on the east side of the Access Road that is a potential hazard.
East Lindsey District Council have been notified as the trees are in the Conservation Area and are, therefore, subject to the same conditions as those of a Tree Preservation Order.
It was agreed that the necessary paperwork should be completed and submitted to East Lindsey District Council to seek permission to fell the second tree. Cllr Thacker also asked the Clerk to pass on the Council’s appreciation for their prompt reaction to the request to inspect the tree in Dove Park.
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Buxton-Rockley, Resolved – Unanimous
ACTION – The Clerk to complete and submit the necessary paperwork to East Lindsey District Council and to write to Castle Tree Care to pass on the Council’s appreciation for their services.
11. To consider the employment of a Handyperson
As requested at the last Meeting, the Clerk reported that he had spoken to the Responsible Finance Officer at Bardney Group Parish Council and no other local Parish Councils have expressed an interest in combining forces to share this post so it looks like just BGPC and WPC – BGPC had placed an advert as they need to get someone in post as soon as possible and had notified the Clerk that some 20 people had already responded to the advert.
Following last month’s Meeting, a local resident had approached Cllr Applewhite to express his interest in the post. The Clerk explained that he had subsequently met with the resident and he would be happy to help, if required. The Clerk also reminded Councillors that, to comply with Employment Good Practice, the Parish Council would need to advertise and decide whether to seek an employee or self-employed person.
In response to a question from Cllr Buxton-Rockley, the resident (who was in attendance) said that he would prefer to be employed by the Council rather than be self-employed and submit invoices.
As a result, it was agreed that the Council would progress with the proposal to share the services of a Handyperson.
Proposed – Cllr Buxton-Rockley, Seconded – Cllr Cripps, Resolved – Unanimous
ACTION – The Clerk to notify the Responsible Finance Officer at Bardney Group Parish Council that the Council wishes to progress with the proposal to share the services of a Handyperson.
12. To receive an update re: Car Parking in Hansards Drive
Councillors noted that there was nothing to report. Cllr Thacker asked the Clerk to contact Waterloo Housing to get an update from them for the next Meeting.
ACTION – The Clerk to contact Waterloo Housing to get an update on the situation concerning Hansards Drive.
13. To consider and, where appropriate, approve the Application Forms received relating to the Parish Council’s Grant Scheme 2017 and that are outstanding from the last meeting.
Consideration was given to the four outstanding Application Forms and it was agreed that the following Grant Payments would be approved:-
(a) A Grant Payment of £250 to the Wragby & District Social Group as a contribution to the cost of one of their trips
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Applewhite, Resolved - Unanimous
(b) A Grant Payment of £150 to the Wragby & District Swimming Pool
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Buxton-Rockley, Resolved - Unanimous
(c) A Grant Payment of £400 to the 1st Wragby Scout Group
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Barker, Resolved - Unanimous
(d) A Grant Payment of £875 to Dove Park Bowls Club
Proposed – Cllr Thacker, Seconded – Cllr Buxton-Rockley, Resolved - Unanimous
ACTION – The Clerk to contact the four Groups whose Application Forms have been approved.
Housing & Planning
14. To receive an update on Planning Matters since the last Meeting
Councillors noted two issues:-
(a) Land off Victoria Street - The Clerk reported that he had been advised by East Lindsey District Council’s Head of Planning that he had read out the Parish Council’s comments in full at the Planning Meeting in February and that the Planning Application had been approved, subject to a legal agreement to provide affordable housing as well as Education and NHS contributions. A Decision Notice will not be issued until this agreement has been reached.
(b) Planning Permission has been granted re: 3a Horncastle Road – the proposed erection of a bungalow with integral single garage.
Finance
15. To receive the Clerk’s report re: the Council’s Accounts for the financial year 2016/17
Councillors noted that the Council’s Accounts for the current financial year have received a clean bill of health from the Internal Auditor – the Clerk highlighted that this was an important statement of assurance for Councillors and the local residents that the public funds are appropriately protected.