July 2022 Minutes
Digby Parish Council
Notes of the parish council meeting held on Monday 11th July 2022 at 7pm, in Digby War Memorial Hall
Present – Gerald Garton (GG), Rebecca Collishaw (RC), Darren Drysdale (DD) and Ken Hand (KH)
In Attendance - Angie McDonald, Clerk and Proper Officer
Public Forum
A resident asked that a sign showing Jubilee Way that had been put up on the fence of a property on North St not be re-erected. Correspondence had also been received relating to this matter. It is an agenda item and will be discussed later in the meeting.
Further complaints about overhanging plants, hedges and branches on Beck Street and North Street were reported.
It was asked how the dog walking area in the playing field is progressing. It was agreed it would be an agenda item for next meeting as, to date, efforts had been concentrated on providing the additional exercise equipment for the parishioners.
A request was made to clear the grass and nettles on the public footpath from Pinfold and B1188. This will be reported to LCC countryside officer.
District & County Councillors' Matters
District Councillor S Clegg spoke about the Community Champions Award coming up, there are 11 categories available to nominate people or groups before 5th September.
The annual canvas for the electoral registration is due for refreshing within the next couple of months and the revised local plan, final draft is in the process of being produced to hopefully be available by the end of the year.
District Councillor Jim Clark sent his apologies
Lincolnshire County Councillor R Kendrick reported on holiday activities and food programme for children aged 5 to 16 during school summer holidays. He also stated applications for full firefighters are now open.
With reference to the Digby Flood Relief Scheme, he confirmed LCC are holding meetings with IDB to confirm the maintenance contract.
1. Chairman's Opening Remarks (22/099)
a) Welcome.
With JB being absent, GG took the chair and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies and Welcome New Councillor (22/100)
a) Apologies
Apologies were received and accepted from Tracy Bourne (TB) due to holiday and Karen Groves (KG) and James Bourne (JB) due to illness.
b) Welcome to Rebecca Collishaw
The Chairman welcomed Cllr Collishaw to the council and introduced the councillors to her.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest & Applications of Dispensation (22/101)
a) Nil
4. Signing of the Minutes (22/102)
a) It was proposed by KH, seconded by GG and RESOLVED to accept the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 13th June 2022 as a true and accurate record of that meeting.
5. Planning Matters (22/103)
a) Planning Application received
Nil
b) Decision Notice Received
22/0595/HOUS 45 Station Road – Erection of an ancillary outbuilding and a storage room – Approved by NKDC
6. General Parish Matters (22/104)
a) Dog Waste Bins.
Both bins have now arrived and KH as kindly agreed to put them in position.
Action: When in place the Clerk will inform NKDC
b) Memorial for Cllr C Harvey.
Further discussions took place for an appropriate memorial. DD reported the Village Hall Committee have kindly given permission for a clock to be erected on the building if that is what is decided on. Further suggestions of an ornamental sundial for the garden area or a digital style clock were made.
Action: The Clerk to source further designs and costings for the items mentioned.
c) Overgrown Footpaths on North Street and maintenance of The Smoot footpath
Further complaints have been received about hedges overgrowing the footpaths on North Street. Also The Smoot footpath is becoming overgrown. It was agreed letters will be sent out to the residents concerned.
Action: The Clerk to send out requests to cut back hedges and vegetation. DD to provide a list of properties concerned.
d) Objection to new footpath signage off North Street.
After receiving correspondence and also a request during the public forum it was agreed the sign would not be put back up.
e) Chain link fence on Jubilee Way
The Clerk has emailed LCC Countryside Officer, who will inspect the issue of the falling down chain link fence along the footpath. He will confirm whether it is a LCC responsibility.
7. Highways (22/105)
a) Reporting of Highways Issues
The white paint line on Church Street has been reported, also the missing Digby sign from the Rowston road end of North Street. It was noted the Ashby junction with the B1188 has been marked for repairs.
8. The Village Hall (22/106)
a) The minutes from the latest meeting of the committee had been distributed. There was a comment about the light over the noticeboard not illuminating the notice board enough to be able to read it. The Clerk stated the light was originally installed to provide an illuminated route to the defibrillator. It was agreed no action will be taken at this time.
b) Village Hall Garden – maintenance.
The maintenance of the garden is going well. It was reported that since the removal of the ivy from the seating areas, children have been seen climbing over the framework of the seats.
9. Drainage (22/107)
a) The Beck - Gas Pipe.
Since the last meeting the Environment Agency have met with the parish council and the Cadent Gas company and have confirmed that Cadent Gas need to remove the pipe from across the Beck. Cadent Gas have confirmed they are looking into and alternative option and are to come back shortly with an alternative plan/design.
10. Playing Field, Play Areas and Village General (22/108)
a) GG has completed the monthly inspection of the play equipment. The play bark has been delivered and is in place under the slide and the repairs carried out on the multiplay equipment. GG is concerned about the nets on the 5 a-side goal posts. RC agreed to remove the excess and re-connect them better.
Action RC to carry out work on the goal nets.
b) Cllr Hand and Cllr Drysdale have completed the Play Inspection Training that took place on 23rd June. Both agreed it was an interesting course.
c) Update on the new equipment installation.
The revised signage has been confirmed and we are still waiting for the site plan for the layout of the equipment and the installation date.
d) 5 a-side goal posts have been moved.
The goal post has been re-sited but is still moves in the ground. The Clerk will inspect to see if this can be improved.
Action: Clerk to check 5 a-side goal posts.
e) Jolly Scotchman Football Team - Summer Fete
The Jolly Scotchman have confirmed they will not be holding a summer fete on 16th July due to not being able to arrange it in time, but hope to hold it next year.
f) Repairs to the Metal Seat in the Bus Shelter.
KH has rubbed down the seat and repainted it. The Chairman extended the thanks of the council to Ken for a job well done.
g) To Review the Clubs fees for using the Playing Field.
After some discussion it was proposed by KH, seconded by GG and all agreed there will be no increase to the fees this year. The fees are to remain as follows Bowls £60.00, Pigeon £35.00 and Football £180.00.
Action: Clerk to send out the invoices.
11. Allotments (22/109)
a) Updates from the Allotment Committee.
No report has been received.
b) To Review the Allotment Field Rent
It was proposed by GG, seconded by DD and all agreed there would be no increase in the field rent. It is to remain at £600.00.
12. Finance (22/110)
a) Bank Balances and approve of Bank Reconciliation
PC General Account £30,684.00
Allotment Account £ 7,612.05
Mary Gresswell Trust £ 5.45
b) Income Received.
There has been no income received since the last meeting.
c) Approval of Payments.
It was proposed by GG, seconded by KH and all agreed the following payments be made:-
Salaries/Expenses £644.80
Displaypro- additional signs £40.34 + £8.07 VAT
RPM Play equip repairs £555.00 + £111.00 VAT
Glasdon 2xDog waste bins £500.42 + £100.08 VAT
Mr C Walker – move & re-site goal post £180.00
LALC – Play Area Inspection Training £120.00 + £24.00 VAT
CJPGardenServices 60.00
Ken Hand – Reimburse - Paint/petrol 40.27 + £9.73 VAT
d) New signatories for the council's bank account .
The Clerk reported this is progressing and hopefully the mandates will be available very soon.
13. Correspondence (22/111)
a) LALC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
b) NKDC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
c) LCC Consultation call for sites – updating the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
d) Archer Report received for Church Street. This showed there was no speeding on Church Street. The Clerk to ask for information on the progress of the School Safety Zone.
14. Dates of Future Meetings (22/112)
Parish Council meetings
For 2022 - 8th Aug, 12th Sep, 10th Oct, 14th Nov, 12th Dec.
15. Any Business to Note for the Next Agenda (22/113)
Dog exercise area.
16. Closed Session (22/114)
For confidential items in accordance with the Public Bodies Act 1960, if required.
This item was not required.
20.58hrs – There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed.