Meeting Minutes 2021/22

Present: Cllrs Cooper (Chair); L Gaston (Vice Chair); Morley; Wilson-Brown, N Gaston, Bailey, Marsh (ELDC) and  Devereux (ELDC)

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

Mrs M Hoad, Parish Clerk took the minutes.

Cllr Cooper welcomed everyone to the meeting and as there were no public comments the Chairman opened the meeting for business.

320         APOLOGIES

It was noted Cllr Willoughby and Cllr Matthews (LCC) were absent from the meeting.

321         DECLARATIONS OF INTERTEST

                There were no declarations of interest from Parish Councillors at this meeting.

322         MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON THE 6th JANUARY 2022

It was resolved by all that the Chairman sign the minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 6th January 2022 as a correct record.

323         MATTERS ARISING FROM MEETING

It was noted that ELDC had acknowledged the two missing lighting columns and that the replacement of these were on orders for future works.  No timeframes had yet been indicated as the District Council was in the process of engaging new contractors.  The Flooding issue in Back Lane had been identified as a broken pipe under the footway.  This would require replacement and was awaiting one of the larger civil gangs to schedule works.  The Clerk agreed to chase both these items.        

324         FINANCIAL

A. Accounts to be paid/authorised The Council noted the following payments – Clerks Salary & Expenses Jan/Feb; Church Hall Booking £75.00; HMRC; Mrs D Morley – plants £19.00 and it was resolved to authorise all payments – totalling £335.84

B. Renewal of LALC annual subscription & LALC Training Following debate, it was resolved to renew the annual subscription for LALC membership and payment would be raised for April 2022.  It was agreed training would continue to be booked and paid for on an ad hoc, as required basis. 

C. Accounts as at end of January 2022 – Bank reconciliation as at end of January had been circulated for review and was accepted as correct, signed by the Chairman.

D. Councillors Budget Statement as at the end of January 2022 – the document had been circulated for comment and was noted and signed by the Chairman.

E. Appointment of Internal Auditor It was resolved to ask the Clerk for Mablethorpe (Steve Fletcher) to act as internal auditor for financial year 2021/22

325         REVIEW OF ANNUAL STATUTORY DOCUMENTS - Copies of the Council’s Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, and Asset Register documents had been circulated to prior to the meeting for review.  It was resolved to adopt the amendments to the Council’s Stranding Orders and the Asset Register and Code of Conduct were agreed as current and correct.  Clerk to update.

326         PLANNING

TPA tree consultation had been received for works to trees on 2 Alford Road, Bilsby.  It was resolved to support this application.

N/016/00330/22 – 2 Manor Farm Cottage, Sutton Road Bilsby – Erection of a house with integral garage (to replace former fire damaged/demolished dwelling).  – Supporting documents and plans for this application had not been made available on ELDC web site for review.  Clerk was asked to contact ELDC regarding this.  Review of this application was therefore postponed until relevant support documentation was available.

327         HIGHWAYS

a. Footpath 11 Asserby – Huttoft.  It was reported that this footpath was heavily overgrown and disappearing on the ground.  Although in place on the Definitive Footpath Map access to it and signage was not available at the location.  It was resolved to report the condition of this footpath and ask for it to be ‘re-instated’ physically on the ground and signposted accordingly.

328         VILLAGE ASETS / MAINTENANCE AND COMMUNICATIONS

a. Defibrillator – Farlesthorpe:  Installation information had been received from Community Heartbeat regarding the new defibrillator in the phone box at Farlesthorpe.  Cllr Bailey had offered to act as the local contact for the installing engineer.  It was noted that the box did require a good clean up prior to the new defib box and unit being installed.  It was agreed that arrangements for installation would be undertaken by Cllr Bailey and the Clerk.

b. Maintenance of Village Bench – A quote for refurbishment of the village bench had been received and circulated for comment.  It was resolved to ask Louth Men’s Shed (LMS) to refurbish the bench as quoted.

c. Installation of new backing plate for Speed Sign – A response had been received from LCC Road Safety, recommending that the warning sign on Alford Road be extended in height so that the warning sign could be raised providing space below for the interactive speed sign bracket to be installed.  It was agreed that this location worked well for that area and a request would be made from LCC to increase the height of the warning signpost. 

d. Noticeboards – LMS had provided a quotation for the refurbishment of the Bilsby Noticeboard and painting of its metal surround.  Following debate, it was resolved to ask LMS to undertake this work.  Consideration had been given to the request to relocate the village noticeboard.  However, such a move would predominately only benefit one resident and therefore the costs associated with undertaking this were considered inappropriate. 

The noticeboard in Farlesthorpe had rotted out at the base and been taken down.  Quotations had been provided for the replacement of an oak noticeboard and baseline costs for the provision of a metal one.  Following debate it was proposed to purchase a metal replacement noticeboard in moss green from ‘The Parish Notice Board Company’(p CB s PWB) and resolved by all.  Clerk to obtain a design proof and final order/quote for inclusion on the next agenda. 

e. Queens Platinum Jubilee – The Parish Council had already agreed that the refurbishment of Bilsby’s noticeboard and a new noticeboard in Farlesthorpe would be undertaken to ‘mark’ the Platinum Jubilee.  It was resolved that precept monies shouldn’t be spent on a celebration/party for the community as this was something more appropriate for the community group B.A.D.G.E.  Cllrs agreed to contact B.A.D.G.E with a view to seeing whether community funds held by the group could be used to fund a celebration for the village.

329         CORRESPONDENCE JAN / FEB 2022

1. Quotes received from Louth Men’s Shed for renovation of Bilsby Noticeboard – circulated to all.
2. Email link re Avian Flu information from Cllr Matthews – circulated to all
3. County Council Budget proposals for 2022/23 – circulated to all
4. Email response from Richard Fenwick regarding flooding in Back Lane.
5. Response from Sam Robbens (ELDC) regarding footway lighting – circulated to all.
6. Email from HM Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire re Queens Jubilee – circulated to all for info.
7. LALC annual sub renewal information – circulated to all
8. LALC news circulated to all
9. Email from Cllr Matthews re Adults & Community Wellbeing Committee – circulated to all
10. Cllr Marsh email re registration of Queens Jubilee Celebration events – circulated to all.
11. Email response from Safe Road Partnership regarding permission to use lighting columns for speed sign – circulated to all.
12. Revised Fin Reg document to make allowance for future online banking circulated to all.

330         DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT & EVERSLEIGH UPDATE

                Cllr Devereux advised the meeting that the costs of moving from the use of red diesel to white for contractors and farming vehicles was causing a major financial impact on services.  The District Council was also aware of several Covid related scams circulating and asked the Parish Councillors to warn residents of these.  Relief aid for Ukraine refugees was discussed and Cllr Devereux highlighted a coffee morning taking place at the Corn Exchange in Alford on the 12th March to raise funds for this cause.  There were also collection points for donated items (information of locations found through the Alford Hub Site) and it was agreed to publicise this information on the website and FB page for residents.

                Cllr Marsh advised he had not received any further update on Eversleigh and although the caravan parked on the site was an eye sore it was quite entitled to be left there.  If its condition deteriorated further, then perhaps it could be considered a fire risk and enforcement could look at acting on those grounds.  Parish Cllrs advised that residents were still raising concerns to them over this property.

331         COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT

Cllr Matthews was not present at the meeting and therefore there was no further update currently.

332         ANY OTHER MATTERS/NEXT AGENDA

It was noted meeting dates for 2022/23 would need to be considered at the next meeting along with a date for the Annual Parish Meeting.  Next Parish Council Meeting to be held on Thursday 5th May 2022 (to include the APCM).

324a

    Accounts for payment                                                                              Meeting                   03.03.2022

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 20.15