Minutes 2020-21

SWINSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held via ZOOM:

 18.30 on Thursday 17th September 2020

Present: Cllr B Lynch, D Plowright, Cllr N Robins, C Hatch (Clerk) Cllr B Adams (Guest)

1. The Clerk requested a volunteer to act as Chairman. Cllr Robins proposed Cllr Lynch, Cllr Adams seconded the proposal. Cllr Lynch accepted.
2. Public Forum: No members of the public attended the forum.
3. Apologies: None
4. Receive Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011:  None
5. Minutes of the Previous Meeting: The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 17th July were circulated via email prior to the meeting No comments were raised. The minutes were agreed as an accurate record and signed.
6. Clerks Report:

The financial report was presented. The Clerk answered questions put to him to the Councillors satisfaction.

Business A/C£1664.92

Community A/C £4074.24

• (Full accounts available on request)

Correspondence. Acceptance documents for Liz Underhill and John Ashby were presented to the PC. The PC accepted these and invited both Liz and John to join the Parish Council.

New Parish Council Website. The Clerk gave a presentation of the new PC website. He explained, Lincolnshire CC are updating all websites they are responsible for in accordance with new Accessibility laws. The new SPC website is having content added, the new address will be advertised in the coming weeks.

Croake Hill. The Clerk confirmed, at the Councillors request he had spoken with Muir Housing regarding clearing the mass of brambles growing under the trees and shrubs on Croake Hill green. Muir have asked their contractors to price the work, depending on the budget available, the work could be completed no later than next spring.

Speed Sign Data continues to be collected. During August, the sign was in Bourne Road, 6035 vehicles activated the sign, of which, 1224 were traveling more than 35 mph, 27 exceeding 45mph. Having now accumulated data for twelve months, with the help of County Councillor Bob Adams, the Clerk will contact Highways to present a case for the adoption of traffic calming measures at the three entrances to the Village.   

7. Chairman’s Report: The Chairman started his report by welcoming our three new Parish Councillors, in the form of Liz Underhill, David Plowright and John Ashby. He is looking forward to their contribution to meetings in the coming months.

He also took the opportunity to thank our new Parish Cleaner/Litter picker, Gail Clarke. Gail is doing a wonderful job. The Chairman suggested her work could be made easier if people bagged their litter and took it home rather than throw it out of their car windows.

The Chairman mentioned how pleasing it was to see that the airfield sign which had been donated to the PC by the Airfield’s Association had now been installed on Creeton Road to mark the Swinstead WW1 landing ground.

He confirmed that after advice from LALC the PC would continue with zoom meetings until advised otherwise.

8. Jubilee Orchard: The Clerk advised he had obtained pricing for additional grass cutting (twice per month) from the existing contractor, however, it was felt it would be prohibitively expensive and to continue with the existing arrangement of one cut per month. Cllr Robins suggested speaking with SKDC and enquire if the Orchard can be included and adopted in their grass cutting programme. Clerk to speak with SKDC.

As several trees need replacing in the orchard, it was suggested that, rather than purchase 8 or 10 saplings, purchase two, three-year-old fruit trees, they will have a better chance of survival. The Clerk to obtain pricing.

9. Village Notice Board: As requested, the Clerk had obtained quotes for replacing the dilapidated Village notice board. Two quotes for like for like replacement were both more than £850. The third quote for a single door, powder coated aluminium unit cost £235 + vat. The Councillors agreed this to be better use of public money. The new unit could be sited on an exterior wall of the Village Hall. It is large enough to accommodate notices from both the PC and Village Hall as is the custom.

Clerk to contact the Chairman of the VH.

10. Greens Committee: Councillors, Lynch, Plowright, and Ashby have volunteered their services for the Greens Committee. They will be responsible for gathering information following PC meetings, also, if they become aware of issues in between PC meetings  that need attention, they can gather the information required, then present it at the PC meeting in order that decisions can be made immediately.
11. Events. None discussed.

12. Roads. Cllr Plowright expressed concerns regarding on street parking in the High Street, stating, in certain areas of the High Street the road became very narrow, requiring drivers to pass parked vehicles on the wrong side of the road. Cllr Plowright fully appreciates these vehicles are not parked illegally but respectfully requests, if you have the opportunity for off road parking, please use it.

Cllr Plowright also raised the issue of small “un-registered” vehicles driving through the village, asking, are they insured, what if they are involved in an accident. The Clerk to investigate.

13. Any Other Business: None

Date of the next meeting 19 November 2020, 6.00pm VIA ZOOM

(Members of the public most welcome).