2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

August 2021 Minutes

Minutes of a meeting of Crowland Parish Council

Held on Monday 2nd August 2021

in the Sports Pavilion at 7:00pm

 

Present:         Bryan Alcock, David Kempton, Philip Green, David Ringham, Graham Searle, Jan Woodroffe, Reg Boot, Lee Quince, Jon Boor, Darren Warner, Michael Atkinson and Annette Williams

 

Clerk:              Angela Harrison

 

County & District Cllr Nigel Pepper

 

Local Press Officer: Victoria Fear

 

2 Members of the Sports Hall CIO:  Sue Parrott and Eric Cornish

 

In the Chair:  David Kempton

 

1) 79. Apologies for Absence

 

Wayne Glenton, Matt Elderkin and Cathi Elphee

District Cllr Jim Astill

 

2) 80. Declaration of Interests as per the LGA 2000

 

Dave Ringham:           Crowland Cares

Graham Searle:          Crowland Cares & SH Voluntary Car Scheme

Jon Boor:                    Land

Bryan Alcock:             Planning Applications H02-0700-21 & H02-0696-21

 

The Chairman proposed that Item 11 be moved to the top of the agenda.

Everyone agreed.

 

11) 81. Fitness & Well-being Centre - to receive the team’s report.

DR stated that the final account had been received from the contractors and the new lighting had been fitted.

  • Electrician had worked early mornings and late nights in order to get the job finished.
  • Expressed thanks to Scott Halliwell for all his assistance.
  • Snagging items and cleaning of the floor remain outstanding.
  • Hope to re-open the Sports Hall next week.
  • Need to liaise with the caretaker.

Action: DR

Gym

  • A report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
  • Spoken to experts at 3 organisations and 1 stood out.
  • Existing equipment is old and would prove difficult and expensive to maintain.
  • Asked for 3 but received only 2 quotes.
  • Want people to return, e.g., good, modern pieces of equipment.
  • CIO currently has no finance, as that will come through membership fees.

The Council stated that they would prefer to see 3 quotes before making a commitment.

It was confirmed that the supplier of new equipment would dispose of the old machines.

  • The PC, if funding the new equipment, would investigate fully whether it would be better to lease or buy.
  • Would need to clarify PC’s standing orders or rules on disposing of capital items.
  • Each piece could be put out to tender, in order to gain the best price.
  • BA advised that the PC should check financial regulations.

The PC were asked whether they would agree on the principal of disposal of the old equipment.

  • There would be a 6–8-week delivery on new pieces.
  • A purchase order would be accepted, with no deposit necessary.

Option: The PC would buy and own the equipment and the CIO would lease it from the Council over a period of 7 years.

 

Eric Cornish was invited to speak.

  • Original equipment is 12 years old
  • There are no spares, and they would not be a good advert.
  • Out of the 13 old items, 6 are useable, (predominantly rowers), if there is room to site them once the new machines are in situ.
  • Looking to purchase 24 new pieces of equipment.
  • The PC has spent a lot of money on the building, and it would be a shame to scrimp on the machines.
  • Maintenance costs would be met by the CIO
  • Insurance with the supplier, with 1- and 2-year warranties on equipment.

 

Sue Parrott was invited to speak.

  • After 3 years, the purchased equipment will still hold significant value and can be exchanged for new, more up-to-date pieces.

 

It was proposed that the Parish Council purchase the equipment at the ‘B1’ price as quoted on the report.

 

Proposed:       J Woodroffe

Seconded:       L Quince

 

It was agreed unanimously.

 

Details will need to be agreed between the PC and the CIO.

  • The PC will require a structure of the CIO and a financial forecast for the next 2 years at least.
  • Storage or disposal of the old equipment will need to be addressed.

Action: DR

 

3) 82. To Agree as a correct Record the Minutes of the Previous Meetings

 

The following points of clarification were raised:

  • Header on the subsequent pages needs to be changed from Crowland Abbey to the Sports Hall.
  • Item 8 at the top of Page 25: Last bullet point should read collection not re-collection.

 

With the above amendments it was agreed to approve the Minutes.

 

Proposed:        P Green

Seconded:       D Ringham                             

 

4) 83. Matters Arising from the previous minutes and Clerks’ Report - to receive the Clerks’ report of actions outstanding.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

The Chairman expressed his disappointment that the report was not achieving its objective and felt that it needed to be updated with the actions from the previous meeting and that some items required clarification of action required.

Action: Clerk/DK

 

5) 84. Chairman’s Report - to receive the Chairman’s report

 

A Copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

The Chairman added that he would like to arrange a get together for both Di and Scott Halliwell, as a thank you for all their help.

 

Everyone agreed.

Action: PC

 

6) 85. Amenities Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated a few days prior to the meeting.

 

DR advised that he proposed to hold the next meeting on Thursday 12th August.

 

Re: Toddlers’ Playground

  • FLP have been out to look at the bridge, although it wasn’t completely broken at the time.
  • FLP have taken it up with the manufacturers and have agreed to come and make a temporary repair before the end of the week, so that it is safe and useable.
    • It is currently taped off.
  • DR stated that he is bitterly disappointed with what has happened.
  • There appears to be a design flaw in the bridge.
    • Planks have been structurally weekened.
    • No way of tightening the cable in the center, which is looser than the two outer cables.

Action: DR

 

7) 86. Finance and Admin Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

The Finance Chairman had nothing further to add.

 

  • PG questioned the large number of unpresented items.
    • The RFO explained that this was due to all of the payments on the list for approval being included in that total.
    • All items need to be added to the accounts system in order to produce the report.

 

8) 87. Farms & Gardens Committee - to receive the Chairman’s report.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

  • JB stated that his workmen had been struggling along but coping.
  • Some things are getting left, being one man down at the busiest time of the year.
  • Pleased to have temporary help from and ex-employee and had undertaken some work himself.
  • Not going to get back to the way we were anytime soon.
  • Considered outsourcing some of the work.

BA suggested a Working Party to look at options moving forward, in order to hear ideas from other interested members.

 

It was agreed that JB look to pull that together.

Action: JB

Trees

  • RB advised that authority had been given for the tree works on Thorney Road.
  • A contractor has been secured for Saturday 28th August, for the two trees on Thorney Road and the tree by the Implement Shed.
  • North and West Street greens both have issues with low branches, which pose a health and safety risk, as the grounds men cannot get underneath them with the mower.

Action: RB

 

9) 88. Planning Committee - to receive the Minutes of the recent meeting.

 

A copy of the Minutes had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

  • Item 5:  word ‘communised’ should be replaced with ‘commonised’.

Action: Clerk

  • Item 9:  tidy up the paving around the newly refurbished phone box with some natural stone.

 

The PC were in favour of this work and funding is being explored.

Action: PG

 

10) 89. Safety & Security - to receive the Chairman’s report.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

  • GS added that there had been unlawful activity on scooters around the town.
    • Police working on it, alongside residents who are prepared to make statements and attend court if necessary.
  • Activity on the skate park will be discussed ‘in Committee’.
  • Reports of 3 vehicles in the town doing ‘donuts’ in the centre of North Street.
    • It was asked whether this had been caught on CCTV.
      • Unfortunately, the Police have more pressing things to attend to.
  • There have been speed cameras on James Road recently.
    • Majority of those caught speeding were parishioners.

.

12) 90. Assets Working Party - to receive the team’s report.

 

A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.

 

  • BA added that the opening of the access onto James Road has been delayed for a number of weeks, due to a change as to where services will go, and other works scheduled by LCC.
    • Will require a traffic control on James Road.
  • No resolution to the eastern boundary but working on it.
  • Lengthy on-site meetings and regular monthly meetings with the boss of Ashwood Homes.
  • The buildings are beginning to look quite good.
  • The hedge height will be reduced once the properties are built, which will give the new residents a nice view across the Snowden.
  • The floor levels are raised by approximately 1 meter.
  • There is quite a lot of interest in the properties.

 

Commercial Site on Thorney Road

Need authorization from the PC to engage a Solicitor to prepare a MOU with an interested party.

 

Proposed:       P Green

Seconded:       J Woodroffe

Action: AWP

 

13) 91. Party in the Park

 

PG announced the following:

  • 6 stewards confirmed, (members of the Planning Committee).
  • Need more volunteers.
    • DK suggested that if any members were planning to attend, even if they could give just one hour each, it would help.
  • All music acts booked.
    • Young lady from Peterborough, who has just released her first album, will be singing for free.
    • Jazz Group
    • Rock Group
    • Local Guitarist, (teacher).
  • District Councillors have offered to help financially.
  • Fireworks Company require money up front.

Will be added to the list of payments for approval.

  • The Strickland brothers will set them off on the day for us.

The Chairman expressed his thanks to PG and everyone who has helped out.

 

 

14) 92. (i) Accounts for Payment

            (ii) S137 Payments

 

(i)

£1,040.00 for the Party in the Park fireworks was added to the list.

  • Price includes a negotiated 20% discount plus free delivery.

PG declared an interest in this item.

  • DR queried the invoice for the lighting in the Sports Hall
    • The RFO explained that it had not been received.
  • DR requested that it be approved rather than have to wait another 30 days.
    • The amount is what was quoted, but with an additional £40 for the repair of an emergency light that was found to be faulty at the time of installation.

 

It was agreed to approve this payment in advance of receiving the invoice.

 

Proposed:       J Boor

Seconded:       A Williams

 

All agreed.

 

The Chairman added that the Implement Shed water and electric is also running the building site.

  • We will need to invoice the builders once the site has been completed.
    • It was confirmed that they have their own meters.

Action: AWP + RFO

Although the payment to FLP was approved, it will not be sent until the issue with the broken equipment has been resolved.

 

(ii) There were no S137 Payments

 

15) 93. Matters to be considered for inclusion on a future Council Agenda.

 

GS suggested that the Notice Board at the end of the Parish Rooms building be replaced.

Action: Planning Committee

 

There were no other items requested.

 

Meeting ended at 8:50pm