East Kirkby Parish Council Meeting
18th July 2024 19.00 start
East Kirkby Village Hall
Public meeting: Chairman opened the public meeting at 19.10 and welcomed everyone.
Bus shelter: We were joined by Mr Phil Joyce of Buildings & Foundations (On the Lancaster Business Park). Chairman gave a resumé of the letter that EKPC intend to send to the residents immediately affected by the proposals, stating the location and look of the proposed bus shelter as well as giving the residents an opportunity to comment and even possible object anonymously. Plan is to distribute to the two bungalows, 3 houses on Fen Road, the whole of Manor Close and the three new residences opposite, i.e. all those in the immediate vicinity. Chairman has met with our local Highways representative, who support the building of the shelter along with the Directorate. Chairman advised receipt and read out the Community Asset Questionnaire form, which needs to be filled in and sent back to Highways/LCC.
Cllr Brandwood interjected that EKPC have not yet given support to the bus shelter project, given that local residents have not had a chance to air their views, both on the location and design of the shelter – The rest of the councillors disagreed as EKPC HAVE given their support, in principle, along with a chosen brick-built design. Should the Parish Council (via the Clerk) receive violent opposition to the proposed bus shelter, discussion will take place anew.
Chairman will email the proposed letter, picture of proposed bus shelter and Community Asset Questionnaire form to councillors for their information.
The Highways department sees no planning complications to the bus shelter. Mr Joyce asked if it would be worth building the shelter to LCC standards and specifications, with a view to asking LCC to potentially adopt the shelter in future. Chairman responded that this is not an option as the shelter is not on a designated bus route, but a school bus route. Mr Joyce advised that, Foundations and Buildings Ltd. have a contract with LCC to maintain the bus shelters under their purview and that the least vandalised/damaged shelters are those built of brick and that, currently Foundations & Buildings, AE Lentons (Via Mr O Shooter) and ANO company will hopefully meet the full cost of the proposed build.
Chairman closed the public meeting at 19.45 and invited the MoPs to stay, but without participating in discussions.
Present: Cllrs B Nowicki (Chairman), C Brandwood, C Briggs, C Warman, County Cllr W Gray, District Cllr T Taylor, Members of the Public (MoP), Mrs JH Mussett (Clerk)
Apologies tended and accepted: Cllr V Lingard
Declarations of interest: None – based on the published agenda.
Update from District Cllr T Taylor and County Councillor W Gray:
Cllr Taylor has been sending updates to the village Facebook page along with updates via Clerk; Household Support Fund is open to people struggling with their food and utility bills. Families can apply for upto £300 to help. Call 01529305825 Web link: https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/costofliving; Sutton-On-Sea colonnade project is well under way and is scheduled to open in 2025; Sessions are being held in Spilsby library Community Hub Drop-In to help older people with mobile phones, laptops and tablets etc. Sessions are on 30th July and 20th August, starting at 10am.
Web link: https://lincsdigital.org.uk/events/community-hub-drop-in-2-2-3-3-2/.
Cllr Gray had sent a report earlier which Clerk had distributed to all councillors. Cllr Gray mentioned the on-going cap on CallConnect; Urged all to subscribe to the County newsletter https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news?page=2; Lastly, mentioned that the pollen level is extremely high and urged people to be careful.
Cllr Gray then went on to report on Highways issues:
Drainage works: on the corner of Fen Road and A155 have been completed. Problem was diagnosed the new pipes for the gulleys were not connected to the system and hence were not draining properly. There was also a problem with surface water being piped into the nearby field and flooding it – This too has been rectified.
Footpath to Revesby: The teams have been out weedkilling the area in advance of the planned works. The covering of planings work has been approved and agreed. We are waiting for a date.
23 – 25 Main Road: work order has been issued and we are just waiting for a start date.
GeoSmart: Are coming to East Kirkby on 19th July (Already advertised via EK village Facebook page) and will be knocking on doors. They have a list of addresses of people who have reported internal flooding problems after Storm Babet. It is still possible to report via LCC: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/flooding or call 01522 782082 or report via FixMyStreet.
Highways notification: This reporting system may be due to be resurrected and could provide us with updates on works in the parish.
Illuminated “Give Way” sign: Mid-August is the scheduled date for works to be done.
Cllr Warman mentioned that a metal lighting pole has been cut on the Main Road and covered in tape, but still not removed properly, despite FixMyStreet saying the works are completed.
Cllr Briggs mentioned that several of the road signs in the village are obscured by vegetation. Cllr Briggs to report via FixMyStreet.
Chairman thanked Cllrs Taylor and Gray who left the meeting at 20.10.
Approval of minutes from the Parish Council meeting from June 2024: Chairman ascertained that the councillors had read the minutes and that they were an accurate representation of the meetings. The minutes were unanimously agreed. Chairman signed a copy of the minutes and will post a copy on the notice board. Minutes are available on the website.
Update from last month:
Anglian Water: Nothing to report.
LALC fortnightly news and move to .gov.uk: There has been some pressure from LALC, NALC etc for councils (of all sizes) to take up the move to .gov.uk. Cllr Brandwood and Clerk have both listened to the various podcasts on the subject. Discussion ensued on the subject of moving to a .gov.uk domain, website, and email addresses; the initial financial cost, but more importantly the future costs; along with the usual question of who would maintain and update the site, given that the Clerk’s hours are limited by cost and the precept is limited. At the end of the discussion, it was unanimously voted to NOT move to a .gov.uk site. Discussion then moved onto the subject of new councillors and how to attract people onto the council to ensure that it carries on. This is an on-going topic.
Planning applications: None received.
Procedural and Financial matters:
Statement of Internal Financial Control: Cllr Brandwood had alerted Clerk to an error, which Clerk has rectified and the 2024 Statement was unanimously approved.
Action: Clerk to upload to website.
Minute ref: 20240718-1
The invoice from DM Payroll Services for £60.00 was agreed. Clerk has raised cheque and will post.
Minute ref: 20240718-2
Chairman passed round proposed wording for the plaques – One for the Tommy Silhouette. Chairman mentioned that he had emailed Mr & Mrs Teague regarding the funding raised in 2018/19 for a Tommy Silhouette but has not had a reply.
Chairman then passed round a custom-made poppy to be installed on the Tommy Silhouette. This poppy is made from the same aluminium as the one being used to refurbish the Lancaster ‘Just Jane’, NX611, and also passed round suggested wording for a small plaque to be installed, telling people about the origin of the poppy. All present agreed that the poppy was fabulous, but in the ensuing discussion it was agreed that the Tommy Silhouette did not need a plaque as he tells his story in his simplicity. It was further agreed that the poppy should be added to the Tommy Silhouette just ahead of the 11th November 2024 ceremony. Cllr Bradwood advised that the Community Ladies group are crocheting poppies for the 11th November ceremony, with a view to having a “wall” of poppies behind the War Memorial.
Chairman thanked all those present for their attention and contribution and the meeting was closed at 21.05.
Any items to be brought before the Council can be submitted to the Clerk via eastkirkbypc@gmail.com
by the Thursday (1 week) before the meeting.
Findings will be recorded in the minutes.
Please visit our web-site via:
https://east-kirkby.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
Meeting dates for the rest of 2024:
19th September; 17th October; and 5th December
Dates are subject to change.
November/December meeting date is combined and NOT the third Thursday of the month but moved around to accommodate the Christmas period.
All meetings start at 19.00 and take place in East Kirkby Village Hall.