December 2022

Minutes of a meeting of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at the Pavilion on 6th December 2022 at 7pm

Present:  F Adeyemi, C Barr, C Broad, C Callan, S Manders, V Marden, K Trought and A Walker

In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles and Deputy Clerk to Council, Mrs R Fraser

No members of the public were present.

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.

The chairman noted the resignation of Mr Blackmore and thanked him for his service on the council.

22165. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE – It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Smith

It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Stone.

22166. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT –Cllr Callan declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.

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

22167. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING – 15th NOVEMBER 2022 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15th November 2022 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.

22168. FINANCES

a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS

Payments made by Direct Debit

Presented at report 22168a

Payments made using delegated authority since 15th November 2022

Nil

Reports can be downloaded from – https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/34/meeting-reports-december-2022?downloadID=34

b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS - It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report 22168b-payment of accounts – lists 1 and 2 be approved.

Reports can be downloaded from https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/34/meeting-reports-december-2022?downloadID=34

c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliations 355, 356/357 be accepted and singed by Cllr Barr. Council noted the bank balance at reconciliation 356/357 which was £352,146.88.

d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – The budget, income and expenditure was reviewed. No concerns were raised.

e. TO CONSIDER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES – It was RESOLVED: That three savings accounts be opened:

• Instant access account with the Co-operative Bank with a deposit of £80,000
• Notice savings account (90 days) with Nationwide Commercial with a deposit of £85,000
• Fixed savings account (1 year) with Cambridge and Counties Bank with a deposit of £85,000

f. TO CONSIDER THE INTERIM INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT 2022-23 – It was RESOLVED: That the interim internal audit report be accepted and recommended actions noted.

g. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY REPORT – It was RESOLVED: That the report be accepted and published as required.

22169. TO RECEIVE THE CLERKS REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS – Items noted:     Correspondence related to an urban highway grass cutting complaint, Red Hall Farm Lane (to note only), bus shelter on St John’s Road, offer to sponsor a defibrillator cabinet, insurance survey report.

Offer to sponsor a defibrillator cabinet – It was RESOLVED: That the clerk be authorised to accept sponsorship of a new cabinet, and due to the repeated vandalism, should aim to replace the cabinet with a lockable version.

Urban Highway Grass Cutting complaint – It was RESOLVED: That the draft response shared prior to the meeting be accepted and that the council ceases any further correspondence on this matter with the plaintiff.

Members accepted the insurance surveyors report and the actions required.

22170. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY –Barclaycard statement outlining payments made using the corporate credit card. Authorisation of expenditure for removal of a dead Hawthorn tree in the Woodland Walk at a cost of £90+VAT.  

22171. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS – Draft notes of the meeting were received. The staffing budget recommendations would be considered at the next meeting of the council in January 2023.

22172. TO CONSIDER SOCIAL MEDIA

a. ADDITION OF AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY FACEBOOK PAGE –

Cllr Callan declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to the Bracebridge Heath Community Hub.

It was RESOLVED: That Helen Brace be added as an administrator for the Community Library Facebook Page.

b. CLOSURE OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HEATH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FACEBOOK GROUP – It was RESOLVED: That the Neighbourhood Plan Facebook Group be closed, current administrators to post a notice of closure.

Thanks were given to current and former administrators and members of the Neighbourhood Plan sub-committee for keeping residents updated on these matters.

c. REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S SOCIAL MEDIA – A discussion was held regarding a planned review of social media and in particular social media presence during the upcoming pre-election period.

22173. PLANNING

a. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL –  No applications to consider.

b. TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLANNING DECISIONS – a written report was received.

22174. TO CONSIDER THE BRACEBRIDGE HEATH VILLAGE HALL

a. TO APPROVE A DESIGN PRIOR TO CONSULTATION – It was RESOLVED: That the revised design (for the purposes of the consultation) produced by Kingsmead Design Ltd be accepted.

b. TO APPROVE CONSULTATION MATERIALS – It was RESOLVED: That the consultation materials be approved and accepted, consultation to be carried out between 14th December 22 and 10th January 23.

c. TO AGREE OUTLINE COSTS FOR THE PROJECT AND AUTHORISE THE CLERK TO SEEK INFORMATION ABOUT LOANS OR GRANTS – It was RESOLVED: That the outline costs for the project, prepared by Kingsmead Design Ltd, be accepted; the clerk to seek further information about loans and the borrowing approval process.

22175. TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT QUOTATIONS AND CONTRACTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES -

a. LIBRARY ELECTRICITY (2 SUPPLIES) – It was RESOLVED: That two separate contracts be accepted with EDF Energy and British Gas for a one-year contract.

b. PAVILION ELECTRICITY – It was RESOLVED: That a two-year contract with EDF Energy be accepted.

c. VILLAGE HALL ELECTRICITY – It was RESOLVED: That a two-year contract with EDF Energy be accepted.

d. VILLAGE HALL GAS – It was RESOLVED: That a two-year contract with EDF Energy be accepted.

22176. TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT A QUOTE FOR INSTALLATION OF NEW HEATING CONTROLS AND THERMOSTAT IN THE PAVILION – It was RESOLVED: That a quote from Maitland Plumbing be accepted.

22177. TO CONSIDER UPGRADING THE STREETLIGHT BETWEEN GRANTHAM ROAD AND KENNEDY ROAD TO AN LED LANTERN – It was RESOLVED: That the streetlight be upgraded to an LED lantern at a cost of £350 + VAT.

22178. TO ACCEPT TWO MOBILE PHONE CONTRACTS FOR STAFF – It was RESOLVED: That two mobile phone contracts be accepted with Three Mobile at a cost of £4+ VAT per month each.

22179. TO REVIEW THE COUNCIL’S ACTION PLAN – It was RESOLVED: That the minor revisions put forward by members of council be accepted and the revised action plan be adopted, v1.2.

22180. TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO A COUNCIL VACANCY – no applications received.

22181. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Nil.

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.

22182. TO CONSIDER QUOTATIONS FOR THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACT 2023 TO 2025 –

It was RESOLVED: That the council suspends Financial Regulation 11.1h, that 3 quotations will be obtained, in order to award a contract for grounds maintenance services.

It was RESOLVED: That the quote for the Grounds Maintenance Contract 2023-2025 be accepted from Continental Landscapes Ltd.

22183. TO CONSIDER QUOTATIONS FOR THE URBAN HIGHWAY GRASS CUTTING CONTRACT 2023 TO 2025 –

It was RESOLVED: That the council suspends Financial Regulation 11.1h, that 3 quotations will be obtained, in order to award a contract for grounds maintenance services.

It was RESOLVED: That the quote for Urban Highway Grass cutting 2023-2025 be accepted from Glendale Countryside Ltd.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20.10.

Signed___________________________Chairman                                                                                                                       17th January 2023