Minutes of the meeting of 26th March 2024
Minutes of the meeting of Minting and Gautby Parish Council held on the 26th of March 2024 at Minting Village Hall at 7.00pm.
Present :- Cllr. E.B.Clark [EC] chairman and acting clerk, Cllrs. H Padfield [HP], J.Stuchfield [JS], J.Padfield [JP], C.Bruntlett [CB], L.Bury [LB] and District Cllr. W.Gray. Seven members of the public were also present, including Dist. Cllr. Yarnsley.
7.00 pm Public forum.
Dist. Cllr. Yarnsley gave a presentation regarding opposition to the proposed Hatton Solar Farm. Other subjects raised were noise nuisance from dogs and pigs from a property on Lodge Lane, Minting.
7.20 pm. Formal council meeting.
[1] Chairman’s welcome and apologies for absence.
There were none.
[2] Declarations of interests.
EC declared a personal interest in item 8C1, and would leave the room during the vote.
[3] To confirm, or amend, and sign the draft notes of the meeting of the 16th of January 2024.
There being no amendments proposed, JS proposed adoption of the draft notes as the true and correct minutes of the meeting of the 16th of January 2024, seconded by JP and resolved. EC then signed the minutes.
LB left the meeting due to a family bereavement.
[4] Matters arising from the minutes, and activity since the last meeting.
EC mentioned the lengthy reply that he had written in response to the numerous questions and demands made in a letter from the Minting Flood Group.
[5] Correspondence.
Other correspondence received included the 2024 invoice from LALC. Notification from Lloyds Bank that the addition of LB to the signatories list had been completed. Police and Crime Commissioner elections material received, and advertised on website and noticeboards. Other correspondence covered in later agenda items.
6] Planning matters.
a] To consider a request from Dist. Cllr. Yarnsley for the council to make an objection to the proposed Hatton Solar Farm.
In a short discussion it was felt that the PC did not usually get involved in matters outside its two parishes, and whilst understanding the loss of visual amenity for some residents of Hatton it was noted that the policy of ELDC is to encourage ‘Green investment’. There were no proposals to respond to the application either for or against.
b] EC mentioned that the query made by a resident regarding the Sebastapol pub to ELDC Planning Dept had resulted in the decision that there was no case to answer, and no breach of planning law.
[7] Reports from District / County Cllrs. if any.
Dist. Cllr. W.Gray reported. Matters included the latest ELDC policy objectives – including the White Ribbon initiative to combat domestic violence against women, better funding for Internal Drainage Boards, flood aid funding, promoting green initiatives, National Grid pylon proposals, Police Commissioner elections and fifty years since the founding of E.L.D.C.
[8] Finance.
a] To review the ‘near end of year’ accounts, and to discuss a spending policy for the new year.
EC presented accounts do date with the comment that annual spending was approx. £400 more than income after V.A.T. reclaims, with one large item, Gautby tree surgery, paid with a ‘carried over reserve from the previous year. He recommended that the PC avoid any large capital spending in the new year to restore reserves. The increase in the Parish Precept was actually 6.4%, compared with the calculated increase of 5.8% due to the number of properties declared empty due to flooding. This reduced the number of residents paying Council Tax, and increased the cost to all the others.
b] To approve a Bank reconciliation.
The RFO [JS] presented the bank statements, five payments having been made since the previous reconciliation, seconded by CB and resolved. CB signed the statement.
c] To approve payments:-
1. M.Gladwin Electrical - defib.lighting - £419.40 inc. VAT
2. Minting Gardening Club -donation - £50.00
3. Information Commissioner’s Office[2023] £35.00
EC left the room having declared a personal interest in item 2. The RFO [JS] proposed approval, seconded by HP and resolved.
d] To review insurance cover for the new year.
EC rejoined the meeting. The new year renewals had not yet been received. It was decided to defer this matter to the May meeting.
e] To appoint an auditor for the year 2023-24.
CB proposed that the PC approach LALC to provide an auditor, seconded by JS and resolved.
[9] To review the Risk Assessment.
There were no proposals for any additions to the Risk Assessment.
[10] Forthcoming events.
Annual Parish Meeting.
It was hoped to have a speaker on domestic flooding prevention.
Minting Classic Motor Show.
JS proposed granting the MCMS committee permission to use the playing field again, subject to the usual conditions on dog control etc. Seconded by CB and resolved.
[11] Parish maintenance.
a] Flooding.
The chairman suspended standing orders briefly to allow a member of the public to speak. The PC and wider community will have to resolve the question of whether to remove the ‘Cornerways’ culvert altogether, inconveniencing some property owners, or to increase its capacity with more pipes. EC noted that the chief executive of Witham 3rd IDB had assured him that any decision will be taken with full consultation with the PC.
b] Play equipment safety check.
EC suggested that EKM Ltd be asked to do the safety check .
c] Defibrillator lights .
The new defibrillator at Top Minting now had the light fitted, and the Minting unit now had swan-neck light with motion sensor.
[12] A review of the work of the PC over the past year.
The past year saw the Gautby churchyard tree surgery done, defibrillators moved to better locations with suitable lighting and the new one at Top Minting installed.
[13] Any other business [ discussion only ] and matters for the next meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.00pm