2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Welbourn Parish Council Meeting 

MINUTES OF THE OF THE MEETING OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8 June 2022 IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m. 

PRESENT 

Councillors 

Others 

1 Parishioner 

Mr Jim Fieldhouse – Welbourn Parish Clerk 

Apologies Received 

Cllr Mrs Maureen Lunn 

Mr Daniel Bancroft – Welbourn Parish Responsible Finance Officer 

1. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2. Acceptance of reasons for absence 

2.1 Apologies were accepted from Maureen Lunn and Mr Daniel Bancroft.  Cllr Cross announced that Cllr Maureen Lunn had resigned by email. This was accepted by all Councillors who expressed their thanks for her contributions over the years. 

3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda 

3.1 No interests were declared. 

4. Notes of the last meeting held on 11 May 2022

4.2 These were approved by unanimously. The Chair signed the notes as minutes. 

5. Matters arising - None

6. Public Forum – No comments made

7. County and District Councillors Updates

7.1 Cllr Lucille Hagues gave her report. She advised that:

•   The energy advice service Lincs 4 Warmer Homes has been closed following the end of its funding. Energy advice can be obtained from The Energy Savings Trust or Simple Energy Advice. 
•   150 Ukrainians have been settled in Lincolnshire with the help of 70 sponsors. 
•   Fix My Street website can be used to report potholes, graffiti and damaged road signs and barriers. 
•   The second edition of NKDC Act on Climate has been issued. Details can be found at https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/residents/climate-action/ where you can sign up for the newsletter. 
•   She has been elected as Chairman of North Kesteven District Council. Her chosen charity is Children with Cancer. 

7.2 Welbourn Parish Councillors congratulated her on her election as Chairman. 

7.3 Cllr Stephen Short asked Councillor Hagues if she could chase NK Planners to publish amended Article 4 Directions following the recent amendment to the boundaries of the Welbourn Conservation Area. 

7.4 Councillor Hagues said she would report back. 

7.5 County and District Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton MBE gave her report: 

•   She congratulated the organisers of the events celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee. 
•   She has met with Government Ministers to discuss increasing costs affecting local councils’ ability to deliver good services. 
•   She reminded the meeting that local highways defects can be reported on the Fix My Street website. 
•   She has been campaigning on behalf of villages affected by heavy lorry traffic.

8. Beehive Well

8.1 Cllr Katie Stark advised that four quotations had been received from local following tradespeople. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the merits of each quotation. 

8.2 Resolved: That Cllr Stark contact the preferred contractor with a view to accepting the quote on condition that he is able to complete the work before the onset of winter. 

9. Current and future maintenance responsibilities

9.1 Cllr Cross informed the meeting that Robert Marshall had carried out the necessary tidying up opposite the Archdeacon’s House on the north and eastern boundaries of Castlehill and around the village hall sign. All Parish Councillors agreed that this work had been necessary. Cllr Short wanted clarification on where the boundaries of the Archdeacons House lay for future reference.

A discussion took place, and it was agreed that the following areas need tidying up and maintaining: 

A)   The wall along Moat Lane has gathered detritus which needs clearing – Cllr Beaty volunteered to carry out this work.

B)   The northern border to open space at Castle Hill is overgrown with nettles and requires trimming back. Cllr Cross volunteered to ask Robert Marshall to quote for this job. 

C)   A tree on Bell Tree Green is overhanging the footpath and needs pruning. Cllr Cross volunteered to carry out this work. Cllr Short advised that pruning can be carried out during nesting time if the branch is obstructing the highway. 

D)   Trees growing in the grounds of Welbourn Hall are overhanging the footpath and need trimming back and there is a build-up of detritus on the footpath. Cllr Kevin Dowling volunteered to ask Welbourn Hall to remedy the situation. 

E)   The willows in the moat surrounding Castle Hill open space need pollarding. The Parish Clerk agreed to contact the local tree surgeons for quotes. 

F)   The village pond and brambles on Hall Orchard Lane were noted problems but it was resolved to take no further action at this time. 

10. New Village Hall sign 

10.1 Cllr Cross asked the Parish Council to approve the funding of the new village hall sign. 

10.2 Resolved: It was agreed that the Parish Council pay for the new village hall sign. 

11. Planning Applications

11.1 The following planning applications were considered by the Parish Council: 

•   Three applications concerning tree works in a conservation area at 3 Poplar Court
•   The demolition of the existing dwelling and garage and erection and replacement at 9 Moat Lane
•   Replacement and relocation of oil tank at 48 The Green
•   Change of use of agricultural land to storage at North End
•   Excavation of storm water storage attenuation facility (retrospective) at Sir William Robertson Academy. 

11.2 Resolved: That North Kesteven District Council be advised that the Council has no comments or concerns raised with regards to these applications. 

12. Finance

The following items were presented by Cllr Storer in the absence of the Recognised Finance Officer: 

12.1 Accounts value (29th May):

12.2 Bank reconciled:      £0 discrepancy

12.3 Payments made since last meeting:

12.4 Expected payments before next meeting:

12.5 Annual Governance and Accounting Review (AGAR)

Cllr Storer presented the following :

(1)   The Internal Auditor Report confirming that that the objectives of internal control and internal audit conclusions had been met in all significant respects in financial year 2021/22. 

(2)   Section 1 - The Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 

(3)   Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2021/22

12.6 Resolved: That these reports and statements be accepted and that the Chair is authorised to sign the AGAR off in due course. 

12.7 Cllr Storer explained that the Parish Council has surplus capital available to spend on projects for the benefit of the village hall and the community. A discussion ensued as to various competing projects.

12.8 Resolved: That a cost benefit analysis for the following projects be presented at the next meeting: 

•   Installation of solar panels - to be presented by Cllr Storer
•   Electric power points for caravans on the playing field – to be presented by Cllr Storer
•   Hard surface parking area – to be presented by Cllr Short
•   Speed indicator device – to be presented by TBC
•   Pond clearance – to be presented by Cllr Beaty

13. Portfolio Holders Update

13.1 Cllr Stark – agreed to prepare an article for the 3 Villages Magazine on the Parish Council’s recent activities. 

(County Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton MBE arrived at this point – See 7.5 above)

13.2 Cllr Beaty – An insurance issue affecting The Forge has been identified by the Parish Clerk. This is being dealt with by the Clerk. Cllrs Cross and Beaty agreed to include matters concerning The Forge within their portfolio. 

13.3 Cllr Storer – confirmed that the drainage problem on the A607 opposite the poultry farm has now been fixed. 

14. New Model Codes of Conduct

The Parish Councillors acknowledged receipt of the new model codes. 

Resolved: That the new codes be accepted and adopted. 

15. Meeting closed at 9.30pm

16. Next meeting Wednesday 13 July 2022

Copies to: All Parish Councillors; County & District Councillors; 

Parish Council Web Site. 

Future Parish Council Meetings: 

Portfolio Holders 2021 

Cllr Robert Cross portfolio is Byways/Highways, the Forge and Cliff Cluster group representative. 

Cllr Rod Storer has Drainage and is a member of the finance committee. 

Cllr Stephen Short has Planning, is Village Hall representative and on the HR committee. 

Cllr Katie Stark has communications, HR committee and relief Cliff Cluster representative. 

Cllr Jake Beaty has Allotments and Cliff Cluster representative The Forge.  

Cllr Kevin Dowling has Castle Hill. 

Cllr Harriet Huntsman is a member of the finance committee. 

Cllr Chris Dixon is a Village Hall representative.