2023 Parish Council Resolved Minutes

Minutes of Sibsey Parish Council Meeting held Tuesday 3rd October 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 Ladds        Cllr B Carney 
                

ELDC Cllr N Jones (left at 7.20pm)
LCC/ELDC Cllr T Ashton (arrived at 9.04pm)

Clerk – S Knowles

PUBLIC FORUM
There were no members of the public present to ask any questions or make short statements during the time allocated, though a query had been raised by email relating to the safety and care of a resident roaming the village and being a nuisance to other residents.

1.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN
Cllr Adiotomre had forwarded his 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 Heath declared a non-pecuniary interest to Item 6b on the agenda.

3.    NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2023 TO BE APPROVED AS THE MINUTES
It was proposed by Cllr Ladds, 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
ELDC Cllr Jones reported the following:
•    There are still funds available from the Councillor’s Community Grant

Cllr Watts asked if the Outer Dowsing Offshore Windfarm is not going through Skegness route, is this true? Cllr Jones said he was unsure of all the facts but would find out the information and relay this back to the Parish Council.

•    Extra funding is now available for replacement of Highway signs.

Clerk informed that an email had been sent ELDC back in July relating to Street Naming signs that needed either replacement or refurbishment but to date no communication has been received in association with this matter.

The Police.uk website has been updated but only showing incidents reported in the Sibsey area during July 2023 of which five were reported
1 x Crimonal Damage and arson on or near to Trader Bank – Investigation complete, no suspect identified.
1 x Violence and Sexual Offence on or near to Page Close – Still under investigation
3 x Anti-social Behaviour on or near to Northlands Lane

Emails have also been received  from Lincolnshire Police in relation to meeting with Chairs of Parish Council to discuss working with them and working in making the community safer.

5.    CLERK’S REPORT
There was no information to report.

6.    FINANCIAL MATTERS
a.    Financial Report
Since the last meeting £38507.48 has been credited to the Treasury Account (£36100 for second payment of Precept, £15 for Waiver fee of Electric Box in Community Park, £22.48 61 for reimbursement of Printer Ink from clerk’s other Parish Councils and £2370 for Burial Ground Fees).  Additionally, £1597.92 has been paid out in respect to the clerk’s salary.

b.    To approve payments

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

Paperwork has been received from the Treasurer of Northlands Village Hall as requested in association with their grant application.  After reviewing all aspects associated with the application, it was resolved to award £2000.

7.    PARISH MATTERS
a.    Pymoor Lane
Queries were recently raised by the Secretary to Bears FC, which were addressed by Cllr Watts.  Information requested from their conversation is still waiting, of which the clerk was asked to communicate with the Secretary for an update and additionally invite her and other members to a future Parish Council meeting to discuss matters in person.

b.    Burial Ground
i)     Burial Ground Rules and Regulations
The amendments of the draft Burial Ground Rules and Regulations were revalued and following a proposal by Cllr Limb, seconded by Cllr Ladds it was resolved to adopt these rules and regulations, including the increase in the Burial Ground fees effective of 1st January 2024.

c.    Village Maintenance
i)    Litter Bins
This matter was still ongoing following that both the contractor and ELDC have to communicate to organise this.  The clerk was asked to chase this matter.

The dog waste bin near to the Primary School has dropped down the pole and needs adjusting.

ii)    Noticeboards
This matter was deferred to the next meeting.

iii)    Maintenance areas and ownership update for ELDC and LCC assets
This matter was deferred to the next meeting.

Other maintenance matters discussed:
•    The church clock has recently been serviced of which a report had been received which had been circulated to the Parish Councillors.  After deliberation it was proposed by Cllr Ladds, seconded by Cllr Barker and resolved to address the issues raised as soon as possible.

d.    Play Areas
Cllr Ladds informed that the roof on the play equipment in Amos Way has now been replaced, however deems that if this is removed again then it would be advisable to leave it off.

After assessing Amos Way play area in where to site the bench it was thought that the goal post needed replacement but to have one either end of the field.  The councillors thought that this would be a good idea and to look into purchasing these.

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
It was decided that the next step was to engage a Land agent to aid with the sale of the land.

g.    Christmas 2023 Light switch on event
It was decided that the next step was to be with the Friends of the School to discuss the event and decide on what needs to be done.

h.    Parish Handy Man
It was discussed whether this should be as an employee role or as a contractor one.  It was decided to draw up a list of duties that would need to be done over the year and decide on from this which would be the more suitable way to proceed.

i.    Tree Planting
Cllr Ladds thought that the trees that have been requested from the Woodland Trust to be planted in the community maybe best done through a contractor other than trying to arrange volunteers.  Cllr Watts informed that there is a project through the Environmental Agency for employees to have an Environmental Leave Day to aid with projects like this and therefore would find out more information.

j.    Correspondence received
The following correspondence has been received:
•    LALC e-news 15th & 29th September 2023 
•    LCC Town & Parish September 2023 Newsletter
•    Email from Outer Dowsing re Community Liaison meeting
•    LCC Highways September Newsletter  

At 9.21pm it was resolved to go back to Item 4 on the agenda

ELDC/LCC Cllr Ashton reported the following:
•    Devolution continues to be discussed
•    Major upgrade works at the roundabout near to Springfields in Spalding have begun and will be ongoing till Autumn 2024.
•    Any spare Highways funding is going into a pot to aid with maintaining areas currently not seen as a priority.
•    There is concern with the number of vapes being purchased to underaged people.

At 9.30pm it was resolved to extend the meeting by 15 minutes

•    Looking into a long-term solution of funding the Drainage Board revenue instead of it be taken from the Council Tax 

Cllr Watts asked about the route of the Outer Dowsing project.  Cllr Ashton replied that the Skegness area is no longer being considered as going more inland but should not affect Sibsey. He reported that schemes like this including the Triton Knoll as aided the increase in Business Rates.

Cllr Ashton was informed about a resident wandering around the village making a nuisance and asked what ca be done to help with this matter. Cllr Ashton said he would look into this.

At 9.34pm it was resolved to go back to agenda order

8.    PLANNING
a.    Discuss all planning applications currently being reviewed for consultation
Since the last meeting no planning applications have been received for consultation.

b.    Discuss other planning matters

There were no other planning matters to discuss.

c.    Report on any information received associated with Planning 
One planning application has been granted full planning permission – Erection of 3 no.outbuildings (works already completed) – Rhoades Mill, Main Road, Sibsey

9.    HIGHWAYS    
All Highway matters have been discussed earlier in the meeting.

10.    ANY OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION BY LEAVE OF CHAIRMAN
Cllr Ladds relayed that it was nice to see that the trailers have covers over them preventing anything from them being blown all over.

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

There being no further business the meeting finished at 9.44pm.