2021 Annual Parish Meeting

Minutes of the meeting of Cowbit Parish Council held on Monday 8th March 2021 at 7.30pm via ZOOM

Attendance.  Cllrs Tyrrell, Elliott, Fragale and Sandhu

District Cllr Woolf, County Cllr Pepper, 1 member of the Public and the Parish Clerk.   

1.   Chairman’s welcome.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting

Public Forum.

Cllr Elliott and the Clerk raised a concern emailed to the Clerk by a resident regarding the refilling of a grit bin at the top of Drain Bank South. The Chairman noted the bin was put in place by LCC Highways at the request of the Parish Council and the responsibility to refill the bin lay with LCC Highways. Council agreed for the Clerk to ask LCC Highways to refill the grit.

A Resident raised concerns with lack of forewarning from LCC Highways regarding the recent roadworks and the rerouting of the bus service. After discussion Council agreed for the Clerk to contact LCC Highways and Stagecoach to request communications for future works.

2. Apologies.

a. District Cllr Casson.

3. Declarations of interest.

a. None received.

4. Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11th January 2021 to be approved as the new minutes.

a. It was resolved to accept these notes as the minutes. Duly signed.

5. Matters arising from the minutes/admin matters.

a. None. 

6. Police matters.

a. None.

7. Cemetery matters.

a. Ongoing, to find suitable land. Cllr Tyrell noted the Parochial Church Council were due to discuss the possibility of reopening the old Church yard.  

8. Highways matters and CSW.

a. Cllr Fragale raised concerns with the lack of footpath near the A16 roundabout and the untidiness of the area. The Chairman advised the original application included a footpath but on the revised application, the footpath was moved closer to the properties. Cllr Elliott noted a number of families would not have access to a footpath on their school route. Council discussed potential further development in the area and agreed if and when this arose they would make enquiries regarding footpath access and tidying up of the area would be reviewed at this this point.

The Chairman updated on progress with the ungritted road, Mill Drove, noting he had been in contacted with several of the District Cllrs and would continue to pursue. Council discussed hosting a meeting with the Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP, County Cllr Davies (Executive Councillor for Highways), and District and Parish Cllrs. Cllr Pepper and Cllr Woolf gave their support. Council agreed to arrange a meeting once face-to-face meetings were permitted.

b. The CSW co-ordinator advised that the volunteers had been unable to resume CSW activity due to lockdown but were hopeful to be able to resume after 29th March. The co-ordinated updated the meeting on motorist recorded at 97mph, advising the Police had attended the individuals’ residence and as the driver was a minor discussed the incident with them and their parents. A member of the public had shown interest in joining CSW and the Clerks details had been passed.

c. Cllr Fragale updated the meeting on the welcoming gates, noting he had received quotes for the gates and would be looking to get quotes for the installation. Cllr Fragale advised he was in the process of getting permission from LCC Highways but as yet had not been able to contact them via telephone. 

9. Bus Shelters

a. Cllr Fragale informed the meeting he had a couple of sponsors willing to move forward with sponsoring signs on the Bus Shelters. The Chairman advised repairs may be needed to the shelter near the Church. Discussions on different types of roofing occurred and Council agreed for the Chairman to speak with local contractors and arrange the retiling of the Bus Shelter using tiles Cllr Fragale had donated. 

10. Financial matters.

a. The financial report had been circulated and it was resolved by all to accept the figures given.

b. It was resolved by all to accept the Annual LALC subscription.

c. It was resolved by all to accept the Annual LALC Training scheme (ATS).

11. Planning matters.

a. Planning applications had been circulated and any comments made were listed on the SHDC portal. Council discussed and agreed there were no objections to planning application H01-0166-21, Clerk to upload comments on the SHDC planning portal.

12. Village Hall representative.

a. Cllr Elliott updated the meeting on the Village Hall, noting the Log Cabin was now in place. Grants during lockdown had been kind and the committee had been able to carry out works they had previously not had the funds to complete. Concerns had been raised at a recent committee meeting regarding potential subsidence, the committee Chairman had arranged for a builder to review and is now arranging for the insurance surveyor to attend.  

13. Playing field/Pavilion representative.
a. Cllr Sandhu advised the Pavilion remained closed and the playing field had been quite due to lockdown. Cllr Sandhu noted it was a good time to push forward with the previous plans to move goal posts and mark out a mini pitch for local residents to use. Council discussed posts and prices and agreed to purchase 3” box section at approximately £14 per a metre. It was agreed that the Chairman would order, prep and install the posts. 

Cllr Elliott enquired after the reseeding of the bare patch of grass on the playing field, the Chairman advised he would be sowing the grass seed within the week. 

Cllr Sandhu asked after the purchase and installation of the new bins, all agreed for the Clerk to liaise with Cllr Sandhu regarding delivery.

Cllr Elliott noted that at the start of lockdown he had arranged with the user of the Pavilion to chain together the goal posts to discourage use of the field as a meeting point for multiple households. He noted the chain had recently been cut.

14. Correspondence.

a. The Clerk advised she had received the Grass Cutting agreements; it was resolved to accept the quotes.

15. Councillor’s reports & items not on the agenda.

a. None.

16. Date of the next meeting.

a. Date of the Annual Parish Council meeting. Monday 8th May, 7.30pm 

17. To resolve whether to move into closed session and exclude public, police and press (who will be required to leave the meeting at this stage), in accordance with  the Local Government Act 1972),  due to the confidential nature of business to be discussed in relation to the following matters:-

a. None.

Meeting closed at 8.40pm.