Minutes of the meeting of Amber Hill Parish Council held on 20th November 2023
Present: Cllr Chris Stephenson, Cllr Jane Webb, Cllr Ros Bowler, Cllr Nigel Hardy, Cllr Grahame Winman
Also Present: N Bush (Clerk), Cllr Mike Brookes (County Cllr) Cllr Stuart Evans (Borough), Cllr Suzanne Welberry (Borough)
Public Forum: None
Meeting started 7.00 pm
23/660 Chairman’s remarks.
Cllr CS welcomed everyone.
23/661 Apologies for absence and reasons given.
Cllrs Elizabeth Gadd and Edward Panton gave apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies.
23/662 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
Cllr CS declared an interest in planning application B/23/0345.
23/663 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16-09-23 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.
23/664 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 10.11.23.
|
Date |
Source of Income |
Total Amount |
|
11/09/2023 |
Interest |
4.59 |
|
27/09/2023 |
Precept 2 or 2 |
1,858.00 |
|
09/10/2023 |
Interest |
4.52 |
|
09/11/2023 |
Interest |
5.43 |
|
Total |
|
1,872.54 |
|
Date |
Purpose of Expenditure |
Total Amount |
|
31/08/2023 |
Malc Firth - Aug 23 |
62.59 |
|
19/09/2023 |
N Bush - Poppy Wreath |
23.98 |
|
31/10/2023 |
LALC - Training G Winman |
30.00 |
|
30/09/2023 |
Malc Firth - Sept 23 |
62.59 |
|
23/10/2023 |
V Clark - Internal Audit - interim |
60.00 |
|
30/10/2023 |
Pay and PAYE - September 23 |
200.00 |
|
31/10/2023 |
Malc Firth - October 23 |
125.18 |
|
20/11/2023 |
Hubberts Bridge Community Centre 14th August & 20th November |
48.00 |
|
Total |
|
612.34 |
Bank Balances
Lloyds Current Account £4562.59
Lloyds Deposit Account £4,923.48
The Clerk confirmed that she has received confirmation of the grant to purchase the defibrillator cabinet and its installation. The grant money will be paid once the work is complete and invoices presented along with the end of grant report.
It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment and purchase the defibrillator cabinet and arrange installation of the cabinet once it is received.
The clerk confirmed she has received a letter of Lloyds bank with regards to savings accounts that have better interest rates. It was resolved that the savings account would be updated to the 32 days interest account which would potentially double the interest received.
Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments and arrange purchase and installation of the defibrillator and update the saving account with Lloyds
23/665 Planning:
Cllr CS left the meeting.
B/23/0345 – Demolition of existing barn and erection of detached dwelling, detached garage and change of se of land to residential garden curtilage at Barn to North of Holly House, Lineside.
Following discussion, it was resolved that there were no comments or concerns.
Cllr CS returned to the meeting.
B/23/0390 Demolition of existing agricultural buildings and erection of 2 no dwellings, modification of existing access and change of us of agricultural land to residential garden at Valley Farm, martin Cross Drove
Following discussion, it was resolved that the only comment was regards to the access road which is currently in poor condition but would presumably be improved.
Planning Decisions
B/23/0296 – proposed change of use – Stone Acre Farm, Sutterton Drove
Planning permission denied.
B/21/062 - Sunnyside – Erection of brick wall
Favourable decision with conditions
B/23/0204 – Amber House Farm Barn, Sutterton Drove
No decision as yet – Historic England have made objections on the design.
Ecotricity – Heckington Solar Farm
In addition, the clerk confirmed that the comments sent to appeal had been confirmed as being added to the file.
Action: Clerk to pass comments onto the planning dept
23/666 Correspondence
|
LALC |
Email - Weekly newsletters |
|
Lincs County Council |
Email - Newsletters |
|
Boston Borough Council |
Email - Newsletter |
|
Lincolnshire Police |
Email - Newsletter |
|
PCSO Williams |
Email - Goodbye as leaving Lincolnshire force |
|
Boston Borough Council |
Email - Notification of up coming consultation on open space and sports facilities |
|
Boston Borough Council |
Email - Notice of Polling districts and places review |
|
Lincs County Council |
Email - Emergency planning opening evening details |
|
Ecolearn |
Email - information about Yellow bellies foodbanks |
The clerk also advised of further training dates for new councillors on 28th November and 6th February that are to be held via zoom.
Action: Clerk to advise Cllr EP of the new dates.
23/667 Clerks report including police report.
|
Planning
|
|
Police Report
|
|
Defib
|
BBC Parish Council Liaison meeting
Cllrs discussed the only current issues the Parish have are regarding Hare Coursing and fly tipping, however the Boston Borough Council are promptly responding to reports of fly tipping.
Annual Police and Crime survey
Cllrs confirmed that they had made individual responses to the survey.
Lincolnshire resilience Forum
The Cllrs confirmed that there is a resident currently taking part in this group on behalf of the village.
Action: None
23/668 Litter Picking
Cllr RB confirmed that she has nothing to report and suggested this was no longer needed as a standard item on the agenda.
Action: Clerk to remove litter picking from the standard agenda items.
23/669 Sheep Rustling
Cllrs reported that 2 sheep had been found stolen and butchered within the village. The farmer has now moved the remaining sheep to a field further back. It was resolved that Councillors would speak to the farmer to ensure the police have been made aware and that the clerk would put a notice up the website/facebook asking residents to be vigilant and report to the police any suspicious activity.
Action: Clerk post notice and councillors to check whether the incidents have been reported to the police.
23/670 Defibrillator running costs.
The clerk confirmed that she has not yet received the estimated costs of the replacement costs of the batteries or pads for the defibrillator, however the monies ringfenced for installation can now be used as the grant received covers the installation cost.
Action: None
23/671 Mid-Year internal Audit report
The clerk presented the mid-year internal audit report, confirming that all actions identified had been resolved.
One item was that the Councillors should have separate council email addresses to protect their private emails in the event of a Freedom of Information request.
It was resolved that the clerk would arrange the set up of parish email address for the councillors.
Action: Clerk to arrange set up of the new email addresses.
It was resolved that the Council would move into closed session to consider the following confidential staffing and legal matters in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.
23/672 Clerks appraisal
The Clerks performance review was fedback to the Councillors along with actions to move forward. The appraisal was then confirmed and signed by Cllr CS
Action: None
23/673 Budget for 2024-25
The Clerk presented the draft budget and highlighted areas for discussion, which were then agreed upon. The Clerk was then asked to leave the room while the Cllrs discussed the clerks pay for the coming year.
The Budget was then finalised. The precept figure of £3750.00 was proposed by Cllr RB, seconded by Cllr JW with all other councillors voting in favour.
Action: Clerk to complete precept form once received and return to Boston Borough Council in January and send out a copy of the final budget to all Councillors
23/674 Matters Arising
None
23/675 Items for inclusion at next meeting
None
Action: None
Meeting Closed 9.05pm
Date of next meeting: 15th January 2024 7.00 pm
Signed: (In the chair)