July 2024 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 8th July 2024 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC & LCC Councillor Carrington
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin (arrived 7:06pm)
Absent:
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Watkinson
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
There were 3 members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no public comments or questions.
Before the start of the meeting, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Janice Robinson, a former councillor, who had recently passed away.
065/M/24 To receive apologies and valid reasons for absence, these having been submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Rushby, Sowerby, Trafford and Watkinson.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin had also indicated that she would be late.
066/M/24 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
Cllrs Buckley-Jones and Catterson both declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 (minute 073/M/24), as members of the WI.
Cllr George declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 16 (minute 080/M/24), due to knowing the family.
For full transparency, the RFO declared an interest in agenda item 9 (minute 073/M/24), as a trustee of the Garrett’s Charity and the Clerk declared an interest in agenda item 8 (minute 072/M/24), as an employee of LALC.
067/M/24 To approve the draft notes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on Monday 10th June 2024 and for these to be signed as the agreed minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the June minutes. These were duly signed by the chair.
068/M/24 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
LCC & NKDC Cllr Carrington gave the following update form LCC/NKDC:
- Thanks to the electoral services team and to all the polling station volunteers for their work at recent elections.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin arrived (7:06pm).
- Recent works on the bank of the beck had been reported. This was passed on to the Internal Drainage Board. (NKDC only have riparian responsibilities for one area of the beck).
- Flood enquiry is ongoing. S.19 flood reports are due to be published at the end of August, with the full flood enquiry reports in the autumn.
- New LCC survey (on Let’s Talk Lincolnshire), asking about footpath improvements.
- There has been a measles resurgence in the county and parents are encouraged to take up the MMR vaccine.
Cllr Farrington mentioned confusing signage on Mill Lane, when approaching the junction with Washingborough Road. Signage indicates ‘turn left only’ however there is not a ‘no right turn’ sign and traffic continue to turn right, onto Washingborough Road and there have been a number of near misses with traffic heading out of Heighington. Cllr Carrington agreed to look at this.
069/M/24 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the June council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
070/M/24 To approve the monthly accounts for June, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Net Position and Bank Reconciliation
The bank reconciliation had been signed by Cllr George prior to the meeting.
Bank balances as presented were: Co-op (current) - £30,015.24, Unity Trust (current) - £92,705.89, Public Sector Deposit Fund £48,000.
The June accounts were proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Farrington, and resolved.
071/M/24 To note overtime worked in May and paid in June
This was noted.
072/M/24 To agree to continue with the LALC internal audit service for 2024-25
This was proposed by Cllr Catlow, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved.
073/M/24 To review 2024-25 grant applications received and agree grants to be awarded, as per our Grant Awarding Policy
The RFO confirmed that the grants budget for 2024-25 is £1500.
Applications had been received from:
- HBW Utd FC – to fund required FA training for three coaches for a new Under 9 football team.
- Garretts Charity – to fund repair of the boundary wall of the Memorial Garden at the foot of the Chapel of Ease tower.
- WI – to support the provision of a Streetwise Defence training event for women and girls.
Cllrs Buckley-Jones and Catterson left the room (7:25pm).
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved that each of the grant applications was deserving but as there were insufficient funds in our grants budget to cover it all, to be fair to all the applicants, 90% of the amounts requested would be awarded. (£432 to HBW Utd, £900 to Garrett’s Charity, £177.12 to WI).
Cllrs Buckley-Jones and Catterson returned to the meeting (7:29pm).
Members of the public left the meeting at this point (7:30pm).
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
074/M/24 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
None received.
075/M/24 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
076/M/24 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 24/0657/HOUS. Replace all existing windows (including insertion of conservation roof light), removal of secondary staircase, raise ground and first floor levels to Utility and reorder ground and first floor layout to existing dwelling together with conversion of outbuilding into annexe/home office space. 7 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1RG.
b. 24/0658/LBC. Replace all existing windows (including insertion of conservation roof light), removal of secondary staircase, raise ground and first floor levels to Utility and reorder ground and first floor layout to existing dwelling together with conversion of outbuilding into annexe/home office space. 7 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1RG.
Council had no comments.
077/M/24 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 24/0259/LBC. Proposed single storey extension to the property with fully glazed link corridor to form a new master bedroom accommodation and en-suite bathroom and internal works. The Dovecote, The Old Stackyard, Heighington. Application approved.
b. 24/0442/PNND. Application under Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for prior approval for change of use from agricultural barns to 5no. dwellings (C3). Holly Tree Farm, Fen Road, Washingborough. Application approved (not in our parish).
c. 24/0472/HOUS. Demolition of existing conservatory and construction of new orangery style extension to the rear. 11 Troon Close, Heighington. Application approved.
d. 24/0293/HOUS. Removal of existing conservatory and erection of single storey front extension (revised description and plans). Little Grange, Potterhanworth Road, Heighington. Application approved.
The planning decisions were noted.
078/M/24 To review the following council documents:
a. Safeguarding Policy
b. Subject Access Request Procedure
c. Whistleblowing Policy
A number of comments had been received and concerns raised on the Safeguarding Policy.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the Subject Access Request Procedure and Whistleblowing Policy, and defer further review of the Safeguarding Policy to September’s meeting.
079/M/24 To resolve to delegate urgent decisions to the clerk and RFO in conjunction with the chair and vice chair due to there being no council meeting in August, and for any such decisions to be reported back to council in September.
This was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved.
080/M/24 To consider a request for a memorial bench for Potterhanworth Road.
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to approve the request, subject to agreement on the type of bench, location, requirement for professional installation and clarification of maintenance responsibility.
081/M/24 To consider putting an emergency contact in place for hirers of our premises.
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to put in place a rota of staff and councillors to cover the year.
082/M/24 To note the Q1 litter pick report (April – June).
This was noted. It was confirmed that there were other regular litter-pickers in the village, which is why the level of litter found appears to have reduced.
083/M/24 To receive the latest update regarding Chafer bugs (and moles) on council land (standing agenda item).
There was no update.
084/M/24 CLOSED SESSION. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 for the following staffing and commercial items on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to move into closed session.
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington and NKDC Cllr Goodwin left the meeting (7:50pm).
085/M/24 To review a business case for a change in staff hours.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to a permanent increase in staff hours as per the supporting report.
086/M/24 To consider a proposal for IT communication improvements (including wi-fi provision) at Jubilee Hall
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Craig and resolved to proceed with a communications cabinet only and not to extend the wi-fi provision as proposed.
The meeting closed at 8:02 pm.
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of Council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next meeting.