Minutes 2022-23

SWINSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the Swinstead Parish Council meeting held

 18.00 on Thursday 14th July 2022

Cllr A Whitworth (Chair), Cllr B Lynch (Vice Chair), Cllr C Lunn, Cllr L Underhill, Cllr Plowright & C Hatch (Clerk)

1. Public Forum (15 minutes maximum) One resident attended the forum. He said he had lived in the village for 18 months and loves it, however he complained about the dogs barking at both ends of Bourne Road. He said it is not acceptable to have the peace and tranquillity of residents disturbed in this manner, he also told the PC that working shifts he is not be happy if his sleep is disturbed during the day. He asked the PC to write to the dog owners concerned, if the situation is not resolved soon, he will be left with no choice and will report the situation to the authorities.

2.0 Chairman & Vice Chairman to sign Acceptance forms. Acceptance of Office forms were signed by the Chair and Vice Chair.

3.0 Apologies for Absence. None. (Cllr Plowright was not in attendance).

4.0 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the 2011 Local Government Act. – personal or prejudicial interest in any items for discussion. None.

5.0 Draft Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 12th May 2022 to be approved as the Minutes. These were accepted unanimously and signed by the Chairman.

1. Matters Arising. Clerk confirmed he has contacted the Estate Agent handling the Whitegate property sale with no response. Clerk to follow up.

6. Chairmans Report.

6.1 County & District Councillors.  LCC Cllr Vernon attended the meeting and provided an interesting update from LCC, a precis of which is below.

Tree Planting

Lincolnshire want to see 750,000 trees planted around the county over the next few years.To keep track of the progress, we’ve installed a tree counter on our website. We also have a map so you can see where in Lincolnshire trees have all been planted so far.If you plant a tree in your garden or on your land that you control, you can register it on the tree counter and it have it count towards the county’s tree planting target. Register your trees on the tracker now. Visit: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/green-masterplan/lincolnshire-climate-summit/2. Any trees planted within Lincolnshire over the last 12 months can be registered and added to the total. If you have a site that would be suitable to plant 300 or more trees and are interested in looking at tree planting options, then please register your interest on our website at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/xfp/form/744  or contact us on sustainability@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Electric Vehicle Charging Point Plan

Five local authorities, led by Lincolnshire County Council and Midlands Connect, have submitted a joint bid for £935,355 Government funding as part of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Pilot which would deliver an extra 101 standard and 8 rapid charging points across Lincolnshire

Updating the Minerals and Waste Local Plan

Lincolnshire County Council has begun the process of updating the statutory Minerals and Waste Local Plan which is used by developers when putting forward proposals, and by the council when dealing with planning applications.

Collection amnesty for unwanted medical equipment extended across recycling centres

If you have any unwanted medical equipment, the pandemic has meant there is a shortage of equipment such as perching stools, bed sticks and commodes, as well as smaller items like crutches or rollators. These can now be taken to Grantham Recycling Centre to be given to the NHS and reused.

Grantham Bid for Great British Railways HQ

There has not been an official press release from Lincolnshire yet, but it is being reported in the national press that unfortunately, Grantham is not one of the 6 locations that have been shortlisted for consideration.

Fixmystreet – Please do continue to report concerns regarding potholes, or damage to the roads via this website.

6.2 Councillors Reports. None.

7. Parish Clerk report.

7.1 Annual Governance Statement: These were presented by the Clerk, accepted, and signed by the Chairman.

7.2 Position at Bank. The Clerk presented the accounts to date, these were accepted and can be viewed at the end of these Minutes.

7.3 Cheques to be signed. Clerks’ salary £265.52, BHIB Renewal £350.70. Village Hall annual hire, £48. These were approved.

8. Swinstead Phone box. Further to discussions regarding adopting the Phone Box in Swinstead High Street (15th July 2021, (Agenda item Matters Arising), Cllr Lunn proposed the PC should now adopt the Phone Kiosk and install a second Defibrillator in it, this was seconded by Cllr Underhill and agreed unanimously. The Clerk liaise with the BT Payphone team.

9. . PC To formalise a plan outlining project of higher cost in the coming fiscal year. Cllr Underhill suggested three possible projects.

1. Install play equipment into the community orchard for the benefit of small children, (swings, slide etc. Also provide a footpath from the Church car park to the orchard entrance. (Cllr Robins advised, Highways would not be able to fund a footpath due to lack of funds).
2. Refurbish the Cross surround, re-instate the Well and re-pave the island, making it a centre piece of the Village.
3. Re-install the pond by the green. Re-dig and line with puddled clay and install railings around the pond. It would be partly in the field and partly on the green.

The Clerk will pursue Grant applications from SKDC and the National Lottery.

10. Highways: Cllr Lynch advised, potholes recently repaired in Creeton Road were not sealed, this needs to be re-reported. Clerk to contact Anglian Water re their collapsed drain cover in the High Street.
11. Correspondence: An email has been received by a resident asking the PC to discuss a solution to the local farm dogs barking and howling constantly. Cllr Underhill said she had also received several complaints from residents about the dog barking and howling for 30- 60 minutes at a time. After discussion, the Councillors asked the Clerk to send a letter to the dog owners asking them to look at ways to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
12. AOB The Clerk advised the PC that all the planters at the entrances to the Village are now all planted with summer bedding, he also offered special thanks to Dave & Janet (Creeton Road), Jenny & Chris (Bourne Road) and Dan & Alice (New Estate) for their continued support.

Date of next meeting

     September 8th, 2022, 6.00pm at Swinstead Village Hall

https://swinstead.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/