July 2024 Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of Carlton Scroop and Normanton on Cliffe Parish Council held at Carlton Scroop Village Hall on Tuesday 30 July 2024.
 
In Attendance: Councillor Thomas (Chair), Councillors H Baines (Vice-Chair), J Baines, England, Hands, Hankinson, Worrell and Mrs Gascoigne (Clerk), District Councillor P Stephens (part).
 
1. WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (24/20)
The Chair welcomed Councillors and thanked them for their attendance.  
 
2. APOLOGIES:  TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TO RESOLVE TO ACCEPT REASONS GIVEN (24/21)
Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Maughan. 
 
3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION (24/22)
No declarations of pecuniary interest or requests for dispensation were made.  Councillors completed updated Declaration of Pecuniary Interest forms for 2024/25.
 
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (24/23) 
4.1 Councillor Hands proposed that the Clerk’s notes of the Annual Parish Council meeting held on 21 May 2024 be approved as a true record, which was seconded by Councillor England.
Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2024 were approved and duly signed by the Chair.
 
5. REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS (24/24)
5.1 District Councillor Stephens was in attendance and asked for any questions regarding SKDC business.  Councillor Hankinson asked whether there was any progress on plans for an outlet village and housing near the Downtown site.  Councillor Stephens responded that it was likely that the housing would go ahead, and that funding was available for the outlet village but this was dependent on attracting sufficient high-end retailers.
 
5.2 County Councillor Maughan had sent his apologies and had provided a written report which had been posted on Facebook and the Council website.  Councillor Thomas mentioned that there had been comments regarding resurfacing of the A607 on the other side of the level crossing, which was in poor condition, as the section between the crossing at the village had been identified for resurfacing.
Action: The Clerk to raise this with Councillor Maughan.
 
Councillor Stephens left the meeting at 7.35pm.  
 
6. PARISH PLAN (24/25)
6.1 Councillors discussed how to review and update the Parish Plan, which had originally been drafted in 2021/22 in response to a parish survey.  There was discussion about whether areas which were not the direct responsibility of the Parish Council, such as footpaths, should be included and it was agreed that they should as the Parish Council had a role in lobbying the Principal Authorities on these matters.  Councillors noted that the Parish Plan was available to residents on the Council website, and agreed that it might be too soon to carry out another survey, but that there was value in seeking residents views on the current plan and updating the plan to show actions completed, ongoing and no longer relevant.  
Action: Councillors to review the plan and return their comments to the Clerk to be collated in a progress report and updated plan at the next meeting.  Councillor Thomas to draft a News and Views article to seek residents views to be reflected in the Parish Plan update.
 
7. CLERK’S REPORT (24/26)
7.1 Members noted the Clerk’s report providing updates on actions from the last meeting.
 
8. FINANCE (24/27)
8.1 Members noted the following income received.
Received From Purpose Amount £
SKDC Community Cleaning Grant 231.66
HMRC VAT Rebate 23/24 848.47
NatWest Interest May 26.58
NatWest Interest June 24.37
 
8.2 Councillor Worrell proposed that the following items of expenditure be approved, which was seconded by Councillor Balfe.
Resolved: To approve the following items of expenditure.
Payee Purpose Amount £
Who Lets Your Dog Out May 24 92.40
T Davis Internal audit 23/24 75.00
N Gascoigne Reimbursement of SID Battery 51.80
Employment Costs June 24 316.44
Who Lets Your Dog Out June 24 92.40
Autela Payroll services 75.05
Employment Costs July 24 263.64
 
8.3 Councillor Balfe proposed that the June bank reconciliation be approved, which was seconded by Councillor H Baines and was signed by Councillor H Baines. 
Resolved: To approve the June bank reconciliation.
8.4 Councillors noted the budget monitoring statement which had been circulated by the Clerk in advance of the meeting.
 
9. PLANNING (24/28)
9.1 Councillors noted the following planning decisions:
9.1.1 S24/0750 Various tree works, Carlton Manor, Heath Lane, Carlton Scroop NG32 3AS. Work allowed 13 June 2024.
9.1.2 S24/0603 Section 73 application to removal of condition 2 (Agricultural Occupancy), Stone Horse Farm, Hough Lane, Carlton Scroop, NG32 3BB. Refused 11 June 2024
 
10. HIGHWAYS (24/29)
10.1 Councillor Hankinson informed Members that she had reported the overgrown condition of footpath FP5 to Lincolnshire County Council and had been advised that it would be attended to shortly.  Councillor England reported that visibility on the road between Carlton Scroop and Sudbrook was a concern in the summer months due to the growth of vegetation.  He also noted that the centre line had not been reinstated and asked that this be reported to Lincolnshire County Council.  Councillor J Baines noted that there were pots on the verge outside a property on Sudbrook Road and asked that this be reported via FixMyStreet.
Action: Clerk to report centre white line and pots on the verge via FixMyStreet.
 
10.2 Councillors discussed the speed and safety of traffic entering and exiting the golf club on Charity Street.  Councillor Thomas noted that he had downloaded the software for the SID (Speed Indicator Device) and would change the speed and move the device to Normanton. 
Action: Councillor Balfe to speak to the owners of the golf club to ask them to remind their members about their speed.
 
11. CEMETERY (24/30)
11.1 Cemetery Charges for 2024/25 and Cemetery Rules
Councillor Worrell proposed that cemetery fees remain at the same levels for 2024/25, which was seconded by Councillor Hands.
Resolved: Cemetery fees to remain at current levels for 2024/25.
11.2 Councillors had reviewed the Cemetery Rules and agreed that they could be improved in terms of tone and simplification.  Councillor Hankinson had circulated copies of the cemetery leaflet, which needed to be updated to reflect the Clerk’s contact details.  Councillors discussed the need to ensure that plots were accurately measured and marked, and asked the Clerk to research plot markers suitable for a lawned cemetery.
Action: The Clerk to review the Cemetery Rules in advance of the next meeting and to circulate to Councillors for comment.  The Clerk to research plot markers for the cemetery.  Councillor Hankinson to update the cemetery leaflet with the Clerk’s contact details.
 
12. JUBILEE FIELD (24/31)
12.1 Councillors considered two quotes for hedge cutting which had been previously circulated.  Councillor Balfe proposed that the lower of the two quotes be accepted, which was seconded by Councillor H Baines.
Resolved: To approve the quote of £300 for hedge cutting at Jubilee Field by MCS Groundcare and Garden Services.
 
13. COMMUNITY UPDATES (24/32)
13.1 Replacement Defibrillators
Councillors discussed quotes for defibrillators and cabinets from Safelincs, Community Heartbeat Trust and AADefibs which had been circulated in advance of the meeting. The proposal was to replace the cabinet at Charity Street, install a new cabinet at the Village Hall, and to replace the defibrillator at Normanton, with the old defibrillator being moved to the Village Hall.  The remaining defibrillators in Carlton Scroop would be replaced in the following financial year.  Councillors discussed whether to purchase a paediatric compatible defibrillator, as this was more expensive.  Councillor Balfe proposed that the lowest quote of £950 for a paediatric compatible defibrillator from AADefibs be accepted, and that two cabinets be purchased at a cost of £510 each from the same supplier, which was seconded by Councillor Hankinson.
The Chair thanked JW for her work on obtaining quotes and managing the defibrillators.
Resolved: To accept the quote from AADefibs for two cabinets and one defibrillator.
Action: Councillor Worrell to contact the supplier to arrange delivery and to engage an electrician to carry out installation.
 
13.2 Bus Shelter opposite Newark Lane
Councillor Balfe asked that quotes be obtained to repair the bus shelter, as there would potentially be traffic management requirements due to it being close to the road.
Action: The Clerk and Councillor J Baines to obtain quotes for the work.
 
13.3 SKDC Grass Cutting Contract
Councillors discussed the grass cutting contract and agreed that ideally the grass would need to be cut more frequently than seven times per year although they acknowledged that the weather had been unusually wet this year.  Councillor H Baines also noted that the grass had not been cut at the end of the village on each of the three cuts to date.  Councillors agreed that quotes should be sought from other contractors when the contract was due for renewal.  The Chair thanked Councillors J and H Baines for cutting the grass on Jubilee Field and the Village Hall hedge.
 
13.4 Community Updates
Councillors thanked Councillor H Baines and Councillor J Baines, along with Mr Rainthorpe, for installing the bench at Heath Lane, Normanton.es from Councillors.  
 
14. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (24/33)
14.1 Councillor England proposed that the Risk Management Policy and Safeguarding Policy be approved, which was seconded by Councillor Hankinson.  Councillor Worrell agreed to the Member Safeguarding champion.
Resolved: To approve the Risk Management Policy and Safeguarding Policy
 
15. CORRESPONDENCE (24/34)
15.1 Members noted all general correspondence circulated for information since the May meeting.  
 
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING (24/35)
16.1 Tuesday 24th September 2024
Tuesday 26th November 2024
Tuesday 28th January 2025
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Tuesday 20th May 2025
 
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.53pm.