Minutes 2019-20

SWINSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at:

 18.30 on Thursday 11th July 2019

Present: Chairman, Paul Cunningham, Vice Chair Cllr M Dermody, Cllr C Lunn, Cllr B Lynch, Cllr D Darling, C Hatch (Clerk) Invited Guests County Councillor Bob Adams, District Councillor Nick Robbins.

1. Public Forum: One member of the public attended the forum and were most welcome. During the 15-minute forum the resident asked if a play area for children could be made available on the green area of Croake Hill. The council advised this was on the agenda for discussion. 
2. Apologies for absence: None
3. Receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011:  None
4. Minutes of the Previous Meeting: The Minutes of the previous meeting held on the 9th May were agreed as an accurate record and signed.
5. Clerk & Financial Report: The Clerk delivered the financial report to the council, a copy of which is at the end of the minutes. He advised, he and the Chairman had attended a Parish Council Networking training day which proved to be very informative. He also advised on the forthcoming Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils AGM on the 15th October and a “New Councillors Training Evening “
6. on the 18th September, encouraging all new councillors to attend.

An issue has arisen regarding the ownership of the green area at the front of Croake Hill, SKDC say they have been cutting the grass in error, as it transpires, they do not own the land. The Clerk is in discussion with Muir Housing and SKDC to establish ownership. In the meantime, the Parish Council will assume responsibility until a decision has been made.

The Clerk advised the Parish Council, a meeting has been arranged with Historic England to discuss restoration work on the Swinstead Butter Cross, the meeting is to be held on the 12 July @ 11am

Finally, the relocation of the Speed Sign to the High Street was discussed. Since it was located in the High Street eleven days ago, it has been activated on 675 occasions. This means  675 vehicles have been travelling in excess of 35mph through the village. The sign will remain in the High Street until the end of  July, then be re-located in Bourne Road. The Clerk to advise the Parish Council of the results at the September meeting.

Chairman’s Report: The Chairman advised, a resident had raised concerns regarding alleged soil contamination and breach of Planning Rules in relation to the building work at Macham Close. These concerns have been passed to District Cllr Robins who attended the Parish Council Meeting, Cllr Robins will look into these alleged breaches and pass details on to the Planning Enforcement Office to investigate further.

The Chairman discussed an email and photographs received from a resident in New Estate, regarding problems with flooding at the bottom of road, making access to her property difficult. County Councillor Bob Adams also attended the meeting asked the Chairman for the details and confirmed he will pass the details to the Highways engineers and ask them to investigate.

7. Children’s Play Area: The consensus of the Parish Council is to support a children’s play area on the green at Croake Hill. The Chairman and Clerk had spoken with suppliers of play equipment at the Networking day they attended. They were advised by these companies, they can help with supply, design and advise on funding. The Parish Council have to confirm there are no Covenants on the land preventing this type of activity.  The Parish Clerk is pursuing this enquiry and will keep the Council updated. 

8. Community Fridge: The consensus of the Council was, they are not able to support this idea due to issues relating to Health and Safety, ownership, location and hygiene. A suggestion that social media could play a valuable part, advertising a surplus of perishable and non-perishable foods to anyone who can make use of them, before they are disposed of or composted.

9. Jubilee Orchard: Cllr Lunn & Cllr Lynch requested the replacement of ten new fruit trees that had perished due to the very hot summer last year. This request was agreed, and prices to be obtained later in the year, closer to the time of planting.

10. Traffic – Speeding concerns:   Cllr Robins congratulated the Parish Council on the efforts being made to control the speed of traffic. He told us about a system of monitoring vehicles, number of vehicles, speed etc, that may help the Council with decision making for future speed related projects. Parish Clerk to contact the monitoring company.

11. Flower Planters and Bulbs: The placement of Flower Planters (Tubs) and flowering Spring bulbs at the three entrances to the Village was discussed. Cllr Dermody advised 1500 Daffodil bulbs can be purchased at a cost of £120 and would require planting in late August. This was agreed. (Look out for a call for volunteers later in the year)

Quotes are to be obtained from three reputable companies for flower planters.

12. Parish Council Marketing/PR: The Chairman, aware that not all residents have access to social media, suggested producing a short but informative Newsletter, “Your Council Working For You”, to be delivered to all homes in the village, once every two to three month, providing information of events in the village, decisions passed by the council, contact details for your Parish Councillors, enabling you to raise any question, concerns or compliments for the Public Forum if you are not able to attend the Parish Council Meeting. This idea was accepted and will now be put into action.

13. Any Other Business: Cllr Darling suggested a late summer picnic be held in the Jubilee Orchard. Fun & Games for the children and their family. (To be discussed next week at the EGM)

Cllr Lunn advised his concerns and observations of unwanted activity in the Church and Church yard, mainly, dog fouling in the Church yard, young boys playing with skate boards in the Church yard and potential damage to the carpet inside the church, which had been rucked up and moved after the church doors were closed for the night.

The carpet, a gift to Lady Jane Willoughby, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 came from Westminster Abbey following her Coronation. The carpet is not only a piece of English Heritage but also our local history and irreplaceable. Any person caught would be charged with criminal damage.

To reiterate, dogs are not to be walked or exercised in the church yard, (as per the sign at the entrance to the church). The church yard is not to be used as a play or recreation area.

Swinstead has the smartest, tidiest church yard in the area, if you enter the church or church yard, please afford it the respect it deserves.      

14. Date of the next meeting: Sept 5th, 2019, 18.30 Swinstead Village Hall. (Members of the public most welcome).