2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council held on Monday

 6th January 2020 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 G Searle, Mrs A Williams & Mrs J Woodroffe

                 Coun N Pepper

In the Chair - Mr D Kempton

Clerk - Mrs B Stanojevic

The Chairman wished everyone a Happy New Year

189) Apologies for Absence

Mrs J Head, Mr L Quince, Mr D Ringham and Coun J Astill

190) Declaration of Interests as per the LGA 2000

Land and Item 205, voucher 202 – Mr Boor

Royal British Legion – Mr Boot & Miss Elphee

Crowland Cares – Mr Atkinson and Mr Searle.

Crowland Abbey – Mr Atkinson

SHDC Car Scheme – Mr Searle

191) To agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meetings

Page 64 - Amenities should read - users of the field to be charged for electricity and high demand users to provide their own generators.

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

192) Assets working party

The residential development project is moving forward with further decisions on Section 73 and other conditions expected on the 10th & 15th January. The contract can then be confirmed and a legal time scale requested. No income expected in this financial year.

The commercial project has had 3 responses and the Assets Working Party are to meet to look at and then report to the February meeting.

193) Fitness and Wellbeing Centre Report – Chairman’s Report

A meeting was held on 19th December with members of the Working Party.

The Draft Business Plan, which has been circulated to members, was discussed.

In addition, an initial quotation has been received for gym equipment and the building renovation.   It was decided, as the building work quote came out higher than anticipated, to approach two other companies as we do now have a more detailed specification.  This is being processed.

Preparation is also being made for the application to form a CIO and details will be available for the February full council meeting.

A further meeting for the Working Party is set for 16th January.

194) Finance and Admin Committee

Meeting held17th December.

Budget discussed in detail – costs increasing, reserves utilised and as said by the AWP no income expected from the project in this financial year. Payments from LCC for grass cutting decreased

Precept for 2020/2021 of £105,000 proposed by Miss Elphee, seconded by Mr Boot.  All agreed

This means an increase of 25 p per week for each Band D property.

Article for the next magazine to explain what the increase is and why.  Action – Chairman

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The ordering procedure to be tightened up with the chair of committee and clerk to sign order/invoice.

Office Admin – Minutes/financial records to be kept but all other items to only be kept for 2 years.

Debt collection for land rent to be actioned. Action RFO

Expenditure coding in accounts being worked on and better reports to be produced that enables members to better manage expenditure. Action RFO

195) Farms & Gardens Committee

Meeting held on 16th December.

Toilet at Implement Shed – waiting for quote for trench

Gaitor working well.

Mr Atkinson working with Longstaffs on the “Stopping Off” of Yellow Stocking – LCC to pay any costs. There is fly tipping the other side which is privately owned – to investigate who owns that side and the road. The Right of Way should be in our deeds, but access can be obtained to our land another route. Action Members to look at.

Compound needs tidying up.

196) Planning Committee

Meeting held on 9th December.

Members advised that S106 funding from applications must be made at a very early stage.

Nothing further heard on the electric car charging point- Action Miss Elphee/Clerks

Fly tipping at Lakeside continues, SHDC aware.

Dog poo bin damaged in Low Road – removed for repair.

Location of bins being looked at – re-site rather than add additional bins.

Miss Elphee will liaise with Mr Ringham and the Planning Committee to propose a policy on bins.

Action – Planning Committee

197) Amenities Committee –To receive the Chairman’s Report

Next meeting is 20th January.

Additional quotations being sought for work in and around the Pavilion and the Skate Park.

Meeting held with caretakers re COSH requirements and further cleaning equipment.

Arrangements in hand to monitor electricity usage in the Pavilion

198) Safety & Security Committee

Brief meeting held on 11th December which was not quorate.  Mr Ancill to arrange another meeting in early February. Action – Mr Ancill

Mr Searle has been updating the files and the Risk Assessments.

Paving around the pavilion uneven – Mr Ringham has asked for a quote for this work.

4 Park Runs were held close together recently in the wet conditions.  They have amended their route.

Mr Boor ran last week, and Mrs Williams marshalled.

Football match called off by our Groundsmen last weekend because of the wet pitch.

Action – Culverts to be checked near James Road and at the Kissing Ground

Action - Footbridges on Snowden to be checked

199) Communications Proposals – update

Nothing to report – next month

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200) Trail Boat Event – meeting report

Public meeting held to which local groups invited.  Representative from Inland Waterways attended and very enthusiastic but want the community to lead such an event.

Action Clerk – to contact member of the community who may be able to help

201) Highways Matters

Members held a fact-finding meeting with Coun Pepper concerning the proposals for the partial closure of the A16/B1166 and A16/B1040. The public have been made aware of these proposals. Comments are required by 17th January and the Parish Council agreed to formally object to the proposals. On the grounds of adverse social and economic impacts and dubious safety benefits. Action - Chairman

Traffic lights could be a better/safer alternative.

Concern for the school buses, farmers, cyclists, local businesses.

The road off the Peterborough Road roundabout onto A16 is badly breaking up. Action Clerk

Dip in Gravel Causeway still not repaired – Action Mr Ancill/Clerks

202) Police Matters

Mr Ancill has sent letter to the Inspector at Spalding

2 less incidents reported in December.

Mr Ancill will send the link to the clerks for the stats

Appears attempts made to dismantle the finger boards in the centre of town

203) Clerks Report on matters arising

The current format is needs more to be tidied up.

Actions reviewed.

204) Correspondence

1. Tulip Events Management - Details of Pride of South Holland Awards categories. These include - Caring Neighbours, Service with a smile, Young Achiever, Senior Citizen, Charity Worker, Community Hero, Volunteer of the year, Special Achievement, Community Sports Group, Local Charity Champion, and before & after School Activities. Action - Members to notify clerks of any Nominations
2. LCC Highways - Copy of consultation documents relating to the A16 Junction proposals. Discussed under item 201.
3. LCC Highways - Details of a temporary traffic restriction in Crease Drove Crowland, between 8th and 12th January 2020, for essential works by Clancy Docra/Anglian Water.      To go on Town Noticeboard.
4. LALC - Details of Community Collaboration Project, Local Council Clustering. A questionnaire had been sent to 320 Councils to develop an understanding of which councils currently work as part of a cluster, the benefits/ barriers to clustering and if they would consider cluster working in the future.  The conclusion was that only a small number of councils work as a cluster.  Benefits highlighted included sharing knowledge and

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information, cost reduction, joint ventures and lobbying District & County Councils. A number of concerns were raised including additional costs, finding suitable venues, time

5. constraints for busy Clerks & councilors.  Clusters need to be organised by Geographical area & size. LALC did not feel that there was enough interest to fund a project but would still like to hear from any councils interested in a local cluster. Noted.
6. LALC – Nominations for past Chairman to be nominated to attend the Buckingham Palace Garden Party on 12th May 2020. Nominations by 27th January 2020.

Action – Clerks – Mr Ringham to be nominated

7. LCC - Temporary traffic restriction on Peterborough Road between 40m & 100m North of Barbers Drove North on 27 & 29 January 2020 for essential works by Clancy Docwra/Anglian Water. To go on Town Noticeboard
8. Kate Bellamy, SHDC – Email in response to our enquiry re the footpath in Broadway.  The work should be happening very shortly. Noted.
9. L. Fox, Low Road – Photo of the post where the damaged dog bin has been removed showing that rubbish has been left and asking who collects the increasing mountain of bags from that site. Dealt with in item 196.
10. Jane Harris, 3/4/5 – Email to say she is now a qualified Forest School Leader. She is asking for assistance on the siting of fires and if there are restrictions on use of the woods on James Road.  She would eventually like to hold a session each Wednesday afternoon. What was the Parish Councils thoughts on fencing along the stretch of wood on James Road? Jane would be happy to pursue funding for this. Action Clerks – to arrange a meeting with Mr Boor,  Mr Ringham and Mr Searle.

205) (i) Accounts for Payment

The payment for the tractor repair is high – Mr Boor to check if it can be claimed under our insurance.

Pavilion repair – made safe, strengthened glass was used and new locks fitted.

Concern at high amount of Bridge hardware invoices – to be monitored.

Accounts for payments proposed by Mr Boot, seconded by Mr Green.  All agreed.

 (ii) S137 payments - None

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

Priorities meeting 27th January – Chairman requests everyone’s attendance.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.40pm.