February 2024 Minutes
HECKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of Heckington Parish Council held in Heckington Parish Council, Council Chambers, St Andrews Street, Heckington on Monday 26th February 2024 commencing at 1900hrs.
Attendance:
Chairman - P/Cllr Mrs J Palmer
Parish Councillors – Mr T Atkinson, Mrs D Bell, Mr A Garlick, Mr D Long, Mrs T Manning, Ms J Peacock, Mr C Spencer, Mr N Stanley, Mr K Thorpe
County Councillor – Mr A Key
District Councillors – Mrs S Tarry
Minute Taker – Clerk, Ms T Williams
Police Representative – None present
Press Representative – None present
Members of the Public – 10
1. Chairman’s welcome and opening remarks
1.1 The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and went through Health & Safety, fire procedures etc
1.2 The Chairman read out the following:
It is with regret that we mourn the passing of one of our most devoted and committed villagers, Patrick Banister, known to us all as Pat.
Pat was a Councillor for over twenty-five years with this Council and was a very highly respected one at that. His knowledge of the village was second to none. In fact he had written books about Heckington, of which some of us are privileged to own copies.
He was like a walking encyclopaedia, always willing to help with queries, long after he retired from this Council.
I think it was proof of the respect he was held in by the number of people attending Church for his funeral. We had obviously sent a letter of condolence to his wife Margaret, and family. The Council was represented at Church by Cllrs Atkinson, Garlick, Higgs, Manning and myself.
The Council and the village owe him a great debt for his involvement in so many things, never for his own good but because he enjoyed sharing his expertise to help.
May he Rest In Peace.
2. To receive apologies for absence
2.1 Apologies received and accepted from P/Cllr Mr R Higgs
3. To receive a declaration of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
3.1 None received.
4. To consider any requests for dispensations received at or before the start of the meeting.
4.1 None received.
5. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held Monday 29th January 2024
5.i Proposed by P/Cllr Mr D Long, seconded by P/Cllr Mr A Garlick it was resolved that the minutes of Monday 29th January 2024 were approved and signed.
5.i.1 Vote result – unanimous
5.ii Matters arising
5.ii.1 P/Cllr Mrs J Palmer had attended the recent presentation in the village and had received categoric reassurance that our residents who are detrimentally affected due to the proposed plans will be shown respect and understanding.
6. Public Participation
6.1 Two members of the public spoke on the history of Sleaford Marketplace and their concerns for the detrimental impact NKDC’s plans will have on businesses, residents and visitors to the market town.
6.2 C/Cllr Mr A Key spoke as a resident, to put forward an idea to form a history group in the village. The aim would be to archive Heckington’s historical memorabilia under the ownership of the Parish Council, to preserve for future generations. He suggested that items could be on display, open to all, in one of the Council Chambers rooms.
7. Financial Matters
7.i To approve payments as listed separately – payments as listed in document tab were approved.
7.i.1 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr C Spencer, seconded by P/Cllr Mr D Long
7.i.2 Vote results – unanimous.
7.i.3 Resolved – to approve payments as listed
8. To receive a report from the Police – none present
9. To receive a report from the County Councillor and District Councillors
9.1 C/Cllr Mr A Key reported that the County Council budget had been set.
9.2 Following the cancellation of the HS2 rail project, Lincolnshire will be getting £262m over the next seven years to spend on roads and public transport.
9.3 The Highways manager would be visiting Heckington to look at drains, signs and potholes.
9.4 Investigations were underway to ascertain the cause or combination of factors that have led to the dreadful flooding that has occurred in Little Hale this winter.
9.5 D/Cllr Mrs S Tarry reported the recommendation that council tax be set at £4.95 would be going to full council on 29th February.
9.6 The Sleaford REP Community Power Fund is now available to local councils for capital projects, Heckington falls within the eligible locations.
9.7 The NK walking festival will be held from 15th to 30th June 2024.
10. To receive a report from the Clerk
10.1 The Clerk reported that the battery and pads had been replaced on the defibrillator at The Pavilion and Playing Fields. This will be maintained by the PC going forward.
10.2 The Clerk reported receiving emails from D/Cllr Tarry regarding funding and LCC regarding EV charging points, to be discussed at a future date.
10.3 The Clerk confirmed notification of a planning approval not itemised on the agenda due to late receipt – 24/0012/HOUS Erection of two storey side extension (part retrospective) 7 Lambourne Way Heckington Sleaford.
11. To receive reports from Councillor’s relating to their affiliation to local organisations.
11.1 P/Cllr Mrs D Bell reported as Chair of Heckington in Bloom, that volunteers had collected 1 tonne of litter/fly tipping in the village this month. She thanked all volunteers. She also reported that HIB had been planting at The Royal Oak and The Pavilion. They would then be moving on to work in Alexander Walk and Willow Close, under the initiative with NKDC.
12. Planning Matters (The Parish Council does not have the power to approve nor reject applications – it is merely a consultee and can submit comments)
(1) Applications to be ratified
i. None received.
(2) Applications approved
i. 23/1516/HOUS – Installation of replacement windows, doors and fences 14 Cowgate Heckington Sleaford
ii. 23/1338/FUL – Change of use of existing wooden summerhouse to massage room for self employed sports massage business (retrospective) 7 Leachman Close Heckington Sleaford
(3) Applications refused
i. None received
(4) Applications withdrawn
i. None received
(5) Prior notifications received (information only – no action required from HPC)
i. None received
(6) Planning appeals
i. None received
13. To give update on the Pavilion and Playing Fields
13.1 The Clerk reported to councillors the progress to date at The Pavilion and Playing Fields and informed them that we are awaiting the issue of the 5-year electrical safety certificate and the fire safety inspection report.
14. To discuss the closure of Sleaford Market Place
14.1 Due to local feeling and concerns about NKDC’s plans for Sleaford Marketplace, the Chairman sought agreement from councillors to write a letter of support to Sleaford Town Council.
14.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr D Long, seconded by P/Cllr Ms D Bell, vote result – unanimous. Resolved – to write a letter of support to Sleaford Town Council.
D/Cllr Mrs S Tarry left the meeting at 1942hrs
15. To discuss a defibrillator for the Heckington Community Hub Building
15.1 The Chairman noted that it would be beneficial to have a defibrillator located on the Community Hub Building due to the mature demographic of visitors to the library and likewise the Church. She therefore sought agreement from councillors to purchase a defibrillator.
15.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mrs D Bell, seconded by P/Cllr Mr D Long
15.3 Vote result – unanimous
15.4 Resolved to purchase a defibrillator for the Heckington Community Hub Building
16. To discuss the establishment of a village history group
16.1 After much discussion it was agreed that the village history group would be established and led by C/Cllr Mr A Key, memorabilia would be under the ownership of the Parish Council, there would be little or no cost to the Parish Council as grants could be sourced if need be. The Chairman sought agreement that the group could use one of the Council Chamber rooms.
16.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr C Spencer, seconded by P/Cllr Ms J Peacock
16.3 Vote result – unanimous
16.4 Resolved to establish a village history group to be housed with the artefacts in a Council Chamber room.
17. To discuss the purchase of a new Notice Board for the Heckington Community Hub Building
17.1 The Chairman reported that the timber framed notice board at the Community Hub Building had wood worm and was no longer fit for purpose. She sought agreement to purchase a green aluminium one in keeping with the other notice boards in the village.
17.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr T Atkinson, seconded by P/Cllr Mr C Spencer
17.3 Vote result – unanimous
17.4 Resolved to purchase a new Notice Board for the Heckington Community Hub Building, for the quoted price of £355.69
18. To discuss the purchase of a laptop
18.1 The Chairman sought agreement to purchase a laptop to facilitate the potential for hybrid working.
18.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr N Stanley, seconded by P/Cllr Mr A Garlick
18.3 Vote result - unanimous
18.4 Resolved to purchase a laptop for a maximum of up to £400
19. To discuss the possibility of a replacement bench on Vicarage Road to be funded with grant money from NKDC
19.1 P/Cllr Mrs D Bell has researched the possibility of £500 funding from NKDC to replace the old bench on Vicarage Road. The cost to replace it with the environmentally friendly ones that we now install in the village would be £559, Parish Council to cover the short fall of £59. It was agreed that P/Cllr Mrs D Bell apply for the funding.
19.2 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr A Garlick, seconded by P/Cllr Mr T Atkinson
19.3 Vote result - unanimous
19.4 Resolved to purchase a replacement bench on Vicarage Road to be funded (in the most part) with grant money from NKDC
20. To confirm the next meeting as Monday 25th March 2024
21. To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 –
i. Land matters
ii. Operational Matters
21.1 Proposed by P/Cllr Mr D Long, seconded by P/Cllr Mr A Garlick
21.2 Vote result - unanimous
21.3 Resolved to go into closed session as above
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and members of the public left the meeting at 1952hrs
21.4.i The proposed land purchase was discussed at length. The discussions included finance options, condition of the land, location and valuation. The Clerk brought to the Councillors attention the following:
HPC Financial Regs Section 14 Assets, properties and estates - 14.4. No real property (interests in land) shall be purchased or acquired without the authority of the full council. In each case a report in writing shall be provided to council in respect of valuation and surveyed condition of the property (including matters such as planning permissions and covenants) together with a proper business case (including an adequate level of consultation with the electorate).
It was proposed that a public poll (via social media and poll slips available in village locations), valuation and searches were completed before the purchase was considered.
Proposed by P/Cllr Mr C Spencer, seconded by P/Cllr Mr T Atkinson. Vote result 7 for, 3 against. Resolved to carry out a public poll, valuation and searches.
21.4.ii The Chairman reminded councillors of their conduct and that village matters which need to be referred to NKDC and LCC must be done through the Clerk.
On a separate note, the recent level of unacceptable email communication from a certain councillor with the Clerk was discussed. Assurances were made that this would not continue. In line with Employment Law a grievance procedure had been offered.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 2053hrs.