April 2022 Minutes
Kettlethorpe Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 5th April 2022 at 7.00 pm in
Kettlethorpe Village Hall
Present
Cllr Richard Elliott, Chairman,
Cllr. Richard Barnard.
Cllr. Catherine Turner,
Guests: District Councillor Jane Ellis.
Mr Ron Gee, Clerk
Mr Paul Bussoopun .
1 APOLOGIES
Cllr Tim O’Callaghan, Cllr Jez Willis
2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the March meeting had been circulated to all members and were proposed, seconded, and approved by all Councillors.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Local Policing issues
The March Police Report for Gainsborough Rural South listed 6 x burglaries, 5 x thefts, 4 vehicle crimes, and 0 x criminal damages, but one item related to this Parish, in which an unsuccessful attempt was made to steal a Manitou from farm buildings, although several power tools were taken.
3.2 Jubilee Park
New Springies and soft pour tarmac - This work is in hand with Easigrass of Laughterton at a cost of £1,050, including VAT.
3.3 Highways – The problems regarding the provision of footpaths / cycle paths, speed limits and the necessary works to Kettlethorpe Road were discussed in detail at the December 2021 meeting and reviewed in January, with D/Cllr Ellis forwarding the information to County /Cllr Butroid at the time. Jane was asked if she had any news but answered that nothing further had been received from LCC and suggested that this could take up to a year to include in the works programme..
Mention was made of the need to cut back the verges on Kettlethorpe Road to expose the tarmac hidden beneath the grass, and in effect, widen the road by several feet. County Cllr Butroid had asked the local Highways division in December what the intentions are about the preparation work, for the resurfacing, i.e., will it include ‘siding back’. Mr Joe Phillip, Highways Division Manager, advised that we should be able to be tie it in with the Surface Dressing programme due to start w/c 5th April, dependent upon the weather, but if it can’t, he said, we can raise something adhoc, to ensure that this is on our ‘siding’ programme for the Spring.
It was pointed out that on a different topic, that the hedges at the first bend on Kettlethorpe Road are projecting into the carriageway again, causing vehicles to move dangerously towards the wrong side. Jane suggested that the best option would be to take a photograph and forward it to Cllr Butroid.
3.4 Solar Farms – The Chairman had attended a recent meeting in March, at which Sir Edward Leigh was also present to discuss solar farms. Comments had been made by the audience about the possible loss of arable land and how much actual electricity will be produced. The Summer figures could be quite high, but less so in Winter with poor light and settled snow. The impression was given that WLDC were not in favour of this scheme, possibly because it bypasses local planning.
3.5 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee - Local events
i.a Home Farm Close.
The Council was represented recently at a meeting in the Friendship held to make plans to celebrate the forthcoming Jubilee, but it seemed that this was mainly for residents of Home Farm Close and nearby properties. They hoped that small prizes could be made available to them for children’s competitions such as fancy dress.
i.b. Kettlethorpe
Mrs Brownlow of Kettlethorpe had circulated a flier inviting residents of Fenton, Laughterton and Kettlethorpe to a local gathering to take place on 5th June in the Village Hall and The Old Rectory garden that will include a buffet lunch followed by a picnic garden event with food, live disco music, and patriotic tunes
ic. Laughterton
A suitable representative is to be contacted by the Chairman to host each small ‘unit’ in the village, for example Marsh Lane / Newark Road and Aspen Close, Swynford, Sallie Bank and so on. The hosts are to be asked to advise of a start time for the function..
i.d. Park Flagpole
The erection of a flag pole in Jubilee Park was suggested, where we could fly a flag for the Queen’s Jubilee,. Costs are to be checked, and Cllr Ellis said that there is £400 per Parish available in the West Lindsey Initiative Fund and offered to e-mail the details.
Referring to the Christmas switch-on, this flag pole could also be used to mount a stand-alone skeleton light tree that does not require anyone to work at dangerous heights when erecting the lights. In addition, a flag could be flown to celebrate special days e.g., St. George’s Day.
i.e Bunting
The clerk was to check on the price of bunting, and to purchase several strings as suggested by the meeting, possibly from Amazon.
i.f Church Walk
Quotes had been obtained for the Walk which included trees, irrigation, belting and spiral guards at a cost of approximately £2,250 + VAT. It was discovered that large tree guards in metal may be prohibitive at £4,200 incl: VAT and as was said previously, perhaps Lister’s could be approached to donate wood for guards as a sponsorship gesture.
3.18 Christmas lights – After a demonstration last month, of a better way to light the Christmas tree it was agreed that the cost of a timer and a net of lights estimated at about £200. Should be followed up.
3.19 Parish Grass cutting – All Round Gardens have completed the first cut of the season, but it appeared that a patch of verge grass had been overlooked, which he offered to cut on his next visit. (See Finance 6.1 for payment).
3.20 Domain e-mail addresses – See March minutes item 7.1 for suggestions. As commented, none of the suppliers of this service are cheap, but based on recommendations, a local company F5 Computing appears to offer the best, possibly the most economical solution. Seven Councillor addresses will be required, plus one for the clerk. Users of the system will need the Microsoft 365 and Windows Defender on their home computer / laptop.
Mr David Clayton of F5 Computing is to be invited to address the meeting of the Council after the May AGM on the benefits of using his system.
3.21 New Code of Conduct – The proformas signed by Councillors at the last meeting must be returned to WLDC as soon as possible, plus those from members who were not at the last meeting.
3.22 New Parish Clerk – It is hoped the new clerk can take up office at the beginning of September, allowing time for the incumbent to deal with ‘closure’ work during the Parish Council holiday month of August and to prepare the handover of paperwork and computer information.
It was realised that a job description must be created, which will be brought to the next meeting. It was thought advisable that an interview panel should consist of no more than 3 members, possibly the Chairman, Vice Chairman and one other Councillor, with questions formulated under HR rules. The Chairman offered to put the applicants in the picture as to the job description, style of interview, and the proposed date of takeover.
3.23 New Councillors – Four applications have been received. Mr Paul Bussoopun of Home Farm Close has been invited to join the Council, having already attended two meetings as a guest, and the clerk, Mr. Ron Gee has accepted the invitation to become the second new Councillor upon his retirement as clerk, having first confirmed with WLDC that he will be eligible. The other two applicants are to be advised of the Council’s decision and asked if they would be willing to consider nomination, at the next vacancy.
4. CORRESPONDENCE
A list was circulated during late February / March was distributed to members shortly after the month end.
5. PLANNING
Nil
6. FINANCE
6.1 All Round Gardens – Invoice No 128 - £230 (No VAT) The length of verge missed on the approach to Home Farm Close will be dealt with shortly,
6.2 PAYE and Salary – to end March. Payment of these items was agreed for the year in accordance with an earlier proposal.
6.3 Parish Accounts – The balance to year ending 31 March 2022 was £11,340.19 with an expenditure of £10,172.27 (bank charges levied £8 per month since December). After confirming this with the accounts sheet and the statements from HSBC, the Chairman and the clerk were invited to sign the monthly Parish Accounts.
7. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
7.1 None
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This will take place at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 3rd May 2022 and will be the Annual Parish Meeting immediately followed by the AGM.
Meeting closed at 9.20 pm