November 2024 DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 4th November 2024 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall
Present: Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
Councillor G Cooke MBE (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor N Dady
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
Councillor J Cope
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk & RFO)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.00pm
There was 2 members of the public present.
One member of the public said that some loose road surfacing had been laid in Orchard Close. It has not been rollered and stones are still loose.
He asked about village Remembrance Day arrangements. We informed the Member of the Public that a service is being held at the Church on Monday 11th November at 10.50am
Cllr Broom spoke as Chair of the Burial Board of the Cemetery. The Burial Board is represented by 8 trustees – 4 from Little Hale, 4 from Great Hale. The grass cutter resigned earlier in the year and work on grass cutting in the Cemetery has been done by volunteers. There is a new contract for grass cutting with Sleaford Town Council, but this has resulted in a price increase. Under the 1972 Local Government Act it is the responsibility of Town and Parish Councils to maintain burial grounds. Income has become stretched over the years. Great Hale has contributed £400 per year for the past 12 years. The Burial Board has managed up to now, but they are now foreseeing difficulties. The bid by the Burial Board for the next year will approximately double, with both Parish Councils (Great and Little Hale) will be billed by Sleaford Town Council.
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.09pm
Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.09pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (24/124)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reported that he will attend the Chairman’s training through the LALC to remain up to date.
2. Apologies (24/125)
Apologies were received from CC Key, DC Tarry and Cllr Cope.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 7th October 2024 (24/126)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 7th October 2024 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (24/127)
Moved the interactive speed sign with Cllr Cooke
Invoiced NKDC for Litter Picking grant 2024/25
Invoiced Highways for Grass cutting contribution
Contacted HCVS for data
Measured park area for possible free trim trail
Photographed asbestos fly tipping
Contacted Chair of Village Hall committee
Research for Christmas thank you
Emailed Highways
Emailed Kompan regarding park parts
5. To receive declarations of interests (24/128)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 8
Cllr Barnatt made a declaration of interests on Item 8.1
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (24/129)
D Cllr Collard made us aware of 2 scam alerts. A Fake Universal Credit app and a fake winter heating subsidy office. If anyone is unsure about the winter heating app, then they should contact Citizens Advice help to Claim support on 0800 14484444. Anyone who has given information to scammers can report this to Action Fraud on 03000 123 2040. Regrading the winter heating subsidy, people are urged not to click on any links within the message but to forward it for free to 7726.
Cllr Cooke asked D Cllr Collard regarding a lack of street lighting in Great Hale. He had walked around the village with the Clerk and noted a number of areas that are too dark and dangerous. D Cllr Collard said that a street walk needs to happen to ascertain whether more lights are needed. Cllr Turner asked for costs regarding additional street lighting.
D Cllrs Collard left the meeting at 7.22pm
7 Planning Applications (24/130)
(7.1) No Planning applications received
8 Finance matters
(8.1) Increase in village hall fees (24/131)
The price of hiring the hall (lounge) for Parish Council meetings has risen from £9 to £18, without any prior notice from the Village Hall Committee.
Cllrs Broom and Cooke felt that the meetings should not be charged at all.
Cllr Barnatt said that he was a trustee, who overlooks the running of the Hall by the Committee.
A draft letter to the Village Hall committee has been written.
Action: To circulate the letter to Councillors for their input and comment then to send to the Village Hall committee.
(8.2) To approve the October 2024 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (24/132)
Council approved the October 2024 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.3) To approve accounts for payment (24/133)
It was unanimously resolved to approve the account for payment for CJP Gardening.
It was unanimously resolved NOT to pay the account for payment for the Village Hall but to hold it until a response has been received.
(9) Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – any other issues (24/134)
Antisocial motorcycle use in the village. Cllr Mountain said that she had informed the Police of teenagers on motorcycles travelling over fields, including the field by the Cemetery. The Police know who they are, and parents will be spoken to in the next few weeks.
Cllr Dady – said that they had been seen travelling along Grove Street
Cllr Broom – had spoken to the Farm Manager to watch for the bikes. They were seen on the Drove.
Action: Clerk to contact NKDC ASBO team. To contact PCSO and invite them to a Parish Council meeting
The Clerk had been informed of an issue regarding a gate holding stake in the ground, next to a resident’s driveway. The stake holds the resident’s gate open when necessary. The stake was caught by the Parish Council grass cutter’s lawn mower and the top of the stake was badly damaged. The resident would like the stake repaired or replaced. The stake is placed on Highways land, which is why the grass cutter was cutting that piece of land.
Action: Chair to contact Highways to seek advice and to report back to the resident.
Gully in Chapel Lane
Cllr Turner has emailed CC Key to hasten the clearing of the gully.
Cllr Broom – Has completed a number of ‘Fix my Street’ for potholes on Great Hale Fen. Some potholes had been done but have left more going up to Last Farm. Cllr Broom said that he had submitted further Fix my Streets and sent a letter to CC Key
Cllr Dady said that there has been some speeding through the village by tractors, which has been caught on camera. Curbs have been mounted and verges ground up. The mud on the road has been very bad and not cleared up enough. Cllr Mountain said that she was aware of the Contractor.
Member of the Public left at 7.51pm
(9.2) Data feedback from speed sign on Fen Road (24/135)
The speed sign has not caught a huge number of speeders coming into the village from the Fen Road.
Cllr Turner said that he observed that motorists note the speed sign and slow down in response to it. Cllr Cooke said that he would be moving the speed sign back to Little Hale Road in ‘stealth’ mode to assess the level of speeding.
Action: To move the speed sign back to Little Hale Road in stealth mode.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
10.1 To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (24/136)
Cllr Mountain inspected the park and said there was a lot of litter under the canopy. She asked if a sticker could be placed asking people to place their rubbish into the bins. Cllr Turner will add that to his article in the village magazine.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Barnatt
11 Other matters
(11.1) Cherry tree – village green (24/137)
Cllr Turner said that he had received a call from Cllr Cope regarding equipment to cut the cherry tree. Cllr Barnatt said that he would contact Cllr Cope to arrange a date to trim the tree.
Action: A working party to trim the tree this Saturday (9th) November
(11.2) Churchyard trees (24/138)
We have received 3 quotes for work on the Churchyard Trees.
The Clerk will contact the successful contractor and to add work on the 2 sycamores. To inform them that they can proceed once we have authority from the Diocese.
Action: Contact Lincoln Diocese regarding tree work
(11.3) Contribution to HACVS (24/139)
A grant application and supporting data had been received by the Clerk from HACVS. The submission was discussed and it was unanimously resolved to award a grant payment of £250 to HACVS.
The HACVS AGM is to be held on Wednesday 20th November. Cllr Mountain hopes to attend.
Action: £250 to be paid to HACVS
(11.4) Replacement park parts (24/140)
The Park parts cost £5.80 but delivery is £32 (from the Czech Republic). It was discussed whether to find alternative parts, but it was agreed that authentic parts should be obtained. As the delivery cost is so high it was agreed that spares should be ordered.
Action: Order parts from Kompan including spares.
(11.5) Remembrance arrangements (24/141)
There will be a Remembrance Day service at St John the Baptist Church, Great Hale on Monday 11th November at 10.50am. The Parish Council has a wreath to lay. Cllrs Turner, Broom and Cooke said that they would be available to attend.
Action: Councillors to attend and lay the wreath on behalf of the Parish Council.
(11.6) Village grass cutting (24/142)
The new grass cutter has been working for a month now. All Councillors were pleased with the quality of his work. The Contractor asked to be informed of any areas that he might have missed as he is still following a map.
Action: To feedback to grass cutter if any areas missed.
(11.7) Gully Chapel Lane (24/143)
This was discussed in 9.1
(11.8) Footpath update Leas Road (24/144)
No updates. CC Key not in attendance.
(11.9) Village volunteers Christmas thank you (24/145)
The Clerk had gathered a list of some volunteers within Great Hale, including the litter pickers and those involved with the village magazine. It was agreed that there are more within the village, and it would be difficult not to miss anyone out. Cllr Cooke suggested a thank you for all village volunteers at the start of the May APM.
Action: To include a thank you at a start of the APM in May
(11.10) Village street lighting (24/146)
Cllr Cooke has asked for street lighting to be added to the agenda as there are a number of dark spots in the village. He had walked around the village with the Clerk and noted the darkest areas. Street lighting is shared between NKDC and LCC.
Action: To contact NKDC to ask about a walk round and ask about the criteria and to find out why we are paying so much?
12 Future agenda items (24/147)
(12.1) Budget
(12.2) Street Lighting
(12.3) Burial board
(12.4) Clerk’s NALC pay rise
(12.5) Play Park equipment
14 Date and place of next meeting (24/148)
Monday 2nd December 2024 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.42pm