2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Apologies:   Cllrs Camm

In virtual attendance:  Cllrs Jackson (Chairman), Harvey, North, Baldwin, Baker & Wright. 

County Councillor Hague, Mrs Libby King (Clerk)

Minutes of Previous Meeting held on 13 January, which had already been circulated, were agreed.  Proposed Cllr Wright, Seconded Cllr Baldwin. 

Cllr Jackson had sent a report to all councillors prior to the meeting regarding the uptake on covid vaccinations.   A "New and Revised" Code of Conduct is being prepared and is in its final draft now.  When it is all finalised and consultations are complete, it will then be available for parishes to adopt - to replace their existing ones.  County Council elections are due to take place on 6 May.  NKDC are looking at the village hall to ensure social distancing can still be maintained. 

He also reported that he had been asked if allotments were available in Osbournby and had advised the resident that no allotments or land for allotments was available.  He suggested she try Rippingale.   Community Speed watch not taking place at moment, waiting to hear when it can restart and will need to get more volunteers.

Clerk’s Report:  Mrs King advised that the Declarations of Interest forms need to be updated if necessary.  Once normal meetings resume they will be looked out, but if anybody knows that things have changed since they completed the forms let her know. 

Insurance:    Paperwork through for renewal.  Have been through everything and find it all to be in order.  However must ensure that if we hold any events,e.g. bonfires, we must let insurers know.  Traffic Calming Sign:  Fortunately when originally installed an additional sum was paid for ongoing maintenance etc. so this is all being done by LCC and the company who provided them.   May also be signs saying school crossing signs which may be done at the same time.  LCC to keep us informed.

Litter Picking:  Young lady in the village did lots of litter picking down the Drove and other places in the village.  Got 4 bags for her DOE award badge.  Mrs King asked if another village tidy day, like the one held 2 years ago, could be held again.  Generally felt this was a  good idea.

County Council Report:   Cllr Andrew Hagues had sent an email giving his report which Mrs King had circulated earlier.   This is the contents of the email

As I've previously mentioned, LCC elections and Police and Crime Commissioner taking place on 6th. May 2021.  If you don't have a postal vote, please remember to take your own black pen.

From 8th. March 2021 all LCC Household Waste Recycling sites (including Sleaford of course.)  Will now be taking all forms of waste.  Including recycling, garden waste and general waste, on all open days. Online booking will still be required prior to book a slot.

Central Government has taken back the extra £12.5m they recently promised to LCC for Highway repairs.  At present there are 5,000 potholes waiting to be repaired.  However, last year at this time there were 20,000 potholes requiring attention.  LCC are still hoping to repair this number before the end of this year.

A15  Highway repairs will be carried out by the Cranwell turnoff.  Date to be announced, but likely to be during Spring 2021.

Highway resurfacing from Brauncewell turnoff, all the way to British Crop Driers.  Date to be announced.

4no. Types of Business Grant Funds:  www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/grants-funding

 Business Recovery Fund; Available for small businesses who have not been able to access any of the Government Grants to-date.  Expression of interest window will be open between 8th. March – 12th. March 2021.   Rural Business Grants;   For small businesses and organisations with projects specifically in rural areas.  Expression of interest between 15th. March – 26th. March 2021.  Invest in the Future Grants;  For small businesses and organisations.  Expression of interest between 15th. March – 17th. March 2021.

Cllr Hagues was asked about the funding being pulled for potholes and said that this was due to the covid pandemic.

Parish Council Website:  Mrs King advised that she is still getting to grips with the new website and hopes that once restrictions are lifted Cllrs Baldwin and Jackson and herself may be able to look at it together.  This was agreed. 

Children’s Home:  Cllr Jackson had received an email from a resident who was unhappy about the opening of the children’s home in the village.  However when Planning  first brought it to the attention of the Parish Council there were no objections.  Cllr Baldwin said that she felt that Compass had a good reputation.  The work is nearly complete on the house and adverts are still live for staff.   Once the work is complete there will be an open day, and it is hoped that residents will attend. 

Safer Together:  Mrs King had forwarded an email from Maisie McMahon at Lincs Police asking if there were any problems that she could help with in Osbournby.  It was generally felt that currently there were no issues, but that if anything occurred she would be invited to a meeting. 

Church Path:  Cllr Jackson advised that he would be talking with Simon Ballard regarding repairs.  Cllr Baker said that there is a root of a tree which is causing this problem.

Cemetery:  Mrs King had been asked if a grave can be reserved.  Under our T&C this can be done.  Mrs King has liaised with the person concerned regarding the location of the plot. A fee of £50 is charged for the reservation.    We are becoming very short of plots, currently 5 plots available, 4 after this one reserved.   According to T&C any funeral wreathes and flowers and any personal objects may remain on a new grave for 8 weeks.  Thereafter PC can remove them.  Parish Council reserve the right to remove artificial flowers and wreaths after 3 months.  It was agreed that this would be brought to the attention of the family when plots are sold and also notice on notice board.   Cllr North also advised that a couple weeks ago the cemetery and churchyard were cleared of fallen branches and twigs in readiness for Alan Drury to start cutting. 

Footpaths and Mickling Culvert:   Cllr North advised that the problems with the Mickling Culvert were brought to the attention of the Countryside Access by a new resident to the village.  The footpath is now closed by the culvert and it is only a Priority 3 so unsure when it will be repaired.     It was also acknowledged that footpaths are the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council. 

North Street Vehicle Problems:  It had been brought to the attention of Cllr North that larger vehicles, ie oil tankers and rubbish collection, were having difficulty driving down North Street due to the narrowness of the road and the fact that cars are parked.  Due to their size they are eating away at the verge which is leaving pot holes.  Cllr Baker said that he occasionally clears the earth away but that this is not really the answer.  It was acknowledged that it is highly unlikely that LCC Highways would repair this, but Cllr Hagues said that he would report it.  It was agreed that if a village tidy day was held this would be part of the clear up. 

Update Aswarby Estate:  Sleaford Football Club are still looking at the old football field on The Drove for their home ground.  However it would cost quite a lot to bring it up to a level to be played on.  They asked for help on Facebook and Mr and Mrs Richardson did offer the loan of a tractor and grass cutter.  Currently this is all we know.  The Estate is also looking at getting a tenant into the Whichcote Arms and are also hoping to turn the outbuildings into shops and/or craft centres.  The Parish Council felt that if a change of use planning application was submitted they would support it.

Newsletter:   It was felt that currently there was not enough news to warrant a newsletter.  However it was agreed that a letter giving information about the village, e.g. post office, milkman etc., could be put into a letter and given to new residents.  Mrs King and Cllr North to work on this. 

Planning Matters: No planning applications had been received since the last meeting.

Payments since last meeting:  The following payments had been made since the last meeting:    LALC for Pete Langford  £50 and £18 for the church path lighting.  Current bank balances are:  Parish Council:  £5,926.33.  Cemetery Account:  £38,420.28.   Have outstanding invoice from LALC for membership, and clerk’s salary and expenses  to be deducted  from this so will have over £5K in bank at year end.  Precept requested £5250.  Also cemetery account to repay £1056.25 and £317 from VAT.

Correspondence:   No correspondence received which had not been discussed.

Councils are waiting to hear whether remote meetings can continue after May.  However our next meeting due to take place on 5 May which will also be the annual parish meeting.  Village hall not allowed to open until 17 May.  It was therefore decided to hold the Parish Annual Meeting and next Parish Council Meeting on 19 May, when it can be held in the village hall.

There  being no further business the meeting closed at 8.10 p.m.