April 2024 - Minutes
HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com
Eau End Farm, Helpringham Fen, Sleaford NG34 0BS
helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
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Draft Minutes for Meeting held on THURSDAY 11th April 2024
PRESENT
Parish Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell (Cemetery Officer), Robert Spencer, Chris Taylor.
Clerk: Judy Pittock.
NOT PRESENT
Parish Councillors: Will Watts, Mark Robinson
Councillor Andrew Key – Lincoln County Council
Councillor Russell Jackson – District Council NKDC
TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM
No members of the public were present.
1.0 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN
The Chairman welcomed the Councillors to the meeting.
2.0 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Will Watts and Councillor Andrew Key.
3.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES
It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th March 2024 as true and correct minutes of the meeting.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES
Cllr Taylor reported that two flowering cherry trees had been planted to replace the dead trees on the grass near the cemetery. It was noted that the tree on the grass on East Street was dead and all agreed that Cllrs Taylor and Spencer would remove this and a replacement planted.
5.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest and dispensations.
6.0 REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
No report had been received.
7.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
7.1 24/0106/HOUS Danum House – decision received, planning had been approved.
7.2 23/1063/HOUS The Old Manor House, 3 George Street, Helpringham – decision received, planning had been approved.
8.0 FINANCE
8.1 The financial report and bank reconciliation presented by the Clerk were accepted. Following discussion Cllr Taylor proposed that the Clerk should become a signatory for the bank to allow the Parish Council to start making payments via online banking. Cllr J Frizzell seconded this motion and it was unanimously agreed. The Clerk presented the relevant bank form for signing. All Councillors who are signatories are now expected to bring their card readers to every meeting in future.
8.2 The following payments were approved:
|
Clerk's Wages |
Mar 24 |
£231.20 |
Wages |
No VAT |
|
Clerk's Expenses |
Post Office |
£5 |
Postage (HMRC, LALC, Keep Britain Tidy, CJP) |
No VAT |
| Clerk's Expenses | Amazon | £3.15 | Pins for noticeboard | No VAT |
| Clerk's Expenses | The Cartridge People | £39.90 | Black printer ink | No VAT |
| HMRC | £57.80 | PAYE Mar 24 | No VAT | |
| HVCS | £500 | Grant | No VAT | |
| Helpringham Feast | £500 | Grant | No VAT | |
| Citizen’s Advice | £100 | Grant | No VAT | |
| CJP Garden Services | Inv 526 & 527 | £726 | Grass Cutting | No VAT |
8.3 It was unanimously agreed to carry over the insurance renewal to the May meeting so that the Clerk could obtain revised quotes with the revisions discussed at the meeting.
8.4 AGAR preparation – internal auditor has been appointed and the Clerk is to review the Asset Register. Completed forms will be presented at the next Parish Council meeting in May.
9.0 CEMETERY AND CONSERVATION AREA
9.1 Cllr G. Frizzell reported that there would be an interment of ashes in plot B7 on 17/4/24. The Clerk had raised the relevant invoice. Memorials for plots V18 and U18 were still ongoing.
9.2 Cllr G. Frizzell reported that the level of water in the pond had dropped but it was agreed that the outlet drain still needs unblocking.
10.0 CHURCH CLOCK
It was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should write to the PCC gifting the church clock winding mechanism to the church and requesting that this is acknowledged by the PCC. The winding mechanism can then be removed from the Parish Council Asset Register.
11.0 PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE
11.1 Cllr G Frizzell reported that the Parish Council Website is up to date.
12.0 HIGHWAY MATTERS
12.1 The latest speed camera reports are available on the Parish Council website here.
12.2 The following response had been received from Rowan Smith of Lincs Highways about the issues:
The village pond – a jetting order has been put in place to try and clear the overflow but no date has been set for the work.
Vicarage Lane – the road is to be visited again and has been placed on a list for consideration for more significant works.
Road from Little Hale to Burton Pedwardine – small scale repairs will be made soon and the road has been put forward for more significant works.
Burton village – this is waiting to be promoted as a scheme but works have not yet been programmed.
Bollards on Station Road - an order will be issued to replace the missing bollards.
Fen Roads – these are to be visited in April for assessment and appropriate action will be taken in line with policy. The roads are on the list for consideration for more significant work.
Footpath from Helpringham to Thorpe Latimer – this will be included in the next siding programme. Landowners are reminded that they are responsible to ensure that any hedges adjacent to roads and pathways are kept cut back so that they do not cause an obstruction.
The following items have also been reported by the Parish Council on FixMyStreet:
- • FixMyStreet – 9/2/24 Ref: 492776 - Blocked drain near Blotoft Crossing. Update 29/2/24 – Works issued.
- • FixMyStreet – 13/2/24 Ref: 493535 – Bollards on Station Road. Update 5/4/24 – work complete.
- • FixMyStreet – 26/2/24 Ref: 496100 – Blocked overflow for village pond. Update 12/3/24 – work issued.
- • FixMyStreet – 26/2/24 Ref: 496101 – Pothole on North Drove by Walnut Tree Farm Update 18/3/24 work issued.
- • FixMyStreet – 15/3/24 Ref: 499185 and 499213. Update 15/3/24 – Work issued.
- • FixMyStreet – 2/4/24 Ref: 2801674 – Potholes from Barnes Farm to South Drove Farm.
- • FixMyStreet – 2/4/24 Ref: 2801686 – Missing sign to Billingborough on junction of Highgate and High Street. Update 4/4/24 Ongoing.
12.3 The annual roadsweep and path clearance have been carried out.
12.4 It was noted that Bus Stop Clearway will now be enforced due to cars regularly being parked on it.
13.0 LINCOLNSHIRE RESERVOIR
The report from the latest Liaison Group meeting will be published on the Parish Council website.
14.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE
14.1 Dog waste notices had been received from Keep Britain Tidy. Cllr Taylor will be placing them in relevant places in the village.
14.2 Community Resilience Plan (flooding). It was agreed that this is not currently required but will be reviewed in the autumn.
14.3 Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council preparation – the Clerk will liaise with Cllr J Frizzell re Agenda items for these meetings.
15.0 The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 8th May 2024 at 7pm – this will be the Annual Parish Meeting following by the AGM and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
The Meeting closed at 8.40pm.