2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council held on Monday 7th January 2019 in the Parish Rooms, Hall Street, Crowland, PE6 0EW

Present  -  Coun B Alcock, Mr D Ancill,  Mr J Boor, Mr R Boot, Mr P Cooper,

                 Mr P Green, Mr P Haselgrove, Mr D Kempton, Mr J Parnell, Mr G Quince,

                 Mr D Ringham & MrsA Williams.

Also Present  -  Mr N Burton, Mr M Jackson & Mr R Neal of Royal British Legion Crowland,

                       Coun N Pepper and Mr W Brown of Lincs Free Press.

In the Chair  -  Miss C Elphee

Clerk  -  Mrs D Halliwell

Miss Elphee thanked everyone for coming and welcomed the guests.

She wished everyone a happy new year.

204.Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Mr M Atkinson, Mrs J Head, also District Coun J Astill

and PCSO Timms.

205.Declaration of Interests

Land                            -           Mr J Boor

RBL                            -           Mr R Boot & Miss C Elphee

Allotments                  -           Mr P Cooper & Mr P Haselgrove

Crowland Cares          -           Mr D Ringham

Crowland Hub            -           Mr P Green

206.Crowland Royal British Legion - club/branch future

Mr Burton explained that the Club section of the RBL was suffering large problems. He explained that the hall is well used and if the RBL were to close it would be a huge loss to Crowland. The issue with the club is very serious and this facility is very much underused. Mr Burton went on to explain that if the club were to close then the Branch would be likely to follow. The Hall itself is extremely well used by locals for private functions and by many organisations.

The title deeds to the property are in the hands of the RBL Headquarters, as all the Trustees are now deceased.

Funds to buy this hall were raised locally for the facility to be used by the people of Crowland.

However, in the event of the hall being sold then the funds would be held in trust centrally in a

ringfenced fund for ex servicemen of Crowland suffering hardship and would never be able to be used.

This is thr only function hall of this size in Crowland.

The club rooms are rented from the Branch.

The Branch Committee have a meeting arranged with the county chairman in early February.

Crowland is a rapidly growing town and the Parish Council need to help the RBL to keep this facility up and running.

The facility has the potential for very many other uses.

90

Members agreed that a working Party needs to be formed between RBL members and Parish Council members to meet in February.

The club’s car park was sold to raise funds to keep the club open. The car park was created by the RBL purchasing the gardens of some of the houses in Chapel Street many years ago.

Membership subscriptions go to head office.

Costs incurred by the club are for staff and rent.

Last years losses were in the region of £7000.00.

Many of the other costs are shared with the Branch.

There are 3 snooker tables that are used regularly and raise a small amount.

Clerks will liaise with the Club to organise a working party.                        Action  -  Clerks

The possibility of this being an “Asset of Community Value” is being looked into.

Mr Green recommended that the RBL speak with Paul Bywater who has just attained this status for Crowland’s Community Hub.            Clerks will advise RBL of Mr Bywaters contact details.

                                                                                                                        Action  -  Clerks

Mr Burton, Mr Jackson & Mr Neal left the meeting.

207.Police Matters

There were no police present at the meeting but PCSO Timms had sent the clerk her apologies and a report.

The numbers from the report were as follows:-

ASB                            7

Theft                           7

RTC                            2

Hare Coursing            8

Criminal Damage       2

There is an action plan in place regarding the number of Hare Coursing incidents

Three of the seven ASB incidents are all related to the same issue and PC Lockton is aware of this and has an action plan in place.

208.Clerks Report

Annual Council Dinner being looked into

Upgrade of computer and laptop needs looking into

Christmas Decorations all taken down and put away

Problems with fireworks/firecrackers continue – police aware and some names given

PSCO looking into several parking issues including lorry parking in Albion Street and Postland Road

Continues to be black bags of rubbish left at side of the bins down the Lakeside – SHDC informed

Commemorative benches now up – good feedback

Amenities meeting concerning the Youth Club being held next week with interested parties

Very good response to the Sports Hall questionnaire.

Members were very frustrated by the fact that, even though names had been given regarding the fire cracker incidents, and that there had been boasts from those concerned on social media, together with CCTV coverage, that still nothing is happening.

Members were advised that the “fire crackers” were actually crow scarers.

91

209.To Agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meeting  &

       Reports on matters outstanding of the previous meeting not on this agenda

Mr Kempton had understood that we would go ahead and replace the office PC.

He and Mr Green will organise some specifications and quotes.

                                                                                                Action  -  Mr Kempton & Mr Green.

Page 73           Item 186  -  Mr Boor has agreed to arrange for the bark to be obtained from Decoy Farm.

Page 73           Item 186  -  It has been agreed that the drop down posts idea will be changed to using 2 posts with a chain and padlock.

Checks are happening to see if there is a gravity feed in the existing drainage that can be used for new drains for a toilet being put in the Implement shed.

There is also the possibility of using the new drains that are going to happen on the site of the development of the old allotment site.

Members noticed that there were two item missing from the Agenda that they had requested to be included from Decembers meeting.

These were:-

Raising the profile of the Parish Council &

Parking issues

Clerks must ensure that these two items are included on the February Agenda.

                                                                                                                        Action  -  Clerks 

Page 75  -  Mr Roberts retirement evening.  Mrs Stanojevic is organising this.

                                                                                                            Action  -  Mrs Stanojevic

The minutes were proposed as a true and accurate record of the meeting by Mr Boor.

Seconded by Mr Boot.  All agreed.

210.Assets working party

The working Party had a frantic week running up to Christmas.

All the planning details had been agreed and the applications should now have been submitted.

Need to discuss the building programme.

The Christmas break had caused a lull, but we should now be back to normal.

Miss Elphee again thanked the AWP for all their continued efforts with this very demanding project.

211.Finance Committee

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

212.Farms & Gardens Committee Recommendation

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

Next meeting 21st January 2019.

Three quotes had been received for shutter doors that clerks will circulate to all members.

                                                                                                                        Action  -  Clerks

Machinery services all booked.

F & G Committee is working with AWP to organise an allotment open day.

Allotment tenants had expressed concerns about the welfare of the chickens kept on one of the allotments.

An open day is to be arranged for Spring 2019.                     Action  -  F & G Committee

92

213.Planning Committee Recommendations

Council received the minutes of the previous meeting.

Decoy Farm is mentioned twice in these minutes and it should actually say “Already refused at the bottom of page 1.  Clerks to correct.                                                                        Action  -  Clerks

Members of the planning committee had met to look at possible sites for car parking.

The committee are fully confident that there is a big parking issue in Crowland Town Centre that will only get worse as more houses are built.

They feel the best action is to enforce a 2-3 hour waiting limit in North Street and the issuing of residents permits, this is to be deferredwhilst the following is investigated

The committee have looked at public land near the town centre and had focused on the land around Trinity Court that is owned by SHDC.

They had considered a couple of schemes, the first being, if the layby in Albion Street was deepened back as far as the little wall and cars parked longways in spaces, then this would create a further 9 or 10 parking spaces.

The second idea was, if the area was increased back to the tree line, and access used from the existing car park behind the houses in West Street, then this would provide a further 15 spaces.

This could be a longer stay car park and would help with the current long term parking in North Street.

SHDC is already aware of the Parish Councils thoughts and is looking into it.

Clerks to send a letter to SHDC, and copy in the Portfolio Holder, outlining the Parish Councils thoughts. Mr Kempton will draft a letter/e-mail for Clerks.

                                                                                                Action  -  Mr Kempton & Clerks

Mr Green proposed the Planning Committees ideas regarding parking were actioned.  Seconded by Mr Cooper.    All agreed.    

214.Amenities Committee Recommendations

Council received the minutes of the previous meeting.

Mr Ringham had spoken with the Zip Wire manufacturer and an order had been placed that is to take an expected 7 weeks. He has also obtained prices for other adventure playground equipment.

Justin Ward from LCC had been in touch with Mr Ringham to assure him that the remaining fund for the sports hall, would be rolled over for future use.

Mr Ringham had a meeting with an Architectural Technologist regarding alterations that he would like to propose for the Sports Hall and sketches are to be prepared.

The Park Run had been discussed at length and Mr Ringham had spoken with the organisers regarding the management of the event as a joint agreement. And that it was to be done on a trial basis and that any parking issues were to be addressed. The organisers were more than happy to go along with all of this, and to take responsibility for cancelling the event in inclement weather conditions. They also understood that there would be times when the whole field is hired out and they would be unable to use it for the run.

Mr Ringham had found out that Government had been speaking with local authorities who do Park Runs and had suggested that there should be no charges for these runs.

Our General Workers had looked at the area the run would use and could see no issues.

They do use marshals to keep runners on an agreed course and the Parish Council has seen their Insurance documents.

Mr Ringham proposed that we move the Park Run Idea forward.   Seconded by Mr Parnell. All agreed with one abstention  (Mr Quince).

93

215.Report from the  Health & Safety Committee

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

However there had been 2 reports of near misses.

Mr Elford had to clean up bodily fluids from the bus shelter in West Street.

Mr Elford had been clearing the black bags of household waste that are currently being left beside the Litter bins at the Lake Side and bleach had escaped from one of the bags spilling onto his Ballistic trousers and removing all the colour, but fortunately not going through to the skin. The Clerks had already reported this waste issue to SHDC, together with the fact that raw sewage is being diverted into the dykes, but nothing had been done, so they have reported it again and copied in Environmental Health Department. But has not yet had a reply.

Mr Quince would like the Clerks to also advise the Environmental Agency of these problems too.

                                                                                                                        Action  -  Clerks

216.Christmas Shops/Window judging

Members were very disappointed to learn that the winners had not yet been informed.

Miss Elphee explained that not all the houses had been decorated on the 1st December when the Switch On happened, and that the hop windows had not yet been judged on the 1st December.

Members would like to see winners notified earlier in future years so they can display their certificates while their properties are decorated.

WINNERS

1ST   -   PASSIFLORA

2ND  -  CROWLAND CANCER SHOP

3RD  -  DANIEL WRIGHT HAIR DESIGN

HIGHLY COMMENDED

CROWLAND CRANES  -  FOR THE STAR ON THE CRANE

BEST DRESSED CHRISTMAS HOUSES COMPETITION

WINNERS

1st  - 35 Postland Road

2nd —  39 Millfield Gardens

3rd  -  17 Postland Road

HIGHLY COMMENDED

8 Ambury Gardens

5 Harvester Way

50 Peterborough Road

19 Beccelm Drive

36 Postland Road

8 Burghley Close

18 Burghley Close

Waybeth House, Reform Street

94

217.Parish Council Annual Dinner

Mrs Stanojevic has been struggling to get replies from local places.

Members ask that we try again as it had been suggested by members that local was preferable.

Mrs Halliwell will first check with Mrs Stanojevic where we have tried and then ring again trying:-

George & Angel

Abbey Hotel

The Crown

Italian

The Old Paper Shop

Copper Kettle

                                                                                                                        Action  -  Clerks

218.Wildflower Meadow

It had been suggested that we try to establish a wildflower meadow o the piece of land between the new allotments and the Bypass.

There are organisations that can help advise how to establish these.

These could include the Wildlife Trust, Vine House Farm at Deeping St Nicholas and others.

Coun Alcock will advise clerks who to contact.

                                                                                                Action  -  Coun Alcock & Clerks

219.LALC Courses 2019

All members have been issued with a list of courses that are available in 2019.

If members wish to attend any of these please advise the clerks.

                                                                                                            Action  -  All Members

220.Correspondence

University Academy Holbeach  - Letter from Mr. Breckon, Lincs Education Trust and

 Mr Baragwanath,  School Principal regarding the proposal to expand the capacity at University Academy,  Holbeach in conjunction with the Local Authority, along with. A consultation evening will be held at the academy on 10th January 2019 at 6.00pm. The feedback form to be returned the Academy by 5.00pm on 21st January 2019.   Noted

Circus Tyanna  - Email from Todd Christian asking to hold a circus  on the Snowden Fields in May 2019.  Clerks to say there is already a circus in Crowland in March this Year.

Simon Hare -  Email requesting use of the Snowden again this year for the Spalding Cycling Club Grass Track Meeting 2019. The planned date is Saturday 31st August 2019 and they are keen to use the Snowden again following last year’s great response.  Clerks to respond and say happy for this to go ahead.

Cambs Community Foundation - Email advising that there are grants available for charitable projects that enhance or develop a thriving community for the benefit of the residents of a Larkfleet Homes development and other local residents. Grants  in the range of £250 to £5000. Applications are invited by constituted groups (not individuals) delivering charitable projects with public benefit within a 10 mile radius of any Larkfleet Homes or Allison Homes development. The deadline for applications is Friday 1st February at 5pm.  Pass to Crowland Cares & Crowland Community Hub.

Kevin Whincup - Copies of emails between Coun Pepper and Mr Whincup regarding Obstructive parking in South Street Crowland. The Parish Council had sent details to our

95

PCSO which Mr Whincup very much appreciated but adds that still nothing has been done regarding this problem.    Noted.

Utility Aid  -  Details of  how Utility Aid can help to manage the Utility needs of Town & Parish Councils. They work closely with the Society of Local Council Clerks to drive down the cost of energy bills as their broker. They stress that their service is without cost or obligation. They help over 2000 charities & not for profits. Their services include Free Energy Audit & Price Comparison, Commercial energy contracts, wholesale energy contracts, collective purchasing, Domestic Energy Void Management Service, Smart Meters, Invoice validation and Onsite Audit to include advice on energy efficiency measures and renewable options. All they would need is a recent bill for each meter or a current list of supply addresses and meter details plus the LOA signed and dated on our headed paper. Noted

Tulip Events - Reminder to Parish Council to sign up volunteers to be trained for the Community Speed Watch initiative.    Noted

Crowland Community Hub – Email advising that LCC are extending their revenue Grant for a further year and ask that the Parish Council put their funding request on hold.   Noted and include on future agenda.  

SHDC - Emails received to and from SHDC ASB Officer regarding the ASB .  Requesting an Impact Statement from the Parish Council,

 Item to be taken “In Committee”

221Accounts for Payment

For accounts, see appendix.

(ii) S137 payments

There were no S137 payments

Once item 174 figures have been altered to show correctly,

Mr Boor proposed the accounts for payment.  Seconded by Mr Ringham.   All agreed

222.Matters to be considered for inclusion on a future Council Agenda

Clerks to advise SHDC Housing Department that cars are being driven across the Green on Millfield Gardens.                                                                                                           Action  - Clerks

Clerks to include Crowland Diesels, Carrington Drove on next Agenda.           Action  -  Clerks

Clerks to include West Street bus shelter on next Agenda.                           Action  -  Clerks

Clerks to report trees overhanging the roadway from the old school site on Reform Street to LCC Highways.                                                                                                       Action  -  Clerks

Meeting Closed at 10.05pm

97

In Committee - The Public and Press were excluded from the meeting in accordance with the provision of section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960, the items to be discussed being of a confidential nature.

Mr Haselgrove raised concerns, that contrary to Standing Orders, an item not appearing on the agenda was discussed at last months meeting, and that non members were present for that discussion, which was actually an “in committee” item.

He asked that it was noted that he was one of the three who abstained from the vote following that discussion.

223.HR Report

There was nothing to report.

224.Quotations – Implement Shed Doors

This item has been moved to Farms and Gardens Committee.

225.Quotations – Pavilion Flooring

Amenities Committee would like to recommend to Full Council that they use Stanground Carpets. At a cost of £1775.50 + £213.50 + £VAT.

Proposed by Mr Ringham.  Seconded by Mr Ancill.  All agreed.

Mr Ringham will get this organised.                                                              Action  -  Mr Ringham

Adventure Playground

Mr Ringham and the Clerks will organise a special meeting to cover just this issue. As there are no Mondays available it will be held on a Tuesday.

Page 76 .   Item 199.

Clerks to remove spaces from this item as far as Proposer & Seconder in order that the minute is clearer.                                                                                                                  Action  -  Clerks

Last Paragraph of first item in committee on page 76.

Mr Kempton will re write this last paragraph from these minutes as it reads incorrectly and will pass to clerks to amend.                                                                Action  -  Mr Kempton & Clerks

Letter 9 from Correspondence

Mr Ringham read out the series of e-mails between The Clerk, The Police and the ASBO officer at SHDC.

Members all agreed that the police and the ASBO Officer have sufficient information already to gain a prosecution against this individual without the Parish Council giving an Impact Statement.

Mr Ringham and Mrs Stanojevic will deal with this very sensitive matter.

Mr Ringham proposed that he acts on this matter with Mrs Stanojevic.  Seconded by Mr Parnell.  All agreed.

Meeting closed at 10.05pm