Minutes & Agendas

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Approved Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 8th February 2023

PRESENT

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), George Frizzell,  Malcolm Ternouth, William Watts, Mark Robinson and Parish Clerk Julie Dixon. Also in attendance were County Councillor Andrew Key and District Councillor Sally Tarry.

PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME

There were no members of the public present.

1.0        WELCOME REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN

The Chairman welcomed the Councillors to the first meeting of 2023 and thanked them for their attendance.

2.0        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Julie Frizzell, Cllr Robert Spencer and District Councillor Stewart Ogden.

3.0        SIGNING OF THE MINUTES

It was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting of 15th December 2022 as a true and correct record.

 4.0       MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

It was noted by Cllr George Frizzell that at the last meeting it was decided for the Clerk to contact Highways in respect of the Station Road footpath; the fact that the road is getting churned up due to traffic driving on the edge of the road between the highway and the footpath.  This task was not mentioned in the minutes, however was carried out.

There were two typing errors noted.

 5.0       DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

6.0        REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

District Councillor Sally Tarry reported that there is to be a budget setting meeting of NKDC next week to set the budget for 2023/24. It is hoped that there will not be an increase in fees for the garden waste scheme for the next year.

Council Tax for 2023/2024 will be set at a General Council meeting on 02/03/2023 and an increase is expected.

7.0        PLANNING APPLICATIONS

    There were no planning applications for discussion.

8.0      FINANCE

8.1 The financial report and bank reconciliation presented by the Clerk were accepted.

8.2 The following payments were approved.

8.3 There were no further financial matters not covered by the Agenda.

9.0         CEMETERY MATTERS AND CONSERVATION AREA    

Cllr George Frizzell gave the Cemetery and Conservation area report;

9.1 There has been 1 interment of ashes and all ongoing memorials have been erected.

9.2 It was resolved that terms and conditions and approval of the Cemetery should be amended to incorporate stonemasons as well as grave diggers to ensure that all spoil is removed from the site and not left in the corner of the Cemetery.

9.3 The bench at the pond is still awaiting fixing to the plinth.

10.0       CHURCH CLOCK AND PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE

 Report by Cllr George Frizzell

10.1 The Church clock is running around 5 minutes fast at the present time.

10.2 The Parish Council website is up to date.

11.0      HIGHWAYS.

11.1 It is hoped for the Councillors to have another meeting in the near future with Highways, regarding the road adjacent to Station Road footpath and the re emergence of potholes. There is a particularly nasty one on Station Road which has caused a recent cycling accident.

Please could all public report pot holes or any other Highway matter to ‘Fix my street’ as this is the only way to have the matters noticed and therefore addressed.

12.0       MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE / CORRESPONDENCE

12.1 Three speed reduction indicators have now been ordered at a cost of £7740.00 and will be erected in the near future.  

12.2 There are no official updates on the proposed reservoir. It has been noted that the published details by Anglian Water are somewhat misleading in the fact that pictures and promotional material show it as being different to the actual proposals; the actual proposal is for a bunded style reservoir similar to Covenham Reservoir and not at all like Rutland Water. These remarks were sent to the public consultation which closed in December.

12.3 It has been brought to the attention of the Parish Council that certain dog owners in the village are not using the receptacles provided for the disposal of dog waste; Instead, placing in bags and hanging from trees or builders scaffolding. PLEASE use the bins provided or take your dog waste home.

12.4 Concern has been shown regarding parking around the village, with many people parking on verges which are Council owned and not privately owned. This is cutting up some verges and also sometimes causing difficulties for traffic passing.

13.0       The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 8th March 2023  in Helpringham Memorial Hall commencing at 7:30pm.

The meeting closed at 8:20pm.