Minutes of the meeting of Amber Hill Parish Council held on 15th May 2023

Present:                       Cllr Chris Stephenson, Cllr Elizabeth Gadd, Cllr Jane Webb, Cllr Ros Bowler, Cllr Nigel Hardy, Cllr Grahame Winman, Cllr Edward Panton

Also Present:               N Bush (Clerk), Cllr Mike Brookes (County Cllr) Cllr Stuart Evans (Borough)

Public Forum:              None

 

Meeting started 7.20 pm

23/614 Chairman’s remarks.

Cllr CS welcomed Cllr Stuart Evans and Cllr Edward Panton

23/615 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Cllr S Welberry gave apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies.

23/616 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

None

23/617 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 20-03-23 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.

 

23/618 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 09.01.23.

Current bank balances

Current account - £4,485.05

Deposit account    £4,895.60

 

Date

Source of Income

Total Amount

04/04/2023

Precept

   1,858.00

11/04/2023

Interest

          3.10

Total

 

   1,861.10

 

 

Date

Purpose of Expenditure

Total Amount

03/04/2023

LALC Subscription

87.76

25/04/2023

V Clark - Internal Audit

40.00

25/04/2023

Zurich - Insurance

163.75

30/04/2023

Pay and PAYE

200.00

15/05/2023

Hubberts Bridge Community Centre

24.00

Total

 

515.51

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment. 

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments.

 

23/619 Planning:

B/23/0143 – Proposed Construction of a detached garage at Willow Cottage, Sutterton Drove

It was resolved that there were no comments or concerns

Ecotricity – Heckington Solar Farm

It was resolved that the concerns over the use of grade 2 land remained

Beacon Fen Energy Park

Initial introduction at this point so no comments to make until official consultation begins

 

Planning Decisions

B/23/0062 - Proposed extension and erection of detached garage to existing former agriculatural building at Claydyke Barn, Martin Cross Drove

Consent granted with conditions 28-04-23

B/23/0059 – Proposed change of use from agricultural use Class B8 light distributuion (works already started/completed) at Willtrans Ltd, Tractor shed off Ullyatts Drove

No decision as yet

 

Action: Clerk to pass comments onto the planning dept and Ecotricity

 

23/620 Correspondence

 

                     Correspondence

Call Connect

Email - New Saturday opening times

LALC

Email - Weekly newsletters

Beacon Energy

Email - Introduction to new solar farm

Lincs County Council

Email - Newsletters

Boston Borough Council

Email - Newsletter

Lincs County Council

Email - Call Connect Saturday opening hours

Lincs County Council

Email - Traffic restrictions Sutterton Drove

TSGPublicity

Email - Bus timetable changes for May bank holidays

Sleaford Navigation Trust

Email - Newsletter

Zurich

Email - Insurance renewal

South East Lincs Partnership

Letter – Tree planting and community orchard scheme

Action: None.

 

23/621 Clerks report.

Clerks Report

Planning

  • B/23/0059 - Willtrans Ltd - Ullyatts Drove
    • 21/03/23 -Fedback comments to planning department
    • No decision as yet
  • B/23/0062 - Claydyke Barn, martin Cross Drove 
    • 21/03/23 - Fedback no objections
    • 28/04/23 - Favourable with conditions
  • Ecotricity - Wind farm
    • 12/04/23 received letter regarding application acceptance
    •  
  • Beacon Fen Energy Park
    • Letter received introducing the project and forthcoming engagement with residents

Police Report

  • Mar 2023 - no crime  - no further updates available

Internal Audit/AGAR

  • AGAR paperwork completed and Internal Audit booked for 26th April
  • Internal Audit carried out and report received

Defib

  • Contacted London Hearts to see how much funding they are offering  - Received a quotation after grant funding applied

Precept 23-24

  • Precept money received

Letter to LHP

  • Letter sent to LHP
  • No response received as yet

Parish.UK Network

  • Update received from LALC - this website refering to BBC Radio 4 ('You and Yours', broadcast 3 May) - this is not a government website and it is being investigated by trading standards.

 

The lack of response from LHP and the continued deterioration at the property was discussed and it was resolved that the Clerk would write a further letter and also contact the Environmental Department at BBC and copy in Cllrs SE & SW

Action: Clerk to write to LHP, and environmental health dept at BBC

 

 23/622  Litter Picking

Cllr RB reported that we have had another flytip in the village which was reported and promptly collected by the Borough Council.  Evidence was collated and sent to the BBC liaison officer but no progress has been made.  General rubbish has been very sparse

 

23/623 Agreement and signing of the External Audit Report for 2021-2022

  a  Review internal Audit report.

The clerk presented the internal auditors report and the Chairman’s report to the Councillors.It was proposed to accept the Internal Audit report by Cllr CS, seconded by Cllrs JW and agreed by all.

  b  Review and agree Annual Governance Statement

The clerk read out each statement on the Annual Governance Statement, and all statements were agreed.This document was then duly signed by the Clerk and Cllr CS

  c  Review and agree Accounting Statement.

The clerk presented the Final Accounts and Accounting Statement, it was proposed to accept the Accounting Statement by Cllr EG, seconded by Cllrs CS and agreed by all.This Accounting statement was then duly signed by Cllr CS.

  d  Review explanation for variances and reserves.

The clerk presented the Explanation of variances to the Cllrs. It was proposed to accept the explanation for variances by Cllr EG, seconded by Cllrs CS and agreed by all.This Explanation was then duly signed by Cllr CS.

  e  Review explanation of high reserves.

The clerk presented the explanation of high reserves to the Cllrs. It was proposed to accept the explanation of high reserves by Cllr EG, seconded by Cllrs CS and agreed by all.This Explanation was then duly signed by Cllr CS.

  f  Agree and sign certification of exemption.

It was resolved to complete the certificate of exemption, which was then signed by NB (RFO) and Cllr CS (Chairman)

Action: Clerk to publish Audit report on website and in the noticeboard and to submit exemption certificate to External Auditors

 

23/624  Donation request from Citizens Advice

The clerk presented the donation request from Citizens Advice.  It was resolved to give this years donation of £50 to Citizens Advice

Action: Clerk to make donation to Citizens Advice

 

23/625  Defibrillator

The clerk confirmed that she is checking funding options on a regular basis but at present there is still no funding other than the London Hearts foundation which offer partly funded sales.  Cllr RB confirmed that this was a really good price.

Cllr MB suggested that the clerk contact Katie Littlewood at the Lincolnshire Community Foundation Trust as Trittion Knoll were continuing to offer funding

It was also discussed and resolved that a notice would be put in the next newsletter to let residents know we are looking for funding for the Defibrillator as some may want to contribute.

Action: Clerk to contract Tritton Knoll and draft article for the newsletter

 

23/626  Facebook Group/Page

The Clerk reported that she has looked into whether a facebook page may be more appropriate than a group now that the workings of the group have changed and that a page is designed for businesses and that this would therefore be a more suitable platform for the parish council. It was resolved that a facebook page would be created to replace the facebook group

Action: Clerk to set up new facebook page and then redirect residents to it before closing down the facebook group

 

23/627 Newsletter

Cllr GW volunteered to take over the production of the newsletter and it was agreed the clerk would send over previous versions as well as an article for the defibrillator. It was also agreed that the poppies and remembrance would be included in the newsletter. It was agreed that this needed to be delivered before August.

Action: Clerk to liaise with Cllr GW with regards to the newsletter

 

23/628 Matters Arising

Cllr MB gave an update on Chapel Lane – he had complained and had expected it to have been done but then everything was reprogrammed, and a new job issued for it in February.  He confirmed he had a highways meeting on Tues 16th May and would raise it again and feedback

The Clerk reported that she had received an email from the new Chair of the playing field committee introducing herself and that she had responded.

Action: Cllr MB to speak to Highways re Chapel Lane

 

23/629 Items for inclusion at next meeting

State of the roads

Action: Clerk to add to next agenda

 

23/630 Date & time of next meeting.

17th July 2023 – 7pm

 

Meeting Closed 9.15 pm

 

 

 

 

Signed:                                                                                       (In the chair)