Minutes - Full Council - 05 July 2022
Minutes of a meeting of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at the Pavilion on 5th July 2022 at 7pm
Present: Cllrs J Blackmore, C Callan, S Manders, C Broad, J Moran, K Trought and A Walker.
In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles and Deputy Clerk to Council, Mrs R Fraser
Two members of the public were present.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
REPORT FROM LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLOR CAWREY – No report given.
REPORTS FROM NORTH KESTEVEN DISTRICT COUNCILLORS BURLEY, CAWREY AND MORAN – Apologies received from Cllrs Burley and Cawrey. Cllr Moran had nothing to report.
QUESTIONS OR POINTS RAISED BY RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC - Nil
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.
22094. TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE – It was RESOLVED: That apologies be accepted from Cllr Barr, Cllr Marden and Cllr Smith.
22095DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT – Cllr Trought declared non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to Bracebridge Heath Cricket Club. Cllr Manders declared non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to St John’s Primary Academy and Bracebridge Heath Allotments. Cllr Callan declared non-pecuniary interest in matters relating to LALC.
b. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDING ORDERS – It was RESOLVED: That a dispensation be made to allow Cllr Manders to participate in and vote on business relating to the Bracebridge Heath Allotment Holders’ Association.
22096. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING – 7th June 2022 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7th June 2022 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.
22097. FINANCES
a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS
Payments made by Direct Debit
Presented at report 22097a – Direct Debit payments May and June 2022
Payments made using delegated authority since 7th June 2022
27th June 2022 - Return of four £50 deposits following hire of the pavilion.
b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report 22097b – Payment of accounts – 5th July 2022 be approved.
It was RESOLVED: That a deposit of £50 be returned following hire of the pavilion.
c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliations 342 and 343 be accepted and signed by Cllr Moran.
It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliations 344 and 345 be accepted and signed by Cllr Walker.
d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – The budget, income and expenditure was reviewed. No concerns raised.
e. TO REVIEW AND MAKE ADJUSTMNETS TO EARMARKED RESERVES - It was RESOLVED: That earmarked reserves are adjusted as follows:
- That COVID-19 grants (pavilion use) be reduced by £2,268.22 relating to the purchase of new goals at the recreation ground.
- That the burial ground and woodland reserve be increased by £2,500 as budgeted.
- That CIL Funding be increased by £10,876.26, due to receipt of additional funding in April 2022.
- That the play equipment reserve be increased by £5,000.00 to forward plan for replacement of ageing items.
f. TO CONSIDER BAD DEBT AND WRITE OFFS AS REQUIRED – It was RESOLVED: That £137.00 of bad debt is written off in respect of allotment rent and pavilion hire.
22098. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS – Items noted:
YMD Boon Ltd, Barclays and Finding Fitness Ltd.
22099. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY – A verbal report was noted. Delegated authority used to return deposits following hire of the pavilion.
22100. TO CONSIDER DISSOLUTION OF THE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTIEE – It was RESOLVED: That the Finance and Policy committee be dissolved.
22101. PLANNING
a. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
22 0814 HOUS – Cranwell House, 27 London Road
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections
22 0858 HOUS - 13 Broadway
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections
22 0865 HOUS - 7 York Way
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections
22 0910 HOUS – 60 London Road
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections
22 0905 HOUS – 25 Red Hall Drive
It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections
22 0554 OUT - Main Avenue
The Parish Council wish to object to the application on the following grounds:
1. Highways Issues: Vehicular access and highway safety.
The Close is an unadopted single track passageway/road. The tarmacked width of The Close is 2.8m wide (the usual width of a single track being 3.5m). The new properties will create increased vehicle use of the single track road. The Close is a dead end with no turning circle or means of providing a turning circle. Any service/delivery vehicles visiting the new development would have to reverse back onto Main Avenue. Vehicles exiting in this manner would not be visible to users of Main Avenue until they have reversed onto the road, particularly due to the frequent on street parking on Main Avenue. The reduced visibility while exiting the road would pose a safety concern for both pedestrians and other road users.
2.Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Plan
Policy 17 (2) states that “Development proposals should not restrict existing footpaths or cycle routes or preclude opportunities to deliver improved linkages between existing routes.” The Close is frequently used as a footpath between The Crescent and Main Avenue, leading on to Sleaford Road or Grantham Road. Bracebridge Heath Parish Council is concerned about the safety of increased traffic on this single-track lane particularly as there is no designated footpath for pedestrians, wheelchair users or mobility scooters.
Policy 2 (4)(b) states that for new dwellings within the curtilage of an existing residential dwelling “adequate vehicle parking and safe access will be achieved for existing and future dwellings”. The proposal does not provide adequate visitor parking within the plot which will lead to parking on The Close or additional on street parking on Main Avenue. Parked vehicles on The Close would prevent access or egress for other properties and potentially cause difficulty for pedestrians, wheelchair users or pushchairs wishing to use the footpath from and to The Crescent.
b. TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLANNING DECISIONS – a written report was received.
22102. TO CONSIDER INSURANCE COVER REQUIREMENTS AND QUOTATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That the insurance requirements be confirmed as recommended by officers and a 3-year long term agreement with BHIB be accepted.
22103. TO CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 2023 - It was RESOLVED: That LALC be appointed as internal auditor for the year ending March 2023.
22104. TO CONSIDER POLICIES FOR REVIEW –
a. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE- It was RESOLVED: That subject to minor amendments relating to the review arrangements, the Complaints Policy v2.2 was adopted.
b. OUTDOOR ADVERTISING POLICY - It was RESOLVED: That subject to minor amendments relating to the review arrangements, the Outdoor Advertising policy v5.1 be adopted.
c. CODE OF CONDUCT - It was RESOLVED: That the Council adopts the Local Government Association Code of Conduct as recommended by North Kesteven District Council.
22105. TO CONSIDER PARISH COUNCIL GRANTS
It was agreed that the application from the Friendship Club be deferred until September 2022.
It was RESOLVED: That £200 be awarded to Bracebridge Heath Allotment Association.
There was no motion to award funding to Bracebridge Heath Cricket Club.
There was no motion to award funding to the Bracebridge Heath Pre-School.
It was RESOLVED: That £135 be awarded to Bracebridge Heath Brownies.There was no motion to award funding to St John’s Primary Academy.
22106. TO CONSIDER PUBLICATION OF A PARISH INFORMATION SHEET – It was agreed that the item be deferred to enable officers to produce a draft publication.
22107. TO CONSIDER A SPETIFICATION FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO THE TENFDER PROCESS - It was RESOLVED: That subject to one amendment the grounds maintenance specification is agreed, and a contract is sought for a two-year period, officers to carry out an appropriate tendering process reporting quotations to the council before December 2022.
22108. TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO TWO COUNCIL VACANCIES –
It was RESOLVED: That council session be suspended to enable a prospective councillor to speak.
Council session suspended at 19:58
Mr Stone gave a summary of his application and answered questions from Members.
Council session resumed at 20:04
It was RESOLVED: That Mr Stone be co-opted to Bracebridge Heath Parish Council.
22109. TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Climbing wall.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20.06
Signed___________________________Chairman 6th September 2022