Minutes of the meeting of 26th July 2022
Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Minting and Gautby Parish Council held on 26th July 2022 at Minting village hall at 7.00pm.
Present :- Cllr E.B.Clark, Chairman/ acting Clerk, Cllrs. J.Stuchfield [JS] H.Padfield [HP], J. Padfield [JP], Dist. Cllr. W.Gray and three members of the public.
7.00pm Public forum.
Members of the public reiterated their concerns regarding a property on Lodge Lane, Minting, subject to a planning application. Criticism was also voiced regarding the reply from the ELDC Monitoring Officer, following complaints from the PC and several residents regarding what was perceived as an un-balanced approach by planning enforcement officers at the previous meeting.
7.10 pm. Parish Council meeting.
[1] Chairman’s welcome and apologies for absence’
Cllr Bruntlett sent apologies, citing work pressure.
[2] Declarations of interests.
EC declared a pecuniary interest in Item 9.
[3] To confirm, or amend, and sign the draft notes of the meeting of 24th May 2022.
EC noted that a minor inaccuracy in the originally circulated draft notes had been corrected. JS proposed adoption of the amended draft notes as the true and correct Minutes of the previous meeting, seconded by JP and resolved. The chairman duly signed the Minutes.
[4] Matters arising from the Minutes, and activity since the last meeting.
EC reported that no quotations for the proposed new gates for Gautby churchyard had been received yet.
The application to the ELDC Queen’s Jubilee Fund for a bench for Gautby village hall had not been successful.
An enquiry from Gautby village hall committee had been received regarding the payments for defibrillator electricity.
The Minting Classic Motor Show preparations were ongoing, with a Lancaster flypast now included.
Some welcome pothole repairs had been carried out by the Highways Dept.
[5] Correspondence.
Numerous e-mails regarding the Planning issue on Lodge Lane had been received and sent.
A communication had been received regarding the proposed broadband extension in Chapel Lane/ Lodge Lane - see item 9.
The PC’s complaint to, and reply from, the ELDC monitoring officer was discussed. It was felt that the reply made unjustified assumptions about the meeting in question, and failed to answer particular points raised in the PC’s complaint. The chairman said that he did not wish to engage in a prolonged dispute with the planning authority, as it would be a distraction from the enforcement process. He would, however, respond to the reply, making the PC’s dissatisfaction known.
[6] Reports from County / District Councillors.
Dist. Cllr. Gray reported. The ELDC Towns Fund was providing some substantial funding for projects in the coastal towns.
The Queen’s Baton Relay had visited Boston and Skegness.
ELDC was on schedule to move its main offices to Horncastle in September. Boston College would have a presence on the site.
Homes for Ukrainians. 104 properties had been approved as suitable for housing refugees, of which there were 133 in the district.
The new black / purple wheelie bins for paper /card would soon be issued, with the old grey bins to be used for glass.
[7] Finance.
[a] To confirm the Lloyds Bank reconciliation.
The balance as at 10th June 2022 was £12,829.54. JP proposed confirmation of the reconciliation, seconded by HP and resolved. The RFO signed the Bank statement.
[b] To approve payments :-
[1] A J Gallagher Insurance. £438.40
[2] D.Horsley – audit. £56.62
Approval was proposed by JS, seconded by HP and resolved.
[8] Planning matters.
[a] S/122/00950/22 .
The matter of the reply to the PC’s complaint to the ELDC Monitoring Officer was discussed in item [5]. Dist. Cllr. Gray reported that the application would go to the Planning Committee, unless it was withdrawn by the applicant. The chairman commended the many residents who had responded to the application.
[b] S/122/01093/22
The chairman noted that this application had been recommended for approval under delegated powers.
[9] Broadband extension – Chapel Lane / Lodge Lane, Minting.
EC explained that this project required a signed agreement between the supplier, BT, and the Parish Council. As the government voucher scheme provided sufficient funding, there would be no financial liability on the PC, unless any of the property owners backed out. This was very unlikely, as there would be zero cost to them. JS proposed approval of the PC’s role as ‘Contracting Entity’, seconded by HP and resolved
[10] Parish maintenance.
[a] Defibrillators.
EC advised that he had contacted a local electrician to look at Gautby defibrillator, with a view to moving it to the kiosk.
[b] Proposed dog waste bin for Pinfold Lane junction.
Dist. Cllr Gray advised that the application form was on the ELDC website.
[c] Footpath sign.
EC said that a new wooden sign would cost around £140, although he had not looked at the old one. JS said that he thought the dog waste bin was attached to the same post, in which case a new steel post was required.
[d] Minting churchyard mowing.
Chairman reported that EKM Ltd has provisionally estimated £25 per cut. This was considered reasonable. JP proposed that the PC proceed with funding the mowing of Minting churchyard, as it already does with Gautby churchyard, seconded by JS and resolved.
[11] Any other business, and matters for the next meeting.
JS reported that residents had requested that the bridge fence onto The Green be repaired and painted.
The Chairman advised that he was considering retiring from the PC next May, and advised that the employment of a Clerk should be considered
The meeting closed at 8.10pm.