2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Eagle & Swinethorpe Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 23rd February 2022 at 7.30pm in Eagle Village Hall.

Present Cllr Colin Campbell – Chairman, Cllr Jane Wallis – Vice Chair, Cllr David Parkes, Cllr Liv Brown, Cllr Jane Fulton-Sutton, Cllr David Parkin & Cllr Bernadette Grayston 

Rachel Popplewell – Clerk.

3 members of public.

District Councillor Peter Overton 

County Councillor Mike Thompson

Cllr Overton made comment that additional COVID grants were still available to apply for from the District Council.

North Kesteven District Council had recently had a peer review of the council with 13 items highlighted to be addressed.

The district council are currently well funded with 3 pots of money with £1 million pounds in to be spent on climate change, community & other projects.

Cllr Thompson made comment that at full council meeting on the 18.02.2022 a debate and vote on the county budget for 2022/23, it was initially considered that the increase would be limited to a 3% rise for Adult Social Care, deferred from 2021. However, the withdrawal of £12M from highways funding by central government was now being funded from reserves. Although LCC is campaigning for the funding to be restored it was considered that in order to continue to maintain roads and other services, without substantial reduction, a further 2% tax increase was required. This equates to £52 per year for a Band D property. LCC Council Tax remains one of the lowest of shire counties.

Cllr Thompson also thanked everyone involved in the Hampden Plane memorial project, a wonderful dedication service and day for all involved. 

Agenda Items 

1.   Welcome and Apologies.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

Apologies were received from Cllr Bottom & Cllr Chennells. 

It was Resolved to accept the apology & reasons for absence for Cllr Chennells.

Apology for absence was not accepted for Cllr Bottom.

Cllr Campbell to contact.

2.   To receive Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interest and requests for dispensations.

None Received.

The Clerk reminded all Councillors that it is their responsibility to ensure that their Declarations of Interests form is kept up to date.

Action Cllr Campbell   .

3.   Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 25th January 2022 to be approved as minutes.

It was Resolved to approve the notes as minutes and a true record – All Agreed, show of hands. 

Signed by the Chairman.

4.   Clerks Update & Correspondence, and to Resolve to agree any subsequent actions.

The clerk made comment that she was still awaiting an update regarding the ‘s’ bend on Thorpe Lane, Lincolnshire Highways are still investigating. 

The Clerk had purchased a new litter grabber as requested by the Litter Picker. 

The precept had been applied for, for 2022/2023 financial year.

The graffiti had been partially removed from the side of the garage; the Clerk was asked to contact the contractor for an update.

Action Clerk. 

The dog poo bins had now been emptied after the Clerk had contacted NKDC.

The Clerk was asked to contact Eagle House Residential Care home to organise a meet & greet with the Councillors at the home.

Action Clerk.

The Clerk had received a comment regarding the entrance gates to the village, as they now needed to be sanded & repainted, Cllr Parkes offered to get a quote for the painting.

Action Cllr Parkes & Clerk.

Discussions regarding the installation of a village notice board was deferred. 

The CCTV still needed to be viewed by 2 councillors to determine the direction of the cameras. Cllr Brown & Cllr Grayston offered to view the cameras.

Action Cllr Brown & Grayston.

5.   Finance

a.     To authorise the signing of orders for payment, note bank balances & any monies received (list previously circulated).

It was Resolved to approve the following accounts for payment – All Agreed.

Cllr Wallis to approve the payments online

Action JW.

Bank Accounts at 31.01.2022      Bank Accounts at 31.01.2021
Current Account – £5,601.48      Current Account - £6,144.32
Playing Field Ac -      £172.99      Playing Field -         £206.29
Savings Ac -     £16,968.27      Savings -    £22,068.27

6.   Playing Field Discussions to include:

Grass cutting contract for 2022/2023, quotes previously circulated. 

The Clerk presented three quotes for consideration, after discussion it was Resolved to accept the quote from Continental Landscapes on a 12-month contract. 

All Agreed, show of hands.

Action Clerk.

7.   To consider the following planning applications.

The parish council supported the following applications: -

a.    Widen existing drop kerb to highway from 1 meter to 3 meters.

56 High Street, Eagle. Ref 22/0019/HOUS

b.   Erection of 2 storey & single storey rear extension & storey side extension.

10 The Moors, Eagle Lane, Eagle Moor. Ref 22/0082/HOUS

The parish council had no further comments to add the application below; -

c.   To receive any further comments regarding application number 21/0098/LDEXI.

8.   Eagle Village Hall Update.

Cllr Parkes made comment that following the AGM, the current committee members would stand down in February 2023, unless additional new committee members came forward to help with the running of the hall. The village hall may then have to close.

After discussions it was Resolved to offer support from the parish council, details would need to be discussed. Cllr Campbell offered to contact the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee.

Action Cllr Campbell.

9.   Training

a.   To renew the LALC’s training scheme subscription at a cost of £110 + VAT

After discussions it was Resolved to renew the subscription. All agreed, show of hands.   

b.   The Chairman made comment that all councillors should undertake training to carry out their roles on the council.

He proposed that new councillor training should be completed within 6 months of joining the council and refresher training to be completed every 24 months. 

After discussions its was resolved to approve the proposal, All agreed – show of hands.

Members of the Personnel Committee must also carry out employer training and the litter picker to carry out manual handling training.

Clerk to advise.

10.   Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations – to discuss options.

The Chairman made comment that he had emailed the village hall committee offering the Parish Councils support for any event that they would be organising. No reply had been received Cllr Campbell offered to re-contact

Action Cllr Campbell.

11.   To review the following policy.

a.   Emergency Plan 

After discussions to was Resolved to adopt the Emergency Plan, revised copies to distributed to the Church & Cllr Chennells office.

Action Cllr Parkes & Clerk.

12.   To discuss the outcome of the consultation for the field on Eagle Moor.

a.   Resolve to approve further actions 

Cllr Brown made comment that the results of the Facebook Poll for the field was

•   Remain Agricultural Field – 53 votes
•   Allotments - 40 votes
•   Horse paddock – 2 votes.

After discussions it was Resolved to leave the field for agriculture. An advert would be put out asking for tenders above £85per acre on a 5-year FBT agreement, tenders to be received prior to the next meeting.

Action Clerk. 

b.   To review the new Tenancy agreement 

The tenancy agreement for the field located at Eagle Barnsdale was in the process of being drawn-up, the new tenant had requested access to the field before the 01.04.2022, when the new agreement would start and confirmation that the land rent would be £85per acre.

After discussion it was Resolved approve the request, Clerk was asked to contact the land agent & new tenant.

Action Clerk.

13.   Hampden Plane Memorial update

Comments were received that the dedication service was very fitting for the occasion and a thank you had been passed on to everyone that had been involved in project.

The clerk made comment that she was still awaiting an email regarding the future ownership of the memorial.

Action Clerk.               

14.   Facebook Usage

Cllr Brown made comment that the new Facebook group had been set up, with the number of ‘likes’, engagement & page views all up month on month.

Further posts & comments will be put on Facebook over the month, the Chairman confirming that any comments/responses must be factual. 

Residents to be asked to email the Clerk as the preferred way of contacting the parish council.

15.   Items for the next agenda.

Playing Field inspection report.

16.   Date & time of next meeting 

Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at 7.30pm

Meeting Closed at 8.40pm.