September 2021 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE HOGSTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 6.45PM ON THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 AT HOGSTHORPE VILLAGE HALL
Present: Cllrs M Culley - Chairman, P Smith (Vice Chairman), M Banks, A Green, T Smith, J Midgley, A Stubbs and K Stafford (Clerk)
Also present: K Bingham, a prospective new Councillor and 2 members of the public.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLOR
Before commencement of the Meeting, Kay Bingham, a prospective candidate, was approved and co-opted onto the Council.
PUBLIC FORUM
A member of the public asked if Southend could have a road name sign at the start of the village. It was agreed the parish clerk would make a request and the member of public would put their request forward on fix my street.
A member of the public asked the Council if they could make sure all members of the public were given time to speak in the public forum as one member had spoke for 15 minutes the meeting before. It was agreed that the Chairman would ensure each member of the public was restricted in the time they were allowed to speak so everyone who wanted to talk could do so.
A member of the public complained about the length of grass on the verges on entering the village from Skegness direction of A52. They were asked to refer the matter to fix my street.
A member of the public wrote in complaining about the sacks piled high in the yard of a private house on the High Street. The Chairman agreed to establish who the property belonged to so the issue could be tackled.
A member of the public wrote and asked the Council to weedkiller the weeds growing out of the church walls before they caused damage. The Chairman agreed to weedkiller the walls.
31. CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME – The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting commencing at 6.45 pm
32. APOLOGIES – County Cllr Colin Davie and District Councillors P Hibbert-Greaves and G Williams all sent their apologies.
33. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - It was resolved that the notes of the last parish Council Meeting of 22 July 2021 be accepted as a true record of the proceedings and were duly signed by the Vice Chairman.
34. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – There were no declarations of interest.
35. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES & OTHER MEETINGS
a) Cllr Mary Banks informed the meeting that the Goodwin Charity were meeting next week.
b) Cllr Mary Banks informed the meeting the village hall was ticking over fine.
c) Cllr Mary Banks informed the meeting the allotments were all looking neat and tidy.
d) District Cllr G Williams was unable to attend the meeting but asked the meeting be informed he was still working on the adoption issue of Thames Meadow Close
36. Financial Matters
a) Payment of Accounts – These were agreed as below:
a. Annual Microsoft subscription - £79.99
b. Sid Dennis waste removal - £13.86
c. Clerk’s wages and expenses - £508.16
d. Robert Aldrich grasscutting - £637.50
b) Receipts – Burial fees £180
c) It was resolved to accept the Financial Statement to 30 June 2021
37 Clerk’s Update
a. The Clerk informed the meeting Highways had been contacted with the proposed locations for the boundary fences
b. The Clerk updated the Council that Highways would not fund the cutting of the public footpath where it ran alongside the playing fields as this was not in their budget. The Councillors agreed they were not going to pay Robert Aldrich to do it.
c. The Clerk thanked the members of the public who had tidied up the heritage garden.
d. The Clerk informed the meeting that the GDPR and Privacy Notice policies needed putting in place ready for adoption at the next meeting.
38 Churchyard footpath upgrade –It was resolved the Clerk to instruct Alex Johnston to carry out the works at a cost of £5,230.00
39. Bench at Threeways – It was resolved to instruct RDR timber to install a bench at Threeways at a cost of £400.
40. Churchyard Bin – It was resolved to agree Sid Dennis install a larger, 660 litre, bin in the churchyard at a cost of £15.15 plus VAT per collection. Cllr T Smith pointed out they would charge for going over weight so it was agreed the weight of the bins would be monitored so it could be reviewed if necessary.
41. Bi-annual maintenance of churchyard trees – It was resolved to instruct Robert Aldrich to carry out the bi-annual maintenance of the hedge and lime trees in the churchyard at a cost of £360.
42. Review the Parish Council Churchyard Burial regulations and fees – It was agreed the parish clerk draw up a comparison chart with Chapel St Leonards fees to be sent to all councillors so they could be agreed at the next meeting. Clerk to amend and update burial regulations for the next meeting to include new terms and conditions document to be signed by all new users of the churchyard.
43. Review issues raised by the playing fields committee –
a. It was resolved to fund the quarterly grasscutting fees at a cost of £360
b. It was resolved to fund the repairs needed to the driveway of the playing fields. Cllr T Smith stated there should be properly structured football evenings with a fee paid by individuals to bring in funding. Cllr K Bingham asked Cllr M Banks if the village hall would meet halfway with the costs as the car park was used mostly by village hall users.
44. Tree Planting Scheme – It was agreed the Council would not apply for funding for trees in the parish through the tree planting scheme
45. Sound System – It was agreed not to purchase a sound system for the meetings in the village hall as it was expected the Council would soon be permitted to hold their meetings in the conference room again where it was possible to hear everyone ok.
46. Date Of Next Meeting – It was agreed the Council would hold their next meeting on Thursday 7 October 2021 if it was unable to go ahead on the published date of Wednesday 6 October 2021 at 6.30pm.
Meeting closed at 1930 hours