2025 Minutes

Bardney Group Parish Council

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of Bardney Group Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Silver Street, Bardney on Tuesday 18 February 2025.

Present:  Chair Cllr Keith Laughton

Councillors:  Cllr Frank Bates, Cllr Kirstie Clarke, Cllr Robin Darby, Cllr Ian Fleetwood, Cllr Ruth Lane, Cllr John Papworth and Cllr Barry Percival.

Also present:  Eddie Findlay (Clerk/RFO) to the Parish Council

3 members of the public were in attendance.

At 7:00 pm the Chair welcomed everybody and declared the meeting open.

179-24/25.  Apologies for Absence.
To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting, in accordance with LGA 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr Samantha Cook, Cllr Brian Lintin, Cllr Liz McTernan, Cllr Deborah O’Sullivan and
Cllr Stephen White were unable to attend and their reasons were made know to the Council.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the reasons for absence from Cllr Cook, Cllr Lintin, Cllr McTernan, Cllr O’Sullivan and Cllr White.
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

The absence of Cllr Mary Corbould and Cllr Barry Newlove was noted.

180-24/25.  Declarations of Interest.
To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
Cllr Darby declared a possible interest in minute ref: 188-24/25.a.ii. page 72-2024/2025 as he is an allotment holder.

181-24/25.  Public Forum.
A 10 minute public forum when members of the public may address the Council on current issues or items that may become future agenda items.

MOP 1 – they declared they were an affected person with regard to WL/2025/00026, the outline Planning Application for the erection of up to 54no. dwellings with all matters reserved on land to the North of Abbey Road and Wragby Road.

They expressed concern that this application, due to its size, the development did not warrant additional community facilities being added to.  This did not seem to take into account the other local developments, possibly currently on hold due to being unable to sell would indicate and the likely future burden of local facilities.  Within the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, there seemed further scope for a further 200-300 houses, with nothing being added to the Village facilities.

Cllr Laughton responded that discussion did take place with regard to rainwater drainage, including the ditches and dykes capacity, poor sewerage infrastructure, school capacity, local Dr surgery capacity and transport links to larger towns and cities for work etc.  What this development might give back to the village, by way of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) had yet to be resolved by the Planning Authority.  With thing like health care, as the current

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Bardney population only warranted a satellite surgery, the new development might move Bardney ‘up’ to have a permanent provision with a full time Dr etc.

MOP 1 stated that a recently uploaded report on the Planning Portal indicated that S106 money for education had no allocation for Bardney Primary School but was focused on secondary and tertiary education only.   MOP 1 was concerned that as this report was uploaded after the closing date for public comments so members of the public could not subsequently reply to these Consultee comments/reports.

Cllr Fleetwood said that he would endeavour to bring any such counter comments are seen by the Planning Officers.

182-24/25.  Notes of the meetings to be approved as Minutes.

a.  Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 21 January 2025.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the amended notes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 21 January 2025 as minutes.
Proposed by Cllr Darby, seconded by Cllr Clarke and approved unanimously.

b.  Extra-Ordinary Meeting held on Tuesday 04 February 2025.
The notes of the P&R Committee Meeting held on Monday 03 February 2025 had not been received from Cllr White, so the sequential page numbering could not be confirmed for the extra-ordinary meeting notes.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to defer the approval of the extra-ordinary meeting notes until the notes for the P&R Committee are completed and received from the P&R Committee Chair.
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

183-24/25.  Receive updates from Councillors/Clerk with regard to ongoing items from previous meetings.
a.           Minute ref: 93-24/25.f.ii. – Potential sale of portacabin update.
Cllr Lane had two parties interested in the potential purchase of the portacabin, but due to extenuating circumstances, these had been unable to visit and view the portacabin.
It was suggested that the potential purchase be put out to tender.  This would be placed on the next agenda.
Cllr Papworth asked for the possibility of Cllrs getting together to clear and clean the portacabin, using the room in the Pavilion as alternative storage.

b.  Minute ref: 112-24/25, page 40-2024/2025.  Cycle rack.
The Clerk had received the application form and had had agreement in principle to install the cycle rack as per the minute ref.  Just awaiting formal confirmation before proceeding.

c.  Cllr Darby asked where the Village Hall where with regard to the installation of the Hearing Loop purchased for Community use.  Cllr Laughton would ask when he attended the next Village Hall Committee meeting.

184-24/25.  Receive reports from District and County Councillors.
As County Councillor, Cllr Fleetwood reported that the road between the Eastern Lincoln bypass up to Wicks is currently closed due to work being carried out to hopefully alleviate the flooding issues.
Short Ferry Road will be closing for around 2 weeks in June to carry out works towards Fiskerton.
Mayoral and County Council Elections will take place 01 May 2025.
As District Councillor, the one item of note was the proposed introduction of a food recycling scheme which would that from June this year, residents would potentially get another bin to put their food waste in.  This would be transported to a bio-digester, which would then create energy.

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185-24/25.  Receive a report from the Clerk with regard to Correspondence received and other matters.
The Clerk reported that the Handyman had been tasked with moving the hedge off cuts, that had been building up inside the Cemetery confines.  Once this are had been cleared, they would be burnt.
An interment of ashes had been carried out and a new memorial headstone had been installed.
The VAT claim for period covering 01-Jan-2024 to 31-12-2024, for £4,265.97 had been received in the bank account as of 14-Feb-2025.c

186-24/25.  Chair’s Report.
Cllr Laughton had met with the Clerk and the Handyman and he had contacted members of the Health and Safety Committee and the Chair of the Personnel and Review Committee, listing areas that need to be addressed in the very near future.

Cllr Papworth asked if the H&S Committee could visit the Handyman to check all the equipment and its serviceability.

Cllr Lane asked where all the risk assessments where for the Handyman and his work schedule.  There were some on the Google Drive but these need to be available to the Handyman.

Cllr Laughton again re-iterated that he had contacted members of the Health and Safety Committee and the Chair of the Personnel and Review Committee and he was awaiting their action.

Council comments on WL/2025/00026 had been submitted following the extra-ordinary meeting.

187-24/25.  Financial Matters.

a.  To consider and approve payments made since the last meeting.

Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments listed.
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Clarke and approved unanimously.

b.  To consider and approve payments on the September schedule.

Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments listed.
Proposed by Cllr Clarke, seconded by Cllr Darby and approved unanimously.

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c.  To consider and approve the bank reconciliation for January 2025.
The Clerk reported that the bank balances at the end of January 2025 were;

Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

d.  Consider the purchase of a working platform for the Handyman, following him completing his Working at Height Training.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the purchase of a portable, folding steel work platform at a cost of no more than £85.00 (inc VAT).
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved by a vote of 7 for and 1 against.

188-24/25.  Committee Reports and further actions required.

a.  Allotment Committee.

i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Allotment Committee.
No meeting had been held or planned.  Nothing to report.

ii.  Consider the cost to extend the water pipe on the allotment.
Cllr Bates had received a quote, which was circulated and included, 75m+ pipe and connections, brass tap and back plate and installation.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the quote, for no more than £195.00 (ex-VAT).
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved by a vote of 6 for and 2 abstentions.

Cllr Bates would contact the contractor to arrange a start date.

b.  Cemetery Committee.

i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Cemetery Committee.
No meeting had been held or planned.  With the removal of the hedge cuttings, it was suggested that area be used for containing spoil left over following interments.  This spoil could them be used to back fill sunken area around the Cemetery.

c.  Personnel and Review Committee.
i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Personnel and Review Committee, including the notes of the meeting held on Tuesday 03 December 2024 and a precis on Line Management responsibilities as per draft Minute ref: 142-24/25 page 51-2024/2025 P&R.
ii.  Receive a report on behalf of the Personnel and Review Committee notes of the meeting held on Monday 03 February 2025
Due to Cllr White not been in attendance, it was suggested to defer these two items.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to defer this item until such time as Cllr White was available.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Fleetwood and approved unanimously.

d.  Policy and Procedures Committee.
i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Policy and Procedures Committee.
No meeting had been held or planned.  Nothing to report.
Cllr Darby asked if the Policy and Procedures Committee might take the Emergency Plan forward.  Cllr Laughton would look into this matter.

e.  Finance Committee.
i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Finance Committee.
No meeting had been held or planned.  Nothing to report.

f.  Health and Safety Committee
i.  Receive a report on behalf of the Health and Safety Committee.
No meeting had been held or planned.

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189-24/25.  Ward Reports.  Receive reports from Councillor Members.

Cllr Darby mentioned that the current flurry of piece-meal road closures were causing confusion with drivers on available routes.

Cllr Bates asked what if anything had been done with regard to flooding issues on Abbey Road.  Cllr Fleetwood replied that Highways had informed him that they were ‘progressing it’.  It was at the design stage following a visit to the resident and they were being communicated with.  The road was now developing large potholes, which underwater, hid their depth and potential danger.

Cllr Fleetwood reported that Stainfield Village Hall would be holding a craft and coffee morning on Saturday 22 February 2025.  Southrey resident had contact him with regard to 30mph repeater signs for along Ferry Road, towards the Riverside Inn.  The Clerk would contact Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership re these signs and possible wheeled bin stickers.

Cllr Papworth had been approached by a number of residents regarding the perceived amount of dog fouling on the pavements.

He also asked if a rota could be drawn up between Councillors, to check that the bins at the Cemetery had been put back inside the Cemetery on a Friday.  As the Handyman did not work Friday, he was not available to return the bins correctly.  There had been that way a few times and they had been blown over etc.

Cllr Laughton wondered if the refuse collectors could be asked to return the bins inside the Lytch Gate, but this fell outside their contract remit.

Cllr Laughton asked the Clerk to draw up a rota all Councillors and send it to him for forwarding.

Cllr Clarke just wanted to thank Cllr Fleetwood for locating and displaying A3 bus timetables.

190-24/25.  Planning Matters.
a.  No new applications had been received.

191-24/25.  VE Day Anniversary.
a.  Consider potential events.
The Clerk had pre-booked the Village Hall, from 1:00pm, on Saturday 10-May-2025 should it be required for events and it was wondered if it was still required.
The Bardney AFVBC in conjunction with The Old Angel had planned a VE Day event on Sunday 11 May 2025.  They were having singers, Military Vehicles and also including Bardney Primary School at the event.
There will also be a VE Day Commemoration Service in St Lawrence Church on Sunday 11th May at 10.00 and they will probably go down onto the Green to finish at the IX Squadron Memorial, but on the Green so they won’t need to go to the trouble of a road closure.
All members of the Parish Council are invited to attend.
Cllr Papworth mentioned that the Village Hall might be interested in co-hosting an event with the Parish Council on Saturday 10-May-2025, from 1:00pm.  Cllr Lane suggested an Afternoon Tea event/street party (inside) could be considered.
No Cllrs seemed available to organise.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to commit up to £200.00 to an event should the Village Hall wish to co-host.
Proposed by Cllr Bates, seconded by Cllr Clarke and approved unanimously.

It was suggested that should Southrey and Stainfield wish for a contribution, they should submit a request for funding before the next Council meeting.

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192-24/25.  To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the public bodies (admission to meetings) act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the following matters:

a.  Staffing matters update.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to go into Closed Session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

This part of the meeting closed 8:15 pm.

The meeting continued in the absence of press and public at 8:16 pm.

Confidential Minutes

a.  Staffing matters update.

In the absence of the P&R Chair, Cllr Laughton reported that the Clerk, Mr Findlay, had agreed to remain in post until 31-Mar-2025 as per minute ref: 178-24/25.a. page 64-2024/2025.

The advert had been placed with LALC and LCC and these had been ‘live’ for over a week.

No applications had been received, but the closing date was 07 March 2025.

No dates had been set for interviews, but it was suspected the last week of March would be the timescale.

The meeting closed at 8:18 pm.

Signature:  Original Signed

Printed Name:  Cllr John Papworth

Date:  18 March 2025

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