May 2020 Minutes
Minutes of Langtoft Parish Council Meeting via Zoom link on Tuesday 19 May 2020 at 7pm
Present: Cllr. Andy Halfhide (Chair), Cllr. Andy Hallam (Vice Chair) and Cllrs. Debbie Hallam, Angela Brogan, Yvonne McCulloch, Steve Valentine, District Cllrs. Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, County Cllr. Barry Dobson, Sarah Gresty Parish Clerk and 1 member of the public.
Public Forum:
- The member of the public raised concerns regarding speeding traffic in the village, particularly on Stowe Road and the west end of the village. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, it was noted that the interactive speed signs have not been up in the village. The member of the public was going to contact the PCSO to see if they could increase their presence.
- Also, an increase in heavy goods vehicles had been noticed, such as quarry lorries. It was suggested that, if a log of lorries could be forwarded to the clerk, she could then contact the quarry to remind them of non-village routes. Cllr Steve Valentine has looked into the speed watch scheme but, due to the regulation that would need to be applied, it was not deemed possible in the foreseeable future. Cllr. Dobson pointed out that weight restrictions on village roads are hard to impose. However, he will pass comments onto the new Highways Manager.
- The Clerk had received an email from a local student doing the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme. He was seeking permission from the Parish Council to do a volunteer litter pick, concentrating on the west end of the village. Langtoft Parish Council unanimously agreed that this was a splendid idea and would like to support this.
Action: Clerk to send details to Cllr Trollope-Bellew so she could arrange some litter picking equipment for his use.
Clerk to inform the insurance company of activity.
- Bowls Club - Cllr. Andy Hallam reported on a recent meeting at the bowls club regarding opening the club to members and the social distancing procedures they had in place. What they had in place seemed very sensible and they had taken advice from the National Bowling Association but, as this was not a Parish Council issue, no comment could be made.
Public Session closed at: 19:32
Agenda
20/21-01 Chairman’s welcome and remarks. Cllr Andy Halfhide formally opened the meeting.
20/21-02 Apologies were received from Cllr. Kellam Cooke.
20/21-03 Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011,
Although not a pecuniary interest, Cllr. Andy Halfhide wanted to state his disagreement to claiming the small business rate grant as a small business owner himself.
20/21-04 Standing Orders: to receive amended standing orders, including new arrangements during the Covid-19 pandemic. Acceptance of the additional virtual meeting and pandemic legislation. Proposed: Cllr Andy Halfhide, Seconded: Cllr Debbie Hallam unanimously RESOLVED
Minutes: To approve the minutes of:
20/21-05 Parish Council meeting held on 18 February 2020 Proposed: Cllr Steve Valentine, Seconded: Cllr Yvonne McCulloch and RESOLVED by Cllrs. Halfhide, Brogan.
20/21-06 Parish Council meeting held on 31 March 2020 Proposed: Cllr Andy Hallam, Seconded: Cllr. Andy Halfhide and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-07 To receive reports from County and District Councillors and Police
Report by Cllr. Rosemary Trollope-Bellew:
- The planning application for the BP Petrol station at the Market Deeping Roundabout has gone to appeal. Our officers will be defending the decision to refuse the application.
- Gravity Fields at Grantham, which is our science festival celebrating Sir Isaac Newton was postponed until 2022 because of the Covid-19 virus.
- The three markets at Grantham, Stamford & Bourne have combined with the Farmers Markets and proved very popular. Social distancing has been observed with the use of barriers at entrances & exits. The number of stalls is increasing each week and it is hoped that flowers and garden produce will be allowed in the very near future.
- The competition to find the next Stamford Poet Laureate took place at the end of April using a video conference app. Zoom. 7 people applied with Rob Elks being successful.
- All Arts Centre programmes were postponed until 1st June and will be reviewed on a monthly basis but nothing is planned at present.
- We are sending our E-newsletter to our residents and artists who support the Arts Centre to keep them informed.
- The Covid-19 virus has had a big impact on our visitor economy. In SKDC we have approximately 3.4m visitors who spend about 190k a year. We are maintaining a strong relationship with businesses and have help a large percentage obtain government grants.
Report by Cllr Barry Dobson:
Despite everyone's efforts to stay safe, it does look as though we will remain in lock-down for a considerably longer period than originally anticipated. We have seen, even in Germany, where restrictions have been lifted too soon, that cases and deaths have risen sharply.
A new mortuary has been installed at Woodhall Spa on military ground. This will be capable of storing 500 bodies. The storage is due to the crematorium/burial capacity and throughput rates.
Unfortunately, many care homes have been affected, including some in South Kesteven. There are currently 44 facilities now in isolation in Lincolnshire.
Due to the amount of fly tipping that has been occurring throughout the county, there is a move to open the recycling centres again. There has not been a date mentioned yet, but we are hoping to get this organised in the short term. The problem is to ensure the safety of the staff and of the public when they use the facility. There will certainly be a restriction on the number of visits per week and probably only after telephone/online reservations for a slot. Lincolnshire Trading Standards are advising people who, like many of us during the lock-down, use social media for shopping and keeping in contact. Fraudsters are out there with you when you're online, fishing for information and encouraging people to sign in to hoax sites. This is on the increase and fraudsters are revelling in this overly active lucrative platform.
Online use of libraries has seen a dramatic take-up in usage. We were very pleased to see the encouraging trend to use the library in this 21st century mode, even if we all miss the joy and atmosphere of visiting our library in the Deepings.
Councils are expecting to lose out on millions of pounds due to reduced income caused by the lock-down. However, one bit of good news is that the new leisure centre to be located in Deeping St James is progressing well.
There has been some guidance for the Parish Council to deal with Wells regarding their refusal to return or to give any compensation whatsoever. I have a list of these suggestions by the legal team and apologise that my fellow councillor and friend, Rosemary Trollope-Bellew has not been given this information due it being sent to me immediately prior to this meeting.
We have a new highways manager, Kyra Nettle, who has promised to visit us with gang or gangs of workers to repair our roads. Please would the Parish Council let me have a list of necessary repairs, including any waiting or weigh-limit restrictions so that I can put these through to Kyra by the second week in June. The work is due to be carried out during the first two weeks of September.
Please all take care at this time, stay at home and keep your distance. It's the only way to stop this virus from spreading.
County update.
- Other than all the hard work being done on front line services and coping with the Covid-19 pandemic there is very little going on.
- Looking at supporting the local economy. County are liaising with district.
- There is a new Highways Manager. Cllr Dobson asked LPC to compile a list, with photos if possible, of repairs needed i.e. fences on meadow road, kerb on A15, potholes etc. Work is planned for beginning of September. List be sent to him by mid-June.
InvestSK update.
- Supporting businesses. A planned zoom breakfast meeting is planned for 5th June for businesses, used as a platform for small business to voice their concerns. Another planned for the 2nd and 3rd Thursday of every month. To receive an invite contact Cllr. Dobson direct or check the website.
- Reported problem: Wells Marquees and Langtoft Festival. Cllr Dobson is taking advice on behalf the Langtoft Festival to see if they can legally force a refund from Wells Marquees.
Action: Cllr. Dobson to pass advice to organisers of Festival.
It was noted that this is not a Parish Council run event and the land is owned by SKDC.
Item 20/21-31 was discussed at this point. See below for resolution.
SKDC
- Confirm proposals in place to build the new leisure centre in Deeping St James.
- Cllr. Dobson had confirmed the £1k grant for the Langtoft Covid-19 support fund. It was agreed that £300 initially would be transferred to the shopping fund and ring fenced with in parish accounts.
Financial matters
20/21-08 To receive Financial Report for the year 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. Acceptance Proposed: Cllr. Andy Hallam, Seconded: Cllr. Andy Halfhide and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-09 To receive Financial report for the period 1 April 2020 – 11 May 2020. Acceptance Proposed: Cllr. Andy Halfhide, Seconded: Cllr. Andy Hallam and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-10 To receive Annual Governance Statement 2019/20. (AGAR). Acceptance Proposed: Cllr. Andy Halfhide, Seconded: Cllr Yvonne McCulloch and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-11 To set commencement date for the exercise of public rights. 1 July – 9 August. Acceptance Proposed: Cllr Steve Valentine, Seconded: Cllr. Debbie Hallam and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-12 To Agree Insurance provision with RHIB Insurance commencing 01/06/2020. Acceptance Proposed: Cllr. Andy Hallam, Seconded: Cllr Angela Brogan and unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-13 To confirm the Asset Register to 31 Mar 2020. Acceptance Proposed: Cllr. Angela Brogan, Seconded: Cllr. Yvonne McCulloch and unanimously RESOLVED.
To Approve Payments as follows:
20/21-14 Graytones Printers inv 30849 covid-19 leaflets - £52.00-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-15 Bdg Mowing inv.659 mowing 24.3.20 - £100.00-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-16 Maralyn Robinson inv internal audit 29/20 - £50.00-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-17 N Bright Apr salary-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-18 S Gresty Apr Salary-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-19 Wave water bill 5 Jan-4 Apr 2020 - £11.93-already paid-RESOLVED.
20/21-20 Ionus website renewal – via direct debit - unanimously RESOLVED.
20/21-21 RHIB insurance renewal premium - £459.32- unanimously RESOLVED
20/21-22 N Bright. Garden expenses £49.01- unanimously RESOLVED
20/21-23 Bdg Mowing inv 684 to 21/4/20 £200.00- unanimously RESOLVED
20/21-24 Chattertons Solicitors inv Langt013/001 Penfield legal costs £1247.20
Action: Clerk to forward this invoice to Hanson’s for their £1k contribution payment then to arrange payment of balance. ha
To note Income received:
20/21-25 SKDC precept 20/21 - £12,250.00-noted received
Planning: To receive Planning applications:
20/21-26 a) S20/0106 Conversion of existing Barn building into a 4 bedroom residential property, with erection of a new double garage, 31A East End, Langtoft PE6 9LP.
No objections received Unanimously RESOLVED to support this proposal.
b) S20/0576 Erection of a three-bedroom dwelling Land Off 4 New Road, Langtoft PE6 9LE.
No objections received Unanimously RESOLVED to support this proposal.
20/21-27 S20/0648 Raising the ridge and eaves of the existing mono pitch roof to the front elevation, porch extension, first floor bathroom extension, rear conservatory extension and demolition of existing garage and the construction of a new garage and store, 58 East End, Langtoft PE6 9LP.
No objections received Unanimously RESOLVED to support this proposal.
20/21-28 To receive communication from LCC requesting a bus stop clearway, Bourne Road, Langtoft. -Noted.
20/21-29 Parish Walk 3rd June 2020. POSTPHONED. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the problem with keeping social distances, it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Walk should be postponed, perhaps until the autumn. It was noted that all the footpaths are being well used
during residents’ social isolation exercise.
Noted - new finger posts had been erected between the cemetery and New Road.
20/21-30 Covid-19 Support update
Another update meeting was set for Thursday 21 May 6.30pm Cllr Andy Halfhide to send invites via zoom.
Noted that the support in place was working efficiently.
Cllr Steve Valentine expressed concerns that Cllr. Andy Halfhide had not been reimbursed for the initial costs of purchasing lanyards etc. Cllr Andy Halfhide thanked the meeting for the mention but would donate this to the cause and then thanked everyone one else who was involved in the support.
Action: Cllr. Steve Valentine to add to the Facebook page a reminder to volunteer leaders and volunteers to record all their support.
20/21-31 InvestSK- business grant
Small business grant. It was noted that, as it is registered for rates, LPC could claim the small business grant offered by SKDC. However, it was noted that LPC receive full rate relief on the cemetery and does not pay the rates.
It was unanimously agreed that as LPC are not financially in deficit, it would be immoral to claim this grant as the money would be best offered to supporting local business’ in need – unanimously RESOVLED.
20/21-32 To receive Items for Future Meetings
- Recruiting for new Parish Councillors to fill the vacant seats. Steve to put vacancies on facebook.
- An annual awards ceremony
- A condolence letter for Frieda Ellis
- Penfield - Update committee
- Update Bank account and additional signatories
- Consideration of Purchase of Charles Arnold Baker Local Council Administration book for clerk.
20/21-33 Date of future meetings: 30 June, 1Sept, 13 October, wed 25th November venue TBC
Closed: 21:48