September Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 2nd September 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 N Dady
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District 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.
Member of the public said that he would be interested to hear feedback from the traffic data from the interactive speed sign on. Orchard Close. He added that some children had been silly, laying down in the road on Orchard Close and playing chicken with the traffic.
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.01 pm
Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.01pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (24/86)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. Despite there being no meeting in August, it has been a busy time with advertising and meeting Contractors and the associated paperwork. The Chairman wished to thank the Clerk for her work over the summer.
2. Apologies (24/87)
Apologies were received from CC Key and DC Collard.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 1st July 2024 (24/88)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 1st July 2024 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (24/89)
Put up Emergency details at Park
Assessed & cleaned Road Safety Partnership 30mph signs with Cllr Cooke
Did VAT return (1st April 2024 – 31st July 2024)
Advertised for grass cutting contractors
Obtained most up to date maps from NKDC and Highways
Sent out Specifications to potential Contractors
Liaised with potential Contractors
Walk rounds with grass cutting contractors
Emails with 2 Parishioners re grass and speeding
Met with Wicksteed re Park equipment
Started Grant funding application for park equipment
Ordered Remembrance wreath
5. To receive declarations of interests (24/90)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 8
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (24/91)
DC Tarry sent a draft copy of NKDC’s position on the proposed Anglian Water reservoir. They have asked for a 3rd Statutory consultation.
NKDC Community Champions – there are 10 categories for nominations.
Canvas of Electoral Register has been sent to all residents.
News NK – by paper and email has been sent to residents.
The Gables – it was stated that it would be tidied. D/Cllr Tarry asked if anything had been done. Cllr Broom said nothing had happened. Environmental Health had visited and had written to all residents asking them not to feed the birds. There is a visible rat run. The rat nest is on the land beyond the Gables. If anything, further changes, then she asked that we contact her.
Cllr Broom asked when the Builder will be made to comply with the requirements.
D Cllr Tarry left the meeting at 7.13pm
7 Planning Applications (24/92)
(7.1) No Planning applications received
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the July and August 2024 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (24/93)
Council approved the July and August 2024 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (24/94)
It was unanimously resolved to approve accounts for payment.
(9) Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – Orchard Park (24/95)
Cllr Cooke moved the reactive speed sign to Orchard Close for 3 weeks. He sent the data gathered to the Police, who said that there wasn’t enough of an issue with speeding along the road. He continued to say that he had sent data from the sign on Little Hale Road. The Police said, again, that the speeding did not reach their threshold for further action.
Action: To move the speed sign to Grove Street to collect data.
(9.2) Highways – any other issues (24/96)
Cllr Turner said that the gulley on Chapel Lane had still not been cleaned out. The gulley cleaner had missed at least 2 drains along Leas Road.
Highways had resurfaced the road but there is a lot of chippings on the pavements.
Action: Contact Highways – Chapel Lane and Leas Road to ask for the gullies to be cleaned out. To tell them about the chippings from the roads being on the pavements.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
10.1 To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (24/97)
Cllrs Dady and Turner undertook July and August’s inspection. They said the grass and litter etc was generally pretty good. The Park has been very well used. The fence along the dyke has a large hole in it. One of the football goals has been damaged. A parent has done a temporary fix with tie wraps on it. Cllr Cope said that he would have a look at both the fence and the football post and feedback to the Clerk.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Dady
11 Other matters
(11.1) Anglian Water Reservoir (24/98)
The Statutory Consultation has happened. There was a little more detail but there are still a lot of unknowns. NKDC have submitted a response asking for a third Statutory Consultation. Train links are not happening now and transport is still an unknown.
(11.2) The Gables builder’s yard (24/99)
Cllr Broom said that the builder has not undertaken any of the remedial work.
Action: To observe – and inform D/Cllr Tarry
(11.3) Community Speed watch signs (24/100)
New static signs are £20 each. It was decided that there is currently enough of these signs around the village, so no need to purchase any more at the current time.
Action: To move the speed sign to Grove Street to gather data.
(11.4) Church Wall (24/101)
Cllr Cooke had been in contact with Heritage England for funding, who said that our Church wall does not meet their requirements. They gave Cllr Cooke some other avenues to explore.
Action: Cllr Cooke and Clerk to investigate alternative funding
(11.5) Tree report and quotation (24/102)
The Cherry tree on the green has a large rot pocket were the main trunk forks and it is recommended that it should be felled in the long term. The tree belongs to the Parish Council so we do not need permission to fell it. We have had a quote for this work which is a substantial amount. Discussion led on to whether we can do it ourselves or if it could be reduced.
Resolved that Cllr. Cope would investigate further and report back to next meeting for further discussion.
Regarding the Churchyard trees – the quote continued to include the No 2 Oak on left boundary. Remove deadwood from crowns.
London Plane, near church entrance. Crown lift for clearance and cut back limb over the highway to lessen weight.
No 2 Sycamore on right boundary. Remove deadwood.
No 1 Prunus, right of church path. Remove dead limb including removal of excess weight from the remainder of the tree and re-shape.
Clearing all timber and debris, leaving the sites clean and tidy.
Resolved to seek further quotations for this work from qualified Tree Surgeons
Actions: Cllr Cope to look at the cherry tree and feedback as to whether it can be done by volunteers.
Clerk to seek quotes from other authorised Contractors regarding the Churchyard trees.
Member of the Public left the meeting at 7.52pm
11.6 Grass cutting (24/103)
Due to the current grass cutting contractor advising the Parish Council of a significant price increase, which we could not accept without going out to tender under Parish Council regulations, the Clerk sought alternative quotations in a competitive tendering exercise from other contractors.
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 Grass cutting tenders.
It was unanimously resolved to move into closed session at 7.55pm
8 parties initially showed their interest, with 4 walking around the village with the Chairman and the Clerk. 7 submitted tenders initially, with the current contractor subsequently withdrawing his tender and a further Contractor being unable to quote due to lack of staff. The 6 tenders submitted were discussed.
Action:
To inform the successful Contractor and arrange a commencement date.
To thank the current contractor for his work over the years.
To inform the unsuccessful Contractors.
12 Future agenda items (24/104)
(12.1) Cherry tree village green
(12.2) Churchyard trees
(12.3) Data feedback from speed sign on Grove Street
14 Date and place of next meeting (24/105)
Monday 7th October 2024 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.09pm