2018 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

HECKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
    
Minutes of the Meeting of Heckington Parish Council held in the Council Chambers, St Andrews Street, Heckington on Monday 26th November 2018 commencing at 1900hrs 

Attendance: 

Chairman -  Cllr Mrs J Palmer 

Councillors – Mr T Atkinson, Mr R Doughty, Mr A Garlick, Mr R Higgs, Mr M Jones, Mr R Kemmett, Mr T Pyrah, Mr M West, Mr R Woods

County Councillor – Not Present

District Councillors – Mr S Ogden

Minute Taker – Clerk, Ms J Hudson

Police Representative – PCSO P Welby-Everard

Press Representative – Not present

Members of the Public – 1  

1.  Chairman’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

i.  The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

ii.  She confirmed that the Heckington100 Centenary Remembrance project had been very successful with over 9,400 visitors having been recorded at various events and over £14,200.00 was raised for the Royal British Legion and a further £7,000 raised for St Andrews Church funds.

iii.  The Remembrance Day service at the Memorial was very well attended with some 750 attendees and the new road closure procedures were successful.

iv.  She congratulated the Heckington Village Magazine team for winning a further national award.

The Chairman then proposed to alter the order of agenda to allow PCSO Welby Everard to provide his report.  Agreed by all Councillors.

8. Receive a report from the Police representative

The PCSO apologised for previous non-attendance, explaining that shift patterns had been changed.  

i.  He reported that incidents of Anti-social behaviour were very low and there had only been one incident reported in Sleaford on Halloween night. 

ii.  General crime rates over the North Kesteven District area were low.

iii.  A Police conference is scheduled for January and it is possible that there may be a reduction in PCSO staffing levels.

iv.  There had been a break-in/damage reported at Smeeton Panton, Heckington Industrial Estate and 3 other break-ins had occurred in the Sleaford area.

v.  Speeding continues to be a problem on the County’s roads although the PCSO’s have now been given more powers to deal with incidents.

vi.  Operation Gallileo is in operation in respect of poaching and hare-coursing.

PCSO P Welby Everard left the meeting at 7.15pm

The Chairman re-instated the agenda running order

2.  To receive apologies for absence

Apologies were received and accepted from C/Cllr Mr B Young, D/Cllr Mrs S Tarry, and the Press representative Mr A Hubbert

3.  To receive any declarations of  interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011

i.  Cllr Mr T Pyrah declared an non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 13 – employee of LCC

ii.  Cllr Mr R Higgs declared an interest in agenda item 14 as member of Heckington Community Swimming Pool and would not be voting on this matter.  The Chairman provided dispensation for Cllr Higgs to speak on the proposal at the time, in order to provide relevant information to fellow Councillors.

4.  To consider any written requests for dispensations received at or before the start of the meeting.

None received.

5.  Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 29th October 2019 to be approved as Minutes and signed.

Proposed by Cllr Mr R Doughty, seconded Cllr Mr M West

Vote results unanimous

Resolved – to accept the Minutes above as a true record

There were no matters arising

6.  Public Speaking Time – 15 minutes allocated in total.  Members of the public are each allowed 3 minutes to make representations.

i.  It was again suggested that Heckington Parish Council uses Facebook to communicate to residents

7.  Financial Matters

a.  To approve the following payments – 

Proposed by Cllr Mr A Garlick , seconded by Cllr Mr R Higgs 

Vote results - unanimous

Resolved – to approve the payments as amended list above

8.  To receive a report from the Police representative. 

See above after item 1. 

9.  To receive a report from the County and District Councillors. 

The Chairman confirmed that the Executive Director of Lincolnshire County Council, Mr Keith Ireland, had resigned after a short time in the role, and C/Cllr Young had been called to another meeting.

D/Cllr Mr S Ogden reported the following – 

i.  He confirmed that the consultation period of the NKDC Local Plan had ended.

ii.  He reported that the Overview and Scrutiny panel will be sending out a survey shortly in connection with mobile phone connections/coverage.  Residents are encouraged to make comments.

iii.  He also confirmed that he had been monitoring the situation with complaints regarding the state of Howell Road, near the building site, although it has since been cleared up.  

D/Cllr Mr S Ogden left the meeting at 7.21pm

10.  To receive a report from the Clerk

The Clerk reported the following – 

i.  NKDC Chairman is holding a charity quiz night on 25th January 2019.

ii.  She confirmed that the letter, which outlines HPC’s objection to the Windfarm extension application had been completed and would be sent this week. 

11.  To receive reports from Councillor’s relating to their affiliation to local organisations.

i.  Cllr Mr M West confirmed that Ecotricity had put in an application to extend the consent start date by 5 years, and that a planning meeting was to be held at NKDC on 29th November 2018 at which he will be speaking with objections on behalf of HPC.

ii.  Cllr Mr M West suggested that further defibrillator training may be required for staff and users at Abbey Farms.  Cllr Mr D Couzens mentioned that there may be spaces on a course being organised in January.

12.  Planning Matters   

(1)  Applications to be ratified 

a.  18/1484/FUL – change of use from summer house to dog grooming salon – 11 Burton Road, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9QR

b.  18/1308/VARCON – application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 17/1776/FUL – Erection of 107 no. dwellings with associated open space and storm water attenuation basin (previously approved Ref 14/0696/OUT & 16/0532/OUT) – Land North of Boston road, Heckington

c.  18/1457/HOUS – 8 replacement windows to first floor & 2 to lower floor, additional & replacement fences, erection of driveway gate, creation of new pantry window on ground floor & replace existing conservatory roof with new – 16 High Street, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9QZ

d.  18/1563/VARCON – Application to vary conditions 13 (approved plans) re planning permission 16/1555/FUL (proposed erection of new detached dwelling).  House re-design – Land at 15 High Street, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincs
      
(2)  – Applications approved 

a.  18/1162/ADV – Erection of 1 illuminated fascia sign and 1 non-illuminated fascia sign – Units 1-1A 2 5 Hazelwoods Yard, Boston Road

b.  18/1225/VARCON – Application to vary condition 10 (approved plans) to allow for siting of satellite dish on plot 1 and plot 2

(3)  Applications rejected

a.  None received

(4)  Applications withdrawn

a.  None received

13.  To consider the Parish Agreement Highways Verge Cutting Scheme 2019/2020 as notified by LCC

The details provided by LCC were discussed.

Proposal by Cllr Mr A Garlick, seconded by Cllr Mr M West

Vote results – 9 x for, 1 abstention (Cllr Mr T Pyrah as LCC employee)

Resolved – to accept the offered 12 month contract with LCC and monitor any additional costs 

14.  To receive and consider request from Heckington Community Swimming Pool for financial assistance 

Cllr Mr R Higgs, given dispensation to speak, outlined the history and current situation with the swimming pool. To meet the total cost of estimated repairs and upgrades, he requested consideration be given by Councillors to granting a loan and/or additional donation.

Proposed by Cllr Mr R Kemmett, seconded by Cllr Mr R Woods

Vote results – 8 x for, 1 x abstention (Cllr Mr T Pyrah).  Cllr Mr R Higgs did not vote.

Resolved – as per informed figures, a one-off amount of £4,000 be donated by Heckington Parish Council to Heckington Community Swimming Pool to assist with associated costs, and a loan of £4,000 to be granted for the same purpose, repayable at £1,000 per annum (earlier if funding is successful). 

15.  To receive an update on the Village Hall, including the results of the structural survey (if available), and to consider and decide level of financial support.

Cllr Mrs J Palmer reported that the structural survey report had confirmed fears as to the level of works required.  A previous public meeting as to the future of the Village Hall had resulted in a majority vote of those residents present to proceed with repairing/rebuilding the current asset for continued and long term future use.  However, she also confirmed that the Village Hall committee were not in a financial position to afford the necessary and urgent works at this time.  The meeting was reminded that HPC is the custodian trustee of this asset if the committee were to dissolve for any reason, therefore it was suggested that financial assistance be offered at this stage, along with assistance/advice for continued long-term maintenance planning.  It was suggested that due to the levels of estimated costs required as soon as possible, that a Public Works Loan would be ideal. 
Proposed by Cllr Mrs J Palmer, seconded by Cllr Mr R Higgs

Vote results – 9 x for, 1 x abstention (Cllr Mr D Couzens)

Resolved – to seek approval and process application for a Public Works Loan to the value of up to £40,000 to pay for urgent works required to Village Hall to enable its continued use as a village asset.

16.  To review and adopt NALC recommended changes to the HPC Standing Orders in line with legislation – previously circulated to Councillors for information

Proposed by Cllr Mr R Higgs, seconded by Cllr Mr M West

Vote results – unanimous

Resolved – to adopt the amendments to Standing Orders as presented

17.  To consider written request to hold annual Carol Service on the green in aid of the Children’s society – date proposed Friday 21st December 2018 at 6pm

Proposed by Cllr Mr A Garlick, seconded by Cllr Mr T Pyrah

Vote results – unanimous

Resolved – permission granted to request as detailed above.

18.  To receive general correspondence.

a.  October newsletter from Rail Lincs – information only

b.  Autumn/Winter newsletter from Lincolnshire Fieldpath Association – information only

c.  Acknowledgement from Woodland Trust of receipt of application for trees – information only

d.  LCC notice of Temporary Road Closure – St Andrews Street 0900hrs 10/12/2018 to 1800hrs 13/12/2018 – information only

e.  Notice from The Pensions Regulator – increase in minimum contributions from 6th April 2019 – information only

19.  To confirm the date of the next full Parish Council meeting as Monday 28th January 2019. 

Date confirmed

20.  To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960

This item not required

The Chairman wished everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year and concluded the meeting at 8.12pm