October 2019 Minutes
MINUTES OF OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 21 OCTOBER 2019 7.15PM AT THE FOX AND HOUNDS.
A Public Forum was held at 7pm with 5 members of the public present. (DRAFT)
1. APOLOGIES:
None
2. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS:
None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the meeting held on 5 August 2019 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
4. CLERK AND COUNCILLORS’ ACTIONS UPDATE REPORTS:
a) Seat in memoriam. The Clerk reported that Cllrs North and Burrows, the Clerk and family members had met on site on 23 September 2019 and all necessary arrangements and undertakings had been made. The seat to be erected shortly.
b) Speeding: Cllrs Stephens and Percy reported back on their research. Various methods likely to reduce speed had been considered, It would be necessary to consult further with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) and the LCC Highways regarding cost and process. A set of Data was presented to the meeting from the LRSP for the last 3 years which appeared to support the view that the current methods were having little impact on the rising levels of speeding.
AGREED:
i) To set up a meeting with LRSP and LCC to pursue the issue further. The newly appointed volunteer to operate the Speed Indicator would be invited to attend as would LCC Councillor Bob Adams. Cllrs Stephens and Percy to report back.
ACTION: Cllrs Stephens and Percy
ii) to purchase 200 30 mph stickers at a cost of £100 to be made freely available to residents from the clerk.
ACTION: Cllr Stephens.
c) Faster Broadband: Cllr Percy reported back on his research. There are vouchers schemes available for individuals and businesses at a cost. Further research was necessary.
AGREED: Cllr Percy to continue his research and make contact with BT and BT OpenReach regarding their future plans for the parish and report back.
ACTION: Cllr Percy.
d) Notice Boards: Cllr Lowndes reported that the Notice Board on Grantham Road had been taken down and repaired by two residents. There would be no cost to the Parish Council.
AGREED: The Notice Board to be re-sited on the Bus Shelter on School Lane adjacent to the new bench. The clerk to write and thank the residents concerned and also to the resident who keeps the bus shelter clean and tidy.
ACTION: Cllr Lowndes/ The Clerk.
5, LCC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE:
i) Cllr Bob Adams commented upon recently highlighted issues of the number of accidents occurring on the A1 road within the County. He said that some 65 such accidents occurred per month and clearly action was needed. Highways England had been tasked to produce a report which was expected in January. There would be a national review of the whole of the A1 road.
ii) He referred also to a forthcoming change in highways contactors.
iii) He reported on the Southern Bypass with the 3rd phase in line to start shortly.
6. SKDC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE:
Cllr Trotter not in attendance.
7. PSCO POLICE UPDATE:
The local PSCO not in attendance.
8. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
a) S18/2247 The Old Quarry - Still shown as “Pending Consideration” on the SKDC website.
b) S18/2007 Harrowby Lane Traveller Site – Also still shown as “Pending Consideration”
c) S19/1236 Outline Planning Permission on land to rear of The Old Post Office – The Parish Council had responded to the amended application in the same terms as for the previous application. No date for the hearing had been announced. ACTION: The clerk to enquire.
d) Proposed intensive poultry farming operation at Great Ponton. Cllr Bob Adams reported that no date had been fixed for the hearing as yet. This parish council will be informed.
9. FINANCE:
a) Payments over £100: There had been one such payment of £110 to the grass cutting contractor for the first cut. Subsequent cuts at a lower rate.
b) Finance Update: The clerk provided a current financial update which showed an expected balance at 31 March 2020 of £7401.59.
c) Budget Planning 2020/21:
AGREED: a sub-committee consisting Cllrs Lowndes and Burrows with the clerk would meet on 28 November, 2019 to prepare a draft budget and report back to the next Parish Council.
ACTION: Cllrs Lowndes and Burrows.
10: GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS 2020/21 FOR ADOPTION:
The forms had been circulated to the Councillors prior to the meeting.
AGREED: To adopt the forms and process outlined therein. The application forms are available from the Clerk.
NB. The deadline for applications for 2020/21 is 31 December 2019.
11. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE:
The clerk reported that the SKDC Consultation process had ended. There had been 10 Responses to the SKDC. An Inspector had been appointed. The Inspector had set a series of questions for the Parish Council regarding the Plan and the Responses. The Parish Council’s Consultant had provided draft sets of answers for the parish council and steering group to consider and amend as necessary which had been circulated. A deadline for reply had been set by the Inspector of 25 October, 2019.
AGREED: The draft sets of answers, as amended, should be forwarded by the clerk to the SKDC for the Inspector’s attention to meet the above deadline.
ACTION: the clerk.
The Inspector will send out his decision in due course leading to a parish Referendum likely in the New Year.
12. CORRESPONDENCE:
a) Emails from a local resident regarding contact with Councillors/ alleged conflict of interest. (23 & 30 Sept 2019 & and 14 Oct 2019). In common with the practice adopted by other parish councils contact with this parish council is via the clerk on the parish council email address, by correspondence to his home address or by telephone. The contact details are as published on the parish council’s website. Any complaints or otherwise relating to councillors or individuals should be directed to the Monitoring Officer at SKDC. ACTION: Clerk to reply accordingly.
b) Emails from a local resident regarding highways/footpath issues. (20 Sept 2019) . The clerk reported that one issue had been dealt with and he had reported the other issues to the LCC for action. He had been given a response showing the issue was being looked into. Cllr Bob Adams offered to help if necessary.
c) Email from local resident regarding a “Little Library” scheme. (3 Sept 2019)
AGREED: with Cllr Stephens voting against, instead actively to encourage more residents to support the existing visit by the LCC Library van on a monthly basis which stops on School Lane outside No. 8. NEXT VISITS 29 October, 2019 and 26 November 2019 2pm – 2.30pm. The more use that is made of this service the more likely it is to remain. Details of visits by the Library Van to be published on the Notice Boards.
ACTION: Cllr North/ The Clerk.
d) Email from Chairman of Ropsley Parish Council reporting alleged attempts being made to gain entry to park up in Ropsley Rise Woods by using chain saws. It was noted.
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
This was fixed for Tuesday 14 January 2020 at 7.15pm with a Public Forum at 7pm.
The meeting closed at 20.41.