November 2024 - Minutes of meeting
DRAFT
BICKER PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting
Held on Thursday, 14th November at 7pm
In the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall
Present:
Cllr Bateson - Chair
Cllr Kelly – Vice Chair
Cllr Carrott
Cllr Pell
Cllr Brown
Borough Councillor Cantwell
Clerk – Alison Delaney
PUBLIC FORUM:
No members of the public or press were present, so the Parish Council meeting started at 7pm.
98/24 Chair’s remarks:
The Chair thanked everyone for coming.
The Chair reminded Councillors of the requirement for them to respond to emails when requested. All present noted the requirement and agreed to respond in a timely manner.
99/24 To receive updates from Borough and County Councillors:
Borough Councillor Cantwell reported on the following:
Boston Borough Council are responsible for cleaning the streets. Cllr Cantwell has asked for a rota and for them to coordinate with LCC when they spray weeds.
Cllr Cantwell has put forward two motions: (i) residents facing hardship are helped with their winter fuel payments and (ii) a rural strategy is devised in the same was as the Boston Town one.
The Emergency Planning forum is moving along well.
Cllr Cantwell and Cllr Brown have sent a Christmas card which also gives details of helplines and services.
Cllr Cantwell informed Councillors that Boston Pilgrim hospital ran a defibrillator fund if the village ever wanted another one.
Cllr Cantwell has requested a meeting with Boston planning in relation to the various Bicker Fen energy developments. He has outlined all the concerns: roads, community funds, notifying all Bicker residents about planning applications. Councillors agreed that the Borough needed to support Bicker more in this regard. It was felt that parishioners did not necessarily understand the limited role the Parish Council had in relation to planning matters.
The Leader of the Council had contacted Cllr Cantwell about The National Grid Community Grants Fund. This is open to community groups (of which there are just 4 in the Bicker area).
Cllr Cantwell left the meeting at 7.25pm
100/24 To receive apologies for absence and acceptance of any reasons given:
APOLOGIES - were received from Cllr Mountain who had a family appointment and Cllr Brooks who was on holiday. The meeting resolved to accept the reasons for absence.
101/24 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with The Localism Act 2011:
Cllr Kelly – Parish Council representative on The Village Hall Committee.
Cllr Carrott - Parish Council representative on Bicker United charity and the Windfarm Trust.
102/24 Notes of the last meeting held on 12th September 2024 were accepted and approved as the Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Kelly, seconded by Cllr Pell. The Minutes were signed as a true copy by the Chair.
103/24 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies:
Cllr Kelly said the village hall committee meeting was next week.
Cllr Carrott said the Windfarm Trust meeting was also taking place next week.
Cllr Carrott reported that one allotment tenant had been growing Christmas trees, which was not permitted under the regulations, so had been asked to vacate.
104/24 Clerk’s report on matters outstanding:
Allotments: ACTION: Clerk to review rent payments and re-send invoices to those who have not yet paid.
Litter and dog waste bins: It was resolved that we ask BBC to supply and install two bins at a cost of £435.32 plus VAT and to upgrade the existing bin in Monument Road for £363.20 plus VAT. Proposed by Cllr Pell and seconded by Cllr Carrott. ACTION: Clerk to instruct BBC to carry out the works.
It was noted that the Clerk had emailed the Clerk to Kirton PC and requested the return of £730.42 (which had been paid to Glasdon for bins that could not be used) but no payment had yet been received. ACTION: Clerk to follow up with Kirton’s Clerk again.
Speed indicator cameras: Cllr Bateson reported that the three posts had been put up by LCC. There was additional expenditure of £72 plus VAT for security fixings, as well as the cost of putting the signs up. This would be done by K J Trotter for £300. The additional expenditure was approved by those present.
War memorial: Clerk had been approached by a resident requesting the war memorial be cleaned. A quotation had been obtained by the previous Clerk, which was in the region of £10,000. Councillors felt this was not a suitable use of Council funds, unless grant funding or a cheaper quote could be obtained. ACTION: Clerk to investigate funding and cheaper quotes for cleaning.
105/24 To Receive Finance Report
a) Schedule of “September and October payments for approval at November meeting” was approved. Proposed and signed by Cllr Pell. Seconded and signed by Cllr Kelly
b) Draft budget for 25/26 was considered. Provision should be included for ongoing playground maintenance. Councillors agreed that a 2% increase (in line with cost of living increase) on last year’s precept would be suitable. ACTION: Clerk to check the date for submission with BBC. Budget to be further considered and approved at the January meeting.
106/24 To Discuss Planning Applications Received Since Last Meeting:
B/24/0470 – received on the date of the meeting – land adjacent to Harwin, Drury Lane – this was discussed and no objections were raised by councillors
107/24 To Receive Members Reports:
Cllr Pell noted that the High Street Sign was still broken. ACTION: Clerk to report again
Cllr Pell noted that a double decker bus is hitting the trees in Drury Lane. ACTION: Clerk to obtain address of the property which contains the trees and write to Highways to request them to cut them back.
Cllr Pell noted that the white timber fencing on the bridges and around the village was in need of repair. ACTION: Clerk to put on agenda for the spring.
Cllr Pell reported that someone has flattened all the mole hills in the cemetery.
108/24 To Receive Correspondence:
a) Compass Primary School – Councillors welcomed and thanked the school for their offer of an annual donation of £500
b) Lloyds Bank charges – Councillors accepted that most banks were now charging for business banking and the upheaval relating to us changing banks was not acceptable, particularly when it was known that other PC’s had changed banks and were having issues.
c) Defibrillator maintenance - All present agreed to purchase the replacement battery and 4 year maintenance package at £530 plus VAT. ACTION: Clerk to pay the invoice and arrange for the defibrillator to be serviced.
d) BBC quotation for LED lighting. The quotation was noted by all present. 7.11.24 - Clerk has emailed FRV Powertek to enquire if they would be willing to cover some or all the cost.
109/24 Date of Next Meeting: IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO MEETING IN DECEMBER. The next meeting is on Thursday, 9th January 2025 at 7pm at the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall.
The meeting closed at: 8.47pm