October 2024

Minutes of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at The Heath: Village Hall and Library on 1st October 2024 at 7pm  

Present: Councillors C Broad, C Callan, B Emes, V Marden, S Manders, J Moran, R Stone and K Trought

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

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted the resignation of Gordon Scott. The chairman thanked Mr Scott for his work on the council.  

Cllr Cawrey was invited to make a report from County and District Councils.

Report from Lincolnshire County Councillor, Cllr Cawrey – Cllr Cawrey reported that the devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire will go forward. Arrangements will be made to form the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority with a mayoral election scheduled for May 2025. Requests for gully or drain jetting for any blocked drains should be emailed directly to Cllr Cawrey with specific location details. Lincoln Castle will be hosting several large outdoor concerts throughout summer 2025. The Lincoln Museum will be closed for one year for refurbishment.

Cllr Cawrey left the meeting at 19:08

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.

24133.      TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE – It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Barr. It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Neilson.

24134.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT – Cllr Manders declared an interest in matters relating to St John’s the Evangelist Church.  Cllr Callan declared an interest in matters relating to the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC).

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

24135.         TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – 3rd September 2024 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September 2024 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman, subject to a minor amendment to correct a planning application reference number.

24136.        FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE

a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS –Payments made by delegated authority on 11/09/24 and 12/09/24. All reports can be downloaded from https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/58/meeting-reports-october-2024 Direct debit payments for September will be reported at November’s meeting.

b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS - It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report 24136b be accepted and signed. All reports can be downloaded from https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/58/meeting-reports-october-2024

c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS – It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliations 410 - 412 and savings account to 31 August 2024 be accepted and signed by Cllr Emes. Bank balances were reported as: Current account £170,917.09; savings account £145,130.61

d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE - Report noted. No concerns raised.

e. TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINARY SCHEME OF DELEGATION - It was RESOLVED: that a minor amendment is made to the Ordinary Scheme of Delegation to allow the clerk to use delegated authority to carry out LED replacements for streetlights.

f. TO NOMINATE THREE COUNCILLORS TO WORK WITH THE RFO TO PREPARE A DRAFT BUDGET FOR REVIEW IN DECEMBER 2024- It was RESOLVED: That Cllr S Manders, Cllr R Stone and Cllr B Emes will work with the RFO to prepare a draft budget for review in December 2024.

24137.         TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS –

Items noted: North Kesteven Master Plan, road closure approval for Remembrance Sunday, confirmation that the leak at the allotments was fixed, consultation on introduction of 30mph speed limit on Canwick Avenue and LALC Internal auditor appointment.

24138.         TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY – The following report was accepted:

• Payments made as reported at item 4a
• Credit Card statement
• Expenditure incurred for replacement LED lantern for a streetlight on Dorothy Avenue

24139.         PLANNING

a. TO CONSIDER ANY OTHER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL – Nil

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

24140.         TO CONSIDER APPOINTMENT TO THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - It was RESOLVED: That Cllr B Emes be appointed to the Personnel Committee.

24141.         TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE RECREATION GROUND FROM BRACEBRIDGE MANOR – a verbal report was received.

24142.        TO CONSIDER THE PROCUREMENT METHOD FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND DETERMINE LENGTH OF CONTRACT - It was RESOLVED:  That procurement would be via invitation to quote to any suitable suppliers covering the area using the existing grounds maintenance specification. Two contracts would be sought; one for parish council owned areas and the other for verges under the parish agreement with Lincolnshire County Council. Both contracts would be for a period of 2 years.

24143.         TO CONSIDER PURCHASE OF STREET FURNITURE – BINS AND NOTICEBOARDS - It was RESOLVED: That a noticeboard is purchased from ESPO for outside The Heath: Village Hall & Library.

It was RESOLVED: That the cost of the noticeboard is funded from the dog and litter bin budget, a virement to be made as appropriate.

It was RESOLVED: That officers are authorised to purchase a large bin to be sited at the Stane Drive Park up to the value of £200 and that this is funded from the earmarked reserve – Co-op community champions – Wombles.

It was RESOLVED: That spare parts to repair a bin are purchased at a cost of £40.32 from Glasdon plus delivery costs.  

It was RESOLVED: The dog waste bin at the top of Jensen Road is disposed of and removed from the asset register.

24144.         TO CONSIDER A CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY EVENT – A written report was received. It was RESOLVED: That the proposal for a Christmas Community event be accepted. Cllr Callan confirmed that some of the Chairman’s allowance could be used to fund the event.

24145.         TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO COUNCIL VACANCIES - No applications received.

24146.         TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Items to be emailed to the Clerk.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:00.  

Signed___________________________Chairman                                                                                                                                5th November 2024