Present:                       Cllr Chris Stephenson, Cllr Elizabeth Gadd, Cllr Ros Bowler, Cllr Nigel Hardy, Cllr Lucy Evans

Also Present:               N Bush (Clerk)

Public Forum:                         

Meeting started 7.00 pm

22/214 Chairman’s remarks.    None

22/215 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Cllr Jane Webb gave apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies

22/216 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

22/217 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16-05-22 and 13-06-22 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

It was resolved to accept the above notes as minutes.They were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

22/218 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 06.07.22.

The Clerk reported that she had received another invoice from Malc Firth for £57.96 and asked if going forward that she be able to pay these invoices on their due date provided, they were within the allocated budget, as the bi-monthly meetings meant they were often significantly late.  The Cllrs agreed and it was resolved that these would be paid on the due date and recorded on the next Accounts for Payment

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment.

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments.

22/219 Planning:

Planning Consultation

Ecotricity – Heckington Solar Farm

Councillors discussed the consultation information and resolved that their previous comments still stand and that these should be fed back to both Ecotricity and Boston Borough Council

Planning Decisions

B/22/0152 – Harrisons Drove - Favourable with Conditions

B/21/0318 – Fountain Plants – Still outstanding Issues with EA

Action: Clerk to feedback comments to Ecotricity and the planning dept

22/220 Correspondence

The concerns raised by the resident were discussed and Cllrs confirmed that the resident was not discharging water but instead extracting water.  It was questioned as to whether a licence would be required to extract water and also that permission to run the pipe across the road would be required from the Highways dept.  It was resolved that the Clerk would write to the resident stating this must not be done without the relevant permissions.  The Clerk to also respond to the email received raising the concerns.

Action: Clerk to write to both residents

22/221 Clerks report.

The recent government announcement regarding all School having defibs was discussed and it was resolved that the Clerk would contact the Schools regarding there position on this and whether this would be something that the Parish Council and School could work together on

Action: Clerk to contact the Pilgrim School regarding the defib

22/222 Internal Audit report actions

The clerk summarised the Internal Audit report and discussed the options of having 1 yearly audit at a cost of £100 or having two audits at a cost of £80 (£50 for mid-year & £30 for yearend).  It was resolved that the council would opt for the two-audit option and budget for this accordingly.  The Clerk then presented the following documents for approval.

Code of conduct – The clerk presented the proposed updated Code of Conduct.  Cllr RB proposed to adopt the policy, seconded by Cllr EG with all in agreement.

Complaints Procedure - The clerk presented the proposed Complaints procedure.  Cllr CS proposed to adopt the policy, seconded by Cllr EG with all in agreement.

Asset Inspection Record - The clerk explained the reasoning behind the Asset inspection records and the need to keep these for all of the assets on the Asset Register.  Cllr NH agreed to carry out and record the checks on the Bench and that Cllr JW would be asked if she would do the same for the Noticeboard.  As the Cllrs were unsure who was the owner and therefore responsible for the memorial as we do not own the land it was resolved that this would be looked into

Action: Clerk to upload now policies on the website, ask Cllr JW if she would be willing to carry out the checks on the noticeboard and look into who is responsible for the memorial.

22/223  Co-option of Councillor

The Clerk confirmed that permission has now been given from Boston Borough Council to Co-opt a new councillor as there were now requests to hold an election for the vacant position.  The Clerk confirmed that the position has to be advertised and presented the LALC templates for advertising and selecting a candidate.  It was resolved that the Clerk would advertise the position and set the deadline just prior to the next meeting.

Action: Clerk to advertise the Councillor Vacancy in appropriate locations.

22/224  Litter Picking

The new signs have not yet been installed as we are still awaiting permission for a couple of the locations

Action: None.

22/225 Newsletter

Cllr LE confirmed that she had updated the draft newsletter.  The Clerk asked if she could add in that the new notice board had been funded by Tritton Knoll.  It was resolved that once this was done the final newsletter would be sent to the Clerk for printing.  Cllr RB offered to fold them and she and other Cllrs agreed to distribute them.

Action: Cllr LE to finalise the newsletter and send to Clerk to print them.

22/226 Remembrance 2022

The Cllrs discussed the knitted poppies and it was agreed that Cllr EG would contact Rachell Hunn who was organising this but is no longer a Cllr.  After discussion is was agreed that the Clerk would purchase 6 of the large Poppies for the lamp posts and also 6 of the large flags within the budget that was previously set.  Cllrs agreed to speak to residents who have flag poles to see if they would be willing to fly them on behalf of the Council and Parishioners

Action: Cllrs to speak to flag pole owners, Cllr EG to speak to RH and Clerk to order poppies and flags along with the Parish wreath.

22/227 Items for inclusion at next meeting

Action:

Meeting Closed 9.15 pm

Date of next meeting:  19 September 2022 7.00 pm

Signed:                                                                                       (In the chair)