2023-24 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Horsington Parish Council - Notes (Draft) of Ordinary Meeting.
Parish Clerk – Melvin Grosvenor 01507 578657.

Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Horsington Parish Council on Wednesday 6 December 2023 commencing 7.30 pm at Charles Hill Community Hall.

Those present: Mr C Bates (Chairman) Vice Chairman P Reeves, Cllr R Hill & Ward Cllr W Gray. (ELDC)

Clerk: Mr M Grosvenor. Plus 2 Residents.
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1223/48 Apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence: Cllr P Bradwell. 

1223/49 Public Participation.

Resident present, raised whether it would be possible for HPC to provide funding support for a 'warm spaces' facility at the village hall during cold weather periods and any funding that maybe available, as this provision could be of benefit to the community. Cllr W Gray offered to provide support information and has limited grant funding available. A suggestion and discussion took place regarding local Assets of Community Value.  

1223/50 Declaration of Interest.

No declarations.

1223/51 Minutes of Previous Meeting.

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held on 16 August 2023 approved and signed as a true record.

Note: Agenda item 1223/58 Financial Matters & Financial Statement 06/12/2023 was brought forward for consideration and to set the precept for 2024/25.

1223/52 Clerk's Report. See Appendix A.

1223/53 Reports from Elected Representatives.

a) To receive a report from Cllr P Bradwell - ref highway matters & see clerk report.

b) To receive a report from Cllr W Gray. Provided email update which included:

Lincolnshire Community Foundation has announced a new fund available to individuals and families whose home was severely impacted because of flooding in the wake of the damage to properties in East Lindsey caused by Storm Babet..

CallConnect - £2 bus fares on single rides:

CallConnect, a flexible bus service by Lincolnshire County Council, is an on-demand bus service, offering passengers the flexibility to connect to their local communities and other transport options. A fantastic service for those residents who struggle with personal or public transport, a flexible, bookable services and timetabled services.

Find out more at https://lincsbus.info/callconnect/

Cllr Gray highlighted a facility available to deal with 'Grot Spots' within communities (areas which need tidying up etc.,) Clerk & Chairman to liaise with Cllr Gray to list and attend to these over the coming weeks. 

1223/54 Update: 0823/38 Highway/Footpath Repairs Pot holes & maintenance - Updates & Actions:

1. Flooding/Blocked drain/s Flooding of at the Bus stop Lay-by appears to have been resolved - & subject to ongoing monitoring. However, there is repetitive flooding on the field side of the bend just before Moor Lane. Residents report that there may be a blockage beyond the reach of the mobile drain clearance hose which requires further investigation. Update: Assessment of blocked drains included in agenda item 1223/55.

2. Footpath Moor Lane - Installation of footpath to assist disabled resident. Moor Lane - Horsington Rd junction - Need specific funding - but unfortunately is considered to be a low priority for LCC Highways funding. To chase for a review.

1223/55 Clerk liaised with Chairman to prepare a report to LCC Highways re: the poor surface condition along the length of  Main Street Horsington - including pot holes and broken tarmac submitted 14/11/2023. Update: Cllr Bradwell & Clerk have arranged for HPC to undertake a site visit with a member of LCC Highways senior management team on 20 December 2023 to assess the extent of the works and agree a plan of action.

1223/56 Update: 0823/40 Traffic Calming measures.

Traffic Survey (levels & speeds). Clerk awaiting outcome  of formal request to LRSP & Highways review of the 60 mph limit on all the approaches to Horsington & Enforcement request to Lincs Neighbourhood Police - re noisy speeding motorcyclists'. Clerk received update 6/12/22; due to backlog assessment delayed to early 2023. Response received 19/04/2023. Update: Clerk received Traffic Survey Report B1190 Horncastle Road  24 July 2023. Clerk has responded to unsatisfactory outcome of survey. Update: Chairman & Clerk raised concerns at an on line Parish Council briefing meeting with the Police & Crime Commissioner's team on 5 December 2023 where speeding concerns through Horsington were raised during the Q & A session.
 
1223/57 Update 0823/41  HPC's Communications & Website - See Clerk report.

a) GDPR - Horsington PC contact email addresses. Progress on application for secure GOV.UK domain name & email contact address. Ongoing.

1223/58 Financial Matters & Financial Statement 06/12/2023. 

a) Consideration & approval of funding due 06/12/2023. Cllr W Gray, after discussion agreed to provide funding of the Proposed contribution to Senior Residents Annual Dinner from his annual ELDC Councillor grant funding to support the community and the Parish Council. The revised estimated reserves year end 2023/24 is £3032.87.

b) Consideration of Financial Statement & budget prepared by Clerk & RFO in order for members to set the Precept for 2024/25. Clerk advised Members that the estimated reserves at the Yr End 31/03/2024 as above were below the projected reserves of  £4321.56 due to unavoidable additional expenditure to the sum of £1419.99. To safeguard  the reserves for the Financial Yr 2024/25. Members Resolved: to increase the Parish Council's precept by 5% to £4,200.00. 

For information based on this increase and a revised tax base figure, the annual Council Tax payable for a band D property will be £45.16. In direct comparison, the band D Council Tax for the current financial year is £44.94, which is an annual increase of £0.22 pence. Please note this increase is only relevant to the portion of the Council Tax payable in respect of Horsington Parish Council, the other parts of the 2024-25 Council Tax bill payable are in addition to this figure i.e., ELDC, LCC and the Police and Crime Commissioner's contributions.

1223/59 Update: 0823/43 - Memorial in recognition of Charles Hill (former Chairman of HPC) for his outstanding contribution and service to the local community. 

Commemorative unveiling & renaming event took place on Saturday 18 November 2023; to formally rename the village hall as the - CHARLES HILL COMMUNITY HALL and unveiling the memorial sign & plaques inside and outside the Hall - Horsington Remembers with Gratitude - Charles Hill 1.4.1934 - 20.11.2021

Whose Unfailing Friendship, Generosity and Support Enriched Life in this Village.

The Hill family, Village Hall committee and Parish Council expressed sincere gratitude to traditional sign-writer Tim Fry who as a personal tribute, freely made and donated the signs.

It was also with gratitude and appreciation that there was a large attendance by Horsington residents at the event, which followed an afternoon tea arranged by the Village Hall committee.

1223/60 Planning.

a) S/170/01940/22 | Planning Permission - Erection of 10no. eco lodges and 1no. activity centre. | FORMER BRICK PITS, STIXWOULD ROAD, STIXWOULD. Note: Application is not within Horsington Parish boundary &Clerk has received communications from residents in the vicinity of the application site. Letter sent to ELDC dated 8 June 2023.

After consideration of the submitted application & resident's statements and as Resolved, Clerk submitted statement to ELDC on 17 August 2023, advising that the position of the Parish Council is  to not support the application and stated that the environmental and residential amenity issues identified, are considered to be legitimate and justified. Awaiting planning decision.

b) LAND OFF, MOOR LANE, HORSINGTON Ref: EC/087/00414/22 2nd Enforcement Notice issued 04 November 2022 in respect of the unauthorised development, given that works had continued and were beyond the scope of the previously issued Notice under reference EC/087/229/21. Appeal received ref: APP/D2510/C/22/3312392. Update: Appeal Dismissed 7 July 2023. 

Note: The Position of the Parish Council during the planning consideration and determination process is as a consultee party, which holds no statutory powers to approve, or refuse planning permission.

1223/61 Update 0823/45 Chairman's suggestion as to ideas and potential projects to improve village amenities. - Note circulated on Facebook 5 November 2023  YOUR IDEAS ARE WANTED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS AIMED AT ENHANCING AND IMPROVING HORSINGTON'S FACILITIES. (See Virtual Funding Seminar Chairman & Clerk attended on Thursday 2 November, 6-7pm). Matter to be considered further at the next Annual Community meeting scheduled to be convened on Wednesday 13 March 2024.

1223/62 HPC Vacancies: 2 Cllr vacancies following 4 May 2023 uncontested election. Update: Interested residents have contacted the Clerk & matter is in hand.

1223/63 Review of the quarterly schedule of Horsington Parish Council's meetings. After consideration it was Resolved: that HPC will revise the schedule of meetings and set the following dates: 14 February 2024,  Annual Parish Council & Ordinary meeting 15 May 2024, 10 July 2024, 9 October 2024 & 4 December 2024. The Annual Community meeting date was scheduled for 13 March 2024.

1223/64 Correspondence. Request re: HPC financially contributing towards Bucknell Food bank. Cllr W Gray kindly offered to liaise with correspondent to provide funding support. 

1223/65 Minor Items. Cllr Hill highlighted the closing date for bookings of 22 December 2023 for the Annual New Year Celebratory Lunch for the over 50's on Sunday 7 January 2024. Chairman thanked Rod & Sue Howard for kindly displaying the Remembrance Poppies during November through Horsington and then removing and storing the poppies after the commemoration. 

1223/66 Date of Next Meeting/s Venue Charles Hill Community Hall Horsington.

14 February 2024. (See item 1223/63 for the meeting dates during 2024).

Note: All Parish Council meetings to commence at 7.30pm.

Meeting closed at 8.55pm.

1223/52 Clerk's Report.  Appendix A.

Ref: 0823/38 - 0523/16 Highway/Footpath Repairs Pot holes & maintenance - Updates & Actions:

1. Flooding/Blocked drain/s Flooding of at the Bus stop Lay-by appears to have been resolved - & subject to ongoing monitoring. However, there is repetitive flooding on the field side of the bend just before Moor Lane. Residents report that there may-be a blockage beyond the reach of the mobile drain clearance hose which requires further investigation.

2. Footpath Moor Lane - Installation of footpath to assist disabled resident. Moor Lane - Horsington Rd junction. Liaising with Cllr Bradwell ongoing.

1223/55 Clerk liaised with Chairman to prepare a report to LCC Highways re: the poor surface condition along the length of  Main Street Horsington including pot holes and broken tarmac submitted 14/11/2023, see update.

1223/56 Update: 0823/40 Traffic Calming measures.

a) Traffic Survey (levels & speeds). Awaiting further information from LRSP & Highways review of the 60 mph limit on all the approaches to Horsington. Received response 19/04/23. Received further response from LRSP 24 July 2023 - Traffic Survey Report B1190 Horncastle Road following additional concerns on this straight stretch of road. See update.

1223/57 Update 0823/41 HPC's Communications & Website. 

a) Commenced application process for HPC's official gov.uk domain name/contact email address - to comply with GDPR. Established contact with proposed service provider for costs and procedure - application ongoing. 

b) HPC Website &  HPC Facebook page. 

Ongoing liaison with LALC website support and maintenance .

Continued HPC facebook updates/information

Communications.

Circulation of LALC & ELDC messenger Updates.

Preparation of Minutes of Meeting 16 August 2023 & preparation of Agenda Meeting 6 December 2023. 

Liaison with Chairman re (joint) attendance at  Virtual UK SPF Funding and Support Brief Seminar  on Thursday 2 November, 6-7pm. Liaising with Chairman & Cllr P Reeves re attendance at  Horncastle Community Centre on 3rd October 2023 (1 - 2pm), seminar on UK Shared Prosperity Fund briefing.

Booked Chairman & Clerk on to Parish Council Engagement Session 5 December 2023 (online) organised by Lincolnshire Police and Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones; 'who is embarking on a new programme of engagement across the county – giving elected members the opportunity to hear about the work being done to keep their communities safe'.

Liaison with Chairman & Cllr R Hill re Charles Hill Memorial event & attendance on 18 November 2023.

1223/62 HPC Vacancies: 2 Cllr vacancies following 4 May 2023 uncontested election. Clerk liaising with potential new member of HPC.

General Admin - ongoing.

Finance:

1. Issued Cheques & settled invoices/ bank statements reconciliation. 

2. Submitted Purchase Order and Invoice to LCC to claim grass cutting contribution of £517.80.

3. Completed & submitted HMRC PAYE Returns September October & November 2023.

4. Preparation of Financial Statement and budget recommendation to assist Members to set Precept 2024/25.

1223/60 Planning.

a) S/170/01940/22 | Planning Permission - Erection of 10no. eco lodges and 1no. activity centre. | FORMER BRICK PITS, STIXWOULD ROAD, STIXWOULD. Note: Application is not within Horsington Parish boundary &Clerk has received communications from residents in the vicinity of the application site. Circulated information to Members &HPC contact letter sent to ELDC dated 8 June 2023. Clerk submitted statement to ELDC on 17 August 2023, advising that the position of the Parish Council is  to not support the application and stated that the environmental and residential amenity issues identified, are considered to be legitimate and justified. Awaiting planning decision.

b) Ref: EC/087/00414/22 2nd Enforcement Notice issued 04 November 2022 in respect of the unauthorised development, given that works are continuing and are beyond the scope of the previously issued Notice under reference EC/087/229/21. Appeal received ref: APP/D2510/C/22/3312392. Appeal Dismissed.