December 2021 Minutes
Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council
Held on Monday 6th December 2021
in the Community Hub at 7:00pm
Present: David Kempton, Philip Green, Bryan Alcock, Graham Searle, Jon Boor,
Darren Warner, Reg Boot, Wayne Glenton, Cathi Elphee and Annette Williams
Clerk: Angela Harrison
District & County Cllr Nigel Pepper
1 Resident of Crease Drove
Press Officer
In the Chair: David Kempton
1) 137. Apologies for Absence
Lee Quince, David Ringham, Michael Atkinson, and District Cllr Jim Astill
It was resolved to accept the apologies for absence.
2) 138. Declaration of Interests as per the LGA 2000
Wayne Glenton, Reg Boot and Annette Williams: Leisure & Wellbeing Centre (Trustees)
Graham Searle: Crowland Cares & SH Voluntary Car Scheme
David Kempton: Payments
Jon Boor: Farmland
3) 139. To Agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meetings
Proposed: J Boor
Seconded: R Boot
All agreed
Minutes from the Extraordinary meeting were tabled and read by the members at the meeting.
Proposed: C Elphee
Seconded: P Green
All agreed
The chairman agreed to sign the approved Minutes.
The Chairman requested that part of item 9 be brought forward on the agenda, in order that the resident present could leave earlier if he so wished.
- Everyone agreed.
9)…and to discuss siting a memorial bench on Crease Drove
PG added that he had approached Royal Mail with regards to getting an additional Post Box and is awaiting their response.
With the use of the screen, he showed photos of 2 areas that would be suitable for siting a bench.
- Woodroffe Drive – Developer or Management Company
- Monks Meadow – Owned by the Parish Council
The idea is to provide a resting place for residents on the way to and from the town centre.
At this point, the resident of Crease Drove, whose property is adjacent to the grassed area on Monks Meadow, was invited to speak, and advised the committee that he had experienced the following:
- Drug dealing at the front of his property
- Antisocial behaviour leading to the removal of his front wall
AW added that drug cannisters had been found in the grassed area.
A full and frank discussion followed, and it was agreed that.
- the Planning Committee members would visit the site ahead of their meeting next Monday, 13th December.
- The item will be added to the Planning Committee Agenda and a recommendation be brought back to the full Council meeting in January.
4) 140. Matters Arising from the previous minutes
- DK is still to arrange a group of Cllrs to assist LQ with the heating for the Parish Rooms.
- Action: DK
- RB advised that he had fetched the wood for the kicking wall and that it was now in the implement shed.
- GS advised that the sandpit had been put back on to the apparatus in the junior playground.
- The gates are done and will be monitored.
- Slabs should be done on the second gate as soon as weather permits.
It was confirmed by the Finance chairman, that any additional work required on the junior playground can be paid for out of S106 monies.
5) 141. Chairman’s Report - to receive the Chairman’s report.
A Copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
There were no questions, however the Chairman added that the Parish Council were now in a position where they can Co-opt a new member on to the Council or continue to run with a vacant seat.
- It was agreed to add this to the next meeting Agenda.
The Chairman spoke about the importance of attendance at the PC’s meetings. He reminded members that should they not attend for 6 consecutive months there is the risk that they will lose their seat. Their attendance is ‘summoned’ and absence would only be accepted for good reason and had to be advised to the Clerk in advance.
6) 142. Amenities Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report
A Copy of the report/notes from a working party meeting, had been circulated prior to the meeting.
The report was received by the committee and in the absence of the chairman, RB stated that he had received quotes for the inspection of the play equipment and would like to discuss these ‘in Committee’.
Youth Shelter
Out of the 4 quotes requested, 2 had been received which were vastly different, so awaiting the other 2.
Lighting in the Snowden/Surgery car park
Following correspondence from a resident to Cllr Pepper, the NHS have made a request that the cost of the lighting is shared between the PC and the Surgery.
It was discussed and agreed that the Parish Council would offer to contribute 50% of the cost of the electric and installation of a meter.
Action: DK
The Chairman requested that a proper Amenities Committee meeting be setup for the 3rd Monday in January, (24th January). Thereafter, Safety & Security will meet on the 3rd Monday of February, (21st February), and Farms & Gardens will meet on the 3rd Monday of March, (21st March). These 3 committees will rotate, in order, during the course of the year.
Action: Office
7) 143. Finance and Admin Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report and report from the Clerk regarding email addresses.
A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting, along with a Summary Report and Bank Reconciliation to the end of October 2021.
The committee Chairman advised that there will be a Working Party meeting of the Finance Committee, on Thursday 16th December, to which all members are welcome to attend.
Budget and Precept figures will be discussed, along with expected revenue income, (and expenditure), in relation to the new homes on the old allotment site. There will also be a change in expenditure and income for the Sports Hall after it is taken over by the CIO.
8) 144. Farms & Gardens Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report.
A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
JB advised the committee that he had received confirmation from SHDC that the workmen can continue to use red diesel for grass cutting, etc as it is classed as horticultural.
- Job currently in hand is to trim the trees and hedging around the allotment site, (height and width).
- This will be done in the New Year before the nesting season.
- Aveland Trees who will be carrying out the work to thin the trees, should be advised to avoid Wednesdays as this is the day that the Forest School use the area.
Action: Office
The memorial seat has been erected on the Snowden near the skate park and photos shared on social media show that it has been well received.
- Letter of thanks to be sent to the family.
Action: DK and Office
Due to deterioration, the temporary roadway to the 6-acre field will remain closed until the Spring. Both football clubs have been advised, but other users need to be made aware.
Action: Office
JB stated that he had 4 items which needed to be taken ‘in Committee’.
- DK raised the issue of the tree which has become lopsided due to being trimmed on one side only. The tree is sited between the pavilion and the bowls club but is now overhanging the bowls club.
- JB suggested that it would be preferable to get a tree surgeon in to carry out this work.
Action: R Boot
PG enquired about whether the office had received a reply to the letter sent to the owner of the willow tree that is overhanging the tennis courts, to which they have not.
- It was agreed that a follow-up letter is sent, giving the owners time to carry out the work, otherwise the PC will get it done and invoice them for the cost.
Action: Office
9) 145. Planning Committee - to receive the Minutes of the November meeting.
A copy of the Minutes had been circulated prior to the meeting.
PG told everyone how pleased he was regarding the turnout for the Christmas lights event held last Saturday, 4th December, and showed photos, (via the screen), which were taken at the event.
- DK thanked CE, AW, and the rest of the team for their work in organizing the event.
- Even though it was scaled down due to the pandemic, it was deemed a great success.
JB stated that the request for repairs to the pavements down Thorney Road had been acknowledged by LCC and added to their schedule of works.
Bowls Club
DK reported that he had been approached by the Bowls club, whose building is sited on Parish Council land.
- The building is approximately 50 years old, so they are looking to replace it.
- A drawing was held up which showed a slightly larger, prefab wooden building, which would sit within the fenced area.
- It will house their own toilet, (as they are currently using the Youth Building toilets), but they have asked if they can connect to our sewers.
Everyone agreed that this would be acceptable.
Action: DK
10) 146. Safety & Security - to receive the Chairman’s report.
A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
GS advised that he had received no update on the identification of the suspects who broke into the allotment building, but their photos have been shared widely on social media.
- The Police report shows that crime figures are down on previous years.
- Awaiting quotes for fire extinguishers.
RB reported that there had been hare coursing in Shepeau Stowe and that Police had confiscated vehicles and dogs.
GS added that he had one item that he wished to raise ‘in Committee’.
11) 147. Leisure and Wellbeing Centre – to receive the team’s Report.
There was no report for this meeting as there were Minutes from the Extraordinary meeting held on the 2nd of December.
12) 148. Assets Working Party - to receive the team’s Report
A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
BA advised that we are moving ever closer to getting tenants.
- There is serious interest in 7 out of the 8 properties, with tenants hopefully moved in early in the New Year.
- Area around the tree is an ongoing saga.
- Developers are currently in the process of connecting up the water, that had been delayed by Anglian Water.
- PG suggested that the PC organise a ‘Press Day’, for when the first residents move in, and a view day for Councillors.
- RB announced that it was 10 years this month since the project started.
JB wished to express and record thanks to the AWP for all their hard work, including Mr Hazelgrove who is no longer a parish councilor.
GS seconded this.
- BA suggested that it would be necessary to have the properties officially valued once completed.
Action: AWP
13) 149. Correspondence
All correspondence is dealt with as it comes into the office, so this item will not be included on future agendas.
The Chairman realized that he had missed a part of item 7 from the agenda.
7)….and a report from the Clerk regarding email addresses.
The Clerk was invited to speak to her report.
- The issue was brought to the PC’s attention via an article in the LALC e-news, which highlighted the risk of members using their work or shared email addresses for Council business.
- ICO guidance is that information held in private email accounts may be subject to the 2000 Freedom of Information Act if it relates to official council business.
The Clerk’s recommendation was to purchase email only licenses for members at £2.92 +VAT each per month, as this would tie-in with the configuration of the PC’s new email address. I.e., firstname.lastname@crowland-pc.uk or initiallastname@crowland-pc.uk.
A discussion was had, and it was agreed that one email address be purchased for P Green, who would report back to a future meeting, as to its ease of use.
Action: Clerk & PG
14) 150. Accounts for Payment - See separate sheet
A list of payments for approval was circulated prior to the meeting and an amended copy was tabled on the day.
- NDR rates and Electricity charges were the only additions to the tabled copy.
- An additional Invoice was requested to be approved, which was from the purchase of the wood for the kicking wall.
Proposed: J Boor
Seconded: W Glenton
All agreed
15) 151. Matters to be considered for inclusion on a future Council Agenda.
PG announced that there was money from SHDC, provided by the Government’s ‘welcome back’ fund, to be spent on ‘beautifying’ the town. He asked that members think of ideas ahead of Monday evening’s Planning meeting.
Christmas Lights Competition
Shops will be judged by PG
Residents will be judged by CE and AW
Meeting ended at 9:05pm