April 2022

Minutes of a meeting of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at the Pavilion on 5th April 2022 at 7pm

Present:     Cllrs F Adeyemi, C Barr, C Callan, S Manders, J Moran, A Smith, and D Warren.

In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles

                        One member of the public was present.

PUBLIC COUNCIL SESSION

Code of conduct reminders

Nolan Principles

Members were reminded of the Nolan Principles which underpin the Council’s Code of Conduct - Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty & leadership.

Register of interests

The Chairman reminded members that they should submit to the Monitoring Officer at North Kesteven District Council any changes to the content of their Register of Member Interest forms. Interests should be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

22030. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE –

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Broad

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Trought

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Walker

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Marden

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Blackmore

22031. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT –

Cllr Moran declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to North Kesteven District Council.

b. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDING ORDERS – Nil.

22032. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING – 15th March 2022 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15th March 2022 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.

Cllr Adeyemi arrived at the meeting at 19:02

22033. TO CONSIDER FINANCIAL MATTERS

a. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS – The clerk to council presented the accounts for payment.

It was RESOLVED: That the following payments be made.

b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS –

It was RESOLVED: That reconciliation of bank statement numbered 339 be approved and signed by Cllr Smith.

c. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – A question was raised regarding electricity costs and whether sufficient budget was available. The Clerk reported that the largest energy cost related to street lighting and this was fixed for 3 years.

22034. TO RECEIVE A REPORT AND WHERE NECESSARY, ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS FROM WITHIN THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

i. Environment committee – 22nd March 2022 – Verbal report given. No recommendations

ii. Amenities committee – 29th March 2022 - Meeting not quorate and no business was transacted.22035. 

22035.TO CONSIDER POLICIES FOR REVIEW:

a. STANDING ORDERS – It was RESOLVED: That following review of Standing Orders, no changes were required, and the document be adopted.

b. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That following review of Financial Regulations, version 3.2 be adopted.

c. SCHEME OF DELEGATION (ORDINARY) – It was RESOLVED: That subject to amendments regarding training and the application for grants, that the Scheme of Delegation (ordinary) v1.0 be adopted.

d. SCHEME OF DELEGATION (EMERGENCY) – It was RESOLVED: That the Scheme of Delegation (Emergency) v1.1 be adopted.#

22036. TO CONSIDER COUNCIL’S BANK SIGNATORIES – It was RESOLVED: That following his resignation from the Council, J Kilcoyne be removed as a signatory for the Council.  

22037. TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE EXTENSION TO THE COMMUNITY HUB GRANT AGREEMENT TO MARCH 2023 – It was RESOLVED: That the grant agreement be signed and accepted.

22038. TO CONSIDER PURCHASE AND SUBSCRIPTION OF NEW FINANCE SOFTWARE – It was RESOLVED: That the Council purchase software for managing the Council’s finances, hired facilities, allotments and inspection of facilities from AdvantEDGE and a contract for five years be accepted. 

22039. TO CONSIDER THE HIRE OF AN ADDITIONAL LOCAKABLE CABIN FOR FLAMMABLES – It was RESOLVED: That the Council accept a quote from ALGECO for hire of a container 10x8ft in size to be sited at the Recreation Ground.

22040. TO CONSIDER JOINING THE NKDC GARDEN WASTE SCHEME – It was RESOLVED: That the Council join the NKDC Garden Waste scheme, the bin to be sited at the library.

22041. TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF NEW FOOTBALL GOAL POSTS – It was RESOLVED: That the Council purchase adult sized football goals (24x 8ft) from NetWorld Sports.

It was RESOLVED: That the Council purchase junior sized football goals (21x7ft) from NetWorld Sports.

22042. TO CONSIDER PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT SWING SEATS -It was RESOLVED: That two swing seats be purchased from Online Playgrounds to replace damaged seats at the Stane Drive play park.

22043.TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING - Nil

Items of a confidential nature to be debated in the absence of the press and public. Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (due to the confidential nature of business)

It was RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following items on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.

22044. TO RECEIVE A REPORT AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE SUB-COMMITTEE HELD ON 28TH MARCH 2022 -   It was RESOLVED: That the following recommendations be accepted:

- That the Assistant Clerk is seconded to the position of Deputy Clerk (revised job description) for an interim period of 6 months, the working hours to be 20 per week for the 6-month period.

- That for the duration of the secondment the postholder is placed on the substantive salary scale for the Deputy Clerk position.

- That an addendum to the contract for the Village Caretaker – Maintenance is made to reflect the temporary additional responsibilities for the post, the addition of 2 hours per week to the contracted hours and a revised salary (as agreed) for a period of 6 months.

- That the Clerk/RFO’s contracted hours be increased to 25 per week for an interim period of 6 months.

- That responsibility for line management of all staff will be passed to the Clerk/RFO.

It was RESOLVED: That the following further recommendations be accepted:

- That a review of the temporary changes made as recommended above is carried out within 6 months.

- That a review of the overall staffing structure and capacity of staff to carry out business is conducted in six months to one year.

- That the Council’s salary ranges are reviewed to ensure that they are still appropriate for the responsibilities of each post.

22045. TO CONSIDER LEGAL MATTERS RELATING TO RED HALL FARM LANE – It was RESOLVED: That a letter is sent to a landowner of Red Hall Farm Lane regarding a boundary issue.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 19:54

Signed___________________________Chairman