Minutes of meeting of 14 January 2020
Minutes of the meeting of Minting and Gautby Parish Council held
on Tuesday 14th January at Minting Village Hall
Present: Councillor E.B.Clark, Chairman, Councillors J.H.Padfield, H.Padfield, W.Hughes and J.Stuchfield. Also present: District Councillor William Gray and four members of the public. Mrs. A. Clark taking notes.
[1] Public forum.
Members of the public voiced their support for a memorial to the late Miss Gwenda Bell, who for very many years had been a prominent resident of Minting. After retiring from a life of farming thirty years ago, Miss Bell had been a parish councillor, and an active supporter of the church, the village hall and parish organisations.
A suggestion was put forward that a suitable memorial would be a new gate for Minting church. Miss Bell had donated the existing gate many years ago, and it was now in need of replacement.
[2] Chairman’s welcome.
The Chairman opened the Council meeting at 7.45pm, and welcomed Councillors. Cllr. Bruntlett sent his apologies for absence, citing personal reasons. Cllr.Hughes proposed that Cllr.Bruntlett’s apology be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr. Stuchfield and unanimously agreed.
County Councillor P. Bradwell also sent her apologies.
[3] Declarations of interest.
The Chairman declared a pecuniary interest in item 7c, and would abstain from voting.
[4] To confirm, or amend, and sign the draft minutes of the meeting of 26th November 2019.
No amendments were proposed. Cllr. J Padfield proposed, and Cllr.Stuchfield seconded a motion that the draft minutes be signed as a true and correct record of the previous meeting. This was unanimously agreed, and the minutes were signed by the Chairman.
[5] Matters arising from the minutes.
The Chairman updated Councillors on the matter of the untidy bungalow in Minting.
A complaint had been made by the PC to ELDC regarding the condition of the bungalow. The Chairman had spoken to a family representative of the deceased title-holder, who had explained the difficulties that they were having with the property, but that he would endeavour to tidy the garden area. The cause of the rat problem was disputed, citing neighbours ground-feeding birds as the cause of the infestation.
The problem of the inconsiderately parked lorry appeared to have been resolved. The Chairman showed Councillors a letter from ELDC explaining that that they did not judge that there were sufficient grounds for enforcement action under planning law. Cllr. Hughes offered to show copies of the letter to the concerned neighbours.
The Chairman had instructed E.K.M.Ltd to proceed with the repair of the beck fence in Minting, following the vote at the previous meeting.
County Councillor Bradwell had written to say that she had listed the road in Silver St. Minting for re-surfacing, but was unable to say when it would be done.
[6] Correspondence.
The Chairman read letters received from Mrs K. Corbitt, criticizing some aspects of Council procedure, and from Mr. and Mrs Sutton querying the timescale for the work on Gautby notice board and kiosk, and the operational status of the AED. Both letters had been replied to.
Several letters from current and former residents expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a memorial to the late Miss Bell. Mrs. Bankes-Price had written to say that she thought a memorial was long overdue.
A letter had been received from LALC inviting nominations for a Buckingham Palace garden party.
Notification of the Precept deadline of 20th January had been received from ELDC.
[7] Finance.
[a] To approve a budget for the year 2020-2021.
The GP working group meeting on 7/1/20 had considered the draft budget, and recommended it to the full Council.
The Chairman commented that the budget aims to keep expenditure within income, whilst avoiding any substantial increase in the Parish Precept.
Adoption of the draft budget was proposed by Cllr.H.Padfield and seconded by Cllr. J.Stuchfield. It was then unanimously agreed.
[b] To set a Precept for the year 2020-2021.
Councillors did not wish to impose any large increase in the Parish Precept. The Chairman advised that setting the Precept at £7,000, would, due to a minor alteration in the tax base, result in the Council Tax band D rate rising by just £0.16, an increase of 0.27% .
Councillor J.Padfield proposed that the Precept for 2020-2021 by set at £7,000. Cllr. W.Hughes seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed.
[c] To approve payments to be made by the Council:
EKM Ltd Grass cutting £2,208.00
Gautby Village Hall Hall hire £17.00
Cllr. E.B.Clark 3rd party payment of: [1] ELDC election exps. £97.00
[2] U. Web Hosting £41.88
Cllr. J.Stuchfield proposed approval of the payments, seconded by Cllr.W.Hughes and unanimously agreed. The Chairman abstained due to a pecuniary interest. The cheques were duly signed.
[d] To consider the contribution from Minting Village Hall committee re: grasscutting.
The Chairman explained that MVH committee had, in the previous year, been invoiced £140.00 for grass cutting by the Council. However, this caused a questionable situation regarding V.A.T. , as the Council reclaims the full amount of VAT on the contractor’s invoice. Current legal advice is that councils should avoid such arrangements.
Cllr. Stuchfield proposed that the Council does not invoice MVH committee for grass cutting in the current year, seconded by Cllr. J.Padfield and unanimously agreed.
[e] To consider a move to online banking.
In view of the fact that the use of cheques for payments is rapidly declining, the Chairman asked the meeting to consider the merits of online banking. After discussion, the Chairman agreed to look into a suitable system that replicated the security benefits of double signature cheques, in conjunction with Cllr .Stuchfield.
The Lloyds Bank account was reconciled at £12,736.91, and the statement was signed by Cllr.Stuchfield. The Chairman noted that there were two small unpresented cheques, totalling £17.60, that had now gone over the time limit, and which would now be added to future payments.
[8] Reports from District/ County Councillors.
District Councillor W.Gray advised that he had no significant matters to report.
[9] To agree a response to Planning Application S/122/02265/19. Proposed erection of an Agricultural Dwelling at Lodge Farm, Lincoln Road, Minting.
Cllr.Stuchfield commented that he did not consider that the proposal represented any loss of visual amenity, or increased traffic. Cllr. H.Padfield spoke in support of the proposal, on the grounds that it would bring a young person in to the parish, who was running an agriculture related business. Cllr.H.Padfield proposed that the Council support the proposal, seconded by Cllr.J.Stuchfield and agreed unanimously. The Chairman agreed to communicate the council’s response the Planning Dept. at E.L.D.C.
[10] To agree a date for the annual Parish Meeting, and suggestions for speakers.
After discussion, Cllr.Stuchfield proposed that the Parish Meeting be held on Tuesday 5th May 2020. Cllr. Hughes seconded, and it was unanimously agreed. Cllr. Bruntlett had given notice that he had had a request for a speaker from Greenpeace. Several Councillors suggested that EMAS be invited to give a refresher course on the use of the defibrillators, and the Chairman agreed to approach EMAS for a speaker.
[11] To consider a move to a simpler system of dedicated PC e-mail.
Following District Cllr. Gray’s advice at the previous meeting that an encrypted system was not necessary, the GP working group had recommended the adoption of dedicated PC e-mail, by the use of G-mail addresses. The Chairman said that the closed nature of the current encrypted Roundcube system made it difficult to copy material on to non-Roundcube addresses, such as Planning Application information to interested residents. Cllr.Hughes proposed that the use of G-mail be adopted, seconded by Cllr J.Padfield and unanimously agreed.
[12] To consider a memorial to the late Miss Gwenda Bell.
Councillors agreed that, in consideration of the number of representations received by the Council, the provision of a memorial to the late Miss Bell would be much appreciated by residents. Mr. Alsopp had suggested that a new gate for Minting churchyard would be a fitting memorial, as Gwenda had provided the existing gate many years ago, now due for replacement.
The Chairman assured the meeting that there were sufficient funds left in the current Council budget to make a substantial contribution towards a memorial, particularly if it was for something that would be a practical and visual asset to the parish.
With no other definite suggestions arising, Cllr. Stuchfield proposed that the Council support the replacement of Minting Church gate in principle, seconded by Cllr. Hughes and unanimously agreed. The Chairman remarked that, because the gate would have to be approved by the Diosesan authorities, it was too early to discuss details or budgets. He agreed to notify the PCC of the Council’s decision.
[13] Councillor training.
It was agreed that Cllrs. W.Hughes, C.Bruntlett, H.Padfield and J.H.Padfield would attend the evening LALC training session for new councillors on 4th February. Cllr. Clark would attend the all-day session on 12th February.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.40pm.