March 2023 Minutes
Mintues from the meeting of Bardney Group Parish Council, which was held at Bardney Methodist Hall on Thursday 16th March 2023 at 7pm
Attendees
Cllr Robin Darby – Chairman
Cllr Peter Waddington – Vice Chair
Cllr Frank Bates
Cllr Luke Cluett
Cllr John Papworth
Cllr Charles Shaw
Cllr Malcom Speed
Anna Lawson (Clerk/RFO)
Absences
Laura Allen and Cllr Mary Corbould
Members of the Public
No members of the public present.
Meeting commenced at 7.00pm - No Public Forum due to the Pre Election Period
145-2022/23 To inspect the Insignia and Apologies for Absence i.a.w Local Govt Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40 . To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies received for Cllr Corbould and Laura Allen.
146-2022/23 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Member’s Register of Interests.
None received.
147-2022/23 To receive and consider any dispensation requests on agenda items and decide whether they are to be granted.
None received.
148-2022/23 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 16th February 2023 and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes.
PROPOSED and SECONDED , with five in favour and two abstentions, to approve the minutes.
149-2022/23 To receive the report from the Chairman
Best wishes were sent to Laura for a speedy recovery. Thanks were also given to the councillors who attended the Annual Parish Meeting which was held on 9th March 2023.
150-2022/23 To receive update on actions arisen at the 16th February 2023 meeting and report from the Clerk to the Council.
Congratulations go to the Handyman for completing the PAT testing training and exam and he is now fully qualified.
At the Annual Parish Meeting last week, BGPC were asked about two issues by St Lawrence Church, one being an outstanding invoice; on investigation it appears that the invoice had been paid on 19th April 2022. The other query was related to the hedge within the closed Churchyard. This issue has been raised before and following research it appears that the hedge was planted following the closure of the Churchyard (which is highly unusual) and that the agreement was that St Lawrence Church would maintain the hedge. These details are stated in the minutes in 2005 and 2007. This is why the hedge was never included in the Grasscutting tender which was originally put together in 2012 and reviewed in 2016.
Bardney Memorial Restoration Team have been in contact with regards to future work and a meeting is to be arranged with the Portfolio holder. There is also the issue of two broken headstones, which on investigation appear to have been repaired previously. It is reported by BRAMM that one type of headstone is prone to damage and weathering.
We have received concerns about markings on headstones in the Cemetery following the grasscutter’s recommencing their work. Investigations show that they are just marks on the filigree and the surfaces have not been damaged.
The Rogers Shield is to be presented to Scott Brewer in the next few weeks as he is currently away competing in Austria.
A Thank you card and email has been received from Pat Rennie and Ann Pepper.
133-2022/23 Financial matters:
i) To approve the bank reconciliation statement for January 2023
Bank Reconciliation
For the period 1st to 28th February 2023
01.02.2023 £38,847.97
Income
Handyman 293.72
Events 335.00
Allotments 27.75
HMRC VAT Rebate 341.68
St Oswald’s Park 108.00
Total income 1106.15
Expenses
Admin 656.61
Salary 4531.52
Handyman 321.19
Cemetery 39.00
Village 47.00
Allotment 360.98
Total expenditure 5956.30
28th February 2023 £33,997.82
PROPOSED and SECONDED, with five in favour and one against to approve the bank reconciliation statement.
ii) To ratify payments of accounts, salaries, BACS payments & payments already made
PROPOSED and, SECONDED, and voted UNANIMOUSLY to ratify the payments.
iii) Amend the Risk Management Register following advice from the Internal Auditor
PROPOSED and, SECONDED, and voted UNANIMOUSLY to adopt the amendments.
152-2022/23 Planning matters. To note any approved applications received and to consider any planning applications and decide any comments that the Council wishes to make.
This month there has been no planning applications other than ones for the wards of Goltho and Rand, which are outside our area. There has also been another one which was for a change in roof design.
With regards to application 146199 Old Bus Depot, Station Rd, Bardney, BGPC responded regarding the history of surface water flooding. Other responses from residents related to parking, surface water flooding and lack of parking. (NB Parish Councils and Members of the Public are consultees).
Lincolnshire County Council Highways initially responded on 06.03.23 asking for an extension of the response deadline which was 10.03.23, as they needed to examine the application. However on 09.03.23, Highways responded stating that there was no history/risk of surface water flooding and parking on Station Rd was not an issue. (NB Highways are Statutory Consultees and as such their comments carry more weight than normal consultees).
It must also be noted that on the morning of 16.03.23 there was an online comment from a resident highlighting the fact that there was a history of surface water flooding at their property and that parking is an issue in the area. However by the afternoon of 16.03.23, this comment had been removed.
153-2022/23 To review the new Allotment Policy - Health Issues and Community Groups
Allotment Policy
Health issues and Community groups
Draft - March 2023
Disabled individuals
The Equality Act 2010 states that a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities. The Equality Act says there is a duty to make reasonable adjustments if someone is placed at a substantial disadvantage because of their disability compared with non-disabled people or people who don't share the same disability.
The allotments on Horncastle Rd are provided as bare earth without fencing or structures. The current Allotment Tenancy Agreement allows for a structure to be placed on the plot and any additional structures can be applied for via dispensation from the parish council.
Lincolnshire County Council has already assessed St Oswald’s Park, including the Allotments and pronounced them as suitable for people who use wheelchairs. This is due to the sandy soil and good drainage on site.
Therefore in order not to disadvantage those who have a disability, the following will be allowed;
· Bardney Group Parish Council, will allow, wherever reasonably possible, fencing and gate access to be created appropriate for the needs of the allotment tenancy holder.
· Bardney Group Parish Council, will allow, wherever reasonably possible, structures (i.e. shed’s/poly tunnels/raised beds) to be created appropriate for the needs of the allotment tenancy holder.
· Dispensation for occasional lack of cultivation due to ill health.
The above is subject to;
· The Tenancy Agreement must be in the name of the person who has the disability.
· Being advised in writing and confirmed by the Clerk, subject to commencement.
In return, Bardney Group Parish Council will;
· Offer an allotment close to the car park or entrances wherever reasonably possible (subject to availability).
· Will regard all correspondence in relation to health, strictly confidential and in accordance with GDPR.
Allotment holders are encouraged to adopt rain water capture for sustainability purposes.
USEFUL CONTACTS Disability Organisations
· Thrive A small national charity that uses gardening to change lives and can put you in touch with 900 local projects around the UK. www.thrive.org.uk
· If you have difficulty in doing what you want to in the garden this award-winning website from thrive aims to give you answers so that you can find your way to easier gardening. www.carryongardening.org.uk DISABILITY RIGHT UK http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org
· Ecominds Helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental distress and help create a society that treats people with experience of mental distress fairly, positively, and with respect. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index
Community Groups
Allotment Tenancy Agreements are normally held by one or two people, who must reside at the same address. A Community Group can be considered for holding an agreement for a plot, subject to the following;
· A named person must be stated on the agreement.
· The named person must take responsibility for the plot.
· All documents will be issued to the named person.
· All members of the Community group will be required to comply with the terms of the Allotment Tenancy Agreement.
154-2022/23 To receive update on the meeting with the Police Inspector
i) Resources will be targeted where possible.
ii) Priorities will be reviewed and set by the police team every 3 months, The meeting felt that speeding, theft and minor ASB should be the current
priorities across all the villages.
iii) Crime data will be sent to parish councils at the end of every month, which will mean the figures available are more current. (Data has already been forwarded to all councillors).
iv) Inspector Head will provide an article for publication every 3 months providing an update on actions undertaken.
v) Residents are to be encouraged to report any (non-emergency) issues via the online website or 101, however if no response is received, they should let the Clerk
know, so that they can contact Inspector Head directly.
vi) Details of local groups and their key contacts are to be provided to Inspector Head (NB this has already been provided).
155-2022/23 To receive proposal from Everyone Active
BGPC have been approached by Everyone Active
Everyone Active describe themselves as follows;
‘Part of Sports and Leisure Management Ltd, we are the longest-established leisure contractor in the UK, having been founded in 1987.
‘We are called Everyone Active for a reason: we have made it our mission to encourage everyone we come into contact with to participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, either in one of ourcentres or via online training , five times per week.
‘To help us achieve this mission, we manage over 200 leisure and cultural centres across the UK in partnership with more than 60 different local authorities.
‘We are passionate about being active and staying healthy, and we want our members to be too. Whether it is state-of-the art gym equipment, excellent sports facilities, Swim England-accredited swimming programmes or fun activities for children, our centres aim to offer something for the entire community to enjoy’.
They have been in contact with regards to hosting events on St Oswald’s Park. They offer sports and wellbeing classes, including walking football, health walks, yoga etc. The events however are not free and Everyone Active charge £25 per hour for two staff members to host the classes.
A PROPOSAL was received however no one seconded and as such the proposal will not be adopted
156-2022/23 To consider a request from the British Horse Society representative
Bardney Group Parish Council has been approached by the local representative of the British Horse Society to engage with the BHS ‘Dead Slow’ campaign which encourages drivers to slow down and comply with the latest edition of the Highway Code. Unfortunately Lincolnshire County Council will not allow the campaign signage to be positioned on their verges despite a similar campaign being approved for ‘Thank Bike’.
Therefore the request is to post a sign on BGPC land. The only suitable place would be on either the Allotments or St Oswald’s Park, where they are adjacent to Horncastle Rd.
The proposal was considered and a request was made by councillors to see if other landowners would consider join in the scheme if BGPC pay for the signs.
157-2022/23 To consider making a contribution to the cost of the Handyman’s tow bar.
It was agreed to pay £200 towards the cost.
PROPOSED and SECONDED , with five in favour and two against, to contribute to the cost.
158-2022/23 Establishment – to resolve to go into closed session in accordance with Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 to discuss the following matters;
PROPOSED and SECONDED and unanimously RESOLVED to go in to closed session.
159-2022/23 To consider further action regarding double yellow lines
160-2022/23 To receive update regarding councillors IT provision
161-2022/23 To confirm date of next meeting Thursday 20th April 2023 - Stainfield Village Hall
Meeting Closed at 8.52pm