Minutes of May 2020 meeting
NORTH SCARLE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a remote Meeting held on
13 May 2020 at 7.30pm via Zoom
(all participants were at home and using the internet to connect with everybody)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 2 parishioners attended.
PRESENT
Cllr D Russell
Cllr D Jennings
Cllr R Cobb
Cllr K Coram
Cllr S Walsh
Cllr A Walsh
Mrs H Broderick (Clerk)
241 APOLOGIES
None
242 ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
It was resolved that Cllr Jennings would be elected to Chair and Cllr Susan Walsh would be elected to Vice-Chair.
Cllr Jennings thanked Cllr Russell for his hard work over the years as Chairman and suggested a get-together to say thank you, when we are able to meet up.
243 TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
244 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 11 MARCH 2020
It was resolved to adopt the Minutes as a true record. It was resolved that these would be signed by the Chair at the next physical meeting of the Council.
245 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2020
It was resolved that our Annual Parish Meeting for 2020 should be deferred to 2021 due to the Covid-19 outbreak and in line with legislation. Cllr Jennings requested that Cllr Russell provide his 2020 Chairman’s Report to him to holdover until the 2021 meeting.
246 ALLOTMENT INVOICES
Allotment invoices have been issued as allotments can still be used in line with Government advice. Resolved to agree.
247 EMERGENCY FUND - CORONAVIRUS
Parish Council have agreed a £500 emergency fund available to parishioners to assist with genuine hardships caused by Covid 19. Resolved to agree and to add a Covid-19 information poster on noticeboard and Facebook, displaying contact numbers etc. Cllr Jennings mentioned use of Banks Charity. Cllr S Walsh said there were problems with that because it involved visiting the bank in person to withdraw cash. LCC Cllr Thompson gave some information regarding Resilience Forum contact details (in his report below).
248 PROPOSED PLANNING APPLICATION FROM CORNERSTONE AND TELEFONICA FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION AT JUNCTION OF EAGLE ROAD/MEADOW LANE
The PC have objected against this proposed application due to location, distance from Eagle and the visual impact. No further action is required at present. Resolved to agree. Clerk to forward information to NKDC Cllr Overton for his information.
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249 PLANNING having already been circulated to Cllrs
Cllr Jennings read out the determinations for information only.
19/1342/HOUS - Wildacre, 40 Eagle Road - determined and approved.
20/0224/HOUS - Pear Tree Farm, Eagle Road - determined and approved.
20/0177/FUL - Oak Tree Cottage, Spalford Road - determined and approved.
20/0484/VARCON - Sundara 43, South Scarle Lane - vary condition 2 (property tie). It was resolved to request an extension and further information from NKDC.
20/0225/LBC - Pear Tree Farm, 2 Eagle Road - additions to 19/0765/LBC. It was resolved that there were no objections but to request the window is in keeping with property.
20/0416/VARCON – Land to rear of 27-37 South Scarle Lane. Responses had been collated by email and forwarded to NKDC in line with our Covid-19 Policy. Concerns that no elevation plans are included, strain on sewerage system and PC had previously requested bungalows not houses. Despite these comments, PC did not object. This was resolved as ratified.
250 SEWERAGE UPDATE
Cllr Cobb updated.
ST had responded since February meeting but had failed to answer number of pertinent questions they had agreed to reply to. Wrote to ST again expressing that we needed more from them and elevated terminology. Approximately a week ago we had another response. Cllr Cobb has asked WP for their opinion on ST response. Consensus is that ST are not taking this seriously enough. They’ve apparently agreed to fit a meter to measure volume from Nobles but nothing else. They’ve suggested that they’ve finished repairing the road. Cllr Cobb has looked at the road and disagrees – still oil stains on the road, some pavement in none existent and a huge trench along the grass verge (also making access to allotments difficult).
NKDC Cllr Overton requested copy of ST’s response. Cllr Cobb to send to him.
Unless we apply pressure, are they going to do anything further.
Do we go to Ofwat, WWP and Dr Caroline Johnson MP?
WP needs to reach a consensus as to how to proceed and another Zoom meeting (Cllr Cobb to arrange).
Cllr Jennings commented that he thinks Adam Boucher has done a lot of work over short period of time and ST have had very few complaints from parishioners which may mean ST are reluctant to spend money. We currently have a working sewerage system.
Cllr S Walsh commented that AB has been aware of the problems since at least 2007.
Cllr Cobb commented that agreement to spend would come from higher up the organisation at ST. We need them to come back to the table to make a decision. Anglian Water haven’t moved the situation forward either. There was small a tanker at pumping station recently. Cllr Russell suggestion it was adding chemicals to system.
No action has been taken since letter to ST (which was agreed) therefore no resolution required.
251 OFFICE SPACE
It was resolved that the Clerk should work from home now that the Church Hall is to close.
252 QUANTUM AIR FIBRE BROADBAND
PC is interested in this and it was resolved that Cllr Cobb would follow up and find out more details.
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253 CITIZENS ADVICE – REQUEST FOR DONATION
It was resolved that no donation would be made.
254 HERITAGE ROOM
It was resolved to enquire as to whether Mr & Mrs Loakes had heard from the solicitor re completion of the sub-lease and to ask when the PO would be reopening.
255 FINANCES
A schedule of payments made between 1st March and 30th April 2020 was circulated to the Parish Councillors. There were no queries. It was resolved to sign and countersign invoices paid via BACS at the next physical meeting of the PC
Individual payments made in the period which exceeded £100:
For Amount £
| Heritage Room – water bill | 158.58 |
| Printing North Scarle Matters | 342.78 |
| LALC – annual membership | 227.39 |
| Allotment – tree surgery | 1400.00 |
| Streetlight electricity | 148.09 |
| Total wages in the period | 353.68 |
256 LCC REPORT
Cllr Thompson read his report (attached).
257 NKDC REPORT
Cllr Overton reported that NKDC has been streamlined. PO no longer on a committee (voting) so can campaign for issues in villages. Local library resources are available online – music, eBooks, story time etc. Disappointed more progress hasn’t been made with Severn Trent re sewerage issues. NKDC are becoming more mindful of sustainable developments regarding planning applications.
258 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Resolved to agree the date of the next meeting as 8th July 2020 at 7.30pm.
259 CLOSED SESSION
It was resolved to move into closed session.
260 NORTH SCARLE MATTERS
Clerk had requested the following to enable her to work from home:
Laptop
Mobile phone
Filing cabinet
Amendment to postal arrangements
It was resolved to agree a budget of £350 for a laptop and up to £25pm for a mobile phone. Decision on filing cabinet and postal arrangements was deferred.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.21pm
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LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT - 13TH MAY 2020
Lincolnshire Resilience Forum
Parish Councillors will be aware of support offered through the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum for volunteer groups and also as a contact point for vulnerable people requiring help. This is operating now 0900 to 1700 seven days per week and issuing weekly update to registered groups. (CEC_CVC@lincoln-fire.org) telephone 01522-782189.
The Forum is providing a daily update on BBC Lincolnshire at 13.30 and publishing an email weekly summary on Fridays.
So far 6800 calls have been made from the Customer Service Centre to Extremely vulnerable or shielded group. 1800 Lincolnshire residents have been connected to appropriate support.
LCC Covid19 Community Fund
As you know from my email previously sent out, all Lincolnshire County Councillors have been allocated Community Funding to support activities and organised groups specifically involved with helping people during the Covid19 emergency situation. Information and application details available on LCC website.
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/communityfund
160 grants have been approved @ 7th May with £90,882 allocated to support local volunteer initiatives.
Highways
On Monday (11/5) I received email notice setting out the way local LCC Highway services will be managed with more emphasis on Community Highways Teams.
Obviously it is to early to appreciate how this will impact, particularly in the present situation, but I intend to follow up as soon as possible in respect of Eagle and Hykeham West.
I have checked the Highways Confirm report for May which notes repairs on Spalford and Eagle Roads, but otherwise I have not been able to assess what has been updated.
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