October 2021 Minutes
Kettlethorpe Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 18th October 2021 at 8.00 pm in Kettlethorpe
Village Hall
Present
Cllr Richard Elliott, Chairman,
Cllr Tim O’Callaghan,
Cllr Catherine Turner,
Cllr Jez Willis,
Mr R. Gee, Clerk.
- 1. APOLOGIES
Cllr Richard Barnard, Cllr Lizzie Smith.
Cllrs Lizzie Smith and Jez Willis offered e-mailed apologies for missing the September meeting.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the September meeting had been circulated to all members and were proposed, seconded, and approved by the Meeting.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Local Policing issues – 5 burglaries, 3 thefts, 8 vehicle crimes, 1 criminal damage, with one offence in Laughterton, where someone rang the pub complaining of noise and was later found behind the bar by the licensee.
The Lincs Road Safety vehicle was seen in Laughterton on several occasions during recent weeks.
3.2 Jubilee Park
i. Springies – Further discussion needed, but if funding is required, the next meeting of the FCC is expected to be in December
ii. Tarmac – The Chairman had sought help on this issue and has received a considerable number of responses. It was decided to wait until the next meeting when more members will be present.
iii. Park Trees – It was mentioned that the trees bordering the road may need attention and arrangements were made to lop any offending branches.
3.3 Highways.
i. Sallie Bank Footbridge – The new bridge has now been completed, together with a frame to restrict horses, as the Hunt has been known to cross over the old bridge in the past.
ii Chicken Farm – D/Cllr Jane Ellis, on behalf of Mr Andrew Arden, had invited Councillors and residents to look round his chicken farm before the birds are introduced. The Chairman said that residents have concerns about the breaches of planning regulations, odours, and the possibility of additional traffic, but it would have been better if Mr Arden had come directly to the Parish Council to make his case and offer the invitation
The clerk was asked to invite D/Cllr Ellis to the next PC meeting to discuss the issue and Mr. Arden’s blatant disregard of the rules.
3.6 Flower Troughs – Replacement of some of the older plants is in hand.
3.7 Propeller Memorial – a thank you gift from the Council was presented to the resident who refurbished the Memorial.
3.8 Parish Cemetery i. messy seat, (bird lime). It was agreed by all that the best solution would be to replace the old wooden seat with a new recycled plastic seat from Agri-cycle at a cost of £345 plus VAT. The clerk was asked to check whether their staff could fix the bench, but their office advised that they could not help and suggested that as the bench weighs in at 80 Kg it will be very difficult to move, once established.
ii. Moss on Church path – This has been cleared by MKS, at a cost of £75 + VAT- see Finance item 6.2
3.9 Bird nuisance, Home Farm Close – To be removed from agenda.
3.10 Queen’s Jubilee event – Next year, the Queen will be the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee – 70 years on the throne and celebrations are to be held nationally in June 2022. The clerk had contacted WLDC to check if any promotional materials such as street party packs of bunting, paper plates, balloons etc would be made available, either for free or for purchase. Mr Matthew Snee, Community Engagement Officer had answered that he was waiting a committee decision on how the Jubilee would be supported.
3.11 Parish village signs – A request has been received to change the Parish signs for something more picturesque, as they are considered by some to be ‘old hat’. A resident had offered to investigate designs and costs to change.
3.12 Community Speed watch – In answer to a query from the clerk, Lincs Road Safety Partnership advised that several Parishes have resumed Speed watch operations, following the lessening of the Covid 19 restrictions. It was said that this is a PC led venture, but after implementation, the initiative is left with the community, with input from the Parish Council if needed. A former Councillor, who is strongly in favour of the scheme, had raised the subject with the Chairman recently and the meeting suggested that he may be the man to take control. The Chairman is to ask him if he would be interested in hosting the scheme.
Members agreed that perhaps the need for this service is not quite as necessary, now that the Lincs Road Safety vehicle is seen in the village on a regular basis.
There were 8 members of the Speed watch team as of February 2020.
3.13 Dog Kennels – Noise, Kettlethorpe resident’s complaint. It was said that the barking only appears to be evident at feeding times and that it would be up the complaining resident to take the issue to the Environment office at the District Council. The Council is to have a friendly word with one of the kennel owners.
4. CORRESPONDENCE
Relevant items circulated during October will be forwarded at the month end.
5. PLANNING
None
6. FINANCE
6.1 MKS grass cutting 15th and 30th September – Invoice No 2788, £314.40 incl: VAT
6.2 MKS Church path moss clearance - £75, Park path weed clearance + weed control - £125, Invoice No 2805 – Total £240 incl: VAT
6.3 Thank you / for work on Memorial, 2 bottles wine - £12.00
Payment of the above items was agreed, proposed, and seconded by the meeting.
6.4 PAYE and Salary – Payment of these items was agreed in accordance with the proposal made for the year at an earlier meeting.
6.5 HSBC – is to charge for some transactions in the future. It seemed that there would be a flat charge of £5 per month for use of the accounts and that additional charges if there are any in-payments.
6.6 Parish Accounts – The balance at the bank to month ending 30th September 2021 is £15,868.81 with an expenditure of £5,642.95
6.7 Parish Precept – As an estimate must be submitted to WLDC by 26th November for next year’s Precept, a spreadsheet was created by the clerk to help with the decision. The final figure for 2022 / 2023 is to be agreed at next month’s meeting, on 9th November.
7. MATTERS ARISING
7.1 Speed limit – A resident had contacted the Council to ask for help in setting up a speed restriction on Kettlethorpe Lane, Kettlethorpe due to an increase in children, dog walkers and other pedestrians. It was mentioned that the Council had sought this some years ago, but Highways felt then that the road did not qualify. Clerk to ask Lincs Road Safety Partnership for advice.
7.2 Creation - of a native woodland in Kettlethorpe,– it was said that the land in question is comprised of two grassland fields to the left of Westmoor Lane, and as tree planting is being encouraged by the government, there is some financial incentive for schemes above a certain size, as well as the possibility of aid to carbon offsetting. The Parish Council fully supports this initiative, as schools, including Newton on Trent have shown an interest in the project.
7.3 Campers on restricted land – Two occupied camper vans and car have been situated in the unregistered field behind Kettlethorpe Road, Laughterton LN1 2LB for a considerable time, plus evidence that someone may be moving into a wooden house on the same field. Concerned residents have been given to understand that the owner may knock down the garage to provide a full width entry on to this unregistered land, on the assumption that it can then become his back garden to do with as he wishes. A sign has been set up saying ‘Meadow View’, complete with a post box for incoming mail. (WLDC report ref: WLGE_372700216)
7.4 Christmas Ceremony– It was said that there were many parents in and around the Parish who looked forward to the annual ceremony, with children singing round the Christmas tree and suggested that we should go ahead with the event, but just have a Father Christmas this year, handing out gifts to the children, rather than a Treasure Hunt. Mrs Riley at Newton school is to be contacted and several small selection boxes are to be purchased as gifts for the children. The Chairman offered to check if the usual horse and carriage will be available to bring Santa, and someone of the right proportions will have to be found to fill Santa costume.
The first Sunday in December was agreed as a suitable date, i.e., December 5th.
A question was raised about the brightness and number of lights on the tree, and there are a few ideas to improve things for this year.
7.5 Remembrance Day – The clerk has approximately 30 large British Legion poppies that were purchased last year to affix to lamp posts etc for November 11th. The Chairman offered to arrange to mount them for this year and several members agreed to help.
7.6 Clerk away – 29th October to 8th November.
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
8.1 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 9th November at 7.30 pm in Kettlethorpe Village Hall.
Meeting closed 9.30 pm