February 2022 Minutes
Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard’s Leap Parish Council
Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall, Old School Lane, Cranwell Village, NG34 8DF on Monday 14 February 2022 at 7:00 pm.
Participating: Chairman Cllr Mr T Batten
Councillors: Cllr Mr M Pears, Cllr Mrs M Cassidy, Cllr Mr M Cassidy, Mrs C Batten
Also in attendance: District Councillor Jim Clark.
Mrs Kirsty Elson, Clerk to the Parish Council
RAF Liaison officer.
Member of the public: 6 members of the public were in attendance.
Public session: A member of the public gave an update from the Cranwell Footpath Working Party to the meeting: The working party have had a meeting with Joanne Knight from Dyson Farming, this was a very productive meeting and the CFWP would like to continue to have a good working relationship with them. The application for footpath 376 should be completed by the end of February and they have received 64 evidence forms from residents for this application.
Another member of the public stated that they had moved to College Road last year and would like to discuss speeding traffic through the village; there is an extortionate amount of traffic that travels through the village and they have great concern about speeding.
The Chair stated that Cllr Pears would have an update about traffic in his councillors report later in the meeting.
Dist Cllr. Jim Clarke: Discussed mental health; roads: Rush hour through Cranwell Village comes from RAF Cranwell; and housing, Cranwell is reliant on the MOD and there are reports in The Times that the MOD are now selling a lot of houses.
The Chairman declared the ordinary February meeting open at 7:15 pm.
1.To receive apologies for absence and reasons given i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr M Collier had given his apologies at the end of the previous meeting.
Action: The council RESOLVED to accept his reason for his absence, this was approved unanimously.
2. To receive declarations of interest and to consider applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
Disclosure of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests is to be in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. The need for disclosure is to be based upon agenda items, or at any suitable time during a meeting when it becomes apparent to a Member.
Councillor Michael Cassidy declared an interest in item 5.b as he is claiming expenses.
Councillor Maureen Cassidy declared an interest in item 5.b as Councillor Michael Cassidy’s spouse.
Councillor Mike Pears declared an interest in item 5.b as he is claiming expenses.
3. Notes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 10th January 2022, of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council to be approved as Minutes.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to adopt the notes from the ordinary meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 10th January 2022, as minutes. Proposed by Cllr C Batten, seconded by Cllr M Pears and approved unanimously.
4. To consider adopting the approved minutes of the Pavilion sub-committee meeting held on 16th December 2021.
Action: The council RESOLVED to adopt the notes from the Community Pavilion sub-committee meeting held on the 16th of December 2021 as minutes. Proposed by Cllr Michael Cassidy, seconded by Cllr M Pears and approved unanimously.
5. Financial Matters
a.Approve the payments made since the last meeting:
Payments approved at previous meeting £ 1,022.19
Warden & Security Servs (Inv067, 1st try failed, new acc)EB-0734 £ 32.00
Mower Magic (Salt/grit spreader) Online £ 198.00
Cartridgesave (2x printer toners) Phone £ 69.83
Kirsty Elson Clerks Salary (Mth 10) EB-0749 £ 732.69
Kirsty Elson Clerks Expenses (Mth 10) EB-0749 £ 57.54
James Sampson Hedge EB-0742 £ 300.00
Correction of errors noted in 31/12/21 financial report £ -20.08
Mailchimp DD £ 13.31
Southern Electric DD £ 154.22
Adobe AcroPro DD £ 15.17
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve the payments made since the last meeting. Proposed by Cllr M Pears, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy and approved unanimously.
b.Approve the payment of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.
SLCC – Membership 2022/2023 EB-0750 £ 144.00
Colour me happy face painting deposit EB-0751 £ 25.00
Viking – Printer paper and files EB-0752 £ 35.58
Warden and Security Services (Inv 069) EB-0753 £ 132.00
Cllr Michael Cassidy (Jan Expenses) Chq1902 £ 37.45
Andrew Deptford (Inv 13508) EB-0754 £ 118.80
Streetwise Environmental Trading Ltd (Inv 51993) EB-0755 £ 479.88
LALC Annual Training Scheme EB-0756 £ 162.00
LALC Membership EB-0757 £ 478.30
LCC SID Poles Inv(10136135) EB-0758 £ 200.00
John Scotney Turf Management (Inv 37970) EB-0759 £ 189.62
Cllr Mike Pears (Jan Expenses) EB-0760 £ 23.68
Adobe AcroPro DD £ 15.17
Mailchimp DD £ 13.31
IONOS – Mail basic 25 DD £ 1.20
IONOS – Email archiving DD £ 3.00
Anglian Water (Acct*****5216 – Old School) DD £ 20.00
Total: £ 2,078.99
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve the payment of invoices as listed on the payments to be authorised sheet. Proposed by Cllr C Batten, seconded by Cllr T Batten, with 2 votes for, 0 against and 3 abstentions.
c.Approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month (January).
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month. Proposed by Cllr M Pears, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy and approved unanimously.
d.Approve the direct debit mandate for the Wave(Anglian Water) playing field account.
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve the direct debit mandate of £8 for the Wave (Anglian Water) playing filed account. Proposed by Cllr T Batten, seconded by Cllr M Pears and approved unanimously.
e.Approve the colour me happy face painting deposit of £25 and invoice of £120 for the jubilee celebrations.
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve paying the deposit of £25 for the colour me happy face painting for the jubilee celebrations. Proposed by Cllr T Batten, seconded by Cllr Michael Cassidy and unanimously agreed.
5.Receive a report from the Clerk on matters pertaining to the Parish Council.
i. The Chairman and Clerk approved Old School repair works on 21 January 2022, total cost £565. The work will be carried out on the 14 Feb for approx. 3 days. The contractor reported that the damp in the toilets was caused by an old issue with a toilet (this has been fixed). The damp in the kitchen was caused by the roof which has been replaced.
ii. Completed SLCC renewal.
iii. Comments submitted to NKDC for Planning application PAR:21/1876/FUL.
iv. 28/01/22 – Defib checks – Village Hall defib - photos taken of the cabinet and sent to Andrew as requested. The light in the cabinet is not working (mains powered) it appears to be the bulb that has failed. Received new light fitting for free from Andrew for the Brauncewell cabinet. New batteries placed in the new light fitting and the light is now fitted and working in the Brauncewell Defibrillator cabinet. Brauncewell cabinet very difficult to open, mechanism may have warped? Received replacement battery and pads for the Byard’s Leap Defibrillator. Cabinet lights ordered for the Byard’s Leap Defibrillator and Cllr Cassidy is replacing this and the Village Hall Defib cabinet light with the new lights.
v. 02/02/22 – Contacted Wicksteed, normally have quarterly inspections – cost £60 for unaccompanied. £86 for accompanied inspections. No reports for 2021 as it was not renewed.
vi. 04/02/22 – VAT reclaim from the 6th January 2019 to the 24th March 2021 completed and posted. Total reclaimed £14,645.05. The VAT reclaim for the current financial year will be carried out after the internal audit.
6. Planning Applications Received:
a.21/1966/HOUS – Installation of 15m high wind turbine. Old School Cottage, Lincoln Road, Brauncewell. Comments by 19th February. No objections given by the Council.
The Chair declared that he would move item 8. (Receive reports from Councillors on their areas of responsibility) to the end of the meeting after item 12. (To consider purchasing a Queens Green Canopy Plaque from the Royal British Legion for the Queens jubilee).
7. To review the current internal auditor and consider who to appoint as internal auditor for the 2021/2022 internal Audit.
The Parish Council required more information to make a decision. The clerk will find out more information for the council for the next meeting.
8. To consider the renewal of the current dog warden and the quote given by Aurora and decided which to approve for the next 12 months.
Cllr M Pears reported that Aurora have quoted £15 per hour + VAT. They offer a different service to our current warden. The wardens use a van with GPS tracking which enables the customer to see where they have been and when. When the wardens leave the vehicle to patrol an area, they have body cameras and film any interaction with the public, this footage is then sent to the Parish Clerk and the evidence from the cameras can be sent to the police if needed. The Parish Council concluded that they would defer their decision to the March meeting, until written information from Aurora has been received.
9. To consider the request to place a memorial bench for a local resident, either around Bristow Road or near the Cranwell convenience store.
Cllr T Batten declared an interest in this item as he knew the resident. Cllr Michael Cassidy stated that the Parish Council do not have any jurisdiction on the locations suggested.
Action: The council RESOLVED to approve in principle, a memorial bench being placed in the village, subject to finding the appropriate piece of land and obtaining the permission of the landowner. Proposed by Cllr Michael Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy, with 4 votes for and 1 abstention.
10. To consider purchasing a Queens green canopy plaque from the Royal British Legion for the Queens jubilee.
Action: It was RESOLVED to purchase a Queens green canopy plaque from the Royal British Legion for the Queens jubilee. Proposed by Cllr Michael Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy and approved unanimously.
The Chair stated that they will now proceed with item 8. The Councillors reports.
11. Receive reports from Councillors on their Areas of Responsibility.
Cllr C Batten: All issues previously reported have been reported to fix my street.
Cllr Michael Cassidy: Most of previous reports have been fixed or are on fix my street.
Byard’s Leap.
The uneven road surface on the A17 does not qualify for work at present, it is intended to resurface the A17 in this general area heading towards Newark. (Unable to get specifics at present)
A17/B1429 Junction
The bollards on the A17 at this junction are almost unlit, mud and old lights reported REF 415596
B1429
9 LCC un-numbered lights not lit, reported REF 415595
RAF lights 47 54 65 not lit, reported REF 84532417
SID on RAF column and light above not working, reported 84462417
Footpath around Lighter than Air Road has crumbling edges, unlikely to be repaired until worse.
Lay by/streetlights adjacent to OASC remain unresolved as to ownership.
NKDC Planning unable to resolve, no records of this area, directed to LCC as they own the road in front of the layby.
Tennis court.
Net may need a new mechanism, Cllr Michael Cassidy will keep an eye on it.
Awaiting a response from an alternative play inspection company.
Currently having some difficulty in getting a company to quote for installation of the floodlight to the village green.
Play area trees with ivy – NKDC recommended ivy removal – concerned that the nesting season is shortly to take place and therefore no work can be carried out unless it is deemed a health and safety issue.
Cllr M Pears:
De Gaunt Drive sign: The sign is still missing. The old sign disappeared many weeks ago and nothing has re-appeared.
Website
We seem to be settling into a steady use of around 1,000 viewers every month with around 4,000 pages being viewed.
SIDS
The “damaged” equipment for the 2nd unit has still not been replaced. We still have:-
• A display unit with a malfunctioning display
• A battery connection box with a connector that is different to that on the batteries so it can’t be used
• A battery charger that doesn’t seem to be charging the batteries
The SID company are not co-operative. They promise solutions but produce nothing. Cllr Pears is now having to get tough with them – more news soon he hopes.
Cllr Pears has one more battery that still contains the initial factory charge so that should be good for a couple of weeks. Cllr Cassidy and Cllr Pears are looking at ways at getting one of the chargers to be useable while we wait for the replacements.
We now have statistics for over 87,000 vehicles passing in either direction. The main findings so far are:-
• We seem to be getting around 36,000 vehicles per week (5,000 per day) through the village
• Overall 21% of the vehicles are passing at over 30 mph
• Speeding problems are worse coming into the village
• Average speed of traffic heading out of the village is 30 mph
• Average speed of traffic coming into the village at Sleaford Road is 39 mph
• Coming in – 16% of the traffic is doing over 40 mph and 217 vehicles have been recorded at over 50 mph, 11 at over 60 mph and (incredibly) 5 at over 70 mph.
Cllr Pears thinks that the Parish Council need to build up the statistics over a few more weeks to increase the credibility of the figures – then we should have some data to send to the police as a request for some further action from them.
The Chair stated to the RAF liaison officer who was present at the meeting, that the PC had loaned speed cameras to a local police station, when this station was closed these were passed to the RAF, the Parish Council would now like the cameras to be returned as they are looking at setting up a community speed watch group. The RAF liaison officer stated that he will investigate sourcing the PC speed cameras. Cllr Michael Cassidy reported to the RAF liaison officer that the SID and the light above the SID in RAF Cranwell are not working. The RAF liaison officer said that he was aware that the SID was not working and that the streetlights are being fixed in groups.
12. Confirm the date of the next meeting.
The clerk confirmed that the date of the next meeting will be, Monday 14h March 2022.
13. To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972, to discuss the following matters:-
a. To review the appointment of the new clerk at the end of the 6 month probationary period.
It was confirmed that the Parish Clerk’s probationary period had been concluded satisfactorily and her appointment was confirmed as now being permanent.