Minutes - 11 April 2019
Minutes of Sedgebrook Parish Council Meeting
held at 8.00 pm on Thursday 11 April 2019 in Sedgebrook Social Club
Present: Chairman G Preece, Vice Chairman C Wood, Cllr J Denton, Cllr C Warby, Cllr G Mahoney, and Mrs J Bratton (Clerk) together with 1 member of the public.
1 Chairman’s Remarks – the Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and made a note of thanks for the time and effort Cllr H Drew-Bradley put in while she was on the Parish Council; he hoped she will return.
2 Apologies for absence and reasons given – District Councillor Pamela Bosworth District had given her apologies.
3 To receive declarations of interest on any item on the Agenda under The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 of the Localism Act 2011.
No declarations received.
4 Notes of the last meeting held on 21 February 2019
The notes of the last meeting, held on 21 February 2019, were approved and signed by the Chairman as being a true record.
5 Clerk’s Report on Matters Outstanding not covered by the agenda
5.1 The Best Kept Village and Small Towns Competition – it was agreed that the Parish Council enter the competition again this year. SKDC are sponsoring the event so there is no entry fee.
Clerk Action: to arrange for completion of the entry form.
5.2 Membership of the Campaign to Protect Rural England – following discussion it was resolved not to join the organisation for £36 per year.
6 Correspondence
6.1 SKDC had sent a monthly update report on the Register of Electors.
6.2 SKDC had supplied nomination packs for the District and Parish Council Elections on the 2 May 2019.
6.2 Allington News – April/May edition 2019.
7 Public Forum
7.1 Parish Precept
A member of the public did not agree with the increase of 27% of the Parish Precept for Year Ending 31 March 2020 – he stated that Sedgebrook was the most expensive village in the whole of SKDC. The villager did note that the letter sent around all the houses in the village had made the position very clear - a copy of the budget had also been attached. The Chairman stated that £28,500 had been spent on new play equipment and the Parish Council had previously raised the precept by £3000 per annum to budget for the expenditure. In answer to a comparison with Allington, the number of Band D properties in Allington is far higher than in Sedgebrook, therefore the cost per household in Sedgebrook is far higher. The Vice Chairman stated that, by law, you had to employ a Parish Clerk and the recommended general reserves was 6 – 9 months to cover for unexpected expenditure eg if the tree on The Green needed to be felled, it could cost the Parish Council in the region of £3000.
8 Flooding – (Vice Chairman 8.1) (8.2 Cllr G Mahoney)
8.1 Items to report/update – nothing to report. Cllr Mahoney said the problem with the drain on Allington Road had still not been resolved.
9 Highways (Vice Chairman 9.1 /Cllr G Mahoney 9.2 & 9.3)
9.1 Update - the Vice Chairman said there was nothing to report on Highways apart from a few potholes which had been filled in.
9.2 Lincolnshire Community Speed Watch – update on purchase of equipment
Cllr Mahoney reported the Community Speed Watch team had been out on Allington Road for an hour and, out of 131 vehicles, 3 were speeding at 37 mph. It was noted the 131 vehicles had been counted travelling in both directions - Cllr Mahoney has asked for clarification as the vehicles caught speeding were only travelling in one direction as only one speed sign had been erected. It was resolved to see how the Community Speed Watch proceeds and to see if it warrants purchasing another sign and stand to enable the team to record the speed in both directions.
9.3 Allington Road 30 mph signs – the request to Highways to move the 30 mph signs from the Sedgebrook side of the bridge to Allington’s side – David Mitchell of Community Speed Watch thought it was reasonable to move the signs and on Cllr Mahoney’s request, he is going to see if Highways will move the signs. The Vice Chairman stated that the moving of the signs does not go with their policy as it depends on the number of houses along the side of the road and there is only the caravan site.
10 Planning (Vice Chairman)
10.1 Update – nothing further to report.
11 Dog Agility Course Off School Lane (Chairman) – blue fencing erected around the course – to discuss – noted that the temporary blue plastic fencing had now been removed. Part of the conditions of the planning application had been that the equipment be put away at night.
Cllr Warby had been by the field today and reported there were no dogs barking during the training.
12 Light flashing constantly on a house on Allington Road – to discuss – a complaint had been received by an Allington villager. Following discussion it was resolved that Cllrs Warby and Denton call round to see the householder. Should Cllrs Warby and Denton be unable to talk with householder, to email the Clerk who will write to Highways concerning the nuisance of the flashing security light.
13 Recreation Field & Footpaths (The Chairman)
13.1 Update – Nothing additional to update.
14 Defibrillator – update – Cllr Mahoney stated the people who ran the training course were unable to get into the defibrillator. The Chairman stated that you use the standard default code (which EMAS would give you should you have the need to call them). There are also two keys which open the defibrillator if you don’t have the code – one of the keys, which the Social Club kept, has gone missing but the Chairman has the other one. The defibrillator, by law, needs checking annually for the pads and the battery. If EMAS have used the unit, they will replace the pads. The defibrillator is the responsibility of the Parish Council and Cllr Mahoney was volunteered to check the defibrillator on an annual basis.
Action: Cllr Mahoney, with the Chairman will see if she can open the unit, following the end of the meeting.
15 Parish Council Elections – 2 May 2019 – firstly, the Chairman congratulated the Parish Councillors for being nominated onto the Council for the next four years. The Councillors were required to send in their Return of Election Expenses to SKDC prior to 30 May 2019 (even if they have a nil return). The Vice Chairman took the opportunity to thank the Chairman on behalf of the community for the valuable work he has completed over the past 12 years as Parish Councillor, Vice Chairman and Chairman.
16 Annual Parish Meeting - 16 May 2019 – update and discuss purchase of refreshments – Caroline Johnson MP and Cllr Richard Davies were attending and would be requested to give a talk on items relative to the parish, district and day-to-day things which affect us – particularly not the NHS or Brexit.
Councillors Action: Cllrs Warby and Denton to purchase cheese, biscuits etc for the evening.
17 Finance (The Clerk)
17.1 Verification of bank statements/bank reconciliations – the bank statements and reconciliations were verified by Cllr Denton to the 5th April 2019.
17.2 Quarter End 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2019 Receipts and Payments/Aggregate Receipts and Payments from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 – were circulated and accepted by the Parish Council.
17.3 Asset Register – to review addition and adopt – the addition to the Asset Register was reviewed and it was resolved to adopt.
Clerk Action: to circulate the adopted copy to the Parish Councillors.
17.4 Payments – Community Cleaner – it was resolved to pay the Community cleaner up to the 30 April 2019.
17.5 Payment – Parish Clerk - it was resolved to pay the Clerk up to 31 March 2019.
17.6 Donation Request from Saxonwell Group Parish News - towards the printing and publication costs of the magazine during 2019. Following discussion, it was resolved to defer the decision to the next meeting.
17.7 Payment – it was resolved to refund Cllr G Mahoney for the purchase of a Hand Tally Counter for Community Speed Watch
17.8 Payments – LALC – it was resolved to pay the Annual Subscription fees for 2019/20 of £138.31
17.9 Payment – LALC – it was resolved to pay the £90 for the Annual Training Scheme for YE 2020
17.10 Payment – P E Hempstead and Sons – it was resolved to pay for March 2019’s grass cutting.
18 Items to be discussed at the next meeting:
18.1 It was resolved to agree a separate amount for donations and have a policy how we distribute the designated funds.
Clerk Action: to organise a Grant/Donation Application Form.
18.2 Putting a fence around the play area to keep the dogs out.
19 To resolve whether to exclude the public and press for consideration of the following confidential staffing matter - the member of the public left the meeting.
20 Clerk’s salary to be discussed – details to be minuted separately.
21 Date of next meeting: Thursday 9 May 2019
Thursday 16 May 2019 (Annual Parish Meeting)
Monday 20 May 2019 (Annual Parish Council Meeting)
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45 pm.