November 2022 Minutes
Digby Parish Council
Notes from the parish council meeting held on Monday 14th November 2022 at 7pm, in Digby War Memorial Hall.
Present – James Bourne, Chairman (JB), Tracy Bourne (TB), Darren Drysdale (DD), Gerald Garton (GG),Karen Groves (KG), Kenneth Hand (KH)
Public Forum
It was brought the attention of the council that signs stating’ danger deep water’ have appeared on the Grainfield estate, it was asked if these signs should appear at other sites on the new flood relief dyke and should there be a life buoy put in place. It will be looked into.
It was asked if a decision on the providing picnic benches in the Village Hall garden had been discussed. It was stated it will be discussed under the Finance item, to consider projects for the next budget, later in this meeting.
District & County Councillors' Matters
Apologies were received from County Councillor Kendrick and District Councillor Clarke.
District Councillor Clegg has a previous meeting and will arrive later during the meeting.
1. Chairman's Opening Remarks (22/148)
a) Welcome.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies & Vacancy for a Councillor (22/149)
a) Apologies.
There were no apologies, all councillors were present.
b) Co-option of Parish Councillor
No applications to fill the vacancy have been received.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest & Applications of Dispensation (22/150)
a) There were no declarations of interest.
4. Signing of the Minutes (22/151)
a) It was proposed by GG, seconded by KG and RESOLVED to accept the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 10th Oct 2022 as a true and accurate record of that meeting.
5. Planning Matters (22/152)
a) Planning Application received
Nil
b) Decision Notice Received
Nil
6. General Parish Matters (22/153)
a) Update on the Mary Gresswell Trust.
GG confirmed, that as he is the only remaining Trustee, he has looked into the closure of the charity. There has been no movement in its funds for several years and there is no facility to increase the amount in the account so the Mary Gresswell Trust should be closed. A public meeting to carry out the closure will be advertised in line with the recommendations of the Charity Commission.
b) Memorial for Cllr C Harvey and set a budget.
It was agreed to set a price limit of up to £150.00 for the Clerk to purchase a clock and a plaque for the Memorial Hall.
Action: Clerk to purchase a clock and plaque.
c) Replacement Battery for the Defibrillator.
The Community Heart Beat information showed the battery was due for replacement in October. All the councillors were contacted and it was RESOLVED to order a replacement battery so the
Defibrillator would still be ready for use if needed. The new battery cost £318.00, this included VAT and carriage. The battery was replaced in the Defibrillator unit on 5th November by GG.
7. Highways (22/154)
a) Pot Holes.
The Chairman stated the potholes and subsidence on Digby Fen Road have been reported and photographed to FixMyStreet and a copy forwarded to Cllr Hill, Chairman of LCC.
8. The Village Hall (22/155)
a) Minutes from the latest Village Hal Committee Meeting.
A copy of the minutes and financial statement were forwarded to the councillors, prior to this meeting. Notification has been received that all hire fees are to increase. The hire fee for the Parish Council meetings is being increased to £14.00 per session from 1st Jan.
9. Drainage (22/156)
a) Drainage Issues.
The LCC Flood officer has confirmed they are going to inspect the condition of the sandbags that have been reported as deteriorating along the new flood relief scheme. The routine maintenance of the new flood relief scheme is still to be handed over to IDB as the work carried out at the end of the summer was interim maintenance instructed by LCC.
JB reported the Main Dyke to the east of the village has been cleaned out.
Mr Harrison is the new flood officer for LCC and it was agreed we arrange a meeting to discuss the Beck.
LCC have requested a meeting to discuss the next steps of the public consultation on Riparian Waterways. GG and the Clerk agreed to attend the meeting.
Action: Clerk to arrange a meeting with the new flood officer and the Riparian Waterways Consultation team.
10. Playing Field, Play Areas and Village General (22/157)
a) Monthly Inspection of the Play Equipment.
KH carried out the monthly inspection. There are now 3 litterbins that have had their ground fixings damaged and are loose in the ground.
b) Bowls Club Lease
After looking at the draft lease from 2012 the councillors agreed it needed to be brought up to date in plain English. It was agreed to take advice from LALC and NKDC.
Action: The Clerk to obtain advice on a new lease.
19.36hrs It was RESOLVED to close the meeting so District Councillor Steve Clegg could speak.
District Councillor Steve Clegg (SC) reported on an Initiative to put a register together for warm spaces in the NK area, groups can register at WWW.WarmWelcome.uk.
The Elections of District and Parish councillors take place in May. It has been confirmed photo ID will be required to vote.
The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, is being presented on 15th Nov for examination by the Inspector.
The Chairman thanked SC for attending.
1940hrs. It was RESOLVED to return to the meeting
c) New Exercise Equipment - Update on Grant.
The new outdoor exercise equipment was officially opened on 16th October by the Chairman of the Parish Council. Photos of the event were forwarded to the grant funders as part of the application completed by the Clerk for the final request for the grant.
The grant from the FCC Communities fund has now been received in full.
The Clerk now needs to complete an Annual Return to NKDC for the expenditure of the CIL monies which was also used to purchase the new equipment.
As money in the Allotment Account can be used to provide equipment on the playing field, it was agreed to transfer £2000 from Allotment account into the Parish Council Account.
Action: The Clerk to complete the CIL Annual Return and transfer the money from the Allotment account to the PC Account.
d) Inspection the Trees in the Playing Field
The risk assessment inspection has been carried out and the report forwarded to the councillors prior to the meeting. There are works required to be carried out, including felling of 4 trees and reducing and reshaping 8 others. The clerk has obtained a quote for £2000.00. This was felt to be good value for money for the amount of work required, a vote was taken. There was 4 votes for the work to be carried out immediately by T Holmes that provided the quote, there was 2 against.
Action: The Clerk to request the work be carried out be T Holmes as soon as possible.
e) Goat Willow Tree in Village Hall Garden.
This tree needs to be reduced and reshaped. A quote for £350 has been received and all agreed this work should be carried out and the quote accepted.
Action: The Clerk to arrange the work to be carried out.
f) Flailing of Greendykes
The Clerk has asked MalcFirth to look at the hand work required and is awaiting a response. LCC have been asked to look at removing the concrete posts that are preventing vehicular access for maintenance.
g) Litterbins to be Refitting in the Playing Field.
Chairman agreed to ask C Walker to re-concrete the 3 loose bins back in place on the playing field.
h) Free Trees – Replacements for failed trees
LCC that supplied the 6 free trees last year are able the replace any trees that failed this year due to the hot summer. 5 of the trees we planted have failed. It was agreed to request the replacements.
It was agreed to look at positioning the trees near the pigeon club.
Action: The Clerk to order the replacement trees.
11. Allotments (22/158)
a) Updates from the Allotment Committee.
It has been notified the next meeting of the Allotment Committee will be scheduled for Feb.
It was also asked if there are any trees planting schemes notified by LCC, the Allotment committee would be interested in planting a natural windbreak.
Action: The Clerk will make enquries.
12. Finance (22/159)
a) Bank Balances and Approval of the Bank Reconciliation.
The bank balances were reported as:-
PC General Account 18,304.72
Allotment Account 7,612.05
Mary Gresswell Trust 5.45
The bank reconciliation was approved.
b) Income Received.
The following amounts were received in Oct and are included in the bank balance.
Litter picking grant £ 136.08
FCC communities grant £6,789.64
VAT claim £3,389.78
c) Approval of Payments.
It was proposed by GG, seconded by KG and all agreed the following payments be made.
Salaries/Expenses 629.00
CJP Gardenservices – 60.00
MalcFirth Sep/Oct 756.76 + 151.36 VAT
Poppy wreath – reimburse Clerk 17.00
Mr A Walker (bench removed) 60.00
Mr K Hand (expenses- petrol) 7.00
Community Heartbeat (Defib Battery) 225.00 + 53.00 VAT
Digby Village hall – Hire Sept 12.00
d) Budget Planning and List any Projects for 2023-24.
The budget for 2023-24 needs to be worked on to be approved at the December meeting ready to set the precept
Here are the possible projects that have been put forward to be considered, the current austerity measures need to be taken into account.
1. Possible picnic benches on Village Hall Garden – After discussion it was agreed the open aspect of the lawn should remain to enable various activities to take place, so at this time picnic benches will not be considered.
2. Radar Speed signs - These are currently £2000.00 each so these will not be considered this year because of budget restraints.
3. Start to replace old wooden play equipment on the playing field – It was agreed we need to start putting money away to enable to replace the equipment if and when grants come available.
3. The Kings Coronation - a small budget should be made available to celebrate the King’s Coronation.
GG and the Clerk will commence the planning of the budget, taking into account the agreed projects for the coming year.
e) Internal Audit.
The Clerk will arrange for the internal audit to be carried.
d) Update on the new signatories.
This is still on going, with very little progress.
13. Correspondence (22/160)
a) LALC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
b) NKDC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
c) NK – Neighbourhood Planning – Distributed to all councillors.
d) Community Health Manager for Better, looking to set up exercise/activity in the area. It was agreed to pass this to the village hall committee.
e) LCC Highways – Notification of Introducing a 40mph Speed Restriction on B1188 within the village boundaries.
f) Road Closures – Rowston, Digby Road 8th Dec 07.00 to 12.00 – Manhole cover and frame replacement.
- Metheringham High St and Princes Street 4th Dec 14.00 to 20.00 – Christmas Market
g) LALC – Importance of secure email systems
f) Digby Pre-School – Request for a grant. The application form has been received. There are still a couple of questions that need answers so KH will speak to the treasurer.
14. Dates of Future Meetings (22/161)
Parish Council meetings
For 2022 - 12th Dec.
For 2023 – 9th Jan, 13th Feb, 13th Mar, 12th Apr, 15th May, 12th Jun, 10th Jul, 14th Aug, 11th Sep, 9th Oct, 13th Nov, 11th Dec
Annual Parish Meeting 26th April
Note - The May meeting has been moved to 15th May due to the elections and the public holiday
15. Any Business to Note for the Next Agenda (22/162)
Bus Shelter rent.
Pres-school grant
Budget for 2023-24
16. Closed Session (22/170)
It was RESOLVED to go into closed session
a) Review of Clerks Salary in line with NALC Pay Scales.
The Clerk had provided the new rates of pay to the councillors prior to the meeting.
All agreed the Clerk will received the new rate as per the NALC recommendations.
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting Closed at 21.10hrs.