September 2020 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of North Kelsey Parish Council held at the Village Hall, North Kelsey on Tuesday 8th September 2020 at 6.30pm
Those present: Councillors D Weir, R Smith, Cllr P Bryan ( chair) L Barker, S March, H Burrows
In attendance: J Waite (Clerk) 2 members of the public.
1To receive apologies and reasons for absence Ref 20/314
Cllr T Turner Cllr P Howitt Cowan
2 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests. Ref 20/315
Cllr S March – planning application 141386
3 To approve draft minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council, held on 11th August 2020. Ref 20/316
Resolved to approve as a true record.
Proposed Cllr L Barker. Seconded Cllr R Smith. All in favour.
To approve draft minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parish Council, held on 20th August 2020. Ref 20/317
Resolved to approve as a true record.
Proposed Cllr P Bryan. Seconded Cllr R Smith. All in favour.
All meeting records from zoom electronic meetings were signed by the Chair, having been approved at previous meetings.
4 Public Questions Ref 20/317
None raised
5 Clerk’s report Ref 20/318
A new email address for the council has been set up clerk.northkelseyparish@gmail.com
There are currently 3 casual vacancies – the Clerk has received 1 nomination.
Mary Williams spoke to council in support of her nomination.
As Mrs Williams company has the council contract for the grass cutting in the village there was discussion of the regulations surrounding a councillor and paid contracts from the council, and the Clerk has ensured that all the guidance has been circulated to al councillors, and that all safeguards and risk assessments for this situation have been done. All matters will need to be shown on the Register of Members Interests, and declared at each meeting. In line with Standing Order Section 13 Section B will need to leave the meeting room when discussion and votes on this matter happen in future.
Proposed to move to Closed Session.
Proposed Cllr P Bryan. Seconded Cllr S March. All in favour.
Discussion of risk impact to the council. The issue of close personal friendships and previous contact between the nomination and some councillors was discussed, and they were advised by the Clerk to abstain from the vote in the interests of fairness. The councillors declined to do this.
Proposed to co opt to council.
Vote for – 4
Vote against – 2.
Motion carried.
Move to open council session.
2 Members of the public rejoined the meeting.
Resolved to co opt Mary Williams to the council.
LCC have several systems in place for residents who need help in the current Covid 19 lockdown and these details are on the notice board, website and can be obtained from the Clerk. There is a face book page for the village offering support.
Cllr Paul Howitt Cowan, WLDC councillor joined the meeting at this point.
Council facebook page to help promote council meetings and information has been created, Clerk asked if anyone had photos of the village to publish.
6. Financial Matters Ref 20/319
Payments to be made by direct debit.
Wave water bill £10.55
Payments to be made by BACS.
Salaries £303.34
Clerks Expenses and Disbursements £32.11
M Williams – Grass cutting £988.80
JB Rural Services - cemetery roof repair £66.00
JB Rural Services - removal of fallen branches £126.00
Office Friends £32.28
Payments to be made by cheque.
None
Resolved to approve payments.
Proposed Cllr R Smith. Seconded Cllr P Bryan. All in favour.
A government grant under covid 19 regulations has been received for the cemetery.
Clerk informed council of the new pay award for 2020/21.
Resolved to accept and to backdate pay rise from April 1st.
Proposed Cllr R Smith. Seconded Cllr P Bryan. All in favour.
7 Planning applications and decisions received Ref 20/320
Application 141386 – no comments or objections
Application 141567 – no comments or objections
Application 141559 – no comments or objections
8 Parish matters – To receive any report or consider any appropriate action Ref 20/321
a) Cemetery – work on the Chapel roof has now been done. With the grant money now available it was resolved to have a site meeting to look at the work needing to be done on the headstones and general tidying of the cemetery. A request has been received to have a photo plaque on a new headstone and council do not have any objection to this.
b) Grounds Maintenance - The benches on the village green need revarnishing. Winter planting of the flower boxes to go ahead, and another flower box to be purchased to go on the village green, the budget was £200 for this financial year.
The 30 mph road sign on Carr Road is still missing - contact LCC again.
c) Play Area – There are some broken rails on the perimeter fencing – Clerk to obtain further quotes for the repairs. There is a branch down in the wild life area – this has now been removed. On removal, another slit branch was found and was dangerous so it was agreed that the contractor would remove while on site at a small extra cost.
There is some paint left for the play equipment – a start will be made on painting and more paint purchased if / when needed. The issue of increased litter on the field and wild life area has been noted.
d) Wild Life Area – no other issues to report.
9 To receive general comments from members for consideration on the next agenda. Ref 20/322
District Councillor report to be added to agenda in future - Cllr P Howitt Cowan introduced himself to councillors and spoke about WLDC and the proposals to dissolve district councils within Lincolnshire.
10 Date and Time of next meeting –
Tuesday 13th October at 6.30pm
Meeting closed 8.30pm.