January 2023

Minutes - Full Council - 17 January 2023

Draft notes of a meeting of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at the Pavilion on 17th January 2023 at 7pm
Present: C Barr, C Broad, C Callan, S Manders, V Marden, K Trought, J Moran and R Stone
In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles and Deputy Clerk to Council, Mrs R Fraser
Six members of the public were present.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Report from Lincolnshire County Councillor Cawrey - Lincolnshire County Councillor Cawrey gave a verbal report. Cllr Cawrey encouraged residents to submit their view on the county council’s budget options.
 
Reports from North Kesteven District Councillors Cawrey & Moran - North Kesteven District Councillor Cawrey gave a verbal report.
Cllr Moran had nothing to report.
 
Questions or points raised by residents and members of the public – There was discussion regarding holding a ‘Picnic in the Park’ for the Kings Coronation in May 2023. Three residents attended to raise concerns regarding speeding on the A607 as vehicles enter the village. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the Road Safety Partnership to request a speed survey for this stretch of road. Fg Off Vicki Holley-Rowe introduced herself as the RAF liaison for Bracebridge Heath.
 
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.
 
23000. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE – It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Walker.
It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Adeyemi
 
23001. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT –Cllr Manders declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to St John’s Primary Academy. Cllr Trought declared a non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to Bracebridge Heath Cricket Club.
b. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDING ORDERS – Nil
 
23002. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING – 6th December 2022 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2022 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.
 
23003. FINANCES
 
a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS
Payments made by Direct Debit
Presented at report 23003a.
 
Payments made using delegated authority since 6th December 2022
Presented at report 23003a.
 
b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS - It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report
23003b- payment of accounts.
 
In addition to the payments listed, the council authorised the return of a refundable deposit (£50)
 
 
c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliations 358 and 359 be accepted and signed by Cllr Walker, bank balance reported as £338.796.26.
 
d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – The budget, income and expenditure was reviewed. No concerns were raised.
 
e. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER CHANGES TO EARMARKED RESERVES – It was RESOLVED: That the following changes are made to earmarked reserves:
  • Recreation Facilities and Play equipment reserves are merged and used for either purpose
  • That £15,000 of the Village Hall reserve be used towards the village hall refurbishment project. Reduction of the reserve to be made at the appropriate time.
  • Burial and Woodland walk reserve be reduced by the value of trienniel tree work (£1220) carried out in 2022.
  • Community Library reserve be increased by the surplus value brought forward in previous years - £5000. That up to £10,000 of the Community library reserve be used towards the relocation costs to the Village Hall. Reduction of the reserve to be made at the appropriate time.
  • That the remaining Healthy Hubs grant (£808) is used towards qualifying parish council grants.
  • That the remaining CIL fund (£2159.20) is used towards the village hall project. Reduction of the reserve to be made at the appropriate time.
  • Streetlight repair reserve is reduced by £22150 in respect of street light replacements carried out in April 2022. That the Streetlight repair reserve be used to fund any streetlight repairs which exceed the annual budget.
  • That £700 of the Events reserve be used to fund the purchase of new Christmas lights.
23004. TO RECEIVE THE CLERKS REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS – Items noted: Correspondence related to Chow Pizza, NKDC voting ID, Telephone mast, Red Hall Lane, Neighbourhood Watch and St John’s School.
 
It was RESOLVED: That permission be granted for the telephone mast to remain on the Recreation Ground for a further 6 weeks while the new mast is prepared and made fully operational. The equipment to be removed and the ground made good by end of March 2023.
 
Members noted correspondence from the chairman of the Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Watch and his pending resignation. Members wished to thank him for his time and efforts during his time with the organisation.
 
23005. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY –
  • Barclaycard statement outlining payments made using the corporate credit card.
  • The clerk authorised Glow Group to attend and repair the village hall boiler.
23006. PLANNING
a. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL –
22/1777/FUL Land to the rear of 6 Main Avenue
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections.
 
b. TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLANNING DECISIONS – a written report was received.
23007. TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING IN 2023 - It was RESOLVED: That the Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for the week beginning 22nd May 2023, date to be confirmed and subject to the availability of the Methodist Hall.
 
23008. SCHEDULED ELECTIONS IN 2023
a. TO AGREE A DATE FOR THE ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING SCHEDULED ELECTIONS IN MAY 2023 - It was RESOLVED: That the Annual Parish Council meeting be held on 16th May 2023.
 
b. TO CONSIDER THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA – It was RESOLVED: The Parish Council would temporarily close the Facebook group during the period prior to the election to ensure that the council complied fully with the pre-election restrictions on communication and publicity.
 
23009. TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR PARISH COUNCIL GRANTS. –
Bracebridge Heath Friendship Club - It was RESOLVED: That £250 be awarded.
Bracebridge Heath Women’s Institute – It was RESOLVED: That £150 be awarded.
Bracebridge Heath Cricket Club – No proposal was made. The council considered that the application did not meet the criteria.
Bracebridge Heath Preschool – No proposal was made. The council considered that the application did not meet the criteria.
St John’s Primary Academy – It was RESOLVED: That £500 be awarded using powers provided under s137, Local Government Act 1972.
Waddington Guides – It was RESOLVED: That £500 be awarded.
 
23010. BRACEBRIDGE HEATH VILLAGE HALL
a. TO CONSIDER FEEDBACK FROM THE CONSULTATION – It was RESOLVED: That following the consultation with the public, residentsincluding the proposals to pay for this using a loan to be funded by a rise in the precept for residents of Bracebridge Heath.
 
b. TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION AND TO BUILDING CONTROL FOR WORKS TO THE VILLAGE HALL – It was RESOLVED: That subject to minor alterations as listed below and the revised fire strategy, the council approved submission of the applications for planning permission and to building control for works to the village hall.
 
Alterations to planning documents:
That the existing floorplan is altered to correctly identify committee rooms
That the proposed elevation drawings are altered to correctly show doors in the new lobby entrance.
That a window is replaced with masonry at the eastern side of the extension for the proposed library.
That statements are included in the design and planning justification document regarding:
- the proximity of the village hall to non-designated heritage assets and the measures taken to minimise any perceived effects.
- The intention to provide cycle storage for customers of the village hall to contribute to the need for cleaner sustainable travel.
 
c. TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR BORROWING TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING ANDCOMMUNITIES – It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council seeks the approval of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to borrow funds of up to £500,000 from either the Public Works Loan Board or other appropriate source over the borrowing term of 30 years for the purpose of refurbishing the village hall, relocating the community hub and creation of a community meeting room and office. The annual loan repayments will come to around £30,787 on an annuity repayment basis. It is also intended to increase the council tax precept for the purpose of the loan repayments by 20.37% which is the equivalent of an additional £16.34 a year per band D.
 
It was RESOLVED: That subject to approval for borrowing being provided by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, that the council authorises officers to seek borrowing opportunities from other appropriate sources.
 
d. TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND – It was RESOLVED: That approval was given for submission of a grant application to the National Lottery Community Fund.
 
23011. TO CONSIDER ALTERATIONS TO THE COUNCIL’S MEETING SCHEDULE – It was RESOLVED: That the meeting scheduled in March 2023 is moved to 14th March 2023.
 
Members were made aware of the tight timescales for the village hall project and that extra-ordinary meetings may be required in order to transact the business for this matter.
 
23012. TO CONSIDER A QUOTE FOR THE EXTENSION OF CCTV AT THE RECREATION GROUND – It was RESOLVED: That the quote to supply and install additional CCTV at the recreation ground be accepted. Funding would be used from earmarked reserves – Covid-19 grant (pavilion and Recreation ground use).
 
It was RESOLVED: That Standing Order 3v be suspended, that a meeting shall not exceed 2 hours, to enable all business to be transacted.
 
23013. TO CONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S BUDGET AND PRECEPT REQUIREMENTS FOR 2023-2024 - It was RESOLVED: That the council’s budget for 2023-2024 be set at £703,453.36, the precept requirement to be sent to NKDC being £186,350.45. The budget requirement assumes loan income of £500,000 to cover the expected expenditure for the village hall refurbishment project. Annual loan repayments of £30,787 are included in the precept requirement.
 
23014. TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO COUNCIL VACANCIES – No applications received. It was noted that the council was not obliged to fill the vacancy left by Mr J Blackmore as the vacancy had arisen within 6 months of a scheduled election.
 
23015. TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Village Hall.
 
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 21.02
 
 
Signed___________________________Chairman                            07 February 2023