Minutes & Agendas

Approved Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 10th November 2021

PRESENT

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin, Robert Spencer, George Frizzell, Julie Frizzell, Malcolm Ternouth and William Watts.  Parish Clerk Julie Dixon 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 and District  Councillor Tarry and  thanked them for their attendance.

2.0        APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor Mark Robinson, District Councillor Stewart Ogden and County Councillor Andrew Key. It was resolved to accept the reasons for absence

3.0        SIGNING OF THE MINUTES

It was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting of 13th October 2021 as a true and correct record.

 4.0       MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

There were no matters arising from the minutes..

 5.0       DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

There were no declarations of interest to declare

6.0       REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

District Councillor Sally Tarry responded to the Chairman’s concerns from the last meeting  over the lids on the purple bins being very light and blowing open easily, therefore causing littering. It was advised that it is acceptable to place a brick on top of the bin to alleviate this.

It was reported that 91% of green bins are now being emptied.

Councillor Malcolm Ternouth advised that he had been out to see a tree close to the footpath behind Orchard Close as requested by a Parishioner. The parishioner has reported it on more than one occasion to the County Council over concerns that a broken bough hanging in the branches of the tree could fall and cause injury.  Councillor Tarry will look into this.

7.0         PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

7.1 Application reference: 21/1484/VARCON,

Proposal : To vary conditions of approved plans

Location: 29 High Street Helpringham

The application was discussed in detail, concerns were raised regarding the proposal to vary the original plans due to the fact that the new proposed access would suggest  that vehicles using the properties concerned would be forced to reverse out onto Highgate; this being a busy road, close to a junction and a blind corner gives rise to concern. The Parish Council would like to see a plan for a proper turning point within the area of the property concerned.

7.2 Application reference: 21/1473/FUL,

Proposal: Change of use of retail shop to residential with adjoined house.

Location: 9 The Green, Helpringham

The application was discussed in detail and it was decided to support the application due to the fact that the premises has not been used as a retail outlet for over 20 years.

8.0         FINANCE

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

               8.2  The 2022/2023 budget was preliminarily discussed..

               8.3 The grass cutting tender for the year 2022/2023 was discussed, it is generally felt that the tender of services required from the contractor is in need of expansion. Councillor George Frizzell will liaise with the Clerk who will produce a revised edition for approval at the next meeting. It was resolved to authorise a further cut for this month if required. 

              8.4 The following payments were approved.

9.0         CEMETERY MATTERS

Councillor George Frizzell reported that there have been two interments and two Exclusive Rights of Burial signed in the past month.

It was also reported that one of the benches in the cemetery has been badly affected by the recent winds and it was therefore resolved to seek a price for a replacement.

Councillor George Frizzell has been approached for assistance by the Church Warden regarding a memorial (Ja & Jb) located within the old Cemetery grounds opposite the church. Cllr Frizzell had checked the memorial with the Church Warden and noted that other damaged memorials, not belonging to the same family, had been placed within the kerbs of this memorial at some time in the past. These memorials had been identified by scrutinising the visible names against the cemetery records and it was agreed that they had no place on this memorial. Because the misplaced memorials appeared to be damaged and beyond economical repair, it was discussed and decided by the PC that these should be carefully removed and placed on the inside perimeter of the Cemetery Boundary. By doing this, it will allow the potential renovation of the memorial (Ja & Jb)  by a qualified stonemason as there had been some funds bequeathed to the Church which would allow this renovation to happen.

10.0       CHURCH CLOCK AND PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE

The Church clock is running to time.

The website is all up to date and running well.

11.0       HIGHWAYS.

              All pot holes have been reported to “fixmystreet” and ongoing for repair.

12.0       MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE / CORRESPONDENCE

12.1 The new dual purpose bins are now in place and in use. Councillor Malcolm Ternouth has been making use of them for his regular litter picking for which the Parish Council are very grateful..

12.2. Councillor Malcolm Ternouth is to collect the old bench from 15 High Street and dispose of it.

12.3 It was resolved that Councillor Malcolm Ternouth will acquire quotes for a suitable mature tree to be planted professionally with a protective fence and a commemorative plaque for the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The tree will be positioned to replace the missing tree on the green..

12.4  The original company that the Parish Council were trying to source a community bench from in respect of Covid -19 has not responded. It was therefore resolved to look elsewhere.

12.5.It was discussed that it is not felt that the work the Parish Council carries out ‘behind the scenes’ is promoted suitably, it was resolved that Councillor Julie Frizzell and the Clerk will look at ways of enhancing this. Any suggestions would be gratefully received by the Clerk, sent to the Parish Council email helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com   

12.6 Following the goodwill of a parishioner, Councillor Malcolm Ternouth has acquired a quantity of container grown trees. These will be free on a first come first served basis, to anyone living within the parish who wishes to plant them.  Anyone interested should contact Councillor Ternouth on his mobile 07791626370.

13.0       MATTERS OF URGENCY /ANY OTHER BUSINESS

              13.1 The cleaning and regeneration of the village pond is to commence on 29th November

13.2 Bids for grants for 2022/2023 are now open and the Parish Council would welcome       any requests for funding from local community groups. In the first instance please apply to the Clerk by email. Bids will be discussed at the January meeting with a view to finalising in February.

14.         DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday  8th December 2021 in Helpringham Village Memorial Hall at 19:30 Hours.

              Meeting Closed at 9:00pm.