DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF BRANT BROUGHTON & STRAGGLETHORPE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, 14TH DECEMBER 2009 AT 7.30PM IN THE HERITAGE ROOM
Membership
Councillor T Rogers Councillor C Halliwell
Councillor K Pearce Councillor R Hollingworth
Councillor K Helliwell
Present
J Lyon (Parish Clerk), District Councillor Sue Howe, County Councillor Ray Philips 3 members of the public, Stuart Ruff, Lincs Fire & Rescue
1) 09/52 Public and Police Time
The Police reported that there had been 4 crimes reported since the last meeting. Two incidents of damage to the Playing Field, one theft from Chestnut Farm, and a damaged window on the High Street.
A member of the public questioned the Police about the parked vehicles on the road side on Lincoln Road. This is a District Council issue and the Police cannot enforce action. Nina Camm at NK will be notified of the ongoing problem.
09/53 Apologies
Apologies were received from District Councillor Pat Woodman MBE.
09/54 Minutes of the meeting held on the 21st September 2009
Cllr Pam Dunning was added to the list of Councillors present and then the minutes were accepted as correct and signed as a true record.
Seven people attended the drop in clinic. The main issue raised was the problem of turning onto the High Street from the joining lanes.
09/55 Matters arising
Mill Lane – Lincs County Council Highways department have been to Mill Lane and witnessed a HGV having to mount the kerb outside the school as cars were parked opposite the yellow zigzag lines, but have said that nothing is able to be done until after April. It was agreed that the presence of a PCSO should highlight the issue.
Cllr Hollingworth has had a request that Stragglethorpe should also have a Christmas Tree – this will be considered when the matter arises next year.
More people would have been useful when the trees were put up as the few people that helped were there until after lunch time. If more people were there then there could have been two teams working concurrently on the two trees.
The fridges have now been removed from Lincoln Road.
A letter has been received back from LCC saying that they unable to incorporate Church Lane & Mill Lane into their salting route.
A letter has been received back from LCC confirming that the Village Green is registered under the Commons Registration Act – this will be forwarded to the Land Registry.
The fence bordering the Rectory Field has been repaired. The Church Commission put the fence up before handing the filed over to the Parish Council. The clerk will look through the deeds to try to ascertain whose responsibility it is.
09/56 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest at this point,
09/57 Stuart Ruff, Lincs Fire & Rescue Integrated Risk Management Planning
Mr Ruff is travelling around North & South Kesteven Districts to gauge opinion on changes proposed.
At present a fire engine has at least four people on board, however the Fire Service is currently struggling to recruit staff, so it is being considered whether a fire engine could be sent out with only three people on board. Last year there were 15 incidents when the fire engine could not attend due to lack of staff, and next closet station had to attend ie Newark.
If only three are on the team to attend a house fire, then they can only fight the fire from the outside, until a full team attend from the next nearest station.
At a RTA the crew may not be able to extricate the persons involved but could do a lot in preparation for the full team, ie stabilize the vehicle.
A team of three would be able to deal with a chimney fire, and possibly with a chip pan fire unless the fire had spread to the kitchen itself.
There are a lot of false alarms from automatic fire alarms, 98% of which are not fire incidents.
The Fire Service have been heavily targeting Brant Broughton with a view to recruiting more staff but with very little success. The criteria is that you must be able to get to the Fire Station within five minutes of the alerter. Fire Fighters have to undergo three months training.
The Fire Service are currently looking at using smaller vehicles but this is not likely within the next few years. In the future, with technological advances it may be possible to fight fires with a smaller crew of three.
Currently Brant Broughton provides back up to Grantham – it would be unlikely that a team at Grantham would only have three turn out.
Currently Brant Broughton have between 8 and 12 people who can be called upon.
Retained Firefighters receive the same level of pay as full time fire fighters. They receive one payment as a retainer, another payment when the alerter goes off, and a third payment when they get on the appliance.
There will be a review of fire stations over the next few years.
There is no problem recruiting full time fire fighters.
A co-
The clerk has a copy of the Integrated Risk Management to complete – also available on the website.
Mr Ruff thanked the Parish Council for their time, and the Parish Council thanked him, and he then left the meeting.
Reports from County and District Councillors
County Councillor Ray Phillips reported the following on behalf of the County Council;
The budget is to be cut by between £60M and £100M.
The Fire Brigade will suffer, as will Highways. The Police, Schools and Social Services will not be affected.
Highways have changed contractors from Ringway to May Gurney.
Salting Routes have not altered this year, but the Council are looking for ways to plan ahead better, maybe using a more scientific approach.
Grit Bins – the Parish Council are able to buy bins, at an approx cost of £80-
District Councillor Sue Howe reported the following on behalf of the District Council;
There are Christmas Craft Workshops at the Hub and Natural World, Whisby until the 3rd Jan.
NK are asking for comments on how NK is doing towards ‘100 Flourishing Communities’
The Executive Board have approved an anti bullying policy.
9 out of 10 residents say that NK is a good place work
There is a consultation draft re Rural Affordable Housing to meet local needs – comments to be submitted by 7th February.
09/58 Finance
Cheques were written and signed for
Continental Landscapes – grass cutting for October -
Hire of cherry picker -
Fillingham Trees -
SLCC -
09/59 Planning
Planning Applications Received
09/0855 West Barn, Holmes Farm – installation of 6 floodlights to existing ménage
09/0822 20 West Street – erection of 2 storey dwelling (renew current planning consent)
09/0937 4 Lincoln Road – creation of a new vehicular access and off street parking
There were no objections to any of the above applications
Notification to fell/lop trees in a Conservation Area
· Cowley Cottage, Meeting House Lane – Holly, Conifer & Sycamore
· 4 Meeting House Lane – Sycamore – remove stem overgrowing the neighbouring property
· 9 Maltkiln Lane – Lombardy Poplar – remove to 15ft stump
· 18 Church Lane – Silver Birch – reduce lower branches over drive, Eucalyptus – reduce height by 30% (gutter height)
No TPOs made on any of the above applications
· 7 Maltkiln Lane – Lombardy Poplar – no comments or objections. No TPO made.
· Woodbine Cottage – Silver Birches – no comment or objections. No TPO made.
· Broughton House College – 4 yew trees – it was thought that it would be a shame
if four well established yew trees were removed just to enable the relocation of
wheelie bins. The proposed 4 replacement trees will take many years to reach the
current level of establishment -
09/60 Correspondence
A letter has been received from SKDC notifying that the inquiry re Land North of Fallows End, Fulbeck will resume on Tuesday, 12th January at 10.00am at SKDC Council Offices, Grantham.
NKDC have written outlining plans to attach stickers to dog waste bins and general litter bins with a number to text or call to say that a bin is full and in need of emptying.
NKDC have written asking for Litter/Fly tipping hotspots – areas to be highlighted are the corner towards Whitegates and Woodgate Lane
Lincolnshire Playing Field Association – a request for Financial Support – not to be considered this year.
09/61 Matters for Discussion
Co Option of Parish Councillor Vacancy
There have been two people who have put their names forward to the clerk for co option. Mr Charlie Thornton and Mr Tony Noble. However Mr Thornton needs written permission from the Police Force to enable him to proceed, which has not be authorized yet. Cllr Robert Hollingworth proposed that Mr Tony Noble should be co opted onto the Parish Council. This was seconded by Cllr C Halliwell. All in favour. He was given the relevant forms to be signed and returned to NKDC.
The Village Hall have submitted three application to WREN, The Lottery and BIFFA.
Highways – there are potholes on the corner of Meeting House Lane and West Street, and also on the lane to the Clays near Chestnut Farm
The Barrier on the bridge still has not been repaired
The road signs are in need of cleaning – the parish clerk has already requested this but will follow up.
09/62 Date of the Next Meeting
This was agreed as MONDAY , 25TH JANUARY at 7.30PM IN THE
HERITAGE ROOM
Parish Council Chairman:-
Clerk to the Parish Council:-
Parish Councillors:-
Pam Dunning
Carol Halliwell
Keith Helliwell
Robert Hollingworth
Tony Noble
Keith Pearce
Tim Rogers
The Parish Council meets every 6 weeks at 7.30pm in Brant Broughton Heritage Room or Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
