Minutes 7 November 2024
BILSBY & FARLESTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD
7 November 2024 at 7pm in Holy Trinity Church, Bilsby
Present: Cllrs A. Carolan (Chair), N. Gaston (Vice Chair), D Morley, E. Cooper, J. Hudson, D Coppack and N Simmonds.
Also present: Mr M Rudd (Parish Clerk), Mrs K Culley (outgoing Parish Clerk) and Cllr C Matthews (LCC). No members of the public in attendance.
PUBLIC FORUM
There was no Public Forum.
54. WELCOME
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting at 19.00 hours. The Chair welcomed the new Parish Clerk, Mr M Rudd and thanked Mrs K Culley, the outgoing Clerk for all her hard work and support.
55. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllrs G Marsh and S Devereux (ELDC).
56. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr N Gaston declared an interest in agenda item 7h
Cllr D Coppack declared an interest in agenda item 8. As a result, the Chair moved the item to the end of the meeting and Cllr Coppack would leave the meeting.
57. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5 SEPTEMBER 2024 AND THE PUBLIC MEETING HELD ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2024
It was unanimously resolved to approve the minutes of the meetings held and these were signed by the Chair.
58. TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT AND CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE INTERIM PARISH CLERK & RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH EFFECT FROM 14 OCTOBER 2024
It was unanimously resolved to approve the appointment and the Chair signed the Contract of Employment on behalf of the Council.
59. TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATES FROM THE LAST MEETING NOT ITEMISED ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Morley raised the issue of the manhole cover on Thurlby Road that remains unfixed. Clerk will forward details to Cllr Matthews (LCC) to follow up.
Cllr Morley raised concerns about ‘business signs’ being placed on the side of the street despite previous objections by LCC. Clerk to request signs be removed by LCC.
60. FINANCIAL:
a. Payments for approval:
Mrs K Culley – Final Salary and Expenses - £286.16
Alford Garden Services - £540.00
Royal British Legion (Poppy wreath) - £20.00
Microsoft 365 Subscription - £59.99
b. To approve and sign letter to Barclays Bank to transfer remaining funds to Unity Trust and close all remaining Barclays Bank accounts:
Unanimously resolved to approve and signed by bank signatories.
c. To approve the transfer of the bank administration of Unity Bank accounts to the new Parish Clerk:
Unanimously resolved to approve by Councillors.
d. Update of change of signatories to the Unity Trust accounts:
The Clerk reported that no further update has been received.
e. To note the LGA Pay Award 2024/25 to increase the Clerks pay (SCP6) to £13.05 per hour with effect from 1 April 2024:
Noted and unanimously resolved to approve the Clerks new pay rate by Councillors.
f. To note and approve the quote from Alford Garden Services for grass cutting in 2025:
Noted and unanimously resolved to approve by Councillors.
g. To receive and approve the Parish Council six month Financial Statement:
Noted and unanimously resolved to approve by Councillors.
h. To receive and consider the draft budget for FY2025/26:
Councillors discussed a number of budget scenarios. The current precept covers the Councils committed costs but leaves very little to fund other activities within the Parish and action is required to build up existing reserves which are below recommended levels. Following a lengthy discussion, Councillors requested the Clerk prepare several financial scenarios to review the impacts of increasing the precept on the budget and residents. These will be shared with Councillors prior to a final decision being made in January 2025.
61. TO RECEIVE ANY GENERAL UPDATES FROM LCC AND ELDC REPRESENTATIVES
ELDC – no report as the District Councillors were attending another engagement
LCC – Cllr Matthews reported that the roadworks from Sandilands to Chapel St Leonards are running behind schedule due to the poor state of the road.
Cllr Matthews attended the meeting in Huttoft to discuss the proposed pylons / substation.
62. UPDATES ON NATIONAL GRID PROPOSALS FOR PYLONS AND SUBSTATIONS
Councillors noted the response from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.
63. TO AGREE PARISH COUNCIL DATES FOR THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR
Noted and unanimously approve by Councillors.
64. UPDATE ON COUNCILLORS OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESSES
Clerk agreed to resend ‘test’ email to all Councillors to check secure email working correctly prior to transfer to new email system.
65. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE GRASSROOTS FUNDING BID FOR A SPEED INDICATOR SIGN
The Clerk confirmed that the funding bid had been unsuccessful.
66. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FOR ‘80 YEARS OF PEACE
The Clerk confirmed that no further updates had been received from the various schools invited to submit designs for the memorial plaque. The Clerk will chase the schools for an update.
67. TO CONSIDER THE NEED TO REPAINT THE NOTICEBOARD LOCATED IN BILSBY
Cllr Simmonds agreed to request a quote.
68. ANY OTHER MATTERS FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION
Cllr Carolan confirmed he had written to BADGE but no reply had been received. Cllr Carolan will chase for a reply.
Councillors raised the on-going issue of ‘Everleigh’ and the lack of response from ELDC over addressing this long running case. The Clerk will raise with Cllr Marsh (ELDC).
69. PLANNING
a. N/016/01312/24 IVY HOUSE FARM, FARLESTHORPE ROAD, BILSBY: Erect 2no. agricultural buildings for free range egg production
Prior to the discussion, Cllr Coppack left the meeting due to a Declaration of Interest.
Councillors noted the number of chicken farms already within the parish.
Concerns were raised over the visual impact of the proposed buildings and suggested that more landscaping is required to reduce the visibility of the buildings from the road.
Concerns were also raised about the potential increase in traffic travelling to and from the site and other sites within the area. Existing roads such as Back Lane are not suitable for heavy vehicles, are in a very poor state of repair and lack sufficient passing places. Councillors felt that some contribution by the applicants to funding road improvements is required.
Councillors voted 5 to 1 against the proposals as they currently stand should the above comments not be addressed.
70. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 9 January 2025
71. THERE BEEN NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8:41PM