Minutes - 9 January 2020
Minutes of Sedgebrook Parish Council Meeting
held at 8.00 pm on Thursday 9 January 2020 in Sedgebrook Social Club
Present: Chairman C Wood, Vice Chairman G Mahoney, Cllr J Denton, Cllr C Warby and Mrs J Bratton (Clerk).
1 Chairman’s Remarks – the Chairman welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2020 and the new decade.
2 Apologies for absence and reasons given – apologies were received from District Councillors Hannah Westropp and Pamela Bosworth.
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 were received.
4 Notes of the last meeting held on 28 November 2019
The notes of the last meeting, held on 28 November 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 – District Councillor P Bosworth has organised a grant of £250 from the SKDC Community Fund which will enable the new Sedgebrook Community Museum in St Lawrence Church to purchase a display cabinet for their regimental badges collection, historic books and handbells.
6 Correspondence
6.1 SKDC had sent a copy of the annual revised 2020 Electoral Register.
6.2 A letter had been sent to the Community Cleaner confirming his rate of pay.
6.3 The Parish Clerk had returned the parish precept application to SKDC for the financial year 2020/21.
6.4 From SKDC regarding public speaking at the Planning Committee Meeting held on 8 January 2020 regarding change of use to dog agility training facility.
6.5 Correspondence from District Councillor H Westropp explaining non-attendance at Parish Council Meetings.
6.6 Lincolnshire County Council sent details of temporary traffic restriction – from 10 pm to 6 am on every day from 28 January 2020 to 31 January 2020 – the Allington Junction Level Crossing on Allington Lane will be closed.
7 Public Forum - no items.
8 Highways (The Vice Chairman) – update
8.1 Allington Road Corner flooding – update on blockages of pipeline under investigation required from Highways – the Vice Chairman reported that Highways had not completed their investigation into the bank and pathway. It was noted that Rowan Smith (Area Highways Manager for Lincolnshire County Council) was currently working out a plan on what to do following investigations into the flooding of the village.
Clerk Action: to write to the County Councillor to find out if the work will be completed under Rowan Smith’s plan or if it will be done as a separate matter.
8.2 Community Speed Watch – the team had been out in the village on Monday and, from week commencing 13th January it will be National Speed Watch Week.
9 Planning (Chairman)
9.1 Planning Application No: S19/1713 – change of use to dog agility training facility – Full Planning Permission – School Lane, Sedgebrook – Planning Committee Meeting was held on 8 January 2020 – the District Councillor informed the Clerk that the planning had been passed – there were no further details.
9.2 Planning Application No: S19/1905 – Chestnut Farm Barns Village Street – the details were approved by SKDC in relation to condition 3 (materials) of planning application S19/0063.
10 Recreation Field (Vice Chairman)
10.1 Recreation Field Play Area– to discuss any grants available for providing a fence to separate the play area– the Parish Council would be able to reapply for a grant for the fencing from WREN (as it would be over a year since the original application for the play equipment).
Clerk Action: to remind the County Councillor to send details of Carole Drury from the SK Community Grant Scheme and Alison at InvestSK. When this information is received, to pass the details to the Vice Chairman who will contact the officers direct.
Cllr Warby suggested fencing off a separate area so that dogs would be able to run free.
10.2 Split/torn matting adjacent to the Spica – further quotation required – PlaySmart sent a quotation for one mat (including 5 ties and 20 pegs) for £18.00 + vat and the delivery charge would be £35.00. If PlaySmart supplied and fitted the mat it would cost £450.00 + vat. Following discussion, it was resolved to obtain some advice from a golf club groundsman and, if necessary, contact our grass contractors, P E Hempstead & Sons.
Councillor Action: Cllr Denton to contact the Golf Club.
10.3 Annual Inspection of play equipment – any items requiring attention?
Several areas of concern were pointed out by the Play Inspection Company and it was decided that the slide, goal posts (which are rusting) and the damaged matting under the spica were the main problem areas. After discussion, it was resolved for the Parish Councillors to have a “walkabout” meeting in the play area. In the meantime, the Vice Chairman to look over the fixings on the slide.
Vice Chairman Action: to inspect the slide.
11 Footpaths (Cllr C Warby)
11.1 Public Right of Way – lose end supports on the bridge across The Brook between the fields belonging to The Manor and Abbey Lane – the Senior Countryside Officer had inspected the footbridge and informed the Parish Council that the bridge beams are partially rotten which the handrails are attached to. The footpath will be closed until the bridge is replaced towards the end of March.
Clerk Action: to circulate a message via the village email to inform villagers about the closure of the footpath and the good news about a new bridge.
11.2 Overhanging Hedges – it was noted that no hedges on School Lane or Abbey Lane had been cut back.
12 Flooding (Cllr Warby 12.1/Vice Chairman 12.2)
12.1 Drains on School Lane – update – a parishioner had reported the blockage to the drains adjacent to The Bungalow on School Lane have now been cleared.
12.2 Allington Road corner – flooding – update on blockages of pipeline under investigation required from Highways – see item 8.1 under Highways.
13 Neighbourhood Plan
13.1 To discuss results of interest from villagers regarding proposed Neighbourhood Plan – the item to be placed on the agenda of the next meeting again.
Chairman/Clerk Action: to organise a message to go out to the community and to see what response is received.
14 Phone Kiosk – responses from parishioners on the future use of the phone kiosk
14.1 Light bulb/fitting to be replaced? Following discussion, it was resolved to order the light bulb fitment for the phone kiosk.
Vice Chairman Action: to contact an electrician to install the fitment.
Clerk Action: to order the fitment.
It was noted that as there is already a second-hand book library in St Lawrence Church the Parish Council would look at alternative uses for the phone kiosk. They would take a look at Orston Parish Council’s phone kiosk – during the summer they had a glorious floral display (which cascaded through the empty glass panels) and during November/December it was covered with Christmas decorations. It was noted the Parish Council would be responsible for the purchase of any plants etc. A suggested “swap” notice board detailing available items for use by villagers on a temporary basis could also be incorporated.
Cllr Action: Cllrs Warby and Denton to contact two villagers to see if they were interested in planting up and taking care of the phone kiosk floral display.
15 Parish Councillor – currently three vacancies – following the advertising on the village email and Councillors having discussions with villagers, it was thought doubtful any new Parish Councillors would be coming forward. The Chairman would stay on for the present time and the Parish Councillors and Clerk thanked the Chairman for continuing his role as Chairman on the Parish Council.
16 Memorial for Sedgebrook – to discuss purchase of soldier silhouette - £490 plus VAT or commission a bench from Roll & Scroll – quotation required?
The only place in the village for a memorial bench would be on the Village Green and, as there is already a Silver Jubilee bench on the Green already, it was resolved to look to an alternative other than a soldier silhouette. It was noted that the village does have a memorial church clock which was purchased by public donations in 1920.
Councillors Action: to see what alternative memorials available on the internet.
17 Finance (The Clerk)
17.1 Verification of bank statement/bank reconciliation – Cllr Denton verified the bank statement and bank reconciliation figures.
17.2 Payments – Community Cleaner – it was resolved to pay the Community cleaner up to the 31 January 20.
17.3 Payment – Parish Clerk - it was resolved to pay the Clerk up to 31 December 2019.
17.4 Payment – LALC – Annual Training Scheme subscription from the 1st April 2020 – it was resolved to renew the Training Scheme at £85 plus VAT.
17.5.i Payment – The Play Inspection Company Ltd – outdoor annual inspection and life expectancy – the Parish Councillors resolved to pay £78 for the inspection.
17.5.ii Annual Inspection to be completed with The Play Inspection Company on an annual or rolling basis – it was resolved to complete the annual inspections on a rolling basis.
Clerk Action: to inform The Play Inspection Company.
17.6 Payment – A payment of £18.00 was resolved to be made to LALC for the Clerk’s attendance at the Clerks Networking Day on the 27 November.
17.7 Payment – it was resolved to pay Sedgebrook Social Club £180 for the rent of the hall for the meetings held during 2019.
18 Items to be discussed at the next meeting:
18.1 The Annual Parish Meeting – it was agreed to request Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Councillor for Highways, a local lead flooding representative and a representative from the Environmental Agency to talk about flooding in general and also relate it to Sedgebrook’s flooding issues.
Clerk Action: to request County Councillor M Whittington if he could arrange for the attendance of the local lead flooding representative and a representative from the Environmental agency.
Clerk Action: to see if Dr Caroline Johnson would also be able to attend. To request Cllr Richard Davies attendance.
19 Date of next meeting: Thursday 20 February 2020
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.45 pm.