2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Great Hale Parish Council

Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on

Monday, 3rd April 2023 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall

Present:                 Councillor N Turner (Chairman)

                              Councillor G Cooke (Vice Chairman)

                              Councillor A Broom

                              Councillor J Cope

                              Councillor N Dady

                              Councillor L Mountain

Apologies              Councillor M Barnatt

 County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)

 District Councillor S Ogden  (North Kesteven District Council)

                           District Councillor S Tarry (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 was 1 member of the public present.

A Parishioner stated that he had not yet heard from Network Rail and would be approaching the MP again.  He was disappointed that work had been done in Heckington but not the culvert at Great Hale.

Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.02pm

Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.02pm

Official Business of the Council

1. Chairman’s Welcome (23/01)

Cllr Turner welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.

2. Apologies (23/02)

Council accepted apologies from County Councillor Key, District Councillors Tarry and Ogden and Cllr Barnatt for their non-attendance.

3        Previous meeting held on 6th March 2023 (23/03)

It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 6th March 2023 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.

4        Clerk’s Report (23/04)

1. Ordered new poo bin liner
2. Litter picking hi-viz vest
3. VAT return done and £666.72 paid into bank
4. Emails with landscaping contractor re QE Garden to delay
5. Grass cutting contract returned
6. Contacted Alison Bourne, the Internal auditor (April 19th)
7. Emailed Highways re Opals work
8. Notice of elections displayed on boards and website
9. Downloaded and started work on AGAR form

5.       To receive declarations of interests (23/05)

Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 8

6.       To receive reports from County and District councillors (23/06)

No County or District Councillors in attendance.

7        Planning Applications (23/07)

(7.1)   None received.

8        Finance matters

(8.1)   To approve the March 2023 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (23/08)

Council approved the March 2023 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.

(8.2)   To approve accounts for payment (23/09)

It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.

(9)      Highway matters for discussion and resolution

(9.1)   Reactive speed sign (23/10)

          Cllr Cooke reported that the solar panels for the reactive speed sign will cost £478.66 including £79.79 VAT.  He proposes that we replace the batteries with solar panels and also purchase a smaller speed sign in addition to the current one.  The statistics are showing that cars are slowing down when facing a sign regardless of direction through the village.

Action: It was proposed and agreed unanimously to purchase the solar panels after tChe new post is installed.

(9.2)   Leas Road (23/11)

          Cllr Broom had previously submitted a query regarding Leas Road and the absence of a footpath.  Also that the verges are being ground up and pot holes appearing.  Cllr Broom proposed that this is a road safety issue and that we should approach the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership for advice.

Action: Clerk to approach Graeme Butler, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership regarding the hazardous road and corner. To work towards an onsite meeting.  To copy Cllr Key and Cllr Tarry into correspondence.

(9.3)   Fix my Street Updates (23/12)

          Cllr Turner had put a number of Fix my Street requests in.

          The large pothole on the Great Hale Fen Road is extremely deep and this is getting worse.

          Action:  To inform Cllr Key regarding the hazardous state of the current pothole

(9.4)   Highways – further issues (23/13)

          Cllr Barnatt stated via email that the pothole on the Great Hale Fen Road has got worse.  Other Councillors agreed that it was getting deeper and was extremely dangerous, especially when it fills with rainwater.

          Action : As above 9.3

10      Orchard Green

10.1    Inspections (23/14)

          Cllr Mountain completed the inspections this month.  A small amount of litter was reported.   On 19th March a gentleman was sat in the park with his dog.  Cllr Mountain approached him and explained that dogs were not allowed in the park area.  The gentleman was not happy but did leave. 

Action:  Next month’s inspections: Cllr Cope

11      Other matters

(11.1) Queen Elizabeth Garden (23/15)

          The previous Working Party was cancelled due to bad weather.  However, Cllr Barnatt has been and piled roots. The root clearance now needs to be completed.  A further date for a Working Party was made for Friday 7th April at 9am.

Action:   Working party Friday 7th April at 9am

(11.2) Annual Parish Meeting (APM} (23/16)

          Cllr Cooke discussed the fact that we don’t have our own Social media and that it is difficult to get information out to Parishioners and to interact with them.  He put a post on the Great Hale Facebook page but had very limited response to it.

          A lack of response from the public has meant that it was decided to conduct the Annual Parish Meeting prior to the Annual Parish Council Meeting on Monday 15th May 2023 at 7pm.

(11.3) Elections (23/17)

          Elections are being held in May.  We do not yet know if there will be elections if there are contested seats. Emails will be sent to the Parish Clerk

Action: Clerk to inform Councillors as to whether elections will take place

(11.4)  Orchard Park Inspection (23/18)

          Wicksteed have sent this year’s inspection quote. It will be £120 for an unaccompanied visit from Wicksteed to undertake the inspection.  Cllr Broom obtained a further quote, which was more expensive.  The Clerk investigated another Contractor but they do not do Annual Inspections.  It is an additional £45 to be accompanied. 

          Action:         To book Wicksteed for an unaccompanied visit.

To contact the Contractor and enquire if there any outstanding invoices.

(11.5) Churchyard Clearing (23/19)

          The Clerk raised the point that it is a year since we cleared the churchyard and should we repeat it to stay on top of the job.  It was agreed unanimously.

Action:  Clerk to contact Churchwarden to offer for Sat 22nd April at 9am

It was proposed, Seconded and unanimously agreed to close the Parish Council meeting at 7.56pm and re-opened the Public Forum. 

A member of the public stated that he had done a Fix my Street on LC1 Drove Road. He has just received a notice that the road would be closed between 5-23rd May.  He was unable to add any further details.

Chairman closed the Public open forum at 8.06pm

Chairman re-opened the Parish Council meeting at 8.06pm

12      Future agenda items (23/20)

(12.1) Volunteers on PC Insurance

(12.2)  

(12.3)

(12.4)

13      Date and place of next meeting (23/21)

Monday 15th May 2023 following the Annual Parish meeting @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.

The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 8.07 pm