April 2024 Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 8th April 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 J Cope
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies Councillor N Dady
County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.00pm
There was 1 member of the public present.
The Member of the public wished to state that he had emailed the Clerk regarding the new Climbing Wall. He said that he considered it an eyesore and some residents of Orchard Close didn’t like the position of it.
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.02 pm
Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.02pm
Official Business of the Council
- Chairman’s Welcome (24/01)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that he had met with the Clerk / RFO and this would be discussed at Item 8.3.
- Apologies (24/02)
Apologies were received and accepted from Parish Councillor N Dady and County Councillor A Key
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 4th March 2024 (24/03)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 4th March 2024 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (24/04)
- Emailed Local Clerks re D Day
- Looked into bench costs
- Booked Wicksteed Park Inspection
- Met with Chair regarding Reserves
- Turned Speed camera direction with Cllr Cooke
- Corresponded with Churchwarden
- Visit with grass cutter and chair and emails to Highways, District Cllr and County Cllr
- Ordered Lottery plaques to go on Climbing Wall (free)
- Emailed Environment Agency
5. To receive declarations of interests (24/05)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Items 8 & 15
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (24/06)
District Councillors Tarry and Collard were in attendance. DC Collard said it was early days for her in post and that she has had 2 induction days and gathered information on the Ward.
DC Tarry said that she had sent the NK plan to the Clerk. The Clerk has received it and already forwarded it to Councillors.
LCC issue has a new survey on ‘Let’s Talk Lincolnshire’ regarding traffic issues. She will send a link to The Clerk.
She will also send a link re electronic charging points.
Heckington Digital Hub assists people who need IT help. It is held on a Wednesday afternoon at Heckington Methodist Church from 1-2.30pm during term time. Numbers attending the Hub have dropped and Cllr Tarry asked if we could advertise the facility to enable it to remain viable.
Cllr Cooke asked if there was a flyer we could use. DC Tarry said that information on the NKDC Facebook page. The Clerk said that she would look and advertise where possible.
7 Planning Applications (24/06)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference:
Town & Country Planning Act 1990
Planning Application: Notification of Local Councils – Receipt of amended details
Proposal: Proposed residential development of 8 no. dwellings
Location: Land Adjacent To The Gables Great Hale Sleaford
The Clerk has received an email from planning stating, “The purpose of the
communication of 25th March was to make you aware of this but it was not
considered necessary to seek any further comments as the application has otherwise not changed. Your previous representations on the application remain on the case file and will form part of the consideration of the application.”
Whilst we would not re-submit objections, we can object further. Some residents of Hall Road have received letter, others have not.
Action: Clerk to object further regarding increased flooding and disposal of foul water. Surface water and foul drains cannot cope with what we currently have. Further development will make it worse.
Planning Application Reference: 24/0120/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of single storey rear extension and erection of detached garage
Location: 21 Church Street Great Hale Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9LF
This proposal has been approved.
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the March 2024 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (24/07)
Council approved the March 2024 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (24/08)
It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.
(8.3) Reserves (24/09)
Following the Clerk’s meeting with the Chairman regarding the Reserves, the Chairman went through the current Reserves table and he proposed £500 to be moved into The Emergency Contingency fund. There was a small surplus in the Treasurer’s Account and £1700 should be transferred to the Reserves account from the Treasurer’s Account.
Cllr Cooke was concerned there was not enough in the Reserves account and proposed that more money should be allocated in the next Precept to Reserves.
4 Councillors voted in favour of the proposals for the new Reserves allocation with 1 Councillor voting against.
(9) Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – any issues (24/10)
Cllr Cope said that Lincolnshire Highways were on Crow Lane doing a survey of the road.
Cllr Turner updated Councillors on flooding on Chapel Lane. He had submitted a Fix my Street and this has now been allocated to a team. A local resident has cleared mud and dirt from the grate allowing it to be exposed.
Cllr Barnatt raised the issue of potholes on the Great Hale Fen road. He had been unable to measure them as they are full of water.
The potholes in Leas Road have now been filled.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
10.1 To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (24/11)
Cllr Turner had completed this month’s inspections. Everything looks OK. It has been very wet. The grass has been cut. The area by the swings was flooded a bit. The matting was rucked up – which needs looking at. Pigeon spikes need replacing on the big swings.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Mountain
Cllr Cooke to investigate rubberised matting around the swings
11 Other matters
(11.1) Cherry Tree on the green (24/12)
The Chairman said that the cherry tree on the green has a lot of rot on it. He suggested that a tree surgeon should look at it to see.
Action: Clerk to contact tree surgeon for advice
(11.2) Date for Church tidy up (24/13)
Dates for a churchyard tidy were discussed. May 4th is the provisional date for the Churchyard tidy up.
Action: Clerk to contact Churchwarden regarding the date and to confirm to Councillors
(11.3) Church clock weights (24/14)
Councillors to look at the weights – potentially 4th May.
(11.4) D Day commemorations (24/15)
The Clerk has emailed local Clerks in Helpringham, Little Hale and Heckington.2 of those Clerks responded and said that neither Parish Councils had any plans to commemorate the 80 anniversary of D Day. However, Little Hale PC said that if we decided to lay a wreath in the Cemetery, then, subject to a discussion at their PC meeting, then they might lay one too.
Action: To order a wreath from the RBL for the Hales up to £50.
Action: Clerk to contact Clerk at Little Hale
(11.5) Grass cutting Queens Road to Magna Crescent (24/16)
The Clerk and Chair met with the grass cutter regarding this strip of land. The contracted Parish Council grass cutter has never cut this strip before and it was agreed to leave it. Subsequently, the Clerk received an email from Highways informing her that this strip is now to be cut by the Parish Council. The Clerk has written to Highways, DC Tarry and CC Key. CC Key has asked the Highways manager if we are able to refuse to cut this strip. The Clerk is currently awaiting a response regarding this, and in the meantime it remains uncut.
It was proposed, seconded and agreed that we would not cut the area.
Action: Clerk to contact Highways, and ask that if we have to accept the land, then could the area be levelled so that it can be cut with a ride on mower
(11.6) Benches for the new garden area (24/17)
Bench costs, weights, aesthetics and durability were discussed. The benches that we have ordered from Agri-Cycle have lasted well and look good.
Action: Clerk to enquire about an octagonal bench from Agricycle and to come back to the next meeting with availability and costs.
(11.7) Communication outside of Parish Council Meetings (24/18)
Emails are currently sent by the Clerk. When asking for opinions and information from Councillors then Councillors are to ‘Reply All’ so that everyone can see all replies, creating transparency.
Everything should then be discussed at the Parish Council meeting.
Cllr Cooke suggested a WhatsApp group. The Chairman was not in favour of this. The Clerk currently sends a Text to alert Councillors of emails.
Action: Clerk to ask the LALC and Clerk’s group regarding WhatsApp groups. To check if any changes would need to be made to the Standing Orders.
(11.8) Dog fouling signs (24/19)
Cllr Broom said that he had put up 3 new signs. Cllr Mountain wanted to know if that it would be possible for us to put up a sign of what the public should be doing with their dogs. Highways are responsible for the public highways.
Action: Cllr Mountain to send a copy of the ‘rules’ to the Clerk
12 Future agenda items (24/20)
(12.1) Insurance
(12.2) Assets register
(12.3) APM / APCM
(12.4) Climbing Wall
(12.5) Standing Orders – Communication
(12.6) Dogs in the countryside under control signage
(12.7) WhatsApp group - feedback
14 Date and place of next meeting (24/21)
Monday 13th May 2024 @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.21pm
To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to HR and pay matters.
It was unanimously resolved to move into closed session.
The Chairman closed the meeting and opened the closed session at 8.15pm.
Following the Clerk’s Annual Review by the HR Committee, it was proposed to move the Clerk’s pay from Band 10 to 12. This is an increase from £13.28 per hour to £13.73.
The recommendations of the HR Committee were voted on and it was unanimously agreed to award the pay increase to the Clerk with effect from 5th April 2024.
The Chairman closed the Closed session at 8.32pm