2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

OWMBY-BY-SPITAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

17 January 2023

St Peters and St Pauls Church, Owmby by Spital

commencing at 7pm.

Chaired by Cllr Crompton-Howe

Present Cllrs Leah, Mellor, Swift and Welch                                                                                            

Public – Non Present

Meeting commenced at 7.02pm

NOTES

1/2023 - To receive reports from County & District Councillors & Police, if present Cllr Bunney was in attendance and shared his report concerning the proposal to increase the LCC Budget. Voting in the elections in May was also discussed around the proof of identity for electors. Government emergency alert system is to be implemented in the near future. The full report will be  made available on the Parish Council web site. (here)

7.13pm Cllr Mellor arrived.

2/2023 - Apologies for Absence  - To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the  Parish Clerk prior to the meeting. None received

3/2023 - To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation – None declared.

4/2023 - To approve as a correct record the notes of following meetings of the Parish Council and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes

• Meeting held on 15 November 2022 - RESOLVED

5/2023 - Highways Matters –

• A report was made to the Highways concerning the spoil from the ditches on Owmby Cliff road. No reply has been received.
• Pump hill on Owmby Cliff road continues to flood. This has also been reported to Highways with no further action deemed necessary.
• Clerk is requested to contact Highways to fill Salt bins.

6/2023 - Planning Applications  - None received

7/2023 - CPC Update

• Events The parish council welcomes the suggested changes to the events program for 2023 in light of the current climate. The Parish Councils will seek to approve these changes and the associated budgets at their March meeting once they have been formally resolved at the January CPC meeting.  With regard to the purchase of a marquee the PC suggests that this is considered after the electricity, water and storage is in place.

• Purchases – the clerk presented the concept of obtaining a pre-payment card to the council for purchasing items for CPC. RESOLVED to proceed as NPC have already agreed this.
• Accounts –
  • Discussion took place around the accounts that were presented to the Parish Council and the accounts presented by the CPC. It was agreed that the accounts discussed by the Parish Councils would be those presented by the RFO.
  • The current balance of the CPC account was NOTED as £4,513.71.
• Swings – Junior and toddler swings are on order and currently being manufactured. It is hoped that they will be available for installation in early spring.
• Health and Safety Update – Cllr Moulson (NPC) is carrying out monthly checks to the park. It has been requested that Cllr Moulson forward monthly reports to the clerk for centralised record keeping.
• Grant Update –
  • iGas have expressed a possibility to fund the installation of electricity to the park. Cllr Widdison of NPC has agreed to obtain and provide a quotation from NPower by the end of the month for submission.
  • There will also be an application going in for “Lottery awards for all” to install a footpath. Possible available funds are £10k. Currently obtaining quotes.

8/2023 - To note progress with land purchase proposal

Mr Marshall has been notified of the offer by the PC and has declined to accept this. It was RESOLVED to close the matter as no further action required until such a time that Mr Marshall resumes contact.

9/2023 - Cemetery matters

• To purchase a water butt – Cllr Mellor to investigate and provides costs.
• H&S checks – Stonemasons should be registered with BRAMM – the Burial ground policy needs updating to reflect this. Clerk to communicate this change to Leakes and any other stone masons who request permission so carry out memorial work in the future.
• To discuss refund on plot – A member of the public who has previously purchased a plot has approached the clerk regarding relinquishing the ERB. After investigation it was deemed that this was possible but as the plot was purchased under WLDC a refund if required would need to be requested from them.
• Gates – RESOLVED to award the contract to RGW Services.

10/2023 - Update on  Tree project in the community park.

              Cllr Leah contacted William Farr to seek volunteers taking party in Duke of Edinburgh Award and there was an appetite for involvement.  

              Councillors are to Meet 2pm Sunday 22nd January on the community park to look the planting plan.

11/2023 - CPC and Cemetery Grass cutting. The potential to switch contractor was discussed in order to meet the standard that is required and to incorporate the recently cleared orchard area. Insufficient quotes were available so this will be discussed at the March meeting.

12/2023 - .Gov email addresses

• To resolve to obtain .gov email addresses.  – RESOLVED

13/2023 - Finance Matters

• Resolve to submit the final precept request. REOLVED

Balance bf -

• Receipts

• Expenses

Expenditure from Reserve

Payments pending action

Balance cf –

Earmarked funds

Payments and bank reconciliation RESOLVED as shown above

14/2023 - Next meeting

 Tues 6 Mar

Meeting closed at 8:45pm