Minutes 2018 - 2019

Minutes of the meeting of Amber Hill Parish Council held on 17th September 2018

Present:                              Cllr Chris Stephenson, Cllr Elizabeth Gadd, Cllr Jane Webb, Cllr Ros Bowler, Cllr Nigel Hardy, Cllr R Hunn

Also Present:

Public Forum

Meeting started 7.30 pm

18/039 Chairman’s remarks.

None

18/040 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Apologies from Mr S Fountain – he has decided not to join the Parish Council It was resolved to accept his apology

18/041 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr JW declared an interest in School Buildings and Grounds

18/042 Police report.

No police present or report received.

18/043 Notes of the meetings held on 23.07.18 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.

18/044 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 10.09.18.

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment.

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments.

18/045 Planning:

B/18/0194 – Dovecote Farm, Sutterton Drove – Erection of cladding on an existing agricultural building to house agricultural vehicles and to store animal feed.

It was noted that there were two new patios around the building. No objections.

Action: Clerk to notify BBC planning dept of the comments.

18/046 Correspondence

Lincs County Council      Email – EA flood information service. Emailed to Cllrs 31/7/18

LALC      Email – Annual Conference. Emailed to Cllrs 3.1/7/18

Boston Borough Council Email – July 18 Newsletter – Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website 3/8/18

Lincs Fire & Rescue         Email – request for details of community groups Clerks & Councils Direct Magazine – Sept 18

Athene Communications Posters regarding Boston Alternative Energy Facility – Added to Clerks report

Boston Borough Council Email – regarding street light repairs – Emailed to Cllrs, added to agenda 10/9/19

Government Events        Email – invitation to conference in London. - Added to Clerks report

Action: None.

18/047 Clerks report.

Internal Audit carried out, to be submitted to external Auditor once signed. Drains blocking – report to highways, no response received as yet

Lincs Fire and rescue, emailed to ask for details of community groups they can contact to give a presentation.

Action: Clerk to forward Lincs Fire and Rescue email to Cllr EG & Cllr JW

18/048 Approval of Internal Audit 2017/18

The clerk presented the Accounts for Audit ready for signature and submission to the External Auditor. Cllr CS signed the audit documents and it was resolved that these could now be submitted to the External Auditor.

Action: Clerk to submit Audit documents to External Auditor

18/049 Footpath 1, adjacent to Poplar Farm Sutterton Drove

A resident has reported that the footpath has been ploughed over making it difficult to walk on. It was resolved that this would be reported to the highways department.

Action: Clerk to report the ploughed over footpath to the highways department

18/050 Street light repairs

An email has been received regarding the cost of replacing three streetlights within the village which included adding in a new pole for each rather than reusing the existing BT poles at a cost of

£850.00 plus VAT.

The Councillors raised the question of the cost of just replacing the lights on the existing pole, which the Clerk confirmed she had already asked that question in response to a request by Cllr JW but had not yet had a reply. It was resolved that the decision to go ahead would not take place until costs for both options were received.

The Councillors then discussed the budget figure, which was set based on initial information they had received when the transfer of responsibility happened. The Councillors understood this to include an element to cover replacement, however there were concerns that this may only be for electricity and general maintenance and not repair.

It was resolved that the Clerk would research into this and if necessary contact the Borough Council to ensure future precept included replacement.

Action: Clerk to research Street lighting costs

18/051 School Building and grounds

Cllr JW reported that the School is nearly finished and is now up and running.  Following on from  the School’s offer at a previous meeting it was resolved that now they were settled in the clerk would write to the school to arrange this visit. It was also discussed that they had also said there may be possibility that the Council could use the School for meetings and resolved that this would be broached at the visit, even it was only available for short additional meetings to cover planning.

There has been some concerns over the no of cars parking there and in some cases narrowing the road but it was resolved that this could be discussed during the arranged visit.

Action: Clerk to contact the School to arrange a suitable date and time for the visit.