December 2023 Minutes
Date/ Time: Tuesday 5th December 2023 at 7.00 pm.
Location: The Parish Office @ The Venue, Navenby.
Present (Cllrs): Mr M Burt (Chairman); Mr K Gunning (Vice Chairman); Mr K Lamyman; Mr A Watts; Mr I Standen; Mrs H McFaul; Mr C East; Mrs E Carless & Mr T Everett.
In Attendance: Ms S Letham (Parish Clerk)
Absent/Apologies: Mrs R Watson.
1. Chairman’s - Welcoming Remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Cllr Everett for chairing the November 2023 meeting.
2. Public Session
There was one resident present.
The resident congratulated Cllr McFaul & all the volunteers on the success of the Christmas Lights event. She also thanked the Parish Office for continuing to send out information via the Residents E mail Distribution List
3. Apologies for absence and declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011. Consider any applications for dispensations in relation to disclosable pecuniary and/or prejudicial beneficial interests.
Absences - Mrs R Watson.
Declaration of Interests – None.
4. To consider and sign the minutes from the previous Parish Council Meeting, held on Tuesday 7th November 2023.
It was proposed by Cllr Carless and seconded by Cllr Everett and therefore RESOLVED that the minutes from the previous Parish Council meeting held on 7th November 23, should be accepted as a true record of the meeting. NB All Cllrs voted in favour of the motion.
5. To consider the financial report and authorise payments (Appendix A).
It was proposed by Cllr McFaul and seconded by Cllr Standen and therefore RESOLVED that all expenses listed in Appendix A were authorised. NB All Cllrs voted in favour of the motion. Cllr Lamyman confirmed that he would approve the payments on-line.
6. To consider updates from District/County Councillors.
Cllr Hagues – not in attendance.
Cllr Overton – not in attendance.
7. To consider updates from local police.
No reports to consider.
8. To consider Planning Matters
a. Planning Applications – No comments.
b. Correspondence – Cllr Gunning advised that RIPPON Homes still had not re-instated the hedge or soil up at the Eleanor Gardens development. The Clerk advised that she had recently written to the NKDC Planning Enforcement Officer and was awaiting a response.
c. Tree Conservation – the Clerk advised that there had been a mix up with TPOs 23/1411/TCA & 23/1409/TCA and that the same description of tree works had been applied to both. NKDC have confirmed the error and now adjusted the information on their planning portal.
9. To consider correspondence.
9 Nov 23 Graffoe Parish – Notice of Intention to close St Peter’s Churchyard.
After discussion, it was agreed that at this stage there was no reason to object to the closure of the graveyard and that the Clerk complete Section B4 of the Notice of Intention Part B(i) and return to Toni Butroid of the Graffoe Parish.
Action: The Clerk to complete the Notice of Intention paperwork and return to the Graffoe Parish.
10. Consideration & approval of the Budget Submission for FY 24/25.
The Finance Officer advised that she was still awaiting the proposed budget submission for the Play Areas from Cllr East. After discussion, it was agreed that Cllr East would submit his figures to the Parish Office before Christmas.
Action: Cllr East to submit budget figures for FY 24/25 to the Finance Officer before Christmas.
11. Consideration & approval of the 2023-24 Pay Award – NJC Pay Scales.
Council members considered the 2023-24 pay award and the back dating of pay to 1 April 2023. It was proposed by Cllr Carless and seconded by Cllr Standen and therefore RESOLVED that the pay award and back dating of it be implemented. NB All Cllrs voted in favour of the motion.
12. To discuss progress on the Skate Park proposal.
Cllr Standen advised that the proposal was still a work in progress and that he would update Council members in due course.
13. Christmas in Navenby 2023 event.
The Chairman thanked Cllr McFaul for organising a fantastic 2023 Christmas Lights switch on. Cllr McFaul advised that a questionnaire was going to be sent out to all business owners in order to capture where improvements could be made for 2024. The Stall Holders were extremely pleased with footfall & sales on the night. Cllr Gunning advised that next year a road closure notice for the A607 should be considered.
14. Wellingore & Navenby Royal British Legion (RBL) – establishment of closer links.
Cllr Everett advised that he had e mailed the RBL in order to speak to someone about establishing a closer link, but as yet, there was no response. He advised he would try and get to their next meeting.
15. FOSSE Green Solar Farm proposal.
Cllr Everett advised that the next meeting of the working group would be at Thorpe on the Hill on the 20 Dec 23. Currently, there continued to be lots of information on the project which was not easily distributed. As and when, Cllr Everett to continue to update the PC on the work of the Action Group.
16. Updates from Portfolios Holders:
a. Cemetery
Repair of Lych Gate – Cllr East advised that he had managed to secure 2 quotations from builders and that he would be obtaining another quote for the carpentry work required.
Action: Cllr East to forward the building & carpentry quotations to the Parish Office once received.
To consider & approve the Clerk & Cllr Gunning attending the “Management of Memorials – Inspection Workshop” at a cost of £300 on the 25 April 2024. It was proposed by Cllr Carless and seconded by Cllr Everett and therefore RESOLVED that the sum of £300 be approved for the Clerk and Cllr Gunning to attend the Memorials Workshop training event.
b. Highways
Litter GRANT for FY 23/24 – the Clerk advised that NPC had been successful in obtaining the GRANT.
Community Speed Watch (CSW) - Cllr Burt gave an update on the CSW. The Team deploys once a week on the High Dyke and at the Twenty Row junction. The Venue and the High Street locations were to no longer be manned. The Chairman took an action to speak with the Co-ordinator and obtain information regarding how many drivers were being caught exceeding the speed limit.
Action: The Chairman to speak with the CSW Co-ordinator and obtain the number of drivers being caught speeding.
c. Navenby Car Scheme
No comments.
d. Play Areas
Cllrs McFaul & East led discussion on the progress of the ROSPA repairs. It was agreed that the slide at Twenty Row needed to be removed and replaced. The Clerk advised that she was still looking for Ground Works Contractors in respect of the hard standing required for the basketball area in North Lane Play Area.
Action: the Clerk to obtain quotations for a basketball hardstanding and a football goal post.
e. Schools House Trust (SHT).
No comments.
f. Library
Cllr Watts advised that all was well with the running of the library and that the volunteers had recently all met up and enjoyed a Christmas meal together.
g. WEBSITE/IT
Cllr Carless advised that following the departure of Cllr Delves, she would take on the responsibilities of managing the Website with Cllr McFaul.
h. VENUE Trustee Chairman
Community Consultation Contract – the Chairman advised that this proposal was still under review. The Finance Officer distributed copies of the Venues expenditure spreadsheet and after consideration, it was decided that there needed to be a separate meeting of the Trustee to discuss the year end forecast before the Christmas break. The Finance Officer took an action to issue a calling notice.
Action: The Finance Officer to arrange a Trustee meeting to discuss the financial position before Christmas.
Solar Roof Panels for the Venue – Cllr Standen advised that he was still looking into obtaining a GRANT to procure some solar panels. Estimated cost is around £10K for panels on the south roof to run the Venue plus export some. In due course, he advised that he’d send out a draft business case for consideration.
i. Community Wellbeing inc Youth Club
ACTS Youth Club – Cllr McFaul advised that she had met with 2 volunteers from the Youth Café who had expressed an interest in running a Youth Club. Unfortunately, after consideration the volunteers had decided they would not be able to provide a service. Alternative solutions would continue to be explored and that a post would go on Facebook to advise parents that for the short term there would be no Youth Club.
j. Speed Indicator Device (SID).
SID Data - Cllr Watts advised that the latest download of data showed that 17% of drivers travelling north on High Dyke were speeding and that 27% of drivers travelling south were also speeding. It was agreed that a possible solution may be the installation of white gates on the approach roads to the village.
k. Defibrillators.
Cllr Gunning advised that all the defibrillators had recently been checked.
l. Street Lamps.
The Assistant Clerk advised that she was currently in discussions with Npower regarding the renegotiation of the PCs contract for the unmetered supply of electricity to the streetlamps.
The Chairman thanked all present for their participation and declared the meeting closed at 20.25 hrs.
17. Date & Time of next meeting is the 9th January 2024 at 7.00pm.
Minutes Accepted: Original Signed MJ Burt Chairman Date: 9th January 2024
