July 2019 Minutes
Langtoft Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 2nd July 2019,
followed by an ordinary meeting, at Langtoft Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Andy Halfhide (Chairman), Andy Hallam (Vice Chairman), Brian Branch, Angela Brogan, Debbie Hallam, Yvonne McCulloch, Lewis Trickey.
In Attendance: Julian Tatam (Parish Clerk), County Councillor Barry Dobson, District Councillor Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, two prospective Councillors and 11 members of the public.
24 /19-20 Open Forum
The meeting began with the open forum at 7.00pm
Questions were asked about:
The Crossroads, traffic issues are worsening. The serious accident last week involving a motorcyclist has prompted an online and a paper petition, calling for safety improvements before there is a fatality. One resident expressed concern that the accident data is incorrect and that no S.106 funds from the Elsea Park were allocated to A15 improvements. Can there be a reduction in the speed limit to 30 mph? What is the Parish Council doing? The Chairman provided an update on actions to date.
Proposed BP filling station. Concerns were raised about development on a greenfield site, the lack of need for a fuel station in the locality, the doubtful economic benefit and in particular the belief that the access is dangerous being so close to a fast roundabout. The application was considered by the SKDC Planning Committee last week and a decision deferred on safety grounds. The consensus in the audience was that the application should be strongly opposed. The Chairman confirmed that the Parish Council had lodged a formal objection earlier in the year, principally on concerns about safety. The Parish Council will be seeking a meeting with Richard Davies, Executive Portfolio Holder for LCC Highways to discuss the issue and the perceived weakness in the Highways response to the application.
Request for vote of no confidence in LCC highways from a resident over the lack of progress to improvements at the crossroads and lack of understanding of safety issues regarding the BP filling station. The Parish Council will consider this in due course.
25/19-20 Resolution to suspend standing orders to allow an extension to the open forum proposed by Cllr D Hallam, seconded Cllr Brogan and passed unanimously
The open forum closed at 7.47pm
26/19-20 Chairman’s welcome and remarks
27/19-20 Report from County and District Councillors and Police
C Cllr Dobson was invited to respond to the topics raised in the open forum.
He will write to Richard Davies requesting a special meeting on the proposed BP filling station and the A15 crossroads. A study on the feasibility of installing full traffic lights on the A15 would cost £5600, to be funded by the Parish Council (at present there is not an allocation for this in the 2019 20 budget). Thurlby obtained 3000 signatures on a petition for A15 safety improvements and this was helpful in obtaining LCC Highways support.
He is also progressing a Traffic Restriction Order to apply a weight limit on West End, agreed to chase up the flooding at the crossroads and to provide an indication of when the 2019 20 winter gritting programme will be considered.
The report from the police was read out. They have spoken to the young men with mopeds who have been seen hanging around in Langtoft and will be monitoring the situation. The PCSO would encourage the reporting of any offences by telephoning 101. They need photographic or video evidence before they can issue a Section 59 warning for anti social behaviour. It is understood that PCSOs will no longer attend Council Meetings due to lack of time. The Clerk was asked to request that they comment in future.
8.15pm. There was a short break while the County and District Councillors and the members of the public left the meeting to continue their discussions on highways etc outside. The meeting resumed at 8.20pm
28/19-20 Apologies for absence
None received; all Councillors present.
29 /19-20 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were made.
30/19-20 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting
The approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 14th May 2019 was proposed by Cllr Trickey seconded by Cllr A Hallam; all in favour.
31/19-20 Casual Vacancies
There were two valid candidates for the vacancies.
The motion that Alastair Fraser be co-opted to join the Parish Council was proposed by Cllr Branch, seconded by Cllr A Hallam; all in favour.
The motion that Stephen Valentine be co-opted to join the Parish Council was proposed by Cllr Branch, seconded by Cllr A Hallam; all in favour
There was a brief discussion on the need to fill the two remaining vacancies, preferably from younger people to get a broader representation of the residents.
32/19-20 Clerks Report
The Clerk’s report had already been provided to the Councillors, including a log of communications. Key points:
The deferment of the significant pruning of some of the maples adjoining Barn Owl Close at this stage was agreed by the Council’s insurer’s tree adviser. We do not currently have planning consent for the proposed work, the trees being in the conservation area.
The financial records have been submitted to the external auditor.
Maps of the TPOs in the village have been requested again but are not available as the information is now on a website. The Clerk was instructed to request pdf copies of the relevant screen prints covering the village.
Will get quotes for the repair of the play equipment at East End Park. The Chairman hopes to repair the frame of the twin seat swings before the school summer holidays.
Setting up of a Facebook page is progressing.
The Clerk has been chasing Hansons for an early resolution of the ‘rabbit issue’ so that the transfer can take place without further delay. It was noted that the current crop will be harvested in the next few weeks so that grazing by rabbits will temporarily cease to be an issue. The Clerk was asked to press Hansons and our solicitor to enable a transfer to take place by 25 August.
33/19-20 Working groups
The groups had not met since the last meeting. The Chairman encouraged them to meet before the next full meeting on 27 August.
34/19-20 Finance
Year to date accounts. The accounts to 26 June had been circulated to all Councillors.
The balances at that date totalled £27,607 following receipt of the half year precept with very few outgoings.
Appointment of a Councillor to verify bank reconciliations
The appointment of Cllr Valentine was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Brogan; all in favour.
Ionos Webmail subscription
This was renewed via a direct debit for £91.18 on 4 June (normally payments would be authorised by two Councillors)
Langtoft Festival
The Council has a received a formal request for a donation of £500 towards the forthcoming Festival on 12 and 13 July. There followed a discussion about the budget allocation for donations only being £100, the general pressure on Parish Council funds (the current year budget is for a significant deficit) and a concern about setting a precedent for donations to other ‘not for profit’ organisations. There were two proposals; that we underwrite any loss up to a maximum of £500 and a second that there be a donation of £500. Neither of these proposals proceeded to a vote as no Councillor was prepared to support either proposal (any motion has to have a proposer and a seconder before proceeding to a vote).
Purchase of wreathes for Remembrance Sunday
That we order three wreathes at the cost of £90 was proposed by Cllr D Hallam, seconded by the Chairman; all in favour.
35/19-20 Other Matters
Black Bull Green Hedge
Cllr McCulloch was concerned about the condition of the hedge and that it is only cut once a year; she believed it should be twice. The Clerk will look into this.
Planters
Cllr McCulloch was unhappy about the state of the planters, suggesting that the plants should be replaced more regularly. It was agreed that Cllrs Brogan and Fraser advise the gardener on the purchase of plants and maintenance of the planters.
Working Party
The Chairman proposed to clean the play equipment at Black Bull Green on 6 July. Help would be appreciated.
The Handling of Planning Issues
The Chairman’s suggestion that a group be set up to consider planning applications in more detail and provide a recommendation to the Council received support. Members to be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Cllrs Branch and Brogan.
Direction Sign to Industrial Estate
The sign directing traffic to the Kings Street Industrial estate is still in place at the A15 crossroads, despite an agreement from K Brumfield at Highway that it be removed, to reduce HGV traffic along West End and Stowe Road. Clerk requested to contact C Cllr Dobson.
36/19-20 Review of Employee Pay Rates
A proposal that the employee pay rates be increased in line with the National Joint Council for Local Government Services agreement for 2019-2020 was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr A Hallam; all in favour.
37/19-20 Dates of future meetings
Next Full Council meeting: 27 August 2019 at the Langtoft Village Hall at 7.00pm
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.55.