Minutes & Agendas

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Approved Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 14th July 2021

PRESENT

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin, Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell, Malcolm Ternouth, William Watts and Robert Spencer.  Parish Clerk Julie Dixon and  District Councillor Sally Tarry.

PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME

Parishioner Zoe Watson joined the meeting for the public speaking time to give an update on Helpringham Feast weekend which is being held from 6th – 8th August 2021.

A programme of events is attached to these minutes and can also be found on the Parish Council website at helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk All proceeds will be divided between Helpringham Playing Field and the Christmas tree fund. Zoe thanked the Parish Council for sponsoring the insurance for the events on the green. More volunteers are required to help with the running of some of the events/stalls, so please contact Zoe Watson if you are able to help in any way. Also looking for tombola and raffle prizes.

1.0 WELCOME REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN

The Chairman thanked Zoe welcomed the Councillors and thanked them for their attendance.

2.0         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor Stewart Ogden and Councillor Andre Key.

3.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES

It was resolved to adopt the minutes of the meeting of 5th May 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 

Councillors William Watts and Geoff Hotchkin declared pecuniary interest in the planning discussions that followed.

6.0 REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

District Councillor S Tarry reported that the latest Lincolnshire plan is out for consultation with a closing date of 24/08/2021.

Councillor Tarry appealed for any incidents of fly tipping to be reported immediately, this can be done in NKDC by the ‘fix my street’ app.

The Chairman, Councillor Geoff Hotchkin asked of any update on purple bins, Councillor Tarry advised that there is a further meeting regarding this on 15/07/2021.

7.0          PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

Planning Application 21/0960/HOUS

Proposal: Demolition of existing attached outbuildings and erection of attached annex and double garage.

Location: The Meadows, North Drove, Helpringham Fen

The above application was discussed with no objections, therefore it was resolved to support the application.

Planning Application: 21/1010/PNND

Proposal: Prior approval for a proposed change of use from agricultural to dwelling (C3)

Location: Barn off South Fen Road, Helpringham

The above application was discussed at some length with Councillor Malcolm Ternouth advising that the application is a class Q, automatically giving permission for derelict farm buildings to be turned into residential, providing they are on the same footprint as the original building.

It was resolved to support the application.

Planning Application: 21/1048/FUL

Proposal: Installation of roof replacement

Location: Helpringham Memorial Hall, 24 The Green, Helpringham

The above application was received after the printing of the Agenda. After discussion, mainly regarding the colour change, it was agreed that the new grey colour will bend in with other buildings in the locality and was therefore resolved to support the application.

8.0         FINANCE

8.1 The financial report presented by the Vice Chairman was accepted, the vice chairman reported that she has requested a quote from NE Fabrications for a pandemic memorial bench for the village.

Due to the compensation received from the fraudulent activity of the former Clerk, it was reported that the Parish Council is in a good position financially to be able to help local clubs with funds for equipment etc and the Parish Council would therefore like to extend an invitation to any of the village community groups to put in a request to the Clerk, which will then be discussed at the next meeting.

8.2 The bank reconciliation was accepted

8.3 It was resolved to accept the sum of £98.00 payable for the insurance of the Village Feast.

8.4 The Clerk reported that a VAT reclaim has been applied for to the value of £389.14. The Council wish to Thank Mrs Paula Ireland for her help with these matters, it is greatly appreciated.

8.5 The following payments were approved at the meeting.

9.0         CEMETERY MATTERS

9.1    Councillor George Frizzell, reported that there have been 2 interments within the cemetery and 2 applications for the erection of memorials.

10.0       CHURCH CLOCK

The Church Clock appears to be running around seven minutes fast at the moment, Councillor George Frizzell will correct in due course.

11.0       HIGHWAYS.

11.1 It was reported that although minimum amount of pot hole filling have been carried out, it is by no means enough. The roads of Helpringham and the surrounding areas are appalling to say the least and it was resolved that we must keep pushing to have the roads repaired.

11.2 Some concern has been shown over the road closure for a second time at Station Road. This is the second time that the same piece of road has been closed in a short period of time. It was requested that the Clerk write to NKDC showing concern, not least to the time scale with the village feast weekend due to begin on the afternoon of the 6th August. It is therefore imperative that this work does not over run as with the previous works.

12.0       MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE / CORRESPONDENCE

12.1 Correspondence received was discussed.

12.2 It was resolved to progress with the NKDC tree inspection service, which is carried out on a three yearly basis.      .

13.0       MATTERS OF URGENCY

13.1  Erection of the new dual purpose waste and dog poo bins is a matter of urgency. We have three new bins to be positioned on Swaton Road, South Drove and East Street, however, we do not have anyone to erect the bins. It was therefore resolved to request tenders from local builders .

14.         DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 11th August 2021 in Helpringham Village Memorial Hall at 19:30 Hours.

Meeting Closed at 8:45pm.