November 2021 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24th November 2021 at 7.15pm in Mareham Le Fen Community Centre
Public Forum
Public and Press are welcome to attend with the first fifteen minutes being allocated for members of the public to speak.
The lack of speed limit signs through the village was brought to the attention of the Council. There is currently only one on the main road through the village and the Council were asked to see if more could be put up to try and slow motorists down. A speed survey was carried out but this was during the Covid pandemic and so therefore not as many vehicles were using the road. The Lincs Road Safety Partnership/Police will be asked if they can carry out another survey but preferably in the summer months when the coast traffic is coming through the village. It was suggested that the best method of slowing people down was the trigger guns.
The pathway from the Main Road to the Green is overgrown and impassable now. This path is used quite often when in a good state of repair. A fence belonging to one of the houses has collapsed across the footpath.
Street light number 37 is still not working. There is also one out between Ormsby House and the Green.
The lack of dog poo bins was brought to the attention of the Council. There are a number of dog walkers in the village but there are no bins on the public footpaths. This will be put as an agenda item on a future Council meeting.
A number of the street lights are covered by trees/bushes which need cutting back so that the lights can actually be seen. This will also be put as an agenda item.
The speed of traffic coming into the village at both ends, through the bends, was raised as a concern. The Council were asked if double white lines could be put on the road at the entrance to the village from both ends.
The flooding at Fieldside was discussed but there is going to be a delay in getting the necessary work carried out as the County Council are trying to source more contractors to do the work.
The problems outside Ormsby House, with the drains was again brought to the attention of the Council. The County Council are looking to excavate a 12m section to sort out the problem. There is a problem with the nearby Catch Pit and also at the man hole cover. This will be discussed later in the meeting.
Present
Chairman Cllr M Percival
Councillors Cllr P Bourn Cllr S Millen
Acting Clerk Mrs A Appleyard
Members of the Public Eleven
28. Welcome by Chairman
Cllr Percival welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending. She asked members of the public to once again bear with the new Councillors as they carried out Parish business. There is a lot of issues which need attention and due to Covid a number of things have not been sorted. She also asked that a line is drawn under all of the negativity from the past and that the new Council be allowed to move forward.
29. Apologies for Absence and Reasons
Apologies had been received from Cllr Chilvers, who was delayed at work, Cllr Hill, Cllr Gray and Cllr Avison who all had other commitments.
30. Declarations of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest brought before the meeting.
31. Minutes of the Meeting held on 20th October 2021
It was proposed by Cllr Millen and seconded by Cllr Bourn that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20th October be accepted as a true record of the previous meeting. All in favour. Cllr Percival signed the minutes.
32. Matters Arising from the Minutes
Cllr Millen asked if the letter had been sent to Revesby Estate regarding the grass cutting/hedge trimming. The Clerk had spoken with Mr Hobson and she was under the impression that he covered this area. Cllr Millen pointed out that whilst he does do some of it, the bit in the Manor Farm, Lammings Lane area is actually the responsibility of the Estate. The Clerk will send a letter asking for this area to be sorted.
33. Co-option of Councillors
There are currently four vacant seats available for co-option. Three applicants had come forward but unfortunately one of these has now withdrawn their application due to other commitments. Cllr Percival said that, as some of the Councillors didn’t know the two applicants, she thought it would be beneficial to meet with them face to face. Cllr Millen thought that as they both met the necessary criteria there was no need for this but it was agreed by all three Councillors present that the two candidates would be seen before the December meeting. The Clerk will invite them to this meeting.
It was proposed that the other two vacant seats are once again advertised to see if anyone is interested. This was proposed by Cllr Bourn and seconded by Cllr Millen.
34. Vacancy/Applicants for position of Clerk
There had been six applicants for the position of Clerk. Councillors agreed that three stood out from the rest and that these candidates should be asked to interview. This was proposed by Cllr Millen and seconded by Cllr Bourn. The clerk will organise a date and time for the interviews and arrange accordingly.
35. Benches – to discuss possible sites and types of benches
Cllr Millen had received further information and quotes for benches. The Hyde Park Bench is more in keeping with the others in the village, has a 25year guarantee, made from recycled plastic and appears to be quite sturdy. Fixing kits are available with one which is fitted to a cement base and the other has a ground anchor kit. The two proposed sites for putting the benches are both on LCC land. The clerk will contact LCC to ask if they are happy for the benches to be put in.
Thanks were expressed to Cllr Bourn for the excellent job he has done in repairing the existing benches in the village.
Cllr Millen will get quotes for two new benches plus fittings. It was suggested that the school children be asked to design a plaque to put on the benches. This item will be put on the next agenda.
36. Grass Verge Maintenance
The clerk advised that she had spoken with Mr Hobson who had clarified the areas he cuts. She was asked to contact Mr Lawrence to see if he had a plan of the areas he cuts. It was agreed to hold a separate meeting to look at the plans and discuss the requirements for the next season. This can then be budgeted for in the precept. The clerk will look to hire a room at the Community Centre for the meeting.
37. Planning – To discuss and comment on any planning applications
S/114/02220/21 – Land Adjacent to Croeso, Main Street, Mareham Le Fen – Detailed particulars relating to the erection of 30 no. detached bungalows with attached garages (outline planning permission was for 32 dwellings with access to be considered – granted on 23 October 2018).
As the Councillors had only received the plans that day, this planning application will be discussed at the December meeting when all have had chance to look at the plans.
38. Cemetery – Update on site visit
Cllr Millen advised that she had spoken with Horncastle Town Council regarding their extension to the Cemetery. Their situation is slightly different as they are purchasing land on a new site. They have had to get planning permission to change the use of the land from Agricultural. It was suggested that Scorer Hawkins Architects be approached. They do a lot of work on Church land.
It was also suggested that planning permission be sought for both the piece of land beyond the hedge and the new piece as well. Cllr Millen will draft a letter to NB Law who are acting for the purchase of the land to ask where we are at with the purchase and the current situation of the project.
There are a number of mole hills appearing at the cemetery. The clerk had tried contacting Mr Kime but as yet has been unable to speak with him. She will speak with him to organise the removal of the moles.
39. New Street Names – approval of suggested names
The following names had been suggested for the streets on the new development at field north of A155, main street, Mareham Le Fen; Sir James Roberts Drive, Ross Ancell Way, Greenstone Close, Abbey Way and Banks Way/Close. Four of these suggestions had been made by the local school children. The clerk was asked to query if James Roberts was actually a Sir but it was proposed by Cllr Bourn and seconded by Cllr Millen that these names be accepted.
40. Football field – Village Open Space
Since the football club disbanded the football field has not been used to its full potential. It was suggested that this could be used as a village open space. The clerk will contact the Church Commissioners to see if they would be willing to let the Parish Council rent the field on a year-by-year lease and if there were any restrictions on its use. This will be put on a future agenda for further discussion.
41. Correspondence, for information only
Various correspondence had been sent through to the Councillors prior to the meeting. This included LALC Newsletter, LALC E-Newsletters, LCC – notification of roadworks which included; Lammins Lane & Fieldside 4/1/22 to 4/2/22 for Low Voltage Mains Cable Laying, Mumbys Bridge Road for Carriageway Patching and Resurfacing Works sometime between 15/11/21 to 29/4/22 and Between A155 and Water Lane for Development/Construction Works sometime between 6/12/21 and 6/6/22. An email had been received from a resident but this was not read out in the meeting.
Cllr Percival asked the clerk to book her on the Cemetery Training Course in the New Year.
42. Finance
Change of Bank Signatories - The clerk is still waiting for the bank signatories to be changed.
The following invoices were brought before the meeting for payment as soon as cheques can be signed:
ELDC – Parish Election Fees - £2285.96
HM Revenue & Customs – PAYE (Failure to Submit Returns) - £200.00 – The Clerk will try to get this waivered if possible.
R K Hobson & Sons Ltd – Grass Cutting - £252.00
Mareham Le Fen Community Centre – Room Rent - £50.00 plus £25 for November meeting.
LALC – AGM & Conference Attendance - £33.00
RBL Poppy Appeal – Poppy Wreath - £21.00
D Lawrence – Grass Cutting - £2867.40 – The clerk expressed her apologies to Mr Lawrence for the bills not being paid but without the new signatures being authorised by the bank nothing can be done.
Mr Lawrence had added interest to his invoices which was totally understandable seeing as he is owed so much.
It was proposed by Cllr Bourn and seconded by Cllr Millen that these be approved for payment.
43. Highways – To include hole at Ormsby House Drive
Cllr Gray advised the Chairman prior to the meeting that the work at Ormsby House Drive is out for retendering. He will keep in close touch with LCC for progress updates. It was suggested that it may be an idea to speak with Cllr Gray to see if any safety barriers or caution tape could be put around the hole to prevent anyone falling in. There are problems with a 12m stretch and the pipes into the catch pit are breaking away. Cllr Gray will be asked to monitor the situation and update the Parish Council as soon as possible.
44. Approval of Policies
A copy of The Code of Conduct had been sent to all Councillors prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Bourn and seconded by Cllr Millen that this be adopted.
The Councillors had also received a copy of the Complaints Policy. Cllr Millen asked that a couple of amendments be made to the policy. Subject to these changes being made Cllr Bourn proposed and Cllr Millen seconded that this policy be adopted also.
45. Other Parish Matters/Items for Next Agenda
Items for inclusion on the next agenda to include grass cutting, cemetery, planning, benches, Jubilee beacons, Co-option, Clerk appointment, budget, village signs, policies, bus shelter and noticeboards
Cllr Gray had sent through his report and this has been forwarded to Councillors via email.
46. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held at Mareham Le Fen Community Centre on Wednesday 15th December starting at 7.15pm. There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.50pm.