2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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 Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council held on Monday 2nd December 2019 at 7.30pm in The Parish Rooms, Hall Street, Crowland

Present - Coun B Alcock, Mr D Ancill, Mr M Atkinson, Mr J Boor. Mr R Boot, Miss C Elphee,

                 Mr P Green, Mr L Quince, Mr D Ringham, Mr G Searle, Mrs A Williams

                 & Mrs J Woodroffe

In the Chair - Mr D Kempton

Clerk - Mrs D Halliwell

163. Apologies

Apoogies were received from Mrs J Head & Coun J Astill

Mr Kempton advised members present that no Chairman’s Reports had been received this month.

He asked that any verbal reports that were given were kept short.

164. Declaration of Interests as per the LGA 2000

Land -                            Mr J Boor

Royal British Legion - Mr R Boot & Miss C Elphee

Crowland Cares           - Mr M Atkinson, Mr D Ringham & Mr G Searle

Crowland Hub             - Mr P Green

Crowland Abbey         - Mr M Atkinson

SHDC Car Scheme     - Mr D Ringham & Mr G Searle

165. To Agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meetings

Mr Boot proposed the minutes as a true and accurate record of the previous meetings.

Seconded by Mr P Green.     All agreed.

166. Assets working party

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

There was no Chairman’s report available.

Things are moving forward.

The working Party now have a planning permission, but some aspects remain undecided.

They have a S106 agreement that has been looked at by our solicitors and all appears to be OK. This is to be signed and returned.

Once everything is clarified they will have full planning permission, and potentially an unconditional sale contract.

Regarding the commercial land there has not been a report from the Estate Agents as yet but that is expected this week.

AWP are meeting with a second Estate Agent this week.

AWP hope to bring more good news to the January 2020 meeting

167. Health and Wellbeing Centre WP Report

There had not been a meeting of this Committee.

There was no Chairman’s report available.

However, there had been an Amenities meeting.

A quote had been received for the works that will be required at the Sports Hall.

Several members had visited the Sports Hall last Wednesday.

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The Business Plan is not yet quite complete.

The Draft Business Plan will be issued to all members well before the January meeting in order that

They have time to look at it prior to the meeting.      Action - Mr Ringham and Working Party

The Working Party needs to look at the proposed improvements with other members next week. However, this meeting will not include any figures as non-Parish Council members will be present.

                                                                                    Action - Mr Ringham & Working Party

168. Finance and Admin Committee Report

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

There was no Chairman’s report available.

Members were advised that finances would be tight until the end of the year, and maybe into next year.

A maturing Long-Term deposit had not been re-invested and the funds were now in the Current Account.

Need a meeting of the Finance Committee before Christmas and Coun Alcock will work with Mrs Stanojevic to organise that.                                            Action - Coun Alcock & Mrs Stanojevic

Despite further attempts, there had been no further progress on the unpaid Land Rent. This problem requires escalating and the Finance Committee are happy that this is done.

                                                                                    Action - Mr Boor and Mrs Stanojevic.

169. Farms & Gardens Committee

All members had received copies of the minutes.

Clerks need to insert “in Committee” wording into these minutes after item 4.

                                                                                                            Action - Clerks

Progress is being made with the toilet for the General Workers.

Further details for this meeting have been moved to “in Committee” due to financial confidentiality.

170. Planning Committee

All members had received copies of the minutes.

Quotes had been received from alternative Hanging Basket Suppliers, and it had been decided to choose a new supplier this year. Fewer baskets will be purchased.                  Action Planning

Mrs Woodroffe declared an interest in the next item.

The 3-tier planter has been moved already from the corner of Albion Street and West Street due to the building working happening on the corner property.

The Phone Box is owned and insured by the Parish Council, so we need to ensure H & S compliance.

The Chairman has asked for an update of details to locate the Phone Box.

The phone box group are to meet with members next Monday prior to the Planning meeting. Representative is invited.

Clerks are to contact Winston Brown at Lincs Free Press regarding the state of the carriageway at Gravel Causeway. Mr Kempton will draft something to send to the Lincs Free Press.

                                                                        Action - Mr Kempton & Clerks

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Mr Kempton thanked the Christmas Lights Committee and their helpers for making the Switch On such a great success.

171. Amenities Committee

All members had received copies of the minutes.

The minutes need correcting to say that “occasional users of the Snowden Field should pay for the electricity they use. And high demand users to provide their own generator .                                Action - Clerks

The Committee is looking at the heating in the pavilion.

Three quotes have been requested for the repairs to the footway round the pavilion, only one reply so far.

172. Safety & Security Committee

There had not been a meeting of this committee.

There was no Chairman’s Report available.

Meeting schedules for 11th December 2019.

The uneven manhole cover beside the pavilion has now been repaired.

Clerks to chase Strickland Builders about the repairs under Trinity Bridge.

                                                                                                            Action - Clerks

173. Communications Proposals

The Facebook page for the Parish Council is ready to go.

Mr Green will have a preview of it to look at in the January meeting.

                                                                                                            Action - Mr Green

174. Police Matters

Mr Ancill had produced a graph for the crime figures for Crowland and Whaplode jointly.

This showed a disturbing upward trend.

Mr Ancill will prepare a letter for the Clerks to send to the new Police Inspector at Spalding.

The letter should also invite the Inspector to attend a meeting with the Parish Council.

                                                                                                Action - Mr Ancill & Clerks

A list of dates and venues for the next few police surgeries are included in the latest Town Magazine.

175. Clerks Report on matters arising

All members had received a copy of the clerk’s report and a copy of actions still outstanding from each meeting.

·       Flowers for Mrs Coley`s 100th Birthday were taken by Mrs Stanojevic and Mr Flowers on behalf of the Parish Council.  Very well received.

·       Manhole cover repair being undertaken at the Snowden Pavilion car park today (25/11)

·       COHSSE details being updated with all caretakers asked to provide details of the products they use.

·       Plans for the Christmas Lights switch-on on Saturday 30th well underway – despite the loss of a very hardworking and valued member of the team

·       Best dressed shop windows will be judged weekend of 30th November and Houses will be judged weekend of 14th December and prizes will be issued before Christmas

·       Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day well attended, and all went well

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·       Damaged concrete under Trinity Bridge passed to Mr Walters at Lincoln, no funding so asked us to pass to local contractor to do which will be done this week

·       Trail Boat festival 2020 – Meeting to be held on Wednesday 4th December at 7pm in The Hub facilitated by the Parish Council.  All Parish Council and District Councillors invited together with local organisations.

·       Flood week cancelled due to the General Election Campaign

176. Correspondence

1.     BSE & E South, LCC - Email from LCC regarding Urban Highway Grass Cutting for 2019/20, giving details of the amount we will expect to receive. If we wish to continue with the agreement, we must notify them by 31.12.2019.   Clerks to check that this is at least as much as current year.

2.     J& M Harriss - Email regarding the Millennium Wood & Forest School for the Abbey 345 Playgroup and them having access to the woods. Jane should be qualified by mid-December and would appreciate the opportunity to talk through options for a firepit and for minimizing the risk to the children near the road, she would like to meet with the Parish Council to discuss alternatives.       Mr Ringham and Mr Boor will sort this one.                                      

3.     LCC Highways - Details of traffic restriction for carriageway repairs on the B1040 Nene Terrace, between 16/12/2019 to 20/12 2019.   Put in Notice board

4.     LCC – Schools admission policy is for consultation between 22.1.2019 and 3.1.2020.    Mrs Woodroffe will look at.

5.     Cllr Pepper – Email advising that the Parish Council should receive formal notification of the proposed experimental traffic order for A16/B1166 in due course.   Noted and nothing received as yet.

6.     Environment Agency – Email with information of their Flood Warning Service. People are encouraged to sign up to which can be done by calling 03459881188 or      online.  Use on our website, social media pages and newsletters.  Mr Green will include this information on our Facebook page

7.      Amy Bestwick. LALC – The annual awards will be run again next year at their AGM and conference and councils and councilors can self- nominate.      Pass to Chairman as the Parish Council can self nominate.

8.     Cllrs Pepper & Alcock – Copies of emails between them and SHDC concerning the Bridge Caravan Site. A Breach of Condition Notice was issued by SHDC on 5.11.2019 regarding holiday use, length of stay and keeping a register of occupants which gives a 3month time to comply with no appeal which goes to 5.2.2020. Should this not be complied with then prosecution of the site owner can ensue.   Noted and very many thanks to Cllrs Pepper & Alcock.

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9.     Community Lincs – Notification that they merged with YMCA Lincolnshire on 1.11.2019.      Noted

10.  R Theaker, Savills – Acting as agents for the Lincoln Diocesan Trust & Board of Finance LTD and notifying the Parish Council that the lease for 0.1 acres of land expires on 31.12.2019.  Does the Parish Council wish to enter into a new lease, if so revised heads of terms will be required?   Mr Atkinson already dealing with this one

11.  Donna Wass – Email thanking the chairman for his apology and advising that the second allotment is for her husband who is due to retire soon and they both hope to be self-sufficient. He does hope to supply flowers to a local shop, but these will be from private land – nothing to do with the Parish Council allotments.     Dealt with.

12.  Healthguard Ltd   -   Email thanking us for our continued business. Also advising that there has been an increase of 2.5% added to our ongoing contract.   Clerks to ask for a mole control quote from the company advertising in the Town Magazine.

13.  Headteacher SV School - Email asking for financial support towards the £10,000 shortfall they have to fund The Massed singing event that the school attended last year and was a huge success.   Clerks to respond and say we are unable to contribute to this venture due to current financial constraints, but that we wish them every success in their fund-raising efforts.

Members voiced many concerns regarding the redirection of traffic wanting to cross the carriageways at the two junctions on the A16, both the B1040 and the B1166. All members felt that this was not a satisfactory solution and were extremely unhappy that there had not been a consultation on this.

The Chairman will draft a second letter regarding these concerns, although the one he has already sent has not had any response - not even an acknowledgement that they are looking at the problem.

Clerks are to include date and meeting info on the new actions sheet.            Action - Clerks

177. Accounts for Payment

S137 payments

There were no S137 payments

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

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

The Chairman will consider where and when the Parish Council annual dinner would be.

                                                                                                            Action - Mr Kempton

Clerks to add Trail Boat Event to January Agenda.                           Action - Clerks

Meeting Closed at 10.30pm