December 2020 Minutes
MINUTES OF OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD BY ZOOM
TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2020 7PM. DRAFT
PRESENT: Cllrs: Lowndes, Percy, Stephens and Burrows; Parish Clerk David Holmes.
Also present LCC Councillor Bob Adams, SKDC Councillor Sarah Trotter and 2 members of the public.
1. APOLOGIES: An apology had been received from Cllr North which was accepted as being an acceptable reason.
2. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS: None.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting held 24 September 2020 with an amendment under Finance to include reference to 2 other cheques issued in the sums of £146.58 and £485.55 were accepted as a correct record as were the minutes dated 27 October 2020. Proposed the Chairman, seconded Cllr Percy, and carried. Copies to be signed by the Chairman.
4. PREVIOUS CLERK: An update was given by the parish clerk. On 6 Nov 2020 the previous clerk was sentenced at the Crown Court to 8 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months. A hearing to consider confiscation of assets to repay the money stolen was adjourned. After a thorough check by this council of each transaction that occurred during that clerkship the Police were informed of losses amounting to almost £1200. In the event the Crown Prosecution would have reviewed the evidence and they authorised the Police only to bring 2 charges with losses in total of £201. This council was not involved in that decision making process. Correspondence from a resident had been responded to.
5. CLERK AND COUNCILLORS’ ACTIONS/UPDATES: a) Bus shelter: The clerk advised that the renovation of the bus shelter was in hand by the approved contractor. ACTION: The clerk to enquire as to a start date.
b) Flooding: The clerk reported he was still awaiting a report from the Area Manager LCC.
c) New Website: The clerk reported some data from the existing website has been transferred across to the new website. Work was in hand to complete the task this month before the deadline of 31 December 2020 when the existing website will cease to exist. The clerk requested agreement to fund the use of an outside contractor should it prove necessary. ACTION: Agreed - the clerk to report to the chairman for action.
d) Dog Bins and Signs: The clerk and a volunteer has erected both the signs and the bins last month. The bins were in use immediately. There are 2 volunteers to empty them. The Council had received £200 towards the cost of the 2 bins from funding provided by Cllr Trotter for which the parish council were very grateful.
e) Speeding: Further data had been received from the volunteer operator of the Electronic Speed Indicator. The volunteer commented that the data seem consistent with the average speed of around 30mph. The percentage of speeders is consistently higher when approaching from Grantham - around 7%. He will provide more data of speeding from the Boothby Pagnell end in due course for comparison purposes. He suggested a third bracket be obtained to aid with the siting of the monitor. AGREED: the clerk to make enquiries and the Chairman was authorised to make a decision as to costing.
f). Well Head update. The clerk reported there had been no reply to date from the landowner.
g) Village Seat: The seat is listed on the Parish Council Register of Assets and insured accordingly. It is known as the Millenium Seat. The clerk has been informed it would be painted up and returned hopefully by Christmas. The Chairman suggested another village seat be considered for purchased by the Parish Council in memory of Mary Bean who donated a large contribution towards the renovation of the Roundabout some years ago. ACTION: The clerk to research prices of a seat similar to the metal one near the bus stop on School Lane and report back. Councillors were asked to consider suitable locations.
6. LCC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE: Cllr Adams gave a resume of LCC’s current financial position. The Budget for next financial year is being considered currently. He reported that there may be a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre set up in Grantham in due course.
7. SKDC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE:
Planning Application S18/0944 :Cllr Trotter informed the Councillors that her funding towards care packages may be organised now by the local churches possibly through Christmas deliveries from The Green Man at Ropsley.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
a) S18/0944: Appeal against planning refusal for traveller site at Cold Harbour. There was no further news concerning this item. The recent Consultation by the SKDC regarding their Local Plan had been responded to by Cllr Percy from Cold Harbour. His Response has been adopted by the parish council and submitted separately.
b) S20/1615 2-3 bed dwellings Main Rod Old Somerby. No further news. Cllr Trotter had been in touch with the Planners.
9. FINANCE:
a) Payments over £100: i) £145.46 7 Oct 2020 new dog signs ii) £270.05 16 Oct 2020 2 dog bins (£200 grant received from Cllr Trotter’s fund towards the cost).
b) Finance Update: Circulated to Councillors which showed a balance at £9494.29. Copy to be published. ACTION: The Clerk
c) Asset Register: The Clerk and Cllr Burrows had submitted a revised estimate of value for each item on the register. Cllr Burrows suggested a further revision of the value of the Well Head to £10K. That would bring to total value of all assets to £28,350. There would be an increase in insurance cost. Before the latest revision it was set at an extra £63.15 inc VAT. . AGREED: The revised values to £28,350 were accepted. Proposed the Chairman, seconded Cllr Burrows and carried. ACTION The clerk.
Annual Precept 2021/2022: The SKDC had requested parish councils to set their Precept for 2021/2022 before the next meeting. AGREED: Proposed Chairman, seconded Cllr Stevens and carried that the Precept for 2021/2 remain at the level for the current year that is £3,500. ACTION: the Clerk
Grass Cutting : The LCC had invited the council to continue to adopt the County Councils budget for village grass cutting for 2021/22. The contribution from LCC would be no less than this year. AGREED: Action the Clerk
10. CORRESPONDENCE:
a) Email regarding Active Holiday Clubs for Children. Agreed no further action.
b) Email from Cllr Trotter regarding care packages for Christmas. See item 7 above.
c)) Email from a resident for the Review of the PC’s Policy on Abusive, Persistent or Vexatious Complaints including with reference to the apparent requirement to inform the District Council’s Monitoring Officer of any finding made in accordance with this policy. After a discussion it was unanimously AGREED the policy should remain unchanged in that respect. ACTION: The Clerk
14. To review a Determination made pursuant to the Policy relating to Abusive, Persistent etc Complaints. It was proposed by the Chairman that the review should take part in closed session on the grounds of confidentiality, seconded Cllr Burrows and carried.
15. Date of next Meetings: AGREED: Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 7 pm by Zoom (please note the change of date to that mentioned on the Agenda)
The meeting ended at 7.42pm.
CLOSED SESSION:
ITEM 14. After a discussion it was unanimously AGREED to renew the Determination relating to a resident. To be listed on the agenda for the next meeting. ACTION: The clerk.