August 2019 Minutes
MINUTES OF OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 5TH AUGUST 2019 7.15PM AT THE FOX AND HOUNDS, OLD SOMERBY
A Public Forum was held at 7pm. 12 members of the public were present.
1. APOLOGIES:
None
2. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS:
None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Extra-ordinary meetings held 10th, 17th, 24 June 2019.
Each set of minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman.
4. CLERK AND COUNCILLORS’ ACTIONS OR UPDATES:
a) Donations to the local church for grave yard maintenance: Cllr Stephens produced details of the actual cost to the Church of ground maintenance.
AGREED: Grant application to be adopted for all future Parish Council donations.
ACTION: Cllr Lowndes to help update document for proposal at the next Parish Meeting
b) Grass Cutting: It was noted the grass cutting had commenced with several favourable comments having being received.
c) The Well Head: The response was noted from the Landowners to the Parish Council’s request for a copy of the Title Deeds in question. The Landowners indicated that in their view the Council had no right to a copy and they proposed to continue to maintain the area and the Well Head. The matter is now closed.
d) Seat in memoriam: The clerk reported that approval had now been received from the LCC for the erection of the bench.
AGREED: The family would be asked to give any undertaking in writing of their agreement to undertake the project at their expense, to maintain the bench and exercise all proper care in undertaking the work especially in relation any electrical service cables or other plant which may be located in the area in question.
ACTION: The Clerk. Cllrs Burrows, Stephens and North to attend the site with the clerk and family before the work commences to confirm the positioning.
e) Freedom of Information: Complaints from a resident: The clerk had circulated the Freedom of Information Commissioner’s Decisions in relation to cases numbered FS50846925 and FS50847247 both dated 15 July 2019. It was noted that in both Decisions the Commissioner requires no further action required.
f) Speeding: The clerk reported on a recent survey by the Police on behalf of the Road Safety Partnership. He had been informed that in 2018 there had been 22 speed camera activations processed. So far this year there had been 18 offences processed. The Volunteer currently undertaking the task of overseeing the Speed Indicator indicated at the meeting he now wished to resign. Recent Data was noted. He was thanked for his valuable efforts to date. A new volunteer would be sought. (Post Meeting note: a new volunteer has offered to take on the role)
ACTION: Cllrs Percy and Stephens to review the whole process including the consideration of alternative road design measures to reduce drivers’ speed and the use of 30 mph stickers for display on residents’ bins for proposal at the next Parish Meeting
5. LCC LOCAL COUNCILLOR ~ Cllr Bob Adams:
i) Provision and funding of Public Transport in the county was now a real issue. In contrast Call Connect was working well with some examples of residents collectively organising a booking for travel.
ii) Would encourage residents to be involved in local planning issues. He agreed that local Neighbourhood Plans were a vital way of being so involved. When approved the SKDC would be required to take account of such Plans when considering developments affecting Old Somerby parish.
iii) It was noted that the local Neighbourhood Plan had been submitted to the SKDC on 20th May and there had been an excessive delay on their part in proceeding to the next stage. Cllr Adams offered to bring some pressure to bear to ensure there was no further delay on the part of the SKDC. (Post Meeting note: The SKDC had now commenced their Consultation)
6. SKDC LOCAL COUNCILLOR ~ Cllr Sarah Trotter:
i) Cllr Trotter available to be consulted in relation to local planning issues. She had been so involved in the recent rejected planning application concerning Cold Harbour.
ii) Cllr Trotter indicated she had contacted the SKDC indicating her support for the submitted Neighbourhood Plan.
7. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
a) S18/2247 The Old Quarry. The clerk reported it was still shown as “pending consideration” on the SKDC website.
i) There were recognised local concerns regarding possible future flooding which had been well documented.
b) S18/2007 Harrowby Lane Traveller Site: This application was also shown as “pending consideration”.
c) S19/1236 Outline Planning Permission – land to rear of the Old Post Office.
AGREED:
i) This second application seemed no different from that refused by the local Planners on 10 July 2018
ii) It was outside the parameters set out in the submitted Old Somerby Neighbourhood Plan.
iii) It did not comply with the current SKDC Core Strategy and Local Plan in relation to smaller villages such as ours which were classified as less sustainable;
ACTION: The clerk to respond to the Planners in accordance with the above.
d) S19/0277 Proposed intensive poultry farming operation near to Great Ponton on the High Dyke. Cllr Adams indicated that this Parish Council would be invited to submit their representations in due course when the application was listed.
8. FINANCE:
a) The clerk reported that the recent Audit inspection period had been undertaken.
b) There had been only one payment over £100 - £2450 final payment to the Consultant in relation to the submitted Neighbourhood Plan. That funding had been provided by the Government.
c) The clerk provided a current financial update which showed a balance of £7323.11.
d) The clerk asked for a Councillor to be appointed to oversee the whole of the financial operations which he undertook on behalf of the Council to ensure proper compliance with Audit expectations.
AGREED: Cllr Burrows to be the Lead Councillor and to report back as appropriate to the Council.
e) The clerk reported the recently amended Mandate had finally been accepted by the bank. The Mandate provided inter alia for 2 Councillors to sign all cheques.
9. CORRESPONDENCE:
a) Enquiry from resident regarding the local lack of sufficiently fast broadband.
ACTION: Cllr Percy to investigate the issue/opportunities and update at the next meeting
b) Enquiry from resident regarding damage to a drain cover. The Clerk had reported the incident to the SKDC on 16 July 2019 as their contractors appeared to be responsible. (Post Meeting Note: The repair had now been dealt with)
c) Email from a resident regarding the Public Forum. The resident had asked if there could be a period of time at the conclusion of the each meeting for residents to ask further questions. The Chairman indicated that residents could always approach any Councillor at the conclusion of meetings if they had any questions. There was a requirement for parish council meetings to last no longer than 2 ½ hours. Together with the Public Forum currently council meetings regularly overran that timescale and having a second public forum would merely add to already lengthy meetings.
ACTION: The clerk to respond in those terms.
d) Email from resident regarding damage to road signs. This had occurred in late July following power washing by contractors with lettering being washed off. The clerk had reported the incident to Highways together with the photographs provided by the resident. The response from Highways had been that this was not a priority issue and no action would be taken at this time but the situation will be continued to be monitored.
e) Email from resident regarding staining the seat and notice board on School Lane. The resident had offered to undertake the work. The council thank and accept the offer.
ACTION: Cllr Lowndes to review Notice board on the Old Post Office and to arrange the undertaking of any repairs required.
f) Freedom of Information request from a resident. Proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cllr North that the request be considered in closed session because it was not conducive to an orderly meeting if the Complainant was present during the discussion in view of his previous behaviour during open meetings. The proposal was approved and the meeting went into closed session.
AGREED: The Complainant had previously been given some of the information and documents he had again requested with some also published on the website. The remaining would be copied to him.
ACTION: The clerk to circulate a response for approval in the terms agreed by the Councillors then to be forwarded to the Complainant within the deadline period.
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Fixed for Monday 21 October 2019.
The meeting closed at 10.10 pm approx.