2023 Annual Parish Meeting

Minutes of the Annual Parish and Council meeting of Cowbit Parish Council, held on Monday 13th March 2023 at 7:30pm at the Cowbit Village Hall

Present:

Eric Fragale, Trevor Tyrell, Chris Elliott and Daniel Sandhu

Clerk:

Mrs Leedham & Mrs Harrison

District Councillors: A Casson, A Woolf and R Grocock 

17 members of the public

In the Chair:    Trevor Tyrell

1.   Chairman’s welcome to the Annual Parish Meeting and Public Forum.

The Chairman welcomed everyone and invited comments and requests to be considered by the Parish Council.

Parish Council Meeting

2.   To receive and approve apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Eric Fragale and Daniel Sandhu.

It was resolved to approve these absences.

Apologies from Cllr Nigel Pepper were also noted.

3.   To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations.

There were none.

4.   Notes on the last meeting held on the 9th of January 2023 to be approved as the minutes.

It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the previous meeting and the Chairman signed them as a true record.

5.   Matters arising from the minutes, (not covered on this agenda).

There were none.

6.   Police matters and to receive the Police report.

In the absence of a Police report, a list of crimes found on the website had been sent out prior to the meeting.  These showed the following: - 

There were 9 crimes reported in January 2023

Violence and sex offences ………………….. 4
Antisocial Behaviour …………………………… 1
Burglary ……………………………………………… 1
Other Crime ……………………………………….. 3

7.   To receive the highways report.

There was no report.

8.   To receive the CSW report.

Thursday 19.01.23

The following report had been circulated prior to the meeting, and was read out by the Chairman: -

Last week’s session of Thursday 12th was cancelled at the moment of setting up due to the weather.
 
Today’s session on Barrier Bank outside the village hall commenced at 2.25pm and concluded at 3.40pm.

We recorded & reported 4 cars for exceeding  the 30mph speed limit.

2 at 37mph.
1 at 40mph
1at 42mph, this female driver then commenced to park & collect her small children from the adjacent school, clearly some education is required at parental level to adhering to the rightful speed limit which is there to protect her kids
3 cars which also broke the limit could not be recorded because of very dirty number plates.

Friday 27.01.23

Following our CSW session of earlier this afternoon we recorded the following cars for breaking the 30mph speed limit outside the local village school on Barrier Bank.

We commenced at 2.45pm and  completed at 3.45pm
 
3 cars logged at 38mph
1 car at 40mph
1 car at 44 mph

Friday 10.02.23

Following our CSW session of earlier this afternoon on Backgate arranged from 1500hrs to 1600 hrs we checked the speed of 14 cars/vans.
 
2 registrations have been reported to Lincoln for exceeding the 30mph limit
 
1 van at 44mph
1 car at 54mph not far short of twice the limit!
 
Quite a number were traveling at around 35mph hence the need for more signage to make these drivers realise that Backgate & Stonegate are actually 30mph zones .

Friday 17.02.23

Following our session on Backgate earlier today our details as follows:
 
30 MPH zone
Start   15:30 hrs
Finish 16:30 hrs
 
7no Registration plates taken & reported to Lincoln for breaking the 30mph limit.
 
4 cars for driving at 37mph
1.   car at 38
1.   car at 39
1.   car at 47

the speed of 30 cars/vans where checked during this session.

Tuesday 07.03.23

We targeted Stonegate last Friday , starting at 4pm for an hour, 18 cars checked.

1 registration plate reported to Lincoln for driving at 40mph in a 30 zone.

Weather permitting we’re out on Thursday pm on Barrier Bank by the school.

An email was then read out, which was sent on the 9th of March from the Co-ordinator of the CSW, concerning a speeding vehicle along Barrier Bank that was travelling at least twice the speed limit, soaking him and his dog who were out walking.

He made a request for some speed awareness signage to help educate drivers to keep within the law.

It was resolved that some 30 mph speed signs could be obtained and attached to lampposts.

ACTION:

9.   To receive an update on the bus shelters.

The Chairman confirmed that the new bus shelter is due to be delivered in April.

10.   Financial matters.

a.   To receive the financial report and approve payments

It was resolved to approve the list of outstanding payments.

CE Proposed and JB Seconded

b.   To review the budget report (4th quarter).

The Clerk had been unable to produce a Bank Reconciliation or Budget schedule due to not being able to access the PC’s bank account.

To resolve this, a Mandate prepared by the new Clerk and a request to provide her online access was signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman at the meeting

11.   Planning matters.

There were 4 Planning Applications received since the last meeting, they are as follows: -

H01-0212-23   Off Barrier Bank Peak Hill Cowbit   Conversion of existing agricultural buildings to form 1 large dwelling and 4 small dwellings
03-03-23   Prior Approval App   Undecided

After discussion, it was resolved to support the above application as follows: -

The Parish council fully support this application. Up until several years ago there used to be one large house on the site together with a range of farm cottages and so we feel that this will return the site to its former glory and not detract from the area at all

H01-0213-23   St Marys Church Barrier Bank Cowbit PE12 6AH   Works to Cowbit Tree Preservation Order No. 1 1982   
03-03-23   TPO Tree Works   Undecided

This application is to cut back the trees to 3 meters to prevent their leaves from blocking the guttering and causing damp in the Church.

It was resolved to support this application.

H01-0187-23   44 BACKGATE COWBIT SPALDING PE12 6AP   Details of levels survey, ecological biodiversity measures and foul & surface water disposal. (Conditions 3, 5 and 6 of H01-1011-22)   
27-02-23   CONDITION COMPLIANCE   Undecided

It was resolved to state that the PC has no observations and to allow the Planning Officers to deal with this as it is with regard to Compliance with Conditions.

H01-0158-23   36 STONE GATE COWBIT SPALDING PE12 6AH   Single storey side extension to provide utility and home working spaces   
20-02-23   FULL   Undecided

It was resolved that the PC has no objections to this application.

12.   To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

a.   To receive an update on Village Hall matters.

CE read out the emailed report, as follows: -

Next week is the village hall committee AGM on Monday 20th March 7.30pm and all welcome. Along with the church and school the parish nominated a representative to attend our committee who currently is Trevor. 

Village Hall successfully applied for £500 warm hub funding which will continue to provide free sessions on the Tuesday afternoon between 2-4pm, to cover the cost of electricity food, & drink.

1st Tuesday of the month is the Tea@two; 
2nd and 4th Tuesday is the Cowbit senior Club; 
3rd Tuesday is music for all 

We are also applying for a slice of the Shared Prosperity Fund for improvements to the Village Hall. 

We were very saddened to hear the loss of our former committee member for many years Harold, who was also a parish councillor. He did a lot of charity work for the village and was very popular. 

Our social sub committee meets every last Monday of the month, and is very busy organising the Kings’ coronation celebrations on Sunday 7th May. Going to be very similar to how we celebrated Jubilee last year. 

Darren, Chair, Cowbit Village Hall

b.   To receive an update on the Playing Field/Pavilion.

CE reported the following: -

The large Lleylandi conifer hedge has been cut down to a height of 6-7 feet.

Over 30 footballs were found inside the hedge by the contractors

The hedge was cut for safety reasons following the hedge on the opposite side catching fire last year.

JB noted that the footballers left the grounds beautifully clean, bagging up all their rubbish and taking it away.

13.   To receive an update on Community Governance Review.

It has been confirmed by Democratic Services that Cowbit PC will have their member total increased from 5 to 7 members for the forthcoming elections.

14.   General correspondence for inspection at the meeting not included in the agenda.

It was resolved  discuss this item in Committee. 

15.   Items to be included on the next meeting’s agenda. 

JB requested Yellow Lines for the top of Parkin Road

16.   To confirm the date of the next meeting, provisionally set as 8th May 2023. 

As the 8th of May is now a Bank Holiday following the King’s Coronation, it was resolved to hold the PC’s AGM on Monday the 15th of May.

Before closing the open meeting, the Chairman thanked Chris Elliot for all the work he has done for the village during his service on the Parish Council.

“In Committee”

The Public & Press to be excluded from the meeting in accordance with the provision of Section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (admission to meetings Act 1960).  The items to be discussed being of a confidential nature.

14.   General correspondence for inspection at the meeting not included in the agenda.

Following discussion it was resolved that contrary to the email received, the PC had in fact paid the requested contribution for the event.

Meeting ended at 9:25pm