April 2022 Notes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes Taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 4th April 2022 at Great Hale Magna Village Hall
Present:
Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor J Cope
Councillor L Mountain
Councillor G Cooke
Apologies
Councillor N Dady
Councillor S Ogden (North Kesteven District Council)
In attendance:
County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk)
Miss Kirsty Sinclair – (Locum Clerk)
The Chairman opened the meeting at 1830hrs.
Public Forum
One member of the public present, who expressed his dissent over previous Council minutes expressing gratitude to LCC Highways for clearing a diesel spillage on Orchard Close. He was keen to correct the minutes and to advise that it was actually NKDC who cleared the spillage after a number of communications by himself.
Cllr Key advised that he too had been in contact with NKDC with reference to the diesel spill and confirmed that the matter had already been reported.
Cllr Key had met with Orchard Close residents to discuss the building lorries accessing the new build. Building work signs have been displayed opposite the play park. Concerns were raised that big lorries mount the path near to the park and the state of the road and paths with mud and rain.
The Public forum closed at 18.36hrs.
Official Business of the Council
1 Apologies (22/01)
Council accepted apologies from Councillors Dady and Ogden for their non-attendance.
2 Previous meeting held on 7 March (22/02)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 7 March 2022 were a true record, subject to an amendment detailing NKDC as the authority who cleared the diesel spill and not LCC Highways. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
3 To receive declarations of interests (22/03)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 6
4 To receive reports from County and District councillors (22/04)
Cllr Tarry stated that the Council Tax rebate of £150 should be paid to eligible people by the end of April. Those who pay by Direct Debit should have received theirs by the end of April. For residents not paying by Direct Debit, it may be slightly longer.
Cllr Tarry had enquired about a small electrical item collection but was told that this was not a cost effective service to provide.
Cllrs Tarry and Key discussed the NK Lottery and the eligibility by community groups to benefit from it. Cllr Key said that £20 of lottery tickets is purchased every week in Great Hale with 50p per ticket being given to the village hall.
Cllr Broom addressed Cllr Tarry regarding the method statement from the Hall Road new build site. It detailed that building vehicles should use Carter Plot and not go through the village and Heckington. Most vehicles have not done this and have caused damage in the local area.
Cllr Key detailed progress on pothole repairs and explained that there had been a delay due to a shortage of tradesmen to do the job. A lot of work had been done and over 6000 jobs had been completed in only 2 weeks. He had been around the village and, whilst some still needed to be done, many had been completed.
Councillors Key and Tarry left the meeting at 18:48 hrs.
5 Planning Applications (22/05)
No applications had been received this month.
6 Finance matters (22/06)
(6.1) To approve the March 2022 bank reconciliation and spend to date.
Due to the handover between Clerks and the Banking changeover, this information was not able to be compiled this month. A double reconciliation will be shown at the next meeting.
(6.2) To approve accounts for payment (22/07)
Grass cutting invoice
Village hall hire
It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.
(7) Highway matters for discussion and resolution (22/08)
Clerk detailed request for bench on the corner of Little Hale Road and Church Street made Thursday 24th March ref: 41728212413. No further information has been received following this request.
8 Orchard Green
8.1 Inspections (22/09): Weekly inspection completed with satisfaction, and all was in order. Cllr Cope said that it was tidy, with a small amount of litter. He said that the bird spikes above the swings needed replacing.
Cllr Broom then asked to pose a question to the member of public in the room. The Parish Council meeting was paused at 18:52 to allow this. Cllr Broom asked the member of the public where he had purchased his own bird spikes. Reply was from Ruskington Garden Centre.
The Open forum was closed again at 18:54, returning to the business of the Parish Council meeting.
Cllr Broom suggested speaking to the play park providers to see what they might suggest and also to Aveland Pest Control.
Action: Clerk to contact both Wicksteed and Aveland Pest Control to seek a solution.
8.2 Annual Playground Inspection (22/10)
This is due in May 2022. Date needs to be confirmed. Council gave authority for the extra payment, that may be requested, for an Accompanied inspection by Wicksteed.
Action: Clerk to contact Wicksteed to confirm date and time, and that we would require an Accompanied inspection of the play area.
9.1 Request for a tree in the Churchyard (22/11)
After much discussion amongst Councillors, it was decided regrettably, that the Parish Council would be unable to provide funding for a tree.
Action: Clerk to contact Churchwarden to inform her of Council’s decision.
9.2 Future website costs (22/12)
After looking at the options, it was decided to take the option of £150 for the year entitling the Council to 10 hours website support.
Need to check if we have any outstanding hours to use before committing to this.
Need to check on the LALC website to book website and other relevant courses for Clerk.
Action: Clerk to check if there are any outstanding hours available to the Council. To investigate any courses and book on one. To contact website support and inform them of our decision to take the £150 option.
9.3 Insurance Renewal (22/13)
Cllr Turner (Chair) said that he had looked through the preliminary form and was concerned that there may be some omissions. Chair and Clerk to go through the form and bring back to next meeting.
Action: Chair and Clerk to go through preliminary form before next meeting
9.4 Anglian Water road closure of Grove Street (22/14)
Grove Street will be closed form 3-5 May for a new water installation. No action to be taken.
10 Other matters
10.1 Platinum Jubilee (22/15)
Cllr Cope informed Council of events planned for Great Hale. These are as follows:
Great Hale Village Hall:
Fri 3rd June: Disco - Group – the ‘Stolen Fridays’ to perform in aid of Jamie4Ever at a cost of £10 per ticket
Sat 4th June: Ceilidh Dance - £12.50 per ticket
Sun 5th June: Picnic and ‘big lunch’ at the village hall. Will also include games and decorated cake competition etc.
Decorate gardens and houses in village if residents wish.
Great Hale Church
Sat 4th June: Jacket potato lunch, puddings and drinks
Sun 5th June: Songs of Praise with Sleaford Brass Band followed by a Ploughman’s meal
Action: Clerk to inform NKDC with update on what Great Hale is planning for the Jubilee
Planting of Jubilee tree in the Spinney (22/16)
A working party to clear the ground and area in preparation for the tree.
Action: Working party of Councillors to meet at 0900hrs on Thurs 7th April to clear the area. Also to install bench on Church Street after this had been done.
10.2 Sleaford Renewable Plant Fund (22/17)
Cllr Broom to follow this up and discuss again at next meeting
Action: Cllr Broom
10.3 Tidying of Churchyard (22/18)
It was reported that the trees were trimmed back last year so this year’s job should not be huge.
Working party of Councillors to survey on Thurs 7th April after the Spinney had been cleared and to report back at the next meeting.
Action: Working party of Councillors
10.4 Internal Audit for 2021-22 accounts (22/19)
Chair proposed that Miss Kirsty Sinclair (Locum Clerk) to assist Clerk with the preparation of the accounts.
Locum Clerk to contact Lloyds Bank to chase re. Clerk’s access to the Bank account.
Action: Clerk and Locum Clerk to meet to compile information needed for Internal audit
11 Future agenda items (22/20):
Sleaford Renewable Energy plant grant
Tidying of Churchyard
Website Maintenance
Insurance
Highways update (Cllr Cooke)
Jubilee tree in Spinney
Date for Park inspection
12 Date and place of next meeting (22/21)
Monday 9th May 2022 @ 1830 hrs in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 19:40hrs