2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

of Harmston Parish Council held at The Memorial Hall, Harmston

on Tuesday 19th July 2022 at 7.30 pm

1/7 APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Ian Norman and Cllr Lucille Hague

2/7 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

None to declare.

3/7 OPEN FORUM

A resident shared plans for a proposed small development on Vicarage Lane (near A607).

4/7 TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS TO JOIN THE PARISH COUNCIL

No applicants at this time.  The Clerk continues to advertise the post on the PC website, and in both village noticeboards.  The vacancies have also been in other local publications.

5/7 TO APPROVE THE NOTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Cllr Wallace proposed and Cllr Hamilton seconded, and it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 17th May 2022 were approved. 

6/7 REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES

a. Local Police (PC 1293 Matt Roberts)

Newsletter shared via email. To report any illegal or antisocial incidents please phone 101. This process is essential in gathering evidence. For more information on the Cliff Villages Policing Team, follow this link https://www.lincs.police.uk/about-us/your-area/teams/cliff-villages-policing-team/

b. County Councillor

Report shared.  County Councillor Carrington shared feedback from his walk around Harmston with County Highways, and confirmed a thorough review has been requested, and that in order to do this up-to-date evidence will need to be gathered. He has been working with a resident, and will share more once he has spoken with him.  A range of methods to help reduce the speed, weight and volume of traffic will be discussed. The Highways will talk to, and listen to the PC as part of this process. All paintwork will be repainted, with two additional new signs of ‘slow’ near Honeysuckle Cottage.  If this first phase is not enough, then a second phase will be implemented.

c. District Councillor

Report shared with PC.  District Councillor Overton suggested contacting Marc Jones, the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, to see if PCSO’s or an equivalent might be available to help with the ongoing issues of antisocial behaviour at the viewing point.  The NKDC has been shortlisted as best council in the UK.

District Councillor Hagues was unable to attend, and her report was shared ahead of the meeting.

7/7 CODE OF CONDUCT

The new nationwide code of conduct was shared with the PC ahead of the meeting.  The document was discussed and it was RESOLVED that the PC will adopt the new code of conduct. The PC need to complete the form sent by the Clerk. ACTION: Clerk to share new code on website, and inform NKDC that the PC are adopting the new code of conduct TD 30.8.22; ACTION: PC members to complete forms and return to Clerk, TD 15.8.22

8/7 CLERKS REPORT

1. Tax refund for 2021-2022 submitted

2. Tax refund for 2022-2023 updated

3. Noticeboards updated

4. Website updated

5. Meeting with NKDC re dog waste bins – new locations agreed.  Bins now installed/relocated.  List for collections updated. Shared with residents via website and FB

6. Elan City rung re SpID order; order re-confirmed 24.6.22. Chased 6.7.22 MJ negotiated new deal and earlier delivery

7. Shared SpID chased again (emailed, phoned, message left).  Located, PW collecting. New schedule being created

8. Soft close fastening and installation chased for play area gate. Installed and then removed – not fit for purpose – assume as gate is wooden

9. Grass cutter contacted re strimming under and as near to equipment as possible – this has been addressed

10. Grass cutter approached re spraying of weeds (He is able to do this, but was surprised NKDC weren’t providing this service).  Awaiting quote for specific areas

11. NKDC contacted re spraying of weeds – apparently it varies from village to village.  Directed to Highways

12. Payroll completed, and shared with Chair of SC. Holidays requested.

13. Resident emails

14. LCC contacted re installation of post – directed to Graeme Butler

15. AGAR documents submitted and published

16. New councillor documents submitted

17. Village QPJ event preparations

18. Register for QPJ complied and gift researched

19. Email to Councillor Carrington, Councillor Hagues and Councillor Overton re full review of Church Lane

20. Meeting with Graeme Butler re post and road safety measures – see separate report

21. Conversation with Highways: request for number/appropriate signage at bus stop logged

22. Conversation with Highways: request for sandbags to be removed from corner on Church Lane registered

23. Conversation with Highways: request made to see if county are/can be responsible for removal of weeds through village

24. Conversation with Highways:  road flooding request checked – request still in place, no job date as yet, but job remains open, and cause has been identified

25. Phone call from Martin at NKDC.  The sandbags on Church Lane need to remain.  When there is heavy rain, the water gushes down the hill and floods the garden of a property on Station Road.  The owner had made a complaint, and the sandbags were added to help whilst more permanent measures were put in place.  Later this year the road is being reconstructed, but Martin is also requesting that the curbs and drains be addressed where the sandbags currently are.

26. Highways emailed to request road markings are repainted on Church Lane

Cllrs had no issues or comments to make.  ACTION: Clerk to reduce report even further, but retain it to show the results of ‘actions’ from previous meeting. TD 1.9.22

9/7 FINANCIAL MATTERS

To consider the Financial Overview for 2021-2022 to date (emailed)

Financial Overview reviewed – no issues

To consider the Financial Report for July 2022

Financial Report was reviewed with no issues noted.

The Clerk also shared the VAT Refund report to date for 2022-2023.

Monies to be paid 

Cheques were signed for pending payments.

10/7 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

TREE WORKS 22/1007/TPO Lime House

PLANNING 22/0902/HOUS 9 Vicarage Lane

The PC had no comments to add to either application.

11/7 PLAY AREA

Grass cutting

Following the Clerk speaking to the contractor, the quality of cutting is much better.

Soft close fitting

The Clerk chased the contractor for the soft close fitting.However, the one installed is not suitable for a wooden gate and was too heavy, and therefore had to be removed. ACTION: Clerk to ask Paddock Care to find an appropriate alternative, TD 30.8.22

Sign

In the absence of permanent signage, the Clerk has made a temporary sign. It was agreed that a noticeboard needs purchasing for at the play area.ACTION: Clerk to ask Mr Sowerby if a board can be installed, and enquire if they would be willing to contribute to it, TD 30.8.22. ACTION: Clerk to update Asset Register, TD 10.9.22

12/7 LITTER PICKING

Update from Clerk

It was reported that the new Litter Picker is doing a wonderful job.The PC thanks her.ACTION: Clerk to share message with Litter Picker, TD 18.8.22 The bin at the bottom of Blacksmiths Lane keeps overflowing. ACTION: Clerk to ask NKDC to empty bin, TD 18.8.22

13/7 DOG BINS

Update on purchase and installation

All bins have now been purchased and installed

Location of 5th bin

Following a meeting with NKDC, the Clerk and Cllr Norman, the final bin has now been installed, giving a balanced coverage throughout the village.

14/7 SpID UPDATE

Order update

The SpID has been ordered, and is finally in transit.The Clerk has received terrible service from the company involved.

To discuss and agree points from meeting with Graeme Butler

Following a very productive meeting between the Clerk and Graeme Butler, a position on Vicarage Lane was proposed.It was RESOLVED that the Clerk instruct that the post be purchased and installed at a cost of £250.00.ACTION: Clerk to confirm purchase and installation of post on Vicarage Lane TD: 28.7.22

Graeme also suggested Voluntary Enforcement as great traffic deterrent.Cllrs Goodwin and Cllr Hamilton showed an interest in this. ACTION: Clerk to ask Graeme for further details, and add to website that the PC are looking for volunteers to participate TD: 1.9.22

15/7 CHURCH LANE TRAFFIC

Discuss additional supporting measures such as road markings and signs

Refer to Point 6b for details

16/7 QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE

New date 24.7.22

The Clerk and Chair are unable to attend the new date.The Clerk requested that other members of the PC attended to represent the HPC and support the event ACTION: Members of PC attend QPJ event, TD 24.7.22

Commemorative Gift

Ahead of the meeting, the Clerk shared suggestions.  It was agreed that a boxed commemorative coin be

purchased for each child registered.  ACTION: Clerk to purchase 40 coins in presentation boxes, TD: 27.7.22

17/7 COMMUNICATIONS

Discuss methods of communicating with residents

It was discussed and agreed that the meeting notes be completed as a priority following each meeting.Clerk to complete notes before carrying out any other tasks.

The Clerk currently uses the noticeboards, website and Facebook page for communicating, and has used HMH newsletter and Graffoe Link when appropriate.It was discussed sharing not just the positives – for example why the SpID has been delayed.

Clerk asked to find out how many people are using the website. ACTION: Clerk to complete meeting notes as a priority, TD: 28.7.22. ACTION: Clerk to find views of website data, TD: 1.9.22

18/7 MATTERS TO BE RAISED AT THE NEXT MEETING

Streetlights

Meeting schedule

Footpath

Noticeboard

19/7 DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of Harmston Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 20th September 2022 at the Memorial Hall, Harmston

There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at 9.45pm

Chair:                                                                                                                                                                 Date:

Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of council proceedings until they are approved and signed at a future Parish Council meeting.