2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Eagle & Swinethorpe Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 24th January 2024 at 7.00pm in Eagle Village Hall.

Present Cllr David Parkes – Chair, Cllr Pat Parkes, Cllr Bernadette Grayston, Cllr Michael Chennells, Cllr Jane Fulton-Sutton & Cllr Jane Wallis. 

Rachel Popplewell – Clerk.
Cllr Richard Johnston - District Councillors.
Cllr Alan Briggs – County Councillor
Matthew Bentley, Conservation Officer. 
2 members of the public. 

Cllr Johnston made comment that the planning application had been approved, for the re-vamp of the market square in Sleaford. An appeal had been launched.

Voting for the residents of Doddington & Whisby will now be at Eagle Village Hall. 

Cllr Briggs made comment that the Head of Highways will carry out a site visit of Church Lane. The road is very uneven with a lot of potholes making it unsafe for residents to use. 

Date to be confirmed for the visit. 

Thanks were passed onto Cllr Briggs for his prompt attention to this. 

Matthew Bentley gave a short talk regarding his role as Conservation Officer, and how he can help with funding to restore/repair the outside of buildings on the NKDC Heritage List. The list of Grade 2 listed buildings and local Heritage sites will be forwarded onto Councillors, for review.  

Agenda items.

1.   Welcome & Apologies.

Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr N Faulkner.

It was Resolved to accept the reasons for absence and the apology – all agreed, show of hands.

Apologies were received from Cllr Chris Goldson

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.

3.   Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 20th December 2023 to be approved as minutes.

It was Resolved to approve the notes as minutes and a true record – All agreed. 

Signed by the Chair.

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

The Clerk made comment that the Rural England Prosperity Fund was now open for applications. Residents from Eagle Hall are applying for funding for new ornate road signs. 

Cllr Chennells made comment that the planting of the replacement oak tree at the park would be carried out in the next couple of months by Continental Landscapes, they would also install a new tree guard and plaque. The replacement tree has been purchased by Eagle Hall Estates Ltd, after it and the tree guard were damaged by the contractors. 

Thanks were passed onto GH Chennells Farms Ltd for purchasing the trees. 

The Clerk confirmed that the ownership of the new Lamppost at the entrance to Harrier Hill, was the Parish Council’s as it was re-installed after the new entrance had been created. 

The Clerk made comment that she had received the request for the annual payment to the Eagle Eye for £150.00.

After discussions it was Resolved to approve the annual payment to the Eagle Eye, All agreed – show of hands.

5.   Finance

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

The Councillors considered the list previously circulated. It was Resolved to approve the      following orders for payment – All agreed. Proposed Cllr J Wallis – seconded Cllr P Parkes.

Cllr B Grayston to approve the payments online.            Action BG.

b.   To receive the Bank Reconciliation as at 31.12.2023. 

The clerk presented the Bank reconciliation showing the accounts balanced as at 31.12.2023, signed by Cllr Fulton-Sutton.

c.   To review the budget as at 31.12.2023

The Clerk presented the budget showing the council is at 84% budget three quarters of the way through the year, no amendments were required.

6.   To approve the budget and to Resolve to set the Precept for the financial year 2024/2025.

The Clerk presented the budget to Council, highlighting that general reserves were low. Best practice would be to have 9-12months precept in general reserves, (this does not include ear marked reserves) after discussions it was Resolved to approve the budget, to include £1000 to be added to General Reserves, and request a Precept of £25,983.00. an increase of 17.07%. In monetary terms this is an annual increase of £12.91 on a band D property.

All Agreed – show of hands.
            
7.   To review the following policies 

a.   Emergency Plan

b.   Donations & Grants Policy

c.   Equality Policy

After discussions it was Resolved to approve the Donations & Grants Policy and the Equality Policy – no amendments were required. 

Cllr David Parkes confirmed that the Emergency Plan had been updated, Cllr Chennells offices at Eagle Hall would be added, as a meeting place away from the village. It was Resolved to adopt the plan – All agreed, show of hands. 

8.   Outcome of Drainage Board Meeting, reference Back Lane and how to circulate the information.

Cllr Wallis made comment that she & Cllr Faulkner had met with a representative from the Internal Drainage Board, who had highlighted the possible reasons for the dykes overflowing along back lane. Information has been received to circulate to the affected residents, showing how ownership of dykes/water courses are determined. 

The Clerk was asked to print 20 copies to be hand delivered to residents.

9.   Update from the meeting with Network Rail, regarding the blocked culvert at Meardsall Crossing. 

Cllr Chennells made comment that he & Cllr Faulkner had met with a representative from Network Rail (NR), to discuss the issue. Further investigations were required from NR to establish where the culvert was blocked and how to rectify the problem. 

Council will get an update once the investigations have been carried out. 

10.   To discuss the D-Day 80 celebrations on the 6th June 2024

Deferred to the next meeting. 

11.   Update regarding the kitchen block refurbishment. 

Cllr Grayston made comment that the working group are looking into writing a business plan & sourcing grants that may be available. 

No further update has been received from the Scouts.  

12.   Items for the next agenda 

D-Day celebration

Tony Magri – wildlife connectivity.     

13.   Date & time of next meeting 

Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 28th February 2024 at 7.00pm.