November 2022 Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 7th November 2022 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall
Present: Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
Councillor G Cooke (Vice Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor J Cope
Councillor N Dady
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor S Ogden (North Kesteven District Council)
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.00 pm.
The Chairman welcomed the public to the 15 minute Public Forum
There were 5 members of the public present.
A parishioner spoke about the speed camera issue and said that they all wanted 2 x Solar panel flashing reactive signs.
A further parishioner agreed and said that although Grove Street was apparently an issue, no one from Grove Street has ever attended or complained.
The same parishioner updated us on Network Rail issue and the apparent difficulties with a ‘landowner’. Network Rail said they had applied for track access, after over 2 years of correspondence.
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.05 pm
Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.05 pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (22/126)
Cllr Turner welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Cllr Turner thanked Cllr Cooke for installing the new dog poo bin.
He also thanked the working party for attending to the fallen tree in Orchard Park.
2. Apologies (22/127)
Council accepted apologies from County Councillor Key and District Councillor Ogden for their non-attendance.
3 Previous meeting held on 3rd October 2022 (22/128)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 3rd October 2022 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4. Clerk’s Report (22/129)
a. Chase dog poo bin order. Receive order. Fitted bin with Cllr Cooke
b. Bench installation – emails and phone calls with 2 local companies
c. Quotes for clearing ‘The Spinney’ – One contractor declined to quote, and one further quotation received
d. Communication with NKDC re damage to Hall Park tree
e. Fix my Street – following phone call from a resident
f. Communication with Graeme Butler (Road Safety Partnership) re Speeding
g. VAT return
h. Attended Intro to CiLCA course 19/10/22
i. Transferred data from old to new laptop
j. Raised invoice to NKDC for litter picking grant
To receive declarations of interests (22/130)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Items 8.
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (22/131)
District Councillor Tarry raised the issue of the fly tipping on Carter Plot Road and whether the waste was still there. She said that she would follow it up.
DC Tarry stated that on the NKDC website there was information on the cost of living crisis. She added that there is an NKDC – Health, well-being and resilience fund. There is a closing date of 2 Dec for applications for the money.
Cllr Broom asked if the Doctors and other relevant professionals / organisations etc were aware of the fund. She answered that although she wasn’t 100% aware of the criteria, the funding is for not for profit organisations.
Cllr Cooke added that the Luncheon Club may be eligible.
Cllr Dady added that the Chatty Café may be another group.
Cllr Turner also suggested the Heckington Voluntary Car Service
Cllr Turner asked if NKDC had any information regarding the reservoir proposals.
Cllr Tarry said that NKDC were scrutinising any information received.
Cllr Turner asked if we could send information and questions to Cllr Tarry. She was happy to receive any data or questions.
7 Planning Applications (22/132)
(7.1) Anglian Water reservoir
Cllr Turner raised the matter of the Helpringham to Swaton Road and what the grey / pink areas on the proposal maps actually meant. A representative from Anglian Water said that unless representation was made, the road would be closed.
Cllr Cooke said that he had rung Anglian Water confirmed that the road would be closed. He added that the closure of the road would have an impact on all villagers and possibly the school at Helpringham. Cllr Cooke added that everyone needs to go on the website and identify their concerns. Cllr Dady suggested a petition.
Cllr Turner said we need to get the information out to all parishioners. He added that not everyone had received a card from Anglian Water. Cllr Mountain and Cllr Barnatt had not received one.
It would make accessibility much more difficult for schools, dentists, doctors and work if the road was closed.
Cllr Broom suggested a meeting with Swaton, Little Hale, Burton Pedwardine, Scredington and all affected Parishes. He proposed a meeting for all affected Parishes which was seconded and passed.
Action: Clerk to contact affected Clerks to try to organise a meeting.
Cllr Tarry left the meeting at 7:33pm
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the October 2022 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (22/133)
Approved
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (22/134)
It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.
(8.3) Chair explained that Clerk had met with him to discuss the state of the Parish finances.
It was discussed to re-name Business account to be ‘Reserves account’. This account to be used to hold all the designated reserves and allocated monies, whilst the Treasurers account to hold the Councils working monies.
Cllr Dady asked how much money would be transferred. Cllr Turner clarified that just over £10K would be transferred to the Reserves account.
Cllr Broom asked if there was a specified percentage that should be held in Reserves.
Cllr Turner explained that the council should hold between 3months to 12 months of reserves and good practice is around 6 months worth. We currently have 3-4 months in Reserves, which is above the legal minimum but below that of good practice.
Cllr Dady commented that what was left in the Treasure's account would be an accurate statement of what we actually have to spend.
to re-name the Lloyds Bank account from ‘Business’ account to the ‘Reserves’ account.
Action: Clerk to change the name on the Lloyds account from ‘Business’ to ‘Reserves’
Clerk to move Reserve and earmarked monies to Reserves account
(8.4) CIL money reporting
Cllr Turner explained that we had received 2 x amounts of CIL money can be spent on open spaces and enhancements for the village. We are unable legally to spend the money on the speed cameras. This CIL money to be put into the Reserves and drawn upon when required for things such as benches and gardens. Annual reports to be submitted on what the monies are spent on to NKDC.
(9) Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Speeding through the village (22/135)
Graeme Butler suggested that traffic would not have changed significantly since the survey in 2019.
Cllr Turner suggested that he come back and identify positions for the signs on Grove Street / Fen Road
Cllr Mountain asked for the reasons not to have solar powered reactive signs. The reasons given are that solar powered signs are fixed and cannot be moved. The battery powered one can be moved and offer a more flexible solution as well as being more economic
Cllr Cooke summarised that solar / battery reactive signs do the same job.
Cllr Mountain said that she believes speed coming into the village is bad and should be addressed in the same way as speeding vehicles leaving the village.
Action: Clerk To contact Graeme Butler (Road Safety Partnership) to identify all possible site locations for an interactive speed sign with in the village.
To obtain quotations for interactive signs.
(9.2) Fly tipping on Carter Plot Road (22/136)
Waste is still on Carter Plot Road.
Cllr Tarry had stated earlier that she would be happy to take this up for us.
Action: Clerk to email / call Highways / Flytipping
(9.3) Bench – corner of Little Hale Road / Church Street (22/137)
Quotes have been received from 2 local companies for the installation of the bench.
Cllr Broom said that the quotes were very high and felt that they were overpriced.
Action: To obtain at least 1 more quote
(9.4) Any other Highways Matters (22/138)
Cllr Cooke raised the issue of Parishioners contacting the Clerk. He suggested having the number of NKDC available to give to Parishioners so that they can call NKDC themselves.
Cllr Turner did a Fix my Street on Chapel Lane after the rain. A quick response stated that they had looked and couldn’t see any issues. This issue was raised over a year ago and every time there is heavy or persistent rain there is flooding.
Action: To write to Rowan Smith, Highways Manager
10 Orchard Green
10.1 Inspections (22/139):
Cllr Cope said that the ground was tidy and grass would probably need another cut. Bit of litter a couple of weeks ago over half term but all good.
Action: Next month’s inspections – Cllr Barnatt
11 Other matters
(11.1) Dog faeces in the village and over local fields (22/140)
It continues to be a problem in the village.
It was suggested that more signs are put up around the village.
Cllr Cooke volunteered to design a sign to be put on the notice board.
Action: Cllr Cooke to design a poster.
Cllrs to put some more signs up and encourage reporting.
(11.2) Quotes for trees / Spinney works (22/141)
The 2 quotes were discussed and it was proposed that the lesser quote to be accepted and proceed.
We need a further quote to level and seed the ground.
Action: Clerk to inform the neighbour to the Spinney when we will proceed. Clerk to obtain further quote for levelling and seeding.
(11.3) Hall Park tree damage (22/142)
Clerk reported the damage to the tree to NKDC. NKDC stated that they would not take any action regarding damage to the tree. They suggested that any damage should be reported to the Police. Cllr Cooke said that he had reported the damage to the Police. They gave him a Crime Number.
Action: To Contact District Councillors to advise.
(11.4) Churchyard (22/143)
We had a good clear out in the Spring of the Churchyard. It was discussed whether another clear up should be done before winter. It was agreed that due to bad and unpredictable weather, that it should wait until the Spring.
Action: Contact Churchwarden – do another clear in the Spring.
(11.5) Grass cutting contract (22/145)
We have received a new contract from NKDC with regards to funding of the grass cutting. It was agreed to compare with the old contract before signing the new one for comparison.
Budget setting will start next month and this should be looked at first before signing.
Action: To defer this until the New Year
12 Future agenda items (22/146)
(11.1) Speeding
(11.2) Heckington Voluntary Car Service
(11.3) Meeting with neighbouring Parishes re the reservoir
(11.4) Policies
13 Date and place of next meeting (22/147)
Monday 5th December 2022 @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 8.34pm