Minutes 2018 - 2019

Minutes of the meeting of Amber Hill Parish Council held on 15th July 2019

Present:                           Cllr Chris Stephenson, Cllr Elizabeth Gadd, Cllr Jane Webb, Cllr Ros Bowler, Cllr Rachel Hunn, Cllr Nigel Hardy, Cllr Sheryl Fraser

Also Present:                 Cllr Mike Brookes (County Cllr)

Public Forum:                1 Resident

Meeting started 7.30 pm

Public Forum

The resident present raised concerns regarding speeding issues within the village, primarily one individual but also so of the Taxi drivers dropping off at the school.  The Councillors confirmed they were aware of this and that it is an item on the agenda to discuss.  The Clerk also confirmed that the Police report from PCSO Williams also refers to this.

19/026 Chairman’s remarks. –

The Chairman raised the topic of Heckington Wind Farm and that no updates had been received and the information Ecotricity are legally required to have uploaded has not yet been done.  Cllr CS therefore proposed that letters were to be written to both Matt Warman MP and Keith Welford at Department of Energy and Climate Change.  It was resolved that letters would be sent to them.

Action: Clerk to write to MP Matt Warman and to Keith Welford

19/027 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Cllr Georges Cornah and Cllr Chelcei Sharman sent apologies due to a Borough Council meeting

It was resolved to accept the apologies and the clerk would obtain the Borough meeting dates with a view to rescheduling Amber Hill meetings so as to not exclude the Borough Councillors.

Action: Clerk to look into meeting dates for both Borough and Council meetings with a view to rearranging Amber Hill if necessary.

19/028 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr EG declared an interest in the footpaths and Cllr JW declared an interest in Parking at the School.

19/029 Police report.

PCSO Neil Williams sent his apologies and the following report:

• There has been one reported crime within the parish since the last meeting – Assault on Sutterton Drove on 24/06/19
• We have also been made aware of speeding vehicle issues on Sutterton Drove which we will try and pay attention to.

Action: None

19/030 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 20-05-19 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.

Action: Clerk to upload signed Minutes to the website.

19/031 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 05.07.19.

The clerk reported that the Internal Auditor has suggested that there be 2 signatures on the Accounts for payment in line with the Bank Mandate and that she had adjusted the form accordingly.  It was resolved that 2 signatures would be obtained in future and to accept the accounts for payment. 

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments.

19/032 Planning Applications & Decisions

PRE/19/0004 VPI Immingham OCGT Project - Proposal for a new Gas-Fired Power Station and Associated Development at Land to the West of Rosper Road, South Killingholme, Lincolnshire.

The clerk used delegated powers for remote consultation and no comments or concerns were received which was passed on to the planning department

B/19/0158 Extension to existing garage to form workshop, stable and pole barn at Maryland Farm, Sutterton Drove

No decision made as of 15/7/19

B/19/0018 – Demolition of existing detached dwelling, and erection of 2 story dwelling at May Cottage, Chapel Lane.

The clerk confirmed she had looked into the decision on this one with a view to following up the comments regarding no permission for the mobile home and found that Amber Hill Parish was showing as no comments made.This has been raised by the clerk and this was because the heading on the email was application B/19/0028, however the body of the email clearly stated it was regarding application B/19/0018.The clerk also read out a comment on the report stating “no other building on site shall be used as an independent dwelling other than the dwelling allowed by this planning permission, to ensure that a single dwelling unit only exists on this site”

It was resolved that the clerk would raise the issue of no planning permission for the mobile home with the enforcement officer Alan Watts.

Action: Clerk to email Alan Watts regarding query over planning permission for mobile home

19/0033 Correspondence

LALC                                                  Email – LALC Conference Details – Emailed to Cllrs 20/5/19

LALC                                                  Email – LALC weekly news – Emailed to Cllrs 20/5/19

LALC                                                  Email – Briefing on Annual Parish Meetings – Emailed to Cllrs 20/5/19

Boston Borough Council                  Email – Declaration of Results of EU Election – Emailed to Cllrs, Posted on Website, Noticeboard & Facebook 29/5/19

Boston Borough Council                  Email – Request for meeting dates up until April 20 – Added to Agenda

LALC                                                  Email – LALC weekly news – Emailed to Cllrs 5/6/19

Resident                                           Email – Asking for the footpaths to be discussed at the next meeting – Emailed to Cllrs, added to the agenda 5/6/19

Boston Borough Council                  Email – May 19 Newsletter – Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website, facebook & noticeboard 5/6/19

Boston Borough Council                  Email – To arrange delivery of Finalised copy of Local Plan – Delivered to Office 4/6/19

Lincs County Council                        Mail – Advise on Fire Safety in the home – Uploaded poster to facebook, noticeboard & website

Boston Borough Council                  Email – Requesting the location of any Defibrillators in the Parish.  Emailed Cllrs 10/6/19

LALC                                                  Email – Service level agreement – filed for reference 16/6/19

KP Little John                                    Email – confirmation of Exempt status received and recorded 16/6/19

Pilgrim School                                  Email – Dates for meeting between Head Teacher and Cllr CS – Emailed to Cllr CS 16/6/19

BAEF                                                 Mail – Poster detailing consulation dates – Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website, facebook & noticeboard 18/6/19

Matt Warman                                  Mail – Poster for surgery dates - Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website, facebook & noticeboard 18/6/19

Tritton Knoll                                     Email – Details of Artefacts exhibition – Emailed to Cllrs posted on Website & facebook 20/6/19

Clerks & Council Direct                    Mail – Newsletter

Boston Borough Council                  Email – June 2019 Newsletter - Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website, facebook & noticeboard 5/7/19

Lincs County Council                        Email – Broadband vouchers – Emailed to Cllrs 5/7/19

Action: None.

19/034 Clerks report.

Broken Signs –

• 21/5/19 – reported on fix my street (351274)(351276)
• 22/5/19 (351276) Boardsides sign – status changed to ‘no further action’
• 29/5/19 (351274) Email so say now fixed

Planning Applications

• B/19/0018 – 2 Storey development May Cottage, Chapel Lane  Mobile Home permission
  • 21/5/19 – Reviewed decision notices and it states we did not respond.  Have forwarded the initial email to Stuart and raised the query regarding the Mobile home.
• PRE/19/0004 – VPI Immingham OCGT Project
  • 7/6/19 – No response received from Public consultation
  • 13/6/19 – No response received from Cllr consultation
  • 16/6/19 – No comments or concerns passed to planning department

Street Light Repairs  -

• 27/3/19 - Email submitted to Boston Borough Council, giving the go ahead for 4 & 5 and questioning the condition of the lights. – no reply received
• 21/5/19 – Further email submitted requesting confirmation of receipt of initial email
• 22/5/19 – Received reply to say email had been overlooked, order has now gone through.
• Lights replaced but no 4 reported to Nigel Hall as not working
• Nigel replied to say this was a power issue and was reported to Western Power
• 15/7/19 Cllr JW confirmed the light is now up and running

Meeting dates for Police

• Spoken to PCSO Neil Williams, who apologised.  He is not always able to attend dependant on shift patterns but has promised to send in a report if not able to attend the next meeting.

Road Closures –

• 21/5/19 – Emailed Road Closure email address to ask to be added to the list for Amber Hill.
• 22/5/19 – LCC Replied to say Admin error and they have double checked I am now on the list for Amber hill

Parking at the School

• 29/5/19 – Letter sent to the Head Teacher
• 16/6/19 – Meeting arranged for 17/6/19

Audit –

• 23/5/19 –External Audit Completed
• 9/5/19 – Notice of Public Rights uploaded to website & Exemption cert sent to Auditors
• 16/6/19 – Email received to confirm exemption

Bridge repair

• 16/6/19 – Cllr SF confirmed the bridge repair not yet carried out. NB to follow up
• Highways emailed asking when completion will take place
• 9/7/19 – Received email to confirm repairs now complete and the grass was cut prior to reopening

Resident complaint regarding overgrown footpaths

The clerk reported that she had received a complaint from a resident regarding the overgrown footpaths.  A discussion took place based on this and previous complaints.  Cllr MB confirmed that Lincs County Council now only cut certain paths and that many Parish Councils now undertake this.  It was resolved that the Clerk would look into this further and add to the agenda for the next meeting.

Action: Clerk to look into options for the Parish cutting some of the footpaths

19/035 Appoint Council representative for the Playing Field Committee

Cllr Nigel Hardy agreed to be the representative as he was remaining on the committee

Action: None

19/036 Car Parking at the School

Cllr CS reported that his visit to the School had gone well and he felt they listened to his concerns regarding the parking.  Cllr CS made some suggestions to help improve the parking availability and took with him some matting that they could use on the grass area and they agreed that they will investigate options.  The councillors confirmed they had noticed an improvement since the meeting and this would be monitored at the start of the new term.

In addition Cllr JW had spoken to a parent of one of the pupils who has asked what community work the School get involved in and she made suggestions of litter picking in the playing field and village.

Action: None

19/037 Audit Report

The clerk reported 2 items of feedback from the Internal Audit, one being 2 signatures on the Accounts for payment in line with the Bank Mandate and also that the Bank reconciliation to be checked and signed at the end of the year.  It was resolved that going forward both of this suggestions would be taken up

The Clerk also reported that all documentation had been published and the exemption form sent to the External Auditors and confirmation of exemption has been received.

19/038 Noticeboard

The clerk reported no funding had been confirmed at this point but that she will resubmit the application for this and the lighting for the next round of funding, and also monitor other funding options

Action: Clerk to resubmit funding application and monitor for other funding opportunities.

19/039 Donation Requests

A discussion took place regarding who should receive a donation and it was agreed that it must be to a charity that the residents would see the benefit from.  Cllr EG proposed a donation of £100 to LIVES for the support they give to the village enabling them access to this service.  This was seconded by Cllr JW and all other Councillors in favour.

Action: Clerk to send donation to the local Lives representative

19/040 Speeding in the Village (RB)

The topic of current issues surrounding speeding in the village was discussed at length, covering the incidents of dangerous driving and that of speeding of vehicles, staff, going to the Pilgrim School.  Concerns were raised as staff and students from the school are often out in the village as well as for the safety of residents as the roads are very narrow.

It was resolved that the clerk would contact PSCO Williams and send him details of the dangerous driving, Cllr JW would put a post on the community page, and letters be sent to Lincolnshire County Council, Education and Transport and the Pilgrim School to make them aware of our concerns for safety of the parishioners, students and staff at the School.

As part of the discussion the Road Safety Partnership scheme was discussed and the clerk confirmed she had been in contact with them in regards to Swineshead Parish therefore has all the information.  It was resolved that the Clerk would send out the information on the scheme and advertise on the community page to see if any residents were willing to take part.  The item to be added to the agenda for the next meeting to discuss interest received and costs involved.

Action: Clerk to contact PCSO Williams and write to both Lincs County Council and the Pilgrim School.

Clerk to advertise for interest in the Road Safety Partnership Scheme and send out relevant information.

19/041 Additional Dog poo bins for the village (JW)

Cllr JW reported that she had received complaints regarding Dog poo and the lack of bins in the village. She contacted the Borough Council regarding this and their reply was that they are currently looking at re-routing the Dog Poo bins in the town and villages at present so therefore at the moment it would be pointless to add in more.  It was resolved that the Clerk would ask Cllrs GC & CS to lobby this topic at the Borough

Action: Clerk to ask Cllrs GC & CS to lobby the topic of Dog poo bins for the village.

19/042 Meeting dates to April 2020

Although the Clerk had produced proposed meeting dates these were not agreed following the discussion held earlier in item 19/027.

The Clerk raised the subject of the starting time and asked if this could be brought forward to 7pm which it was resolved to do for future meetings

Action: Clerk to add meeting dates to the September Agenda

19/043 Items for inclusion at the next meeting

None other than those already mentioned

Action: None

Meeting closed 8.59pm

Date of next meeting:  16th Sept 2019 7.00 pm