January 2025 Minutes
BICKER PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting
Held on Thursday, 9th January 2025 at 7pm
In the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall
Present:
Cllr Bateson - Chair
Cllr Kelly – Vice Chair
Cllr Mountain
Cllr Pell
Cllr Brown
Borough Councillor Cantwell
County Councillor Brookes
Alison Delaney, Clerk
PUBLIC FORUM:
A Bicker resident attended the public forum to express their concerns as follows:
Damage caused by large, heavy vehicles repeatedly being driven off the roadway and over verges around the junction of Fore Lane and Back Lane (Location East 521500 North 339100). Around the junction on the verges, debris and other roadside/grass verge material displaced by those large, heavy vehicles needs to be reinstated. At the junction: on Fore Lane – the Fore Lane sign is missing; the metal safety railings on the bridge over Old Eau Drain are damaged; the Royal Mail post box has been dislodged and is falling over. On Back Lane – the Back Lane sign is missing.
Wooden, white-painted hazard warning railings alongside Old Eau Drain on Back Lane damaged/missing at various pre-existing locations.
Longhedge Drove, trees overgrown above and alongside the roadway between Mill Drain Cottage and Longhedge Drove junction with Cowbridge Road. LCC acknowledged ownership/responsibility for the trees and LCC Highways have instructed their contractor to trim the trees before the end of February 2025. That the work will likely be undertaken out by the subcontractor, Maplebeck Tree Care.
The resident said that when vehicles using the incorrect route are reported to AGR and EE, they always ask for the registration number, which is not possible to give. There needs to be one person who residents can report issues to.
110/25 Chair’s remarks:
The Chair thanked everyone for coming.
The Chair thanked everyone for their efforts last year.
111/25 To receive updates from Borough and County Councillors:
County Councillor Brookes reported the following:
As Councillors were aware, the layby on the A52 was being improved from 21st January. The works will take a week.
Cllr Bateson had raised with Cllr Brooks a down pipe and channelling that had been constructed in the high street. Cllr Brookes explained that in the past down pipes at the front of properties were permitted to discharge onto the public path or highway. That is no longer allowed. Permission would needed to have been sought in advance for the down pipe and channel. Highways are checking whether the permission is in place. If not, that will need to be sought by the householder and some changes may need to be made.
Borough Councillor Cantwell reported the following:
Recent legislation changes to the national planning policy framework mean that parties time to speak at planning meetings has been reduced.
Local government organisation is being looked at nationally and this may mean that Boston Borough Council would be abolished. However, it would be important for Boston to then form a town council so that their assets still remained under their control.
There is funding available for local charitable organisations such as the Lincs Aircraft Recovery Group, who own the Lancaster Memorial, so they may want to apply for funding to improve the access to the memorial.
Cllr Cantwell and Cllr Brown held a surgery in Bicker in November. Some residents were concerned about the planning application for 6 houses off Drury Lane. In particular, in relation to drainage in that area, as nearby pipes already back up when it rains. Residents considered the new houses drainage should be contained and separate from the existing system, so as not to add to it any further. Cllr Cantwell has spoken to the planning officer, and they will make sure it is mentioned.
A resident stated that the war memorial needs cleaning. Cllr Bateson said the parish council were aware and that was being discussed later in the meeting.
Residents were concerned about the lack of street cleaning. There were a lot of kerbside leaves and muck building up. Cllr Cantwell spoke to Highways about this and asked that it be removed.
A resident said that the white fences in the village needed painting. Cllr Bateson said the parish council were aware and would need to either obtain a grant or budget for it. The work could be carried out once the weather improved in the spring.
Cllr Pell suggested that Cllr Cantwell encourages residents to attend the Parish Council meetings each month to raise their concerns there as well.
Cllr Brookes and Cllr Cantwell left the meeting at 7.47pm.
112/25 To receive apologies for absence and acceptance of any reasons given:
APOLOGIES - were received from Cllr Carrott who was on holiday. The meeting resolved to accept the reason for absence.
113/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with The Localism Act 2011:
Cllr Kelly – Parish Council representative on The Village Hall Committee and Bicker United charity
Cllr Mountain - Parish Council representative on Bicker United charity
114/25 Notes of the last meeting held on 14th November 2024 were accepted and approved as the Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Pell, seconded by Cllr Kelly. The Minutes were signed as a true copy by the Chair. ACTION: Clerk to publish the minutes on the PC website.
115/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies:
Village Hall – Cllr Kelly confirmed that the other group who hire the main hall on a Thursday finished at 7pm.
Bicker United Charity – Cllr Mountain said they would like to hold the summer camp on the village playing field again this year, so their Clerk would be in touch with the Council to obtain permission. They had delivered vouchers to selected parishioners as a Christmas gift. Some had moved or passed away. Cllr Pell commented that all Councillors used to get a copy of the electoral roll but did not seem to receive this now. ACTION: Clerk to find out if this could be reinstated.
116/25 Clerk’s report on matters outstanding:
Training: New planning framework on 4th February at 6pm - Cllr Mountain will attend along with the Clerk. ACTION: Clerk to book them both on the course
Dog waste bins: Clerk has chased Kirton Clerk again for refund of £730.42. Clerk has notified BBC of the slightly amended locations for the new waste bins, awaiting confirmation back.
Speed Indicator Cameras x 3 were put up at the start of December. Cllr Bateson considered we may need more at Red Lion Street and Donington Road but will monitor.
Allotments: Clerk has reviewed rent payments and re-sent invoices to those who have not yet paid for 24/25. A new resident to the village has taken on half a plot. Invoices for 25/26 will be sent at the start of March.
Defibrillator: We now have an annual service contract with the Defib Store. Unit was taken away and serviced for a few days at the start of December. Battery was also replaced. Is now back in place and registered on The Circuit. ACTION: Clerk to put awareness notices on the Telephone Box, village notice boards as well as the village hall, Methodist Church, St Swithuns Church and Red Lion notice boards.
117/25 To Receive Finance Report
a) Cllr Pell queried the grounds contractor payments at 98. and 109. As they had not been carrying out any work in the cemetery during December and January. Clerk explained their annual fee was spread across 12 months. This was different to the contractor who cut the playing field and roadsides; their payments were only made during the months of March to November when they were carrying out the work.
Church donation: It was noted that as well as the grass cutting donation of £550, the Parish Council donated £300 towards the upkeep of the village clock and also made a £100 donation to The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal each November when providing the remembrance wreaths.
Clerk informed councillors she had been notified by BBC that the energy costs invoice for the street lighting would be with us soon. This amount would be taken out of the first precept payment in April. ACTION: Clerk to let Councillors know what the previous few years energy costs had been so they could see if there had been a significant increase.
Schedule of “November, December and January payments for approval at January meeting” was approved. Proposed and signed by Cllr Brown. Seconded and signed by Cllr Mountain.
b) Clerk confirmed that our Precept request had to be with BBC by 31st January 2025. Draft budget for 25/26 had been considered at the previous meeting. Councillors agreed again that a 2% increase (in line with cost-of-living increase) on last year’s precept would be suitable. ACTION: Clerk to submit the Precept request to BBC.
Cllr Brown left the meeting while the next item was being discussed.
118/25 To Discuss Planning Applications Received Since Last Meeting:
B/24/0334NMA – Vicarage Lane Energy Centre Limited – Councillors agreed that all construction traffic must use the haul road off the A17 onto Ings Drove then the connection to Triton Knoll Road. Agreement needs to be reached by BBC planning that all future and current projects use this route only and do not come through the village.
Cllr Brown rejoined the meeting.
119/25 To discuss War Memorial Cleaning quotation: Clerk had obtained a quotation for £400 from a reputable company who had carried out work on other memorials and churches locally. This was significantly lower than a previous quotation. The work would be done in half a day in the spring. They needed their van parked close for water. This would mean that one side of the memorial triangle road would be coned off during the cleaning. This would not cause any traffic issues, as cars would be able to use the other side of the triangle. It was agreed by all present that the cleaning should go ahead. Proposed by Cllr Mountain, seconded by Cllr Brown. ACTION: Clerk to notify the cleaning company and arrange a date.
120/25 To Receive Members Reports:
Cllr Pell had received the following queries from residents:
30mph speed limit ends at St Swithins Close. Could it be extended to Bishops Way? ACTION: Clerk to check the current speed limits around the village and who we would need to speak to if we wanted them changed.
Which roads in Bicker do Highways salt? Nothing seems to be done at the moment. Clerk had informed Highways previously that the bus route was not being gritted. ACTION: Clerk to ask Highways what gritting group we are in priority 1 or 2 and what the route is.
Lowgate Avenue – there was a big pothole all along the Avenue. Elderly resident had recently fallen because of it and injured herself. ACTION: Clerk to take some pictures and report on FixMyStreet.
Streetlight not working in the Drury Lane cul-de-sac where numbers 1-5 are. ACTION: Clerk to report to BBC and get a quotation to fix.
121/25 To Receive Correspondence:
a) LALC – Annual Subs and annual training scheme invoice – this expenditure was approved by Councillors and will be added to the next payment schedule.
b) Corporate Finance – Annual Precent 25/26 – this information was noted by Councillors.
c) Boston BC re broken street light – Councillors noted and approved the expenditure to fix this light.
d) St Swithuns Church re Plough Sunday service on 12.01.25. This information was noted by Councillors and some said they would be attending.
122/25 Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting is on Thursday, 13th February 2025 at 7pm at the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall.
The meeting closed at: 8.45pm