2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Village Hall, Kettlethorpe, on Monday 01st April 2019 at 7.40 pm 

Present

Cllr Richard Elliott,  Chairman,
Cllr Richard Barnard,
Cllr Tim O’Callaghan,
Mr. Ron Gee, clerk.

Mr. Roger Brownlow, resident

The Chairman welcomed Mr Brownlow to the meeting and asked him how the Parish Council could help.  Mr Brownlow explained that with the demise of Trentside Links, there is a shortage of public information and a  lack of means to publicise forthcoming local events, thereby affecting their attendance.  He hoped that the Parish Council could organise some form of newsletter to fill the void and perhaps co-ordinate details about future events and information for the three local villages.  Mention was made that perhaps Facebook could help in this situation when it is up and running again, but the point was made that not everyone has the means or inclination to use the system.  A small news - sheet was suggested that could  be distributed say every two / three months  in which events and special items could be publicised by request.

The Chairman suggested that this was a subject that required discussion at a full meeting  and would be placed on the agenda for next month.

1. APOLOGIES

Cllr Lauren Flinders, Cllr Tony Scawthon, Cllr Catherine TurnerPC Martin Doherty, PCSO Glenn Patchett .

2 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the March  meeting had  been circulated  to all members and were proposed as a true record by Councillor R. Barnard, seconded by Councillor T O’Callaghan and fully agreed.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Local Policing issues – The Crime Report for March listed 1 theft, 1 vehicle crime, 2 burglaries and no criminal damage.  None of the reported offences had taken place in Kettlethorpe Parish. 

See Correspondence item 4.1

3.2 Jubilee Park – Fences and barriers. The preservative / paint has been purchased and work will take place shortly.

3.3 Highway Matters i.  Tesco ‘bags of help’  – Tony had devoted a significant amount of time in evaluating  this  scheme and checking the forms that had been sent, in the hope that funds could be made available to purchase speed control for Laughterton.  The funding manager for Tesco had  advised that this was the first request of its type that they had received, but therethere was no harm in submitting the appropriate forms to “see how it went”.  
The idea is to be shelved for the moment.

ii. Speed Watch equipment & training – at the last meeting, the sum of £500 was authorised towards setting up the Speedwatch system. It was agreed that the right people with the right outlook were needed to make the scheme work properly, otherwise it could fizzle out through lack of dedication. At the last meeting, Catherine offered to contact a number of ‘possibles’ and the Chairman said he would also help, but affirmed that all volunteers must give full commitment before any money is spent.  It had been hoped to set up a joint scheme with Fenton and Torksey, but these Parishes had already begun setting up their own system.

iii. A vehicle tyre had been fly tipped behind the bench seat on Kettlethorpe Road and will be reported to WLDC. 

3.4 Parish Council Surgery – Tony reported that everything went well; he had chatted withone or two locals in the Friendship, but no one turned up, to specifically attend the Surgery. The Chairman is to cover the April Surgery.

3.5 Leaning flower trough, near Millfield G.C – Pressure of other work has prevented the job from going ahead, but Tim, Richard and former member Dave are to deal, using the ‘Farmer’s Jack’ which is now to hand with Richard. 

3.6 Waste

i. Hatchery Lane – Richard as acting Chairman, had written a strong letter to the Environment Agency explaining the circumstances regarding the continual bad smell and the apparent use of this area as a transfer dumping ground.  The Agency’s attention was also drawn to the occasional spontaneous combustion of the heap with the consequent dirt and smoke having an effect on the health and wellbeing of residents.  See Correspondence item 4.2.

ii.  Drinsey Nook, bins  –  A report had been sent to LCC with regard to the overflowing bins at the entrance to the traveller’s site and the possible danger to passing traffic, regarding those that  had fallen over close to the road.

iii.  Drinsey Nook,  rubbish pile –  WLDC Enforcement Office had been advised of the ever-growing pile of waste in the protected woodland, adjoining the traveller site and the possibility of it being used as a waste transfer facility.

3.7 WLDC – Parish Election.  All election applications had been taken to the West Lindsey offices where they were evaluated and responses were created to be forwarded to each candidate.  

3.8 Chairman for 2019  -   Richard (E) agreed to be put forward as Chairman at the AGM for another year in the light of the current pressure of work experienced by the Vice Chairman.

4. CORRESPONDENCE

4.1 Police Crime Report for March

4.2 Cllr Barnard – Letter to Environment Agency re: chicken manure

4.3 Drinsey Nook - LCC Highways - bins problem..........WLDC - Waste dumping

4.4 LCC – Parish Council Highway grass cutting

4.5 Cllr David Byrne – Letter of resignation

4.6 LCC Cllr Richard Davies – Grass verges in Laughterton

4.7 LIVES – Defib – been used ???

4.8 MKS – Key for play area

4.9 LALC – P.K.F. Littlejohn, external auditors

4.10 Came & Co – Insurance information pre June 2019

4.11 LCC – Invoices to LCC, new address

4.12 LALC – Councillor home addresses

After agenda printed

4.13 WLDC – precept for 2019 / 2020

4.14 LALC – Councillor Networking Day – 4th July

4.15 WLDC – Notice of Meetings

4.16 Tesco – re Bags of Help

E-mailed  items for February –  list appended to these minutes 

5. PLANNING 

None

6, FINANCE

6.1 LALC – Annual subscription - £147.75   Payment was proposed by Cllr Tim O’Callaghan, seconded by Cllr Richard Elliott and agreed by the meeting.

6.2 Village Hall Rental - £176.00 Payment was proposed by Cllr Richard Barnard, seconded by Cllr Tim O’Callaghan and agreed by the meeting 

6.3 MKS Groundcare – grass cutting for March, Invoice No1353 - £157.20 incl VAT.  Payment was proposed by Cllr Tim O’Callaghan, seconded by Cllr Richard Barnard and agreed by the meeting.

6.4 PAYE / Salary - for end March - it had been proposed at the start of the financial year that the agreed salary and PAYE should be paid monthly, and payment of each was duly approved.  

6.5 Clerk salary and expenses for 2019 / 20  - In consideration of the fact that the Precept had been  kept to the same figure for two years, the clerk felt that it would be proper to hold the salary to  the same sum as 2018.  He was asked to leave the room to allow for discussion and was advised on return that an increase of £35 per month will be applied, with expenses held at £350.   This was proposed by Cllr Richard Elliott, seconded by Cllr Tim O’Callaghan, and fully approved.

6.6 Parish Accounts – for end March.  A balance of  £10,724.29  with an expenditure of  £8,442.65  to date was confirmed  by the HSBC bank statements and the corresponding  accounts sheet.  It was agreed by the meeting that the monthly Parish Accounts should be signed by the Chairman and the clerk.

7. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
 7.1 Defibrillator – An alert had been triggered during the past month, and although the equipment had not been used for health reasons, the pads etc will require renewal at a cost of £50.  To be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be the Annual Parish Meeting and AGM which will take place on Monday 6th May 2019 in Kettlethorpe Village Hall at 7.40 pm