2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Corringham Parish Council
Clerk to the Council: Mrs A Hayward
Lindale Villa, Gringley Rd, Walkeringham DN10 4HT
Tel: 01427 891118, email: angela@lindalevilla.com

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 4 June 2019 at 7.45 pm in Corringham Village Hall

Present:   Cllrs. P Hardwick (Chair), D Semley, P Arthy, J Sims, S Blades, M Parr, A Watson, A Hayward (Clerk) and Cty Cllr. Perraton-Williams.    Members of the Public: one  

01.06.19   Chairman’s Remarks
Cllr. Hardwick welcomed everyone to the meeting.
      
02.06.19   Apologies for absence and reasons given      
            
Cty. Cllr. Howitt-Cowan (other commitment)
PCSO McFaul (illness)
      
It was resolved to accept the apologies

03.06.19   Councillors’ Declaration of Acceptance of Office Forms
These were duly signed and witnessed by the Clerk.
      
04.06.19   Declarations of interest
The following declarations of interest were made:

Cllrs. J Sims, P Hardwick and S Blades – village hall matters (committee members)
Cllrs. M Parr – allotment matters

05.06.19   Public Discussion
One member of public outlined his plans for some renovation work at a property in Aisby.  The Parish Council thanked him for the information.
            
06.06.19   Notes of the last meeting of the Council
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2019 were discussed and resolved as being a true record. 

07.06.19   Police Report 
No report received. 
   
08.06.19   District and County Councillors’ reports 
County Councillor
Cty. Cllr. Perraton-Williams gave the following report:
•   LCC Highways are looking at the traffic flow in around the Gainsborough area as well as public parking and public transport facilities
•   Traffic lights are to be installed at the Corringham junction. The layout of the junction adjacent to the High School (QEHS) is also being assessed.
      
District Councillor 
Dist. Cllr. Howitt-Cowan had submitted the following report:

The Church tap has now been addressed and working as normal, thanks to the good offices of Mrs Trish Hardwick, Mr Mark Smithson and the Water Authorities.  No charges were forthcoming, which is greatly appreciated.

The School build in the playground on Middle St. I have asked Enforcement at WLDC to look into this matter and they have promised to report back to me within 20 working days.
I regard this build as an ‘eyesore’ which intrudes upon the character of the area. The images have been appreciated by Enforcement. I am disappointed how the school has handled this matter it failed, as an act of courtesy, to take the Parish Council into its confidence. The School appears to work in a ‘bubble’ without regard to Community Outreach. I am perplexed however by the fact that such a build was rejected in a Planning Application [137308] and twelve months later the school has erected this structure. If this build is done under Permitted Development, then why was that not followed last year?

Corringham Junction which has exercised attention and concern is to receive traffic lights to discipline traffic and hopefully save lives and accidents. I personally think that a roundabout is really the answer for flow and go however I am informed that costs for a roundabout are prohibitive. The work is to be carried out during this civic year.
West Lindsey Churches Festival attracted visitors to St Laurence’s Church which is a Grade 1 Listed building of heritage status. The Church made £535 on its lunches/ refreshments on the back of a lot of hard work from volunteers.

 Positions held by your District Councillor at WLDC
Vice Chair of Prosperous Communities
Member of Licensing and Regulatory [which deals with licensing of outlets selling alcohol and taxis]
Member of the Planning Committee
Champion & Chair of Leisure, Tourism and Heritage
Chair of Charles Cooper Almshouse Trust
Member of the Crematorium Group
Member of Scampton Steering Group
Chair of WL Churches Festival
Secretary for the Conservative Group at WLDC
Member of the Leader’s Panel [ which acts as a cabinent]

Review of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings
This will be carried out by Governance and Audit, its terms of reference have yet to be drawn up.One outcome may be the merging of a Parish Meeting with a village which has a Parish Council eg Springthorpe with Heapham as they are geographically close and the village hall acts as a joint polling station. This may also be recommended for Hemswell village with Harpswell. There is growing concern that our Parish Councils for various reasons [sadly people are not coming forward to serve their communities] which are well understood, do not ‘enjoy’ elections thereby strengthening the democratic principle. I believe only 5 out of 72 Parish Councils held elections this year[ ie 7% to 93% held no elections].Democracy at every level is dependent upon people coming forward to serve and make a difference.

Bigger Picture
There are several significant plans for Gainsborough within the future;
A] North West of Gainsborough: Japan Road Bowling Green Lane off Ropery Rd we hope to build residential properties on waste land and also take the opportunity of completing a walk way to Morton along the riverside.
B] There are hopes for a cinema in central Gainsborough, This may benefit the wider District as well as the Town.
C] I served on the Transport group and we supported the idea of regular commuter train service from the Central Station. It has taken years to realize and if people do not use the services we could lose in the future. This station was only served by trains on Saturdays and then only with an extremely limited service until May. There is car parking adjacent to the station. This may benefit the wider District
The Green Agenda
This has captured many people, not least the young and I am championing this in council meetings.It encapsulates a great deal, however it has to start ‘local’. The word Conservative includes the word ‘conserve’ and we must do all we can to look after planet earth, to conserve it for future generations.

09.06.19   Clerk’s Report
The following update was given:

LCC Highways have now issued a works order to clean and repair the drains along Middle Street.

10.06.19   Reports 
Village Hall
Cllr. Blades reported as follows.

New chairs have been purchased for the village hall.  A contribution towards their cost was made by the Craft Club.  Upcoming events include a BBQ, quiz and a wedding reception in August.

Neighbourhood Plan
Cllr. Semley reported that the term of the first grant is now finished.  The grant money not spent is required to be returned to Locality before further funding can be applied for.  The Character Assessment is nearing completion and should be available next week.  Funding is now required for the ‘Call for Sites’.  It was noted that the Parish Council had made a £2,000 provision in the budget for the plan.  It was estimated that £500 would be required for the call for sites exercise.

11.06.19   Matters for consideration

Newsletter
The Clerk was asked to put together a draft newsletter.  Content to include:
•   Update of the Neighbourhood Plan/Call for Sites information
•   Village information
•   Community Emergency Plan/Volunteers
•   Various contact numbers for local organisations
•   Post Office/Doctors opening times
•   Mobile Library visits
•   Facebook pages
•   Advertising space
•   Update on pond
The Clerk to prepare the draft newsletter for approval at July’s meeting.

Notice board
Cllr. Semley presented three quotes.  It was resolved to proceed with the purchase of a wall mounted double door notice board 1600x800 at a cost of £679 plus delivery and vat.  Each board holds 6 x A4 sheets.  Preferred colour; dark blue.  Clerk to progress.

Church Water Tap
Cllr. Hardwick reported that the water tap had now been repaired with the help of a local plumber who carried out the work free of charge.  Clerk to send a letter of thanks.  

Cemetery Grass Cutting
Cllr. Hardwick reported that there had been a complaint about the state of the grass at the cemetery.  Since the complaint the grass has been cut and is looking reasonably tidy.  Clerk to write back to advise that the grass has now been cut, that the weather was a contributory factor and advise that the Parish Council will continue to monitor.

Cllr. Sims asked whether or not it would be possible to tidy around the old headstones.  It was agreed to add to the next meeting’s agenda.

Building Work at the Primary School
Cllr. Perraton-Williams informed members that the building work at the school has been allowed by LCC under permitted development.  She understood that the Head Teacher had also received similar advice from WLDC.

Members were perplexed by this when a planning application for a similar scheme had been refused.  Members were also disappointed that the School Governors had not communicated with the Parish Council, the Church or the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group about the proposal.  Steering Group members confirmed that that they had tried to engage with the school as part of the Neighbourhood Plan consultation process but had not received any response from them.  The Clerk was asked to write to the School Governors expressing the parish council’s disappointment and perceived lack of respect for the heritage of the school building, the community’s views and the likely detrimental effect on the street scene.  

Cllr. Howitt-Cowan had been in touch with WLDC planning enforcement to seek further information/clarification on this.

12.06.19   Financial Matters
Financial Report:

Income to date:         £10,765.21
Outgoings to date:      £  4,913.53        
Funds available:       £19,010.27

(£2,575 ring fenced for the Neighbourhood Plan)

The following payments were proposed, seconded, voted and agreed.

13.06.19   Approval of Accounts and Audit Return 2018/19
Internal Audit

The Clerk presented the 2018/19 annual return for approval.  After review the Parish Council resolved to approve the following
1.   Certificate of Exemption
2.   Annual Governance Statement
3.   Accounting Statement
Details would be posted on the Parish Council website
                   
Budget 2019/20
It was agreed to look into the prices of new benches and a new SID.  Agenda items for the next meeting.

14.06.19   Planning Matters
New Planning Applications:
None
WLDC Planning Decisions
None

East Lane Development
The owners and building contractors for the East Lane site had forwarded information about the proposed new development which is due to start in August and invited the Parish Council to name the new road.  It was agreed to have a think about the name and agree at the next meeting.  The Clerk also to write to the Developer and request that as much of the hedgerow is retain as is possible.

15.06.19   Correspondence

The following correspondence was received:
LALC Networking Day
Councillor Application
            
All noted
                                    
16.06.19   Councillors’ reports and items for inclusion on the next agenda
The following items were reported:
•   It was noted that bus number 106 is to be discontinued.  
•   Some of the Back Lane footpath’s grass verge looks as though it has been gardened. Cllr. Semley to investigate

17.06.19   The date of the meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 2 July 2019 at 7.30pm on Corringham Village Hall.  

Meeting closed at 10.00 pm