June 2024
MINUTES OF THE HOGSTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 6th JUNE 2024
Present: Cllr Chris Rolph, Mary Banks, Ellen Smith,
Clerk: K Hayes
Also present: 3 members of public + 3 prospective councillors
As there was no appointed Chairman, Cllr Rolph volunteered to take the meeting.
The three prospective councillors, the appropriate documents having been completed, were invited to join the council. It was accepted by a show of hands from the current councillors to co-opt these three people to the council. Cllrs Bernadette Hornby, Raymond Murray and Dianne Hanson were duly welcomed to the Council, took their seats and signed their acceptance forms.
PUBLIC FORUM
A member of the public asked that the bench at the end of Threeways was given a coat of varnish. Another member of the public asked what was happening with the benches in the churchyard this is an agenda item. There was a need for litter picking in the area.
There was general discussion on the state of the roads. Unfortunately, LCC Highways did not have the funding from central government to do everything which is needed to be done.
1. APOLOGIES - None
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - Cllr Ellen declared an interest in Item 8iii.
3. APPROVAL OF NOTES OF MEETING
The Minutes of the AGM meeting and the Annual Parish Community Meeting of the 11th May 2024 were unanimously approved after a slight amendment and signed by the Acting Chairman.
4. CLERK S REPORT
The clerk read out her report. Of note were councillor vacancies, village seating, churchyard maintenance, D-Day celebrations, district councillor grants and playpark.
5. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
Cllr Banks reported that the village hall committee held a meeting with YMCA. Their survey had found that the public were quite derogatory in their remarks about the village hall, the main complaint being the cost of hire. It was decided that the prices would be put on social media. There would be an open day where everyone will be invited in September.
Cllr Banks reported on Hogsthorpe Charities. The annual inspection had been been carried out on the farmhouse and the barn. They had received a complaint about the hedge on the driveway leading to the old allotments. This will be cut back in September when the birds finish nesting.
Fran Wilson, as Chairman of the Allotments reported that there were only one or two spaces left. It was noted that there was still 600 grant money being held by the Parish Council for repair and replacement to the fence. Everyone seems to be getting back to a community group.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
* The clerk noted that confirmation had been received that insurance was now in place.
* It was noted that District Councillor grants for 2024/25 were now available.
7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
i) Cheque payments were agreed for £1002.46 to Gallagher Insurance, £468 to K Hayes for salary and £117 To HMRC, £29.94 for homeworking allowance, postage and stationery, £15 to Village Hall for hire of room, £425 to Robert Aldrich for grasscutting and £23.58 to Sid Dennis for Church Bin emptying.
8. CHURCHYARD/CEMETERY MAINTENANCE
i) The benches are now painted up and are awaiting installation. Rob Cook had been approached to install them but had not yet made any progress. This is now an urgent matter clerk to contact Rob to get a timing for installation.
ii) Clerk still has to contact the War Graves Commission to see if a grant for the upkeep is still available. Fran Wilson volunteered to keep it tidy along with the Heritage Garden.
iii) General tidy up and quote. Cllr Smith left the meeting for this item. After discussion, it was agreed that further quotes for this work would be put out to tender. Cllr Smith returned to the room. It was agreed that the grasscutting was not done regularly enough to keep the grass in a tidy order. It was agreed unanimously by the show of hands that the clerk would contact the contractor to get the grass cut fortnightly for the time being.
iv) The clerk reported that the church had agreed to the laying flat of the gravestones leaning against the inner wall of the churchyard. This work would still need to be cleared with the Diocese but was not a priority as yet. The church had also agreed to replant the oak tree to a more suitable place to be agreed with the Parish Council.
v) The church was looking into getting the front wall repaired. As funding was not available, there were no plans to make a hearse parking space.
vi) Grave Memorials the Clerk reported that some graves were being littered with unwanted memorials and one grave had been covered in gravel with a plastic edging which was totally out of keeping with the rules. The clerk explained that the rules were that only a headstone was allowed and nothing was to be placed outside of the memorial headstone. This was becoming a real problem of late and the clerk would be writing to the owners (when they can be found) to enforce the rules.
9. PLAYPARK
i) Two meetings of the playpark committee had been held. Minutes of the meetings are posted on the web site and the Parish Council notice board.
ii) The inspection had been done and there were various issues to attend to.
iii) A team of volunteers had met one Saturday to tidy up the playpark and litter pick the playing field. This is now much tidier but needs another session.
iv) The grass was now being cut regularly and the playing field is much neater.
v) Car boots are now going really well (21 cars at the last event). The only issue now is where to park the cars to be discussed at the next playpark committee meeting.
vi) The school is being approached to use the playing field for sports by the school.
vii) There is still more work to be done equipment needs painting urgently but because of the constant rain, it was waiting until it was dried out.
viii) The picnic area was now installed and bring used.
10. BENCH INSTALLATIONS AND MEMORIAL PLAQUES
The groundwork is now in place and the bench has been installed at the entrance to the allotments. Plaques now need to be ordered in memorial of Les Wildman and Paul Smith. Councillors asked to email the clerk with suggestions of wording on the plaques and the material to be used.
11. PLANNING
i. N/084/000386/24 Full planning permission given for erection of ancillary buildings at Langham Lane.
ii. N/084/000387/24 Planning consent given for non-illuminated sign at Langham Road land.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting set for the 4th July was changed to Wednesday 3rd July due to the election process in the hall on the 4th.
By a show of hands, it was agreed to change the dates of the normal meetings to a Wednesday provided the village hall could accommodate them.
15 ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR NEXT AGENDA
Cllr Hornby reported on the disgraceful state of the land on the corner of Wilkinson Way. Some of this land was privately owned and another part thought to be highways owned. This used to be cut pre-covid. Clerk would investigate and put on agenda for next meeting.
Cllr Hornby also noted the state of the roads and the pothole filling in the village
CLOSED SESSION
A closed session was held at the end of the meeting to update the new councillors on the details of the upcoming court case.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.00 pm
2024/06
Page 3 of 3