January 2024 Minutes

Minutes of a meeting of Cowbit Parish Council, held on Monday the 29th of January 2024 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall, Barrier Bank, Cowbit.

Present

Members:    T. Tyrrell, E. Fragale, J. Barnes, J. Stamp, P. Simpson, D. Sandhu

Clerk:       A. Harrison

District Cllr:   A. Casson

Constituents:   12

In the Chair:    T. Tyrrell

63.   Chairman’s welcome and Public Forum.

The Chair welcomed everyone and apologised for being a few minutes late.

•   Questions were raised regarding the double yellow lines at the top of Backgate.
  o   Highways have stated that there is no evidence.
  o   Photographic evidence needs to be submitted.
  o   JS has taken photos and video evidence and submitted it.
  o   More evidence needs to be submitted.
       Residents encouraged to submit evidence.

•   Cllr Casson asked if Cllr Pepper was aware of the situation.
  o   Cllr Pepper was not in attendance but the Chairman assured that he is aware of the situation.

•   Stonegate is closed now, although erected signs state from the 5th to the 9th of February.
•   Questions were asked about the progress of the Parish Maps.
  o   Photos need to be included of the 2024 floods.
  o   EF stated that the heritage boards are in the pipeline, and once designed there is a desire to place different boards around the village.

•   Question asked around the youth of Cowbit using the field for football.
•   A representative of SUFC was in attendance and expressed concerns.
  o   The Chairman assured that the PC are grateful for SUFC for what they have done for the Parish and the field and asked whether they could work together with Kyle.
  o   SUFC have 18 teams next year and are fighting for grass to play on.
  o   3 teams this year
  o   It was confirmed that there is an agreement for SUFC to use the field until the end of the season this year.
  o   SUFC have teams for under 13s,14s and 15s as the pitch is not large enough for adult games.
  o   Pitch wear and tear is an issue, but SUFC keep the players off when the ground is wet.
  o   Kyle stated that he is happy to work with SUFC.

•   The Chairman suggested a meeting with SUFC and Kyle.

It was resolved to hold a working party meeting on Tuesday the 6th of February at 7:30pm in the Pavilion.

Parish Council Meeting

64.   To receive and approve apologies for absence.

Apologies were approved for District Cllrs Woolf and Sneath.

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

There were none.

66.   To approve the Draft Minutes of the last PC meeting.

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

67.   Matters arising from the Minutes, (not covered on this agenda).

There were none.

68.   Community Football 

Covered in open session.

69.   LCC’s Budget and Council Tax Proposal: to agree a response to their request.

Members considered the three options and it was resolved to go with Option C a rise of 4.99%

ACTION: Clerk to reply.

70.   Additional Play Equipment: to discuss and resolve the purchase of 2 additional items.

•   Cowbit Village Hall successfully bid for £2,893 for new park equipment, to be spent in 2024.  In order to secure the funding, the PC are required to fund 16% of the purchase cost and to cover the cost of delivery and installation.

It was resolved to confirm that we have the £477.35 to secure the funding, and for DS to find out how much the delivery and installation costs will be.

ACTION: Clerk & DS

71.   Police matters: Online crime report, (Nov 23), distributed by the Clerk.

•   The Clerk had circulated an online report, showing crimes in November 2023, (the latest available), prior to the meeting.

The report showed there were 9 crimes reported for the village including : - 

   3 antisocial behaviour and/or violence and sexual offences on Croft Close
   1 violence and sexual offence on Willow Court
   3 antisocial behaviour and/or criminal damage and arson on Meadow Walk
   1 criminal damage and arson on Barrier Bank opposite Parkin Road
   1 violence and sexual offence on Clarkson Avenue

72.   Highways matters and to receive the CSW report.

•   A response had been received from the residents of Backgate regarding parking outside their property. They confirmed that the vehicles parked on the road outside their property do not belong to them and that they are in support of yellow lines.

•   A  question had been received via email, from Ralph Green, asking about a local farm group in Deepings who are using Backgate as a cut through.  The very large, articulated bulk carriers must be the 42 ton size. Are these bulk carriers allowed to do what they are doing?

  o   The Chairman confirmed that they do, as it is the only current access to the farm, especially with Stonegate closed.

ACTION: Clerk to respond to Ralph

CSW Report

The Chairman read out the report from the 7th of November 2023 to the 8th of January 2024.

The team had been out 4 times between those dates, and recorded 9 vehicles for exceeding the speed limit.  Unfortunately they had not managed to get out this month due poor weather conditions.

73.   Financial matters: to receive the Bank Reconciliation and reports from the RFO and to approve outstanding payments.

•   The Clerk had circulated reports from the new Scribe accounting system, prior to the meeting.
•   The Chairman signed a copy of the Bank Reconciliation and the Clerk’s expenses form.

PS proposed
JS seconded

It was resolved to approve payments of £4,813.98 Net.

74.   Planning matters: to discuss and agree comment on undecided planning applications.

The following list of outstanding planning applications had been circulated prior to the meeting.

H01-0055-24 PC Support
H01-0057-24 Condition Compliance – Officers to decide.
H01-0052-24 PC Support
H01-1118-23 Condition Compliance – Officers to decide.
H01-1094-23 PC Support
H01-1082-23 PC Support
H01-1053-23 PC Support

Each application was discussed and the above responses were resolved.

ACTION: Clerk to add to SHDC’s Planning Portal.

75.   To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

a.   To receive an update on Village Hall matters. 

The following report had been received via email on the day of the meeting : -

Friday 16th February we are hosting a charity quiz night on behalf of the chairman of the district council, Cllr Andrew Woolf and raising funds for local branches of Mencap and Blood Cancer UK

Also planning a charity Race Night with St Mary's Church on Sat 8th Jun.  

We are looking for local businesses to sponsor a race @ £30 and tickets will be available after Easter.

The new chairs with arms have arrived and are available for anyone to use, particularly people who struggle to get out of the chair without help, partially funded by the UK share fund

Our AGM is planned for Monday 18th March. Everyone is welcome. We are still looking for a treasurer and other committee members to help support the work the Village Hall is doing. 

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

•   DS stated that it has been very quiet apart from the football and the new exercise equipment that has already been discussed.
•   JS asked whether trees would be planted to make it more of a park.
  o   The Chairman confirmed that this was still something that the PC were considering.

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

SHDC quote for H2024/25 Highways Grass Cutting.

It was resolved to accept the quote of £1,374.28.

ACTION: Clerk to respond.

National Grid: Invitation to attend an online briefing regarding their Grimsby to Walpole line upgrade proposals.

It was agreed that there was no need for CPC to attend, as the line would not be near to the Parish.

LALC Annual Training Scheme 2024/25 

It was resolved to join the Training Scheme for 2024/25 at a cost of £180.00

ACTION: Clerk to arrange payment at the end of March.

Email from Bruno Peak, Pageant master: 80th anniversary D-Day on the 6th of June 2024

It was resolved that the Parish Council would not be in a position to undertake any of the suggested activities, as they have no beacon to light and have nowhere to display a lamp.

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

1)   Play equipment

2)   Football team

78.   Confirm the date of the Annual Parish and Council meeting, provisionally set as 11th March 2024. 

The above date was confirmed, with the APM commencing at 7:30pm and the Council Meeting following immediately afterwards.

Meeting ended at 20:47