2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council held on Monday 1st April 2019 in the Parish Rooms, Hall Street, Crowland, PE6 0EW

Present: Coun B Alcock, Mr D Ancill, Mr M Atkinson, Mr J Boor, Mr R Boot, Mr P Green,

Mr P Haselgrove, Mr D Kempton, Mr J Parnell, Mr G Quince, Mr D Ringham and Mrs A Williams.

Also Present:Coun J Astill, Mr W Brown, Lincs Free Press, Mr & Mrs C Howes - Trail Boats 2020.

In the Chair:Miss C Elphee

Clerk:Mrs B Stanojevic

285) Apologies for Absence

Mr P Cooper, Mrs J Head, and PCSO Timms.

286) Declaration of Interests as per the LGA 2000

Crowland Abbey & Crowland Cares – Mr Atkinson

Land – Mr Boor

British Legion – Mr Boot & Miss Elphee

The Hub – Mr Green

Crowland Cares – Mr Quince & Mr Ringham

Letter 2 from Correspondence was bought forward with the agreement of members so that it could be discussed with Mr & Mrs Howes present.

They brought the Trail Boat to Crowland last September and met with members and would like to bring a Trail Boat Festival to Crowland next year in association with the Parish Council.  The idea is to raise awareness of the waterways and to get people to enjoy them. Spalding Boating Club have been invited. Local organisations to be included. The ideal location is Fen Bridge - the causeway could be opened as well. Anticipated that around 12 boats will be there. Decision to be made on a date – avoiding May & August Bank holidays as depletes resources, better school term time or school holidays?  May be better early September when schools returns but the weather still usually nice.  

Areas to be looked at - the availability of fresh water at the event is a concern but possible to have a tanker from Anglian Water, insurance, Health & Safety.

The Parish Council have an Open Meeting for residents on 15th April and public interest could be generated then. Mr & Mrs Howes will attend.

287) Police Matters

Crime Report for March - 7 ASB, 2 Criminal Damage, 1 Theft, 4 Hare coursing,

Defib Box – CCTV being viewed and blood swabs taken for analysis.

Incident of brick thrown through a window in Reform Street and a further incident of two bricks thrown through a window in Broadway reported by members.

Begging continues outside the 2 supermarkets despite being reported.

Concern from members that no feedback is being received.

Been reported in the press that crime figures are improving but this is assisted by The Parish Council continually whining about situations to the police and not receiving any credit for their input!

The Chief Constable is to be invited to Crowland.

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288) Clerks Report

• New doors on implement shed
• Interior of Pavilion painted
• Zip wire opening – Wednesday 24th April – Marc Jones, Police & Crime Commissioner, Coun Pepper, Press and Press photographers invited.
• SHDC and LCC contacted to keep us informed about any planned works regarding minerals and waste
• Further update letter sent to all allotment holders also advising them of the planned open day on 18th May. Andy Boynton from Springfield’s to open.  Mr Green will do a flyer for the May magazine – assisted by Miss Elphee and Mr Boor. Notices on the day – please respect the gardens, keep to the pathways.  All parking on the day to be on the 6acre.
• 3 Quotes now received for new heating system for Parish Rooms
• Clerks need details of any items that you would like included on the Open Meeting Agenda – so far - Parking, AWP update, Positive Futures and Police Representatives attending.
• Details of highways fault reporting procedure sent for inclusion in town mag and put in notice boards.
• Order placed for cycle hoops for town centre.
• Young Achievers Nominations sent to all schools/organisations in the area.  Closing date 31st May.  Presentation evening 4th July at South View School Hall.
• The Parish Room has been provisionally booked on 23rd May for the European Elections.

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289) To Agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meeting &

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

         Item 255 should read – extraction

         Item 258 – flooding is on the 8 acres in front of Mr Tansley’s shed.

         The minutes proposed as a true record by Mr Ancill, seconded by Mr Ringham.  All agreed.

289) Assets working party – Update

         Mr Kempton is fitting the toilet and kitchenette in the building and hopes to complete by the

          Open Day so the whole site can then be handed over to the Farms & Gardens Committee.

         The planning application for the old site is slowly going through.

290) Finance Committee

        Council to receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25th March 2019.

        The computer has now been replaced

        The following recommendations were proposed by Mr Parnell, seconded by Mr Cooper.

         All agreed.

        The financial position is satisfactory, the Hodge investment has now been taken out and the

        Chairman’s expenses for 2017/18 can now been paid.

        The following recommendations were proposed by Mr Ancill, seconded by Mr Atkinson.

        All agreed.

        Staff Wages – With reference to the HR Committee

        To be increased from 1st April 2019.

        Clerk’s wages to be increased as per the national guidelines

        Caretaker’s wages – Retainers stays the same. The booking fee to equate the National Minimum

        Wage (£8.21) as at 1.4.2019.

        General Workers pay to increase by 2%.

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        Funding request received, but no statements/accounts. The request was carefully considered

        but does not fit the Parish Councils criteria as it is of a commercial orientation, request refused.

        Accounts for payment to 25th March were approved for payment.

291) Farms & Gardens Committee

         Council to receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18th March 2019.

         All works completed apart from hot water and toilet for the Implement Shed which is being

         looked into.

         Soil filled in onto football pitch as requested.

         Inspection of the new allotment site by this committee to take place on Saturday 6th April at

        10am. Stakes to be realigned and access from Thorney Road to be blocked off.

292) Planning Committee

        Council to receive the minutes of the previous meeting

         3 members of the public attended the meeting concerned with Town Centre parking.

         One quote received re the War Memorial. Need two more but has to be from qualified

         contractors. To look online.

         The Local Plan has now been adopted and published and it shows that Crease Drove is not a

         residential development area.

         The footpath at 61 & 61A Broadway is to have the spec agreed by the architect/developer and

         by   LCC – a long delay for the planning condition to be enforced.

293) Amenities Committee – Update

         No meeting – next meeting 29th April.

         The skate park works to commence in 4/5 weeks, and it anticipated that the work will take 2

          months. Details will be checked with planning. 

          Zip wires in and working, further equipment being installed. 

          Park Run Trial 20th April then should commence weekly the following Saturday.

          Mrs Williams will liaise for the Parish Council.

          The spec for the small play area to be discussed with the developer.

          The path to the skate park and the MUGA is under discussion.

294) Report from the Health & Safety Committee

         No meeting. A member of the public has reported hurting themselves on our property.

         Being dealt with by our insurers.

         The roller shutter doors at the Implement Shed should be fully open or fully closed.

295) SHDC Voluntary Car Scheme

        Mr Ringham, as the Parish councillor representative, gave a report on the scheme and each

        member received a summary paper. The Parish Council contributes financially to the scheme,

        approximately £1400 pa and it operates within the South Holland area, Crowland Cares are the

        co-ordinators for Crowland. 

        Crowland has 15 voluntary drivers and at least 3 telephone calls are made for each trip.

        3,400 trips are made per year.

        The Crowland Lions bus is being assisted by Crowland Cares drivers but more drivers for each

        is required

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296) Parish Council Elections 2019

  The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 3rd at 4pm. The list of those standing will be

          published on Thursday 4th April.

297) Correspondence

  1. Pinders Circus – Request to visit Crowland again from 9th to 11th March 2020.                                     Agreed, deposit required                                                                                                                            2.  David Pullen, Inland Waterways Association – Request to meet with to discuss the proposed           Crowland Trail Boat Event in 2020.  See after item 286.

3. Planning Officer LCC – Email confirming that there is an identified reserve of sand and gravel with the Parish of Crowland and the Parish Council will be notified should any planning application be made. Noted.                                                                                                                                           4. Ashwood Homes – Response to our email, they do envisage that Crease Drove will be closed for the 6monht period as they have to reconstruct and widen the road which includes drainage works and new main services under the new footpath.  Should the work be completed early then the road will be reopened. Noted.                                                                                                                                     5. LCC – Road restrictions for surface dressing works in Crowland being undertaken between 7th May and 6th September 2019.Broadway from West Bank to Albion Street, Cloot Drove – Postland Road to speed limit signs. Queens Bank – Spalding Road to East side of A16 flyover. Snowden Close South street/Thorney Road – West Street to James Road. West Bank – Gravel Causeway to Broadway. Pot hole by Trinity Bridge to be reported again.                                                                  6. Mr M Stimpson - Email from Mr Stimpson asking when there will be a further supply of manure for allotment holders. Request refused.                                                                                                  7. Mrs A Caprio - Email advising us that they intend to erect a polytunnel on their allotment and that it of the recommended size of 2m x 2.5m. They also ask about the planned open day and ask for assurance that this will be carefully monitored and that no damage will occur to crops now growing. They are unable to be there themselves as they will be away.                                                                8. LALC - Details of a Councilor and Clerk networking day with 6 workshops. This in on Thursday 4 July 2019 between 9.30am and 4.30pm (refreshments and lunch provided). It is being held at The Bentley Hotel, South Hykekam, Lincoln, LN6 9NH. Application form enclosed and the cost per delegate is £15.00. Noted.                                                                                                                       9. Peterborough CC - Update on Cambs CC and Peterborough CC Minerals and Waste Local Plan. This will cover the period until 2036. It will consider the provision needed to ensure that there is a continuity of mineral to support planned growth. The original consultation period has now been extended by 2 weeks to 11.59pm on 9 May 2019. Noted.                                                                    10. Seafarers UK – Letter asking us to “Fly the Red Ensign” for Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September 2019. Will ask if they have an Ensign for us otherwise, we will fly the Union Jack.

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298) (i) Accounts for Payment

              Miss Elphee declared an interest.

             The following accounts were proposed for payment by Mr Boot, seconded by Mr Ringham. 

             All agreed.

          (ii) S137 payments – None

299) Matters to be considered for inclusion on a future Council Agenda

The roadside on the B1166 towards Postland Station to be reported as dangerous.

Meeting Closed at 9.20pm