Minutes 21st February 2023
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD 21st February 2023
PRESENT:
Cllrs Holiday (Chair for this meeting); Tong; Cladingbowl; Crome; Bradley and Hardcastle
9 Members of the Public
Cllr S. Eyre (ELDC)
J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
Prior to the commencement of the public session the Chairman clarified the rights of public to speak at ordinary Parish Council meetings and Annual Parish Meetings.
During the public session it was noted that the Village Hall committee had sent a flier to all residents regarding a proposed Coronation Event. The Parish Council was asked to apply for an official road closure on Mill Lane for Sunday 7th May (possibility of a church service was raised). Village Hall committee to ask Parish Council to look into providing a projector for the Village Hall (next agenda). Question from a member of the public regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and a proposed meeting due to be held at Welton Village Hall on Friday 24th.
101 APOLOGIES
Apologies and valid reasons for absence were received from Cllr Williams and this was accepted.
102 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Holiday declared a personal interest in allotment matters as an allotment holder.
103 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 10TH JANUARY 2023
It was resolved that the Chairman sign the minutes of the meeting held 10th January 2023 as a correct record.
104 UPDATES
Minute 89 – Cllr Davie has supported request for LCC to look into a weight restriction for Mill Lane, this will be assessed by LCC Traffic Team.
Minute 89 – Consent to place a structure on the highway had been received. Cllr Bradley to arrange for the planters to be built.
Minute 91 – Cllr Tong advised that the inquiry was virtually complete and a full report will be made at the next meeting, in Closed Session.
Minute 93 – Cllr Williams was looking to see if he had any “Keep Dogs on Leads” signs, it was noted that this is now not necessary.
105 MISTY MEADOWS
The Clerk advised that no response had yet been received from ELDC, and that she is chasing this up.
106 ALLOTMENTS
a) Any Issues – Cllr Cladingbowl reported that rabbits were still an issue on the allotments, Cllr Holiday to look into this. Next agenda – to consider Risk Assessment policy for allotments. Cllr Holiday was nominated to take part in LALC Allotment training on 1st March at a cost of £23.
b) Rents – After discussion regarding rents and the issues regarding distribution of funds, together with confirmation that the terms of the Poor Land Charity was that rents be charged, is was resolved that the rents remain at £8 per plot.
107 CORRESPONDENCE
Email LCC re: street parties – circulated
Email Cllr Davie re: Communities on the Edge – circulated
Email Cllr Davie re: pylons – link not accessible, Clerk requested details from Cllr Davie.
108 KINGS CORONATION EVENT
Village Hall sent flier round, to hold a street party style event on Sunday 7th May and to apply formally to parish Council for any grant money towards costs.
109 CHRISTMAS TREE
After discussion on size, location, safety and security as well as decorations, it was agreed to look at the costs of installation of two permanent brackets on the Village Hall to hold two smaller Christmas trees, similar to those in Alford/spilsby.
110 FOOTPATHS UPDATE
Cllr Holiday confirmed that self closing gates had been installed by LCC behind Graves Farm, and relevant notices including need to keep dogs on leads were fixed to the gates. Cllr Holiday had cut back some growth over a footpath and would soon start work on levelling footpath at rear of Church, he was still waiting for a delivery of woodchips for the area and advised he would soon need some assistance when doing round the steps. He had also put up the Permissive Path signs around the allotments.
111 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
It was noted that the Plan is a long involved process, Cllr Tong would like to know what benefit it would bring to the parish. It was agreed to ask Cllr Davie of Orby Parish Council along to a meeting to explain the process and benefits. Cllr Williams had emailed various documents to members and asked that the matter be deferred to the next meeting.
112 REVIEW AONB
Cllr Holiday to send out criteria for extending AONB to Cllr Eyre (Willoughby PC), he advised that the Government was still reviewing its Landscape Review.
113 EMERGENCY/COLD WEATHER PLAN
Clerk had circulated Emergency Plan template to members. Cllr Holiday felt the two should be separate items, and asked members to look through the Emergency Plan template to see how it could be completed and a workable plan achieved. The benefits of the Emergency Plan were briefly outlined to members, in that a specific plan would allow those locally involved to protect the safety of residents whilst awaiting emergency services, and that knowledge of things such as 4 x 4 owners willing to help/tractor and larger equipment owners willing to assist would be useful to the emergency services.
Regarding the cold Weather Plan this was mainly the need for members to assist where possible in gritting footpaths, and if any grit bins needed topping up to make request to LCC Highways through Fix My Street.
114 PUBLIC SESSION POLICY
A suggested policy had been circulated which set out the “rules” regarding public sessions at ordinary Council Meetings, and it was agreed that this policy should be adopted by the Council when all policies were reviewed at the May Annual Meeting.
115 FINANCE
Accounts for Payment: It was resolved that the following accounts be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (Feb) £141.61
LALC Membership to 31st March £ 15.00
The Clerk confirmed that £75.80 wayleave had been received for poles on allotments.
116 PLANNING
There were no applications to consider
Decision notice : N199/2372/22 – change use outbuildings to annex – Graves Farm – conditionally approved (to be in accordance with plans; window frames to be agreed; to be incidental to Graves Farm and not let/sold separately).
117 ANY OTHER MATTERS
Clerk advised everyone of the need for photo ID to vote at a Polling Station in May elections.
Clerk advised members that nomination papers were available on ELDC website.
Next agenda items:
Neighbourhood Plan
Projector for Village Hall
Coronation Event
Inquiry (closed session)
118 NEXT MEETING
This was agreed as 25th April 2023.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8pm