2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

SWINDERBY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF SWINDERBY PARISH COUNCIL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held on 10th June 2024 held at Swinderby Village Hall

Present:  Cllr G Lloyd (Chair), Cllrs. R Hodgson, S Longson, N Marris, J Gagg and A Haig.

Clerk: S Aikman

Also in attendance: Cllr P Overton (NKDC). 1 member of the public

Public Forum

Cllr Mitch Elliott had sent his apologies.

Cllr Overton reported that:

- The Deputy Chief Executive at NKDC was leaving soon and the Chief Executive was leaving by the end of the year.

1.   To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies received from Cllr L Carter.  Apologies accepted.

2.   To receive any declarations of interest

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and consider any requests for dispensation in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or any other interests as outlined in the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cllr Lloyd declared an interest in item 12 as Chair of Swinderby Trust.

3.   To receive and approve the minutes of the Annual Parish Council meeting 13th May 2024, previously circulated to members and published in draft to the website as required under the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities. 

Following a vote it was resolved unanimously that the minutes from 13th May 2024 were an accurate record of the meeting.

Progress reported on matters discussed:

- Cllr Lloyd had contacted Network Rail regarding the waiting room at Swinderby station again, no reply.
- The new gate for the Playing Field had been ordered.
- The new pest control company had currently removed all moles from the Jubilee Park
- The Fete had been a great success with funds being raised by the school, the Church and from the ice cream sales.  The attendance of the fire service and the bubble making activity were very popular.  Following this success, it was hoped to make the ‘Swinderby Show’ an annual event in June each year.
- The Parish Council would consider buying removable goal posts for the Play Area and re-siting the existing goal posts on to the Playing Field.  This matter would be added to the July agenda.
- A sign at the Play Area needs moving to allow easier access for large vehicles.
- The composting toilet was still to be installed.
- A resident was installing a base for the new bench.  The bench was being sited outside Church Farm.
- The flag pole was to be re-fixed.
- The Village Hall and car park were registered with Land Registry.  The entrance was not yet registered.
- One of the solar powered speed indicator devices was not calibrated correctly and needed resetting.

4.   Finance

a.   To formally note Items of Income

b.   To formally approve items of expenditure

All expenditure including Clerk’s salary, PAYE and pension was presented by the Clerk and examined, verified and certified by the Council and approved unanimously.

c.   Bank reconciliation for the year to date was approved unanimously.

d.   To review spend against budget.

Reviewed.

e.   To receive any feedback from the External Auditor

Not received yet.

5.   Planning

a)   Applications Received

b)   Applications Decided

6.   Reminder of L01-24 | Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity (England) / Publicity during the pre-election period and the Pre-election Period of Sensitivity.

Reminded.

7.   To review the Financial Regulations and update as necessary.

The Clerk had sent out suggested amendments to the Financial Regulations.  Proposed amendments were agreed and updated Financial Regulations were adopted by a unanimous vote.

8.   To review the Standing Orders and update as necessary.

The Clerk had sent out suggested amendments to the Standing Orders.  Proposed amendments were agreed and updated Standing Orders were adopted by a unanimous vote.

9.   To consider items from the internal audit, including adding additional information to the Parish Council website.

The Internal Auditor had suggested that GDPR and Freedom of Information policies and procedures needed adding to the website.  The Clerk advised the Council that the documents on LALC’s website were out of date and therefore could not be considered until updated model documents were available.  The Council supported the Clerk’s view on this matter.

10.   To receive any updates on the land registry for the Village Hall and follow up as necessary.

Discussed under item 3.

11.   To report on any updates to the development of the Neighbourhood Plan.

The grant could be reapplied for this financial year.

ACTION Cllr Lloyd.

A public consultation meeting to consider the proposed policies was being held on Thursday 13th June.  Agreed policies would become part of the planning process.  Proposals would be sent to NKDC for scrutiny to ensure that policies link with the NKDC and National Planning Policy.  The next version would then be brought together and go out to residents to vote on.

12.   To consider a contribution to the fencing and gate required on the land that had been newly acquired by Swinderby Trust. 

Cllr Lloyd had declared an interest in this item and took no part in the discussion or voting.

A discussion was held about the benefits to the community and following a vote is was resolved unanimously, by those present and voting, to transfer £1,500 from reserves into the S137 budget and to donate £1,788 to Swinderby Trust towards the necessary works from the S137 budget.

Cllr Haig left the meeting due to another commitment.

13.   Clerk and Councillors Reports (for information only), including a review of actions from minutes and matters that Councillors wish to be brought to the next or subsequent meetings.

No decisions may be made under this section, but councillors may wish to use this to flag up issues.

Cllr Longson reported on ‘Adopt your Local Station’ from East Midlands Railways.  Information to be sent to the Clerk for inclusion on the website.

ACTION: Cllr Longson and the Clerk.

Cllr Hodgson reported that there may be a request for help coming from the Bowls Club towards irrigation of the new bowling lawn.

Cllr Lloyd reported that:

- he had replied to the invitation from the Police to an open event.
- Elms and a sycamore on the Jubilee Park had been reported as needing removing.
- Engagement was needed with the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to look at possible traffic calming methods.

Cllr Marris raised a discussion on the possibility of Biodiversity Net Gain as a possible income source for Swinderby Trust from the newly acquired land.  It was felt that the area may be too small.

Cllr Gagg gave his apologies for the July meeting. Also, he mentioned the path/cycle path to the station. To be a future agenda item. 

14.   Correspondence

To note correspondence received.

15.    Date of next meeting 

Parish Council meeting 7.30pm Monday 8th July 2024.

Meeting closed at 8.58pm