2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

DRAFT MINUTES
BIGBY PARISH COUNCIL 
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY, 12th  NOVEMBER 2024
CHAIR – COUNCILLOR D. COWLING
BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED

PRESENT: Councillors – H. Aukland, D. Cowling, C. Gandy, C. Wilson
Also in attendance: -

Mrs. A. Hannath – Clerk to the Council
Cllr. P. Morris - WLDC

55    Notice convening the meeting.

Taken as read and approved

56    To Receive Apologies and Reasons for Absence

Cllr. B. Orr

57    a) To Record any Declarations of Interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.  Members declaring interests should identify the Agenda Item and the type of interest being declared.

None

    b)  To Note any Dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the Agenda Items listed below.

    None

58    TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR CO-OPTION TO THE COUNCIL.

None notified

59    Police Matters
    
Email received from PC Rachel Turner, Police Officer in Neighbourhood Policing covering Market Rasen and Caistor.

With the sad loss of the previous neighbourhood policing team over the last year, I am trying to compile a list of regular community events/ coffee mornings for the Market Rasen and Caistor areas.
Whilst I can’t make any promises of attendance, I am hopeful over time I will be able to pop in as and when available.
I would be extremely grateful if you could share any of these regular meetings for your area with me.

Regular email also received from Inspector Mike Head.

60    To Receive any Correspondence (for information only).

The Clerk was informed by LALC in September of the sad passing of Pete Langford,
the officer who updated websites through their website support scheme
Pete did a splendid job of keeping websites up to date and fulfilling Accessibility
requirements. The Clerk passed on condolences on behalf of the council.  
The position has been filled, so normal service has been maintained throughout.

     61    To Receive the Clerk’s Report and Update on any outstanding issues.

a)    The Defibrillator is now registered with the WLDC Defibrillator Scheme and WLDC are now guardians of the defibrillator.  As yet, no invoice has been received to pay for the service.
b)    Acre Dikes has now been removed from the Charity Commission register
c)    A bag of gritting salt has been ordered from LCC
d)    The new noticeboard has been installed on Pingley Park

61    To Receive any Questions from Members.

None notified

62    Public Question Time.

There were no members of the public present.

      64    a) TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE MINUTES, AS CIRCULATED, 
OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 3rd SEPTEMBER, 2024

It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September, 2024 having been circulated should be taken as read and approved.

Proposed: Cllr. C. Wilson                 Seconded: Cllr. D. Cowling

      65    ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 
a) To Receive the following Financial Report and Approve the Accounts for Payment: as at 1st November 2024 (Statement of accounts enclosed)  

* Added since the publication of the agenda

It was resolved that the accounts for payment listed above and the Statement of   Accounts be approved.

Proposed: Cllr. C. Gandy                 Seconded: Cllr. H. Aukland

b) To Undertake a Quarterly Review of the Accounts. (Documents attached)

It was resolved that the Review of the Accounts for the second quarter be accepted

Proposed: Cllr. C. Wilson                 Seconded: Cllr. D. Cowling

     66    PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND DECISION NOTICES
    Members are reminded that applications can be received after the deadline for the publication of the agenda. The clerk will forward any further applications to you before the meeting for your consideration.

a)    WL/2024/00780  Planning application for changes to an existing agricultural barn including the size & height of approved prior approval ref: 134179, change to the extent of change of use to include cafe & hours of opening of approved full planning permission 135789, erection of covered walkway & entrance lobby, car park, building operations, solar panels & widening of existing site access.   Priory Fields, Howsham Road, Kettleby Brigg, DN20 9HN

The Clerk reminded Councillors of response made to the previous application at this site, namely Planning Application WL/2024/00465:     

It was resolved that NO OBJECTION be made to this new application and that the same comment be submitted.  “The PC would like to ask if consideration has been given to the use of renewable and sustainable materials and the provision of electric vehicle charging points.”

Proposed: Cllr. C. Wilson                 Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy

b)    Councillor Aukland queried whether there has been a decision made on the Keetleby Quarry and the Turnbull Farm Applications.  The Clerk will look into these applications.

     67    TO CONSIDER TENDERS FOR THE URBAN HIGHWAY VERGE CUTTING IN THE VILLAGE OF BIGBY AND THE GRASSED AREA IN FRONT OF PINGLEY PARK

a)    The Clerk advised that she was in receipt of 2 tenders, which include figures for the Churchyard and Village Hall. Also, that both companies had provided figures for a 3 year contract. Therefore, the two companies who had provided quotations were considered.
     
Both companies had tendered at the same price, with one providing a fixed price for 3 years and the other a slight increase of £12.50 per visit year on year.  Given the similarity of the quotations, consideration was given to the quality of service provided. On this occasion, it was felt that as a result of the positive comments received this year, since AJ Williams had taken over the grass cutting in the village, the contract should be awarded to AJ Willians once again

It was resolved that the contract for the Urban Highway Verge Cutting and maintenance of the Village Hall grounds and Churchyard be awarded to  
AJ Willaims at a cost of £240.00 + VAT per cut for 2025, £252.50 + VAT for 2026 and £265.00 + VAT for 2027

          As this year, the frequency of cuts to be determined by summer weather conditions.  
         (11 cuts were undertaken this year.)

         Proposed: Cllr. C. Gandy                Seconded: Cllr. H. Aukland

     68    TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR SMITH ON COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS

    Councillor Smith had proffered his apologies due to a prior commitment with the Caistor Fire Service.

     69    TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR MORRIS ON DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS     

    Councillor Morris advised that:    
•    The charge for Green Waste bins is to increase to £46.00 from April 2025
•    The 2021 Environment Act requires that business separate food waste from 2025 onwards.
•    Households will also have to separate food waste from 2026
     70    TO NOTE AND AGREE THE PAY RISE AWARDED TO EMPLOYEES BY NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL (NJC) FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE EMPLOYEES
    The Clerk advised that the pay rate had risen by £0.63 per hour, giving a new yearly salary of £2804.40 per annum
    Noted and agreed
     71    TO CONSIDER AND DETERMINE A FURTHER SUBSIDY TO THE VILLAGE HALL
    The Clerk advised that there was a shortfall in the Village Hall accounts in the sum of approximately £500 until the end of the financial year.
It was resolved a further £500 subsidy be given to the Village Hall.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling                 Seconded: Cllr. H. Aukland

     72    PRECEPT REQUIREMENTS – FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025
    (The Clerk will provide figures for discussion at the meeting)

a)    To Consider the Budget Proposals prepared by the Clerk. 
The Clerk’s recommendations were noted. This gives a budget of £8306.00     

b)    To Determine the Precept to be levied for the Fiscal Year 2024/2025.
It was resolved that a precept of £7500.00 be set.

Proposed: Cllr.    D. Cowling            Seconded: Cllr. C. Wilson

The Clerk advised that the final figure does not need to be submitted until 
24th January.  Therefore, she suggested that the figure above be sent as the estimate due by 22nd November, allowing for any changes that may be necessary between now and the final deadline.

      73    TO CONSIDER A POSSIBLE VILLAGE EVENT TO COMMEMORATE THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WW2

The Clerk advised that currently there are no national celebrations planned for this anniversary, although this is likely to change. A decision about an event will be made once more information is available.
                                
        

           The meeting closed at 7.25 pm

           Signed ……………………………………………….
           Chairman
           Tuesday, 14th January, 2025