September 2020 Minutes
Londonthorpe & Harrowby Without Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held 9th September 2020 Via Zoom. Meeting started at 7.03pm.
Held under Covid 19 Regulations.
Public Open Session: there were no parishioners present.
Councillors present: Geoff Parnham, John Anderson, Avril Gregory, Richard Keeler, Roland Wright, George Chivers, Paul Bakker, and Janie Lee (8 Members were present.).
Geoff Parnham the Chairperson took the Chair. Pete Armstrong the Clerk took the notes.
17/20 Apologies; Margery Radley, Yolanda Martin, Paul Bavin, Carol Markwell. In her absence Cllr Carol Markwell was congratulated on attaining her Councillors Certificate after doing the online training course. Apologies were also received from LCC Cllr L Wootten
18/20 Declarations of Interest; None declared
19/20 Clerks Notes of the 8th July 2020 meeting were accepted as a true record and became the minutes. Proposed by J Lee, seconded P Bakker, all members agreed.
20/20 Clerks Update on Matters Arising; none, all items covered within the agenda.
21/20 Financial Statement No.2.
The Clerk/RFO went through the financial report in the detail explaining all the payments etc. Cheques were made out for the following: The Community Cleaners and Clerks salaries for the last two months July to August totalling £1623 Other payments included Planters for Londonthorpe £2394 VAT £399, the £500 donation from Cllr L Wootten was used towards, this Streetwise for Grass Cutting £558.00 Inc. VAT (£93) and ICO £35 by D/D.
Petty Cash was £369.33 (£47.08 VAT) this included Tree-tags, a 5in1Motor Chainsaw/Hedge-trimmer, stamps paper, petrol, and the Audit postage.
Total expenditure during these two months being £4557.27 a total of £539.08 of VAT is reclaimable.
Known expenditure due for payment before the next meeting are Community Cleaner’s Salary, Clerks Salary, Grass Cutting, Repairs, Office, and any costs incurred for the Village Planters. There was no income during this period.
Agreement to accept the Financial Statement No 2 and all the options suggested, plus the normal expected payments for up to November was proposed by R Keeler seconded by G Chivers this was agreed unanimously.
It was agreed to pay the annual donation of £250 for grass cutting at the churchyard on a proposal by J Anderson Sec by R Wright.
He stated that he has spoken with the branch staff and been told that all Internet Banking Applications was taking extra time.
It should be noted that these payments have been made via several different modes including Cheques/Bank Transfers and cash, this change has been necessary due to many companies now not taking Cheques.
22/20 Leisure & Outdoor Committee.
All Areas covered by this Committee are as usual reported in this item.
a. A Committee Meeting was held on the 25th August. R Keeler the committee chairman gave a short report back. Mentioning the kind donation of spares for our play equipment also the offer of some arced granite slabs which would make up into seats. It is planned for at least one to be used in the memorial Area at the Hills & Hollows. The Clerks Notes of this meeting were emailed out in the meeting information package to all members. The Clerk then updated members on the following items
b. Playground Safety: Our usual ROSPA Inspector carry out the annual inspection, in October or November. Jobs are continuing to be done but there is no immediate rush, but some do need keeping an eye on in case they deteriorate. All Playgrounds are now open, Cllr J Anderson is regularly checking and cleaning down the Belfry which is being very well used.
c. Withambrook: one of the posts on the Trim Trail has rotted away and will be replaced at a cost of approx. £200. A working party to deal with the trees mentioned on the “SKDC Tree Safety Report” will take place on the 15th September. Using the “Safer Working Practices Guidelines”.
Cllr P Bakker and the Clerk have started tagging the trees with their own individual numbers for future reference.
d. Belfry: No Problems
e. Londonthorpe: front hedge booked in to be laid this winter by WACS. A working party is planned for cutting back and pruning the rest of the hedges etc in October.
The wooden Trim Trail is rotting away badly in parts, these sections either need replacing or buying a new piece of equipment. A proposal from the L&O Committee to replace was agreed upon a proposal by J Anderson Sec by G Chivers at cost to fit in with the Play budget of Approx. £3000. Members are requested to visit the site, then refer to the types of equipment available in the catalogue provided online. Members are to reply to the Clerk & R Keeler with any suggestions. Vale will be contacted to supply quotes for any items selected.
f. Hills & Hollows: it was agreed to purchase more trees to replace those that succumbed the extremes in weather conditions. Tony Parker and Darren Thorpe continued doing excellent work with the hedge keeping it in shape, and they were joined by P Bakker and the Clerk to work on the PROW through the Hollows.
A Working Party is to be held to cut back the grass with a machine from hired from LRS. Other maintenance work like taking out self-sets will also be undertaken at this time.
g. Bridge End Grove: no major problems, some slight repairs are required to the fence between us and the farmer, this will be undertaken by WACS.
h. New Play Equipment: refer to item 22/20e re wooden equipment in need of replacing.
i. Grass Cutting Around the Parish: it was agreed that there had been a vast improvement this year.
j. Woodland Trust Working Party: we seem no nearer to being able to recommence the Working Parties on Woodland Trust properties, but we will continue to work on our own land.
Members were reminded of the need to complete the consultation that was sent out re Public Open Spaces.
A “Scarecrow Competition” held on Sunningdale was a success, the Clerk has written to him to try and get an article for the Newsletter, but no response has been had in time. It was agreed we should offer our support if continuing next year. The possibility of extending to other parts of the parish to be considered. It was felt this event had been a welcome distraction during these difficult times.
23/20 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
S20/0246 Care home Newgate Lane Passed with conditions.
S20/1335 233 Belton Lane Side Ext No Comments.
S20/1276 11 St Georges Side & Rear Ext No Comments
OLDER Items Updates
S15/2101 SLRR No further news
S18/0944 Cold Harbour Travellers Site No Further News
S20/0996 Willow Dr Change to 3 dwellings Passed by SKDC
S20/1004 Blairgowie Request for TPO removal Passed By SKDC
23a/20 Blessed Hugh More School Site Consultation: we have now received confirmation of SKDC’s receipt of our ACV application. A reply must be forthcoming by 2nd Oct according to the email’.
24/20 Newsletter: is nearly ready for final editing by the committee.
25/20 Highways Notes/Flooding.
Southern Link Relief Road: Work still to start soon at the Somerby A52 Roundabout it is still believed that work must commence by the end of November,
Flooding around the Parish: we have had nothing further on this. We know that members of the team are still redeployed to work on the Corona teams.
Potholes Etc: some works have taken place on Five Gates but work of a very poor standard.
Londonthorpe Village Gateways; Members were told that the application for the sites for the planters has now been granted by Highways, they will be just in front of the Village Gateways. The order has been placed. Hope to have them in situ by end of Oct. Volunteers to be contacted and Cllr C Markwell to be asked to supervise as she lives in the village.
26/20 Policies: The Standing Orders have been changed to include the holding of Virtual Meetings as per Government Guidelines. This will stay this way until May 2021. A discussion also took place regarding parishioner participation on Zoom meetings, when the new website is up and running, the notification of meetings and how to join will be enhanced.
Website: The Clerk explained the options and an offer by PD Langford to assist Parish Councils, this is to be taken up after unanimous support from councillors. The chair reminded people of the email sent out by the Clerk regarding a webinar about the use of social media. Interested members should register, unfortunately it is during the day and neither the Chairman nor the Clerk are available on that day.
27/20 Correspondence: As usual all other relevant correspondence has been passed on as it arrived. This has allowed members to stay up to date with the ever-changing regulations etc.
28/20 Matters for the Next Agenda etc.
It was mentioned again how magnificent the Millennium Garden had looked all year. The use of Wildflowers around the parish is to be progressed.
Meeting closed 8.20. pm. Diary Dates are as per these minutes and the Autumn Newsletter.
Next meeting: Wednesday 11th November at 7.00pm. This will again be a Virtual Meeting.
Signed as a true copy of the meeting held 9th Sept 2020