2023 Parish Council Resolved Minutes

Minutes of Sibsey Parish Council Meeting held Tuesday 4th July 2023 at Northlands Village Hall, Northlands, Sibsey commencing at 7.00pm

PRESENT:    Cllr I Watts presiding as Chairman 
Cllr G Limb        Cllr A Heath        Cllr S Barker          Cllr J Adiotomre (arrived at 7.14pm)
Clerk – S Knowles

PUBLIC FORUM
There was one member of the public present of which the following questions or short statements were made during the time allocated.
•    A wedding is being held on 29th July 2023 and the bridal party has asked if the grass could be cut a week prior to this.

1.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN
Cllr Ladd had forwarded her apologies for absence of which the Parish Councillors were aware of the reason for not attending of which it was resolved to accept this explanation.

2.    TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOCALISM ACT 2011, AND TO CONSIDER ANY APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN RELATION TO DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS
Cllr Watts declared a non-pecuniary interest to Item 7e on the agenda.

3.    NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 17th MAY 2023 TO BE APPROVED AS THE MINUTES
It was proposed by Cllr Limb, seconded by Cllr Barker and resolved to accept these notes as a true and accurate record and thereby signed by the Chairman.

4.    OUTSIDE BODIES REPORT
Prior to this evening’s meeting no apologies or reports have been received from either ELDC Cllr Jones or ELDC/LCC Cllr Ashton.

According to the Police.uk website, three incidents were reported during March 2023
One incident of Public Order was reported on or near to Main Road - Investigation complete, no suspect identified.

One incident of Violence and Sexual Offence was reported on or near to Meyers Close – Still under investigation

One incident of Violence and Sexual Offence was reported on or near to Evison Court – Unable to prosecute suspect

There was no further information on the website to report.    

5.    CLERK’S REPORT
•    Notification has been received that the play area inspection will be taking place in August 2023.
•    Unfortunately, three weeks ago the external hard drive that all the Parish Council documents are stored on decided it did not want to work anymore.  The device is currently with Curry’s Technical Team to try and recover the information stored onto a temporary device.  In respect that this is achieved I believe that a new external hard drive is purchase as a backup system and look into having cloud storage for day to day running of Parish Council business.

6.    FINANCIAL MATTERS
a.    Financial Report
Since the last meeting £784.74 has been credited to the Treasury Account (£19.74 for reimbursement of Printer Ink from clerk’s other Parish Councils and £765 relating to Burial Ground Fees.  Additionally, £3195.84 has been paid out in respect to the clerk’s salary (May and June 2023), £40 for ICO fee, £336 to A Deptford for new pads etc for the defibrillators (this was invoiced at the beginning of June and has constantly chasing payment. This would have been discussed in June’s meeting for payment) and £114.96 for an additional Community Speed Watch sign.

b.    To approve payments

It was proposed by Cllr Limb, seconded by Cllr Heath and resolved that these payments should be made.

c.    Grant application from Northlands Village Hall
A grant application had been received from Northlands Village Hall.  Several queries were raised relating to information to back up the application more for due diligence.  It was thereby requested to ask for this information so that it could be discussed further at the next meeting, though the amount requested was an extensive amount and though the councillors believe in aiding Sibsey Community groups they felt that 50% of the applied amount would be sufficient as with previous applications.

7.    PARISH MATTERS
a.    Pymoor Lane
The November 2022 invoice has finally been paid and has been informed that the next payment will be due November 2023. Informed that proof of Insurance and Personal Liability is still required.

Some alterations and fabrications have been done without any correspondence for approval of the Parish Council. 

b.    Burial Ground
The Heras Fencing has been erected between the Burial Ground and the property along Vicarage Lane.

A query had been raised with a family in association with having an additional memorial plaque being placed on a plot where there was already a headstone.  After deliberation it was agreed that this would be allowed.

c.    Village Maintenance
Cllr Watts relayed that he had a meeting with the company that had recently cleaned the war memorial. It was explained that only a small amount of work could be done without actually cut off the surface, though it was relayed that the Memorial is supposed to blend in with surroundings and not to be pristine.  After discussion it was resolved that in the future not to have the main memorial cleaned.  Following additional deliberation, it was agreed that the company should be paid for their work done.

It was noted that the grass especially in Amos Way is not being done every fortnight, therefore needs rectifying asap.

Wonder Circus signs have been erected in several areas especially on bus shelters without Parish Council permission, therefore it was agreed that these should be taken down.

There is a broken branch hanging down near to the East side of the A16 near Chapel Lane.  

Grass verges along Trader Bank have been cut except the area near Littlemore Lane where brambles are growing which are encroaching the road which could lead to damaging vehicles.  Clerk to ask LCC why left uncut?

d.    Play Areas
Weeds are growing through rubber matting causing concern.  The clerk to contact the contractor and see if spraying needs to be done more often.

e)    Adoption of land in Amos Way from ELDC to Parish Council
This agenda item was deferred to the next meeting.

f.    Land for Play Area at Northlands
This agenda item was deferred to the next meeting.

g.    Correspondence received
The following correspondence has been received:
•    Outer Dowsing consultation correspondence 
•    Letter from The Sibsey Lancaster Memorial Trust inviting the Parish Council to the Annual Service of Remembrance Memorial on Sunday 24th September 2023 at 2pm at the Memorial in The Field at Sibsey Northlands
•    Email from LCC re Litter Picking Equipment Scheme 
•    Letter from Vernon Read, Director to Staples Vegetables Ltd in response to correspondence sent to him 
•    Police circulation re Beating Burglary Together 
•    LCC Town and Parish May and June 2023 Newsletters 
•    ELDC Town and Parish May and June 2023 Newsletters 
•    LALC E-news 26th May, 9th and 23rd June 2023 
•    LCC Highways May 2023 Newsletter 
•    ELDC News release re Invitation to meeting to discuss Levelling Up Plans 
•    ELDC June 2023 e-messenger 

8.    PLANNING
a.    Discuss all planning applications currently being reviewed for consultation
One planning application had been received since the last meeting which was being evaluated
by the Planning Forum for their observations - S/152/01028/23- Extension to existing dwelling
to provide a first-floor link between dwelling and detached garage – Kisdon, Northlands,
Sibsey - There were no objections to this application.

b.    Discuss other planning matters
A Tree Preservation Order application has been received in association with work required to give clearance on tress at Old Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Sibsey – The councillors agreed that the trees needed a reduction in height.

c.    Report on any information received associated with Planning 
Planning permission has been approved for the following:
•    Extensions to existing dwelling to provide additional living, accommodation and erection of wall and gates – Green Acres, Frithville Road, Sibsey
•    Extension to anaerobic digestion plant for biomethane production and construction of cold store at Staples Vegetables Ltd, Station Farm, Station Road, Sibsey
•    Reserved Matters application to Phase 2 – the erection of 40 dwellings with associated garages following on from Outline Planning Permission S/152/01072/18 – Millers Walk Development Site, Main Road, Sibsey

9.    HIGHWAYS    
a.    To discuss issues to raise with meeting with Highways Officer
There is a meeting planned later in the month between County Councillor Ashton and a Highways Officer.  A list was devised to be discussed during the meeting.

b)    Community Speed Watch
Sites have been allocated for the scheme to go ahead.  It was advised by the Officer (Dave Mitchell) that this be done from traffic in both directions in which to do this signage will have to be displayed in both directions.  Therefore, using clerk powers a second signage kit has been purchased and once this is received the Community Speed Watch Scheme can commence.

10.    ANY OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION BY LEAVE OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr Heath asked if work can be commenced on new Nativity figures, of which it was agreed.

11.    DATE OF THE NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
The next Sibsey Parish Council meeting as previously scheduled will be on Tuesday 5th September 2023 at Northlands Village Hall, Northlands, Sibsey commencing at 7pm.

There being no further business the meeting finished at 9.09pm.