2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Crowland Parish Council held on Monday 13th May 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 Cooper, Miss C Elphee, Mr P Green, Mr D Kempton, Mr D Ringham &

Mrs A Williams.

Also Present - Coun N Pepper

Clerk - Mrs B Stanojevic

As outgoing chairman Miss Elphee thanked members and staff for their help and support during a challenging year.

1. Election of Chairman

Mr Kempton was proposed as Chairman by Coun Alcock, seconded by

Mr Atkinson. All agreed. No other nominations received, Mr Kempton agreed to

accept the position and was duly elected.

Thanks to Miss Elphee from the council for all her efforts as chairman.

The outgoing members of the council have also been sent a letter of thanks for

their service to the Parish Council

2. Election of Vice-Chairman

Mr Ancill was proposed as Vice-Chairman by Coun Alcock, seconded by Mr Boot.

All agreed.  No other nominations received, Mr Ancill agreed to accept the

     position and was duly elected.

3. Apologies for Absence

Mr W Brown, Lincs Free Press

4. Declaration of Interests – as per the LGA 2000

Allotments – Mr Cooper

British Legion –Mr Boot, Miss Elphee.

Crowland Abbey – Mr Atkinson

Crowland Cares – Mr Ringham

Land – Mr Boor

Library Hub – Mr Green

5. Police Matters

Letter received from the Inspector saying that neither an officer or PCSO will

attend Parish Council meetings and that crime stats will no longer be provided.

Although members understood why were still disappointed with this decision. 

Still some worrying incidents occurring - figure in Reform Street this afternoon.

Action Clerks – to obtain the crime figure for Crowland from the force

website for the monthly council meetings.

Action Clerks - To ask for the PCSO to visit the Parish Office regularly (even

when the office is closed to the public) and to widely publish their surgeries and give ample notice of them. Could the PCSO attend our meeting quarterly, for 15 minutes?

To invite the Chief Constable to Crowland.

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6. Election of Committees

See attached list

7. Election of Chairman of Committees

    Finance – Coun Alcock

    Farms & Gardens – Mr Boor

    Planning – Miss Elphee

    Amenities – Mr Ringham

8. Proposal to confirm the structure and membership of the Assets Working Party

     Structure to remain, Mr Haselgrove has now left the council and left this committee and Mr Cooper and Mr Green will now join it.

9. Election of Churchyard Committee Representatives

    Mr Ancill, Miss Elphee and Mrs Williams.

10. Election of Voluntary Car Scheme Representative

      Mr Ringham

11. To agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meeting &

       Reports on matters outstanding not on this agenda

       Item 293 should read 2 months, not 2 weeks.

       The Implement Shed doors should be fully open or fully closed

       Action – Clerks to remind the workers of this

       Manure has been ordered for the allotment site.

       The Minutes were agreed and signed as a true record.

12. Report of the Open Meeting

      The minutes were circulated  to members and proposed as a true record by

       Mr Green, seconded by Mr Atkinson.  All agreed.

       Cycle hoops on order.

       Mr Ringham has all the information on the speed indicator signs and will liaise

       with Mr Green to download the data.

       The CCTV footage of the defibrillator vandalism has proved inconclusive.

       Mr Boor is liaising with Mr Howe re the Trail Boat Festival.

       Action Clerks – to ask Nikita Hutz about funding she mentioned at the

       meeting.

13. Parish Council Vacancies

      Several applicants have now come forward expressing a wish to join the Parish

      Council. members decided to consider the options and the process involved to 

      elect ot co-opt members immediately after an election.

      Action Clerks – To inform applicants of this, find out further information

       and place this item on the July agenda

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14. Allotment Open Day

      Mr Boor will oragnise the car parking and obtain ribbon and scissors for the

      opening.  This will be at 11.30am.

           Hi Viz jackets to be worn.  The workers will be showing the tractor and the

          cutting equipment in front of the allotment building.

         There are several unkempt allotments and the tenants have been sent 14-day

          notices.

15. Assets Working Party – Update

           Toilets/kitchen now operational – thanks to Mr Kempton.

       6 lockers fitted, 4 have been allocated.  Cages will be ordered once numbers

       known.

       Planning is slowly going through on the old allotment site and contracts being

       looked at by both sets of solicitors. Next step will be to gather the information

       for the letting agent.

16. Finance Committee

       Internal Auditor has made his year-end visit and the details will be at the next

       full council meeting for approval.

       Problems with signatories last month which has been checked out.

       Looking into on-line banking, especially for staff wages.  Many wont deal

       with Parish Councils – Unity Bank do. Action Clerks

       Non land rent payment being dealt with in conjunction with our Land Agent.

       Payment for hanging baskets for 2020 to be looked at by the Planning

       Committee. Action Clerks – Place on a future Planning Agenda

17. Farms & Gardens Committee

      Mr Boor thanked the committee, especially Mr Boot, for their help during the

      year. All agreed that the old allotment site should be sprayed again.

      Drainage project is ongoing.

18. Planning Committee

      Council received the minutes of the previous meeting

      Parish Room signage – to be above the front door and low key. In green and

      gold.

     West Street Bus Shelter – the committee are looking at demolishing the current shelter and replacing with a suitable shelter. several seen that are called vandal proof that cannot be easily broken or written on and are see through.

     We are aware it is in a Conservation Area.

     Cost believed to be under £2,000.  To be with planning to obtain quotes.

     No progress on Town centre parking.

     SHDC are looking at electric charging points for cars – adjacent to the public toilets.  Is the site owned by us or them? Actions Members To look at in Annual Walkabout

     Seat has been installed at the Adventure Playground and another in from of the allotment shed.  Another bench needed at the Adventure Playground but further out.

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 War Memorial – quotes being obtained, not in this year’s budget but on next

 week’s planning agenda.

19. Amenities Committee

     Council received the minutes of the previous meeting

 Play equipment checked daily, thorough weekly check with a tick sheet.

Notices being made for the Adventure Playground and the Skate park and others

 on the Snowden updated.

Work has commenced on the skate park and all the necessary paperwork has been

received. The area has been fenced off.

There will shortly be a meeting of the Working Party for the Health & Wellbeing

Centre (Sports hall).  Brightness of lights being checked.

Park Run – numbers entering growing.

20. Report of the Health & Safety Committee

  No meeting.  Action Clerks - Previous minutes to be sent to Mr Ancill

21. A16/Highways Matters

Pot holes to be reported to the office as they are seen.

This item to be on the council’s agenda once a quarter.

Although the average speed cameras have reduced accidents on the A16 we will

continue to lobby for the junctions issue to be addressed and for a solution to the

problems at the Peterborough Road/James Road junction.

Action Clerks – Highways to go on Julys agenda

22) Correspondence

      Crowland Angling Club - Letter with £50 donation to use as the Parish Council

      wishes. This will be used for a special Young Achievers Award – with a trophy.

      showing sponsored by the Crowland Angling Club.

      Lincs Police - Letter from Inspector Boxall regarding Police Officers attending

      meetings. He explains that it has been a long-established arrangement that there is

      a Police presence at a meeting, but police numbers have fallen which leaves the

      decision of how best to deploy teams. He has therefore agreed that there will no

      longer be regular attendance at PC Meetings for several reasons. He must

      prioritise policing our streets and solving problems that are causing residents most

      harm over regular attendance at meetings. They can provide updates by email and

      they need to engage with as much of the community as possible and look to

      increase engagement events to help reach those who might not attend meetings.

      They want to utilise technology to communicate with residents. They wish to

      continue working with Parish Councils and the PCSO will producing a newsletter

      advising of engagement events, priorities for the area and work that has taken

      place within the Parish. They will no longer be producing crime stats - these can

      be viewed on www.police.uk. They encourage us to keep in touch with our PCSO

      as we are key to passing on residents’ concerns. See item 5.

      Second letter received concerning the 101-reporting number. Lincs police are

      responsible for all parts of the Crowland Parish and residents should always ask

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      for Lincolnshire Police. The options to report online or by phone are given at the

      start of the call. Once a call is put through to an operator in the control room the

      call is not then diverted to report online. The call centre system is being replaced.

      Town Society - Email from Stephen Perry asking if the Parish Council would

      consider providing space for a storage cabinet in the Parish Room for the archives

      of the Town Society if they purchased a suitable cabinet. Agreed in

      principle. Action clerks - to check the size required and to point out it is at

      their own risk

      LCC - Temporary road closure in South Street, from Trinity Bridge to Reform

      Street, for essential maintenance works. Between 3rd & 7th June 2019. Noted.

      Parking Services - Email in response to our request for a parking warden to visit.

      It states that East Street and Reform Street have restrictions in place, and they

      could enforce there. They advise that pavement parking and obstruction are a

      matter for the police. The Zig Zags outside of the school are advisory only and

      they are unable to enforce. They will factor in a patrol asap. Noted.

      Heather Beeken – Email saying how lovely and well-kept the Snowden Field is.  

     She requests additional black rubbish bins near the new play equipment and the

      copse. Could the Parish Council consider purchasing green recycling bins for the

     Snowden and the Town Centre?  Could the Parish Council consider wildflower

      planting ie bluebells amongst the copse near the picnic benches and perhaps a

      swathe alongside trees in the bottom field. She would be willing to help with

     fundraising.

     The bluebells at the Implement Shed to be lifted and replanted at the Pavilion.

     Action Clerks – to pass on the compliment re the Snowden to the workers.

     To reply thanking Ms Beeken for her email, perhaps she could assist the

     Wildlife Group.

      E Reynolds – Copy of email sent to Coun Pepper The writer is concerned that with

      all the development in the Crease Drove area the traffic numbers and speed will

      only increase. Whilst the current road closure is in place could bollards be erected

      to prevent traffic passing through making the road safer for everyone.

     Coun Pepper is looking into.

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23. Accounts for Payment

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A contribution from the appropriate LIVES Fund will be requested for the Defib Box.

Mr Ringham proposed the above accounts for Payment.  Seconded by Coun Alcock.

All agreed.

24. Matters to be Considered for inclusion on a future agenda

Action - Mr Ringham will liaise with Mr Onygerth re the Re-enactment weekend booked for September.

Concerns with the delays in obtaining prescriptions – will be monitored by members.

GDPR to be reviewed