June 2021 Minutes
Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard’s Leap Parish Council
Minutes of the ordinary meeting o Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall, Old School Lane, Cranwell Village, NG34 8DF on Monday 14 June 2021 at 7:25pm.
Participating: Chairman: Cllr Mr T R Batten
Councillors: Cllr Mrs C Batten, Cllr M Bayly, Cllr Mrs M Cassidy, Cllr Mr M A Cassidy,
Cllr Mr S Chapman, Cllr Mr M Pears and Cllr Mrs A Riley
Mr Eddie Findlay, Clerk to the Parish Council
The Chairman declared the ordinary June meeting open at 7:25 pm.
1. To receive apologies for absence and reasons given i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
All Cllrs were present.
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.
None declared at this time.
3. Notes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall on Monday
17 May 2021 to be approved as Minutes
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the notes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall on Monday 17 May 2021 as Minutes.
Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Pears and approved unanimously.
4. Financial Matters
a. Approve the payments made since the last meeting.
Tony Skinner & Sons (Electric for Village Green) Chq. 1893 £ 3,271.23
CBA*Panda CD 7523 (anti-virus software) DD £ 45.48
HMRC (Clerk's PAYE/NI) EB-0680 £ 292.00
Mr A E Findlay (Clerk salary) EB-0681 £ 438.60
Mr A E Findlay (Clerk expenses) EB-0682 £ 51.20
Total £ 4,098.51
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments made since the last meeting.
Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Bayly and approved unanimously.
b. Approve the payment of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.
Warden and Security Services (Inv-061) EB-0683 £ 132.00
John Scotney Turf Management Inv x 2 EB-0683 £ 207.50
Streetwise Environmental Trading Ltd Inv 51337 EB-0683 £ 479.88
CJN Heating, Plumbing & Gas (Inv 210601) EB-0683 £ 142.20
Smart Water Legionella Testing CD 7523 EB-0683 £ 58.50
The Linc Group (Social Club roof settlement Inv 175) EB-0683 £ 19,200.00
Skillington Cross Repair Inv D3397 EB-0683 £ 1,260.00
Anglian Water (Acct *****5216 - Old School) DD £ 32.00
BT Business Payment Services Ltd DD £ 74.28
Total: £ 21,586.36
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.
Proposed by Cllr Bayly, seconded by Cllr Mrs C Batten and approved unanimously.
c. Approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliations from the previous months.
Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Pears and approved unanimously.
d. Consider the quotes to repair the Old School flat roof.
It was suggested that the work be started after school finishes for the summer holiday, being 21 July 2021. Work to be completed by end of August 2021.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the quote from Lincoln Roof and Building Ltd.
Proposed by Cllr Mr M Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Riley and approved unanimously.
e. Audit – Consider the figures of Section 2 of the Accounting Statements 2020/21 for the Annual Return for Year Ended 31 March 2021, page 5 only.
The Clerk reported that the Annual Return had been inspected by the Internal Auditor and found to be sound and well presented. Her report would follow.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the figures presented on the Accounting Statements 2020/21 ready for submission.
Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Mr M Cassidy and approved unanimously.
5. Receive a report from the Clerk on matters pertaining to the Parish Council.
The Clerk had again requested an update on when Council might receive the two purchased Speed Indicator Units from The Smart Group. They had originally said by the end of June, but nothing received to date.
Village Green electrical meter. The meter was not fitted on the date given as there was not enough space to fit a SMETS2 meter. Not sure what is in there, but the available space will need to be photographed to see what might now be required.
The Clerk had spoken to the noticeboard refurbishment contractor requesting an update on when the work will be carried out. He was reviewing his diary to confirm a date.
The Village Cross repair had now been completed.
The Clerk had received the Legionella Testing kit for the Old School. This would be given to the Romper Room for actioning.
The Clerk had forwarded an email re the revised Local Plan from NKDC.
The Social Club roofing contractor reported that the roof replacement work had now been completed. Photographs had been circulated to all Cllrs.
The Clerk had received a letter from a resident looking to donate an object for the Garden of Remembrance. It had been received too late for a formal decision and would be placed on the next agenda.
6. Planning Applications.
No current applications have been notified.
7. Receive reports from Councillors on their Areas of Responsibility.
Cllr Bayly updated the meeting on the building supplies a resident had had delivered on Green Lane. The work should be completed in July. Cllr Bayly would monitor the area.
Cllr Riley raised a concern as she hadn’t seen a resident for some time and their garden was becoming overgrown which was out of character. It was suggested she either knock or pop a note through the door.
Cllr Mr M Cassidy informed the meeting that the RAF contractor (Dauby) had still not actioned the reported day burner street light along Cranwell Avenue.
Cllr Pears reported that the street name sign for St Benedict’s Close had now been screwed to the new fence.
Also, the proforma required for the locations of the columns to mount the Speed Indicator Devices need needed to be more detailed, using either Lat/Long or OS coordinates.
8. New Pavilion.
Consider the utility cost and how these might be offset.
Consider the ongoing maintenance/repair costs and how these might be offset.
Consider a new hiring agreement for use of the building.
The three items above were discussed as one item. The Clerk would contact Clerk colleagues for sight of their hiring agreements and current costs. Costs would need to be balanced against individual groups using the facilities. The Bowling Club currently only pay a peppercorn rent as they cover the majority of the costs to maintain the bowling green and area with the Club fence.
The Junior Football have so far been rent free as the portacabin they use is only suitable for storage. They have made a small annual voluntary donation, but the rising cost of grass cutting would need to be considered for future payments once the Pavilion was available.
9. Consider the confidentiality of email communications between Councillors.
This matter was again deferred to the next meeting.
10.Consider whether to request trees/saplings from the Woodland Trust for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee or purchase a suitable tree itself.
It was felt that one single tree, ideally an English Oak be purchased. The suggested location for planting was on the Village Green bank, near the Queen’s Gate to the Church. Cllr Mr M Cassidy to investigate.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the purchase of an English Oak, between 1.5m to 2m in height, subject to costs being no more than £100.00.
Proposed by Cllr Mr M Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Pears and approved unanimously.
Consider an amendment to Standing Orders and Financial Regulations to allow the Parish Council to continue to function in the absence of a Parish Clerk/RFO.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the following amendments (in italics);
11.Consider an amendment to Standing Orders and Financial Regulations to allow the Parish Council to continue to function in the absence of a Parish Clerk/RFO.
Standing Orders para 15. Proper Officer.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the following amendments (in italics);
a. The Proper Officer shall be either (i) the clerk or (ii) other staff member(s) nominated by the council to undertake the work of the Proper Officer when the Proper Officer is absent. In the event that no Member of Staff is available to server as a Proper Officer, the Chairman or vice chairmen will fulfil the role, this will be unpaid. At a full meeting of the Parish Council, any volunteer Councillor can be voted into this role again this will be unpaid Any nominated councillor can assume the role of Clerk (unpaid) on a temporary basis for the purpose of taking minutes of meetings and performing other administrative tasks. and
Standing Orders para 16. Responsible Financial Officer.
a. The council shall appoint appropriate staff member(s) to undertake the work of the Responsible Financial Officer when the Responsible Financial Officer is absent. In the event that no Member of Staff is available to server as the Responsible Financial Officer. At a full meeting of the Parish Council, any volunteer Councillor can be voted into this role, this will be unpaid.
Proposed by Cllr Bayly, seconded by Cllr Pears and approved unanimously.
12.Consider a possible amendment to the current grass cutting contracts.
Following the recent weather, and the poor standard of grass cutting, Council it was felt that to preserve the pleasant view of the Village Green, an additional cut would be sought.
The verges were to be re-cut at no cost to the Council and would be cut to 25mm length.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve that the Clerk approach Streetwise Environmental to arrange a re-cut of all the grassed areas and that future cuts would be at 25mm.
Proposed by Cllr Bayly, seconded by Cllr Mr M Cassidy and approved unanimously.
13.Confirm the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting was confirmed, subject to there being no changes to the COVID-19 restrictions as being Monday 12 July 2021 in Cranwell Village Hall at 7:00 pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8:25 pm.