East Kirkby Parish Council Meeting
30th November 2023 19.00 start
East Kirkby Village Hall
Present: Cllrs B Nowicki (Chairman), V Lingard, C Briggs, C Brandwood, T Anderson, District Cllr T Taylor, Members of the Public (MoP), Mrs JH Mussett (Clerk)
Apologies tended and accepted: County Cllr W Gray
Declarations of interest: None – based on the published agenda.
Public meeting: Chairman opened the public meeting at 19.00.
MoP advised that hare coursers have been spotted in the village by the airfield. It was reported to the police who turned up but were unable to find the spot.
MoP reported that, in addition to the hare coursing, fly tipping was taking place on private land, apparently owned by Mrs A Coupland and/or the Pantons, with access being gained via a damaged gate on Fen Road. It was suggested that EKPC write to Mrs Coupland and/or the Pantons to make them aware of the broken gate and write to Mrs Coupland advising her of the problem with the hare coursers and that people are fly tipping on her private land. There has been a break-in at Wood Farm where a lawn-mower, leaf blower and strimmer were stolen.
Action: Chairman and Clerk to liaise.
MoP raised a concern about the amount of water that collected on Fen Road, between Wood Farm and Ms Sheriff’s bungalow, after Storm Babet. The water appeared to have accumulated because the ditch on the eastern side of the road had not been cleared and at one point, the water was well over a foot deep and masking the verge and any potholes. MoP was advised that ownership of the ditch and maintenance thereof rests with the landowner. EKPC will advise Highways of the problem as well as the name of the landowner. It was also agreed to contact Anglian Water, who maintain the west side ditch and get them to address the problem that side by carrying out maintenance.
Action: Clerk to write to Anglian Water and Highways Authority via FixMyStreet.
D-Day/Battle for Normandy remembrance – June 2024:
Ms H Leek (MoP) suggested setting up a committee with support from the Parish Council. Chairman asked Cllr Lingard for a contact number for Rev Coates as he would like to ask him if he would officiate at a service on that June weekend. Chairman asked if Cllr Brandwood would be the Parish Council liaison with Ms Leek, which he agreed to. Cllr Brandwood suggested that the Tommy Silhouette should be sited in connection with the remembrance event.
Action: Cllr Brandwood to keep EKPC abreast of actions and activities.
Action: Clerk to keep on agenda.
Social Media:
Ms Leek advised that Facebook is considered to be the main vehicle to use as an “information board”. Ms Leek suggested that EKPC have a dedicated “Page” where we post things and people can download the information (Next date and minutes when ready etc) and if people want to ask anything, they can do so and it will go to a dedicated e-mail address. People will be unable to post comments on the contents. Ms Leek will send information to Clerk and Clerk will circulate information to the councillors.
It was agreed that this item should be deferred to the January 2024 meeting.
Action: Clerk to carry forward to January 2024 meeting.
Chairman closed the Public Meeting at 20.10 and thanked everyone (Especially Ms Leek) for their input.
Approval of minutes from the October 2023 meeting: Chairman ascertained that the councillors had read the minutes and that they were an accurate representation of the meeting. Minutes were unanimously agreed. Chairman signed a copy of the minutes and will post a copy on the notice board.
Update from District Councillor Terry Taylor:
Council tax for single people is being tightened up – to cover both people who should be claiming vs people who are claiming and shouldn’t be; HEART notices will be put up on the notice board and in the village hall; Devolvement: £750M will come into Lincolnshire over 3 years; the partnership between Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland (SELCP) has saved £74m over the last 2 years (I.e. payroll is done by 1 department rather than 3); Christmas market dates.
Cllr Brandwood asked about the Neighbourhood Plan changes mentioned by LALC ahead of the changes being enshrined in law 26th October 2023 – one of the changes claims that it should become easier to make neighbourhood plan/neighbourhood priority plan.
(Check out Alford neighbourhood plan)
Cllr Taylor was asked what else we can do regarding the caravans being lived in 24/7 by the Foundations and Buildings site – EKPC raised it through Planning and Enforcement which is the correct way.
Action: Cllr Taylor will chase.
Update from last month:
Anglian Water: Nothing to report.
Village information board: Chairman advised that monies have been sent to Burgess and we await the arrival of the new board.
Parish Council Engagement Session 5th December 2023: Clerk had distributed the mail regarding this as questions had to be submitted beforehand. Chairman and Clerk will “attend” on 5th December 2023 and report back in January 2024.
Planning applications: None received.
Financial matters:
NALC pay scales: Clerk left the meeting. The Councillors agreed that the new pay scale of £11.62 should be applied from 1st December 2023 and increased to £12.00 per hour from 1st April 2024. Clerk re-joined the meeting.
Minute Ref: 202/01
Invoices received: Clerk’s wages of £351.60 was submitted and unanimously agreed at the subsequent vote. Cllrs Lingard and Brandwood signed the cheque.
Minute Ref: 202/02
Chairman thanked all for their attention and contribution and also wished all those present a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The meeting was closed at 21.25.
Next meeting date: Thursday 18th January 2024 - starting at 19.00.
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.
Please visit our web-site via:
https://east-kirkby.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
Dates for 2024 meetings: 15th February; 14th March; 18th April; 16th May
Dates are subject to change.
All meetings start at 19.00 and take place in East Kirkby Village Hall.