October 2021 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 11 October 2021 at 7:00 pm.
Participating: Chairman: Cllr Mr T R Batten
Councillors: Cllr Mrs C Batten, Cllr Mrs M Cassidy, Cllr Mr M A Cassidy, Cllr Mr M Pears, Cllr M Collier
Also in attendance: County Cllr Richard Write, D/Cllr Jim Clarke
Mrs Kirsty Elson, Clerk to the Parish Council
3 members of the public were in attendance.
At 7:00pm everyone was welcomed to the meeting and the members of the public were invited to address the meeting.
The Chairman invited the MOP to address the Council. No comments from the public
County Councillor Richard Write discussed the offer of a tonne of grit for the Parish for the winter months, this is available if the Parish Council have a store for it. Parish Council to reply by the end of October.
Works on the Holdingham roundabout are going well and the roundabout should be opened as scheduled.
A member of the public raised concerns to the County Cllr about the increase in traffic through Cranwell village due to the closure of the Holdingham roundabout. County Cllr Wright stated that once the roundabout is completed, he will do more about the HGV vehicles going through the village.
The Chairman thanked County Cllr Wright for attending the meeting.
District Councillor Jim Clarke discussed that the number of covid cases are currently 600. The green bins will continue to be examined on collection. Plastic bottles/containers, glass and tins all need to be cleaned before people put them in their green bins, otherwise this can contaminate the whole lorry load. 19% of green bins in Sleaford and Heckington were rejected at the last collection due to incorrect items being put in them.
Joanne Plews the Customer Relationship Co-ordinator for the works being carried out on the Holdingham roundabout addressed the meeting. The A15 North Bound from the Holdingham roundabout will be fully closed this evening. The B158 into Sleaford will be closed from November 1st, McDonalds will still be accessible. Ms Plews was visiting the local Beavers and teaching the children not to play on building sites. Ms Plews also had hi-vis jackets to offer to the local first responders. Ms Plews also queried if the “not suitable for diverted traffic” signs had made a difference to the traffic through the village? Chair – Possibly a little difference, but traffic is still higher than before the works began.
The Chairman then thanked Joanne Plews for coming to the Parish Council meeting.
The Chairman declared the ordinary September meeting open at 7:21 pm.
1. To receive apologies for absence and reasons given i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr Chapman had sent his apologies for absence due to person issues. Cllr Bayly sent his apologies for his absence due to a back injury.
Proposed by Cllr Maureen Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Michael Cassidy and approved unanimously, that the councillors present accepted the reasons given for Cllr S Chapman’s and Cllr M Bayly’s absence.
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.
Cllr M Pears declared and interest in item 4.b.
Cllr Michael Cassidy and Cllr Maureen Cassidy also declared an interest in item 4.b.
3. Notes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 13 September 2021, of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council to be approved as Minutes.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the notes of the ordinary meeting held on Monday 13 September 2021, of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council, as Minutes.
Proposed by Cllr M Collier, seconded by Cllr C Batten and approved unanimously.
4. Financial Matters
a. Approve the payments made since the last meeting.
Lincoln Roofing (old school roof repair) EB-0718 £ 2,552.98
Southern Electric 170335941 (2nd Quarter) DD £ 3,221.28
Mrs K A Elson (Clerk Salary, paid 1st October) EB-0719 £ 674.96
Mrs K A Elson (Clerk Expenses, paid 1st October) EB-0719 £ 56.41
Total: £ 6,505.63
Action: The Council queried the Southern Electric invoice; this needs to be looked into before payment is made. The council then RESOLVED to approve the other payments made since the last meeting. Proposed by Cllr M Collier, seconded by Cllr M Pears and approved unanimously.
b. Approve the payment of invoices etc. as listed on the payments to be authorised sheet.
Warden and Security Services (Inv-065) EB-0720 £ 132.00
John Scotney Turf Management Inv x 2 EB-0721 £ 186.62
Cllr M Cassidy August/Sept Expenses (mileage) EB-0722 £ 53.60
Cllr M Pears Expenses (Printing/IONOS,Mailchimp) EB-0723 £ 22.97
Anglian Water (Acct *****5216 - Old School) DD £ 20.00
BT Business Payment Services Ltd DD £ 74.28
Total: £ 489.47
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments of invoices etc. as listed on the payments to be authorised sheet.
Proposed by Cllr C Batten, seconded by Cllr M Collier by a vote of 3 for, 0 against and 3 abstentions.
c. Approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month.
Proposed by Cllr M Pears, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy and approved unanimously.
d. Consider the quotes for the renewal of the village hall WIFI contract.
The Chair has consulted with the Social Club and the Village Hall Committee who had two separate Wifi accounts in the same building (Village Hall). The Chair was given the approval by both parties to fit an extender to the Social Club’s WIFI so this could be accessed from the main Village Hall room, (the Village Hall Committee will pay a contribution to the Social Club’s Wifi). As the Social Club’s WIFi now covers all of the Village Hall there is no need for a separate Wifi account for the Village Hall. The Chair proposed to close the BT account for the Parish Council who manage the Village Hall WifI.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to close the Parish Council BT account. Proposed by Cllr T Batten, seconded by Cllr M Pears and approved unanimously.
e. Approve the Clerk/RFO to request a Parish Council debit card from Lloyds Bank, for the Parish Council to make purchases online. All purchases must have receipts signed by two signatories.
The Council concluded that the previous Clerk held a debit card for the Parish Council, and this was still needed to for the Parish Council to make purchases online, such as the CCTV equipment for the Village Hall.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the Clerk/RFO to request a Parish Council debit card from Lloyds Bank, for Parish Council online purchases.
Proposed by Cllr M Pears, seconded by Cllr Michael Cassidy and approved unanimously.
5. Receive a report from the Clerk on matters pertaining to the Parish Council.
i. The Clerk reminded the meeting that she would be on leave and unavailable on the following dates: 25th – 30th October.
ii. 20/09/21 - Clerk has sent an email to Warden and Security Services requesting the Warden report to be sent to the Council 10 days before the meeting and his invoice to be sent to the PC 7 days before the meeting.
iii. 20/09/21 - Emails sent to Streetwise Environment Limited and Belvoir Tree Care declining the quotes. Emailed JW Clark Tree and Garden Services to accept the quote.
iv. 22/09/21 – Clerk contacted local contractor to fix the broken fence panel by the bottle banks. 06/10/21 – No reply from local contractor, Clerk sent another email.
v. 24/09/21 – Contacted NKDC about the two trees near the play area with dead branches. NKDC were not aware of the issue, sent someone to go and inspect the site.
vi. 06/09/21 – Contacted Caloo about the skier, booked in for 21st October, fuel shortages.
vii. 06/09/21 – Contacted SSE/SMS about the installation of the ARM meter. The 25th of October between 8am and 12noon was confirmed for the install.
viii. 09/10/21 – Defibrillators checked all fine. Byards Leap battery and pads due for replacement in December. Components Ordered, 08/10/21.
ix. Bristow Road – Still need to find the contact in Kier.
6. Planning Applications.
Received: PAR: 21/1452/HOUS. Proposed two storey side extension and erection of a garage and a side port – 4 Bristow Road, Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8FG. No objections by the Council.
Determined: PAR: 21/1072/FUL. Proposed use of log cabin in domestic garden to beauty salon. 5 Baghdad Road, Cranwell, Sleaford. Planning application approved.
7. Receive reports from Councillors on their Areas of Responsibility.
Cllr C Batten – Stated there was nothing to report for her area.
Cllr M Cassidy – Byards Leap – The displaced sign on the B6403 has been reported, Ref 405788.
Large pothole in the layby/edge of carriage way ref 405792, has been deemed no further action. Cllr Cassidy queried why as the pothole is approximately 2ft wide by 6-8 inches deep in places.
A17 Traffic Island next to B6403, several potholes beginning to form. Not deep enough to report yet.
B1429 – Bus shelter opposite West Parade, plexi glass has algae on it and the roof has a large build-up of dirt.
LCC Street lights BN6,8 and 10 not working. Reported to LCC on 01/10/21
Pavements between Lighter Than Air Road and transport hub are beginning to break up, top surface eroded in some areas. Pavements near St Michaels church in the same condition.
Loose metal plate and two streetlights not working in the layby by OASC. Cllr Cassidy suggested that the PC write to NKDC to advise who owns this layby and streetlights. (Both the RAF and LCC claim they are not theirs)
RAF Lights 39,41,54 and 62. Cllr Cassidy will report these to the RAF.
Willow Lane Potholes – LCC emailed ‘works are scheduled’.
HM Queen Platinum Jubilee tree - Due for delivery between November and late February 2022. Cllr Cassidy will mark two suitable locations (marked 1,2 in yellow on the village green) for the English oak tree from the 13th of October, views from Cllrs /residents would be appreciated. Cllr Cassidy requested that the PC consider (in the next budget) placing an appropriate plaque to mark the occasion.
Cllr M Pears – Website – September Statistics: 1,022 users who viewed 4,128 pages. An average of 34 people per day viewing an average of 137 pages per day. Up by 45% in users over the previous month and up 33% in page views. We are back to 3rd ranked out of 314 sites for viewers. The Email Newsletter definitely boosted the visitors to the site. It is slowly becoming a valuable resource to the village.
Email Addresses - The Ionos bill has now gone up to £2.50 per month + vat after the initial £1 trial. The payment for this needs to be transferred to directly come from the Parish Council, this can be done by Direct Debit.
Email subscription Database - We currently have 72 subscribers and 98% are opening the message and viewing the contents. One newsletter and one newsflash has been sent out so far. Cllr Pears hopes to send out two newsletters each month with the occasional newsflash if the need arises.
Payment for the email subscription database needs to be transferred to directly come from the Parish Council, this can be done when the Clerk has been issued with a Parish Council Debit card.
8. Update on Speed Indicator Devices and their installation.
The 30mph signs are in place thanks to Cllr Maureen Cassidy and Cllr Michael Cassidy. The Parish Council have been promised more (free of charge) should receive them by this week. Cllr T Batten and Cllr M Pears had a site meeting with Graeme Butler of LCC to try and amend the SID placements to reduce the cost of the installation of the posts. The SIDS cannot be placed on lamp posts as they are not designed to resist the wind pressure created by a large object being attached to them. However, the SIDS can be put on to Road Traffic signs. It was agreed that one could be placed on the existing traffic sign near Thorold Avenue heading out of the village towards RAF Cranwell. A second SID could be placed onto a traffic sign on College Road before the Bristow Road junction heading into the village. No suitable road signs were identified at the Sleaford end of the village, so two poles will have to be erected at a cost of £200 each.
The Chair suggested that the Parish Council could ask Joanne Plews if they could cement in the poles for the parish, as a gesture of good-will. Cllr M Pears said he would write to Joanne and make the request.
A number of, 30mph bin stickers have been received this evening. Cllr M Pears will put this on the Parish Council Facebook Page and Website to ask residents that live on College Road to put them on their bins. Cllrs will all deliver the stickers to houses.
Mobile SID has been deployed and the Chair had noticed that traffic was considerably slower with it present.
Cllr M Pears noted that the 2 new Parish Council SIDs would be delivered in 10 days.
(i)To resolve whether to write to LCC highways to thank them for their help with the installation of the SID’s.
Action: The council RESOLVED to write to highways to thank them for their help.
Proposed by Cllr M Pears, seconded by Cllr Michael Cassidy and approved unanimously.
9. To redefine each councillor’s area of responsibility.
The Parish Council discussed their areas of responsibilities and redefined them as follows:
Cllr Michael Cassidy
Byards Leap Area – Western approach Bus Shelter and area from Cherry Tree Crescent – hedges, trees, roads, pavements, lights.
Sports Areas – pitches, courts, equipment, Play Area, Remembrance Garden.
Property oversight and acquisitions.
Police Liaison / Neighbourhood Panel
R.A.F. Liaison.
Cllr Mike Pears
Website manager.
Cranwell and Leasingham Newsletter liaison / communication systems.
Eastern Village area – A15 to Village Green, Willows Lane, North Road, Old School Lane, Farriers Gate, Oxenfold Farm Area – hedges, trees, roads, pavements, lights, bus shelter.
Noticeboards.
Cranwell Community Pavilion Sub Committee.
New SID’s deployment / maintenance.
Cllr Trevor Batten
Western Village Area to Flowerdown Avenue – Bristow Estate, College Gardens, B1429 Railway Mile up to Cranwell Avenue – hedges, trees, roads, pavements, lights.
Brauncewell.
Cranwell Social Club Committee Liaison.
Finance Liaison
Outdoor Bowls Club.
Junior Football Club
Cranwell Community Pavilion Sub Committee
New SID’s deployment / maintenance.
Cllr Carole Batten
Area of Village Cross to Bristow Estate (not including Old School Lane and Farriers Gate)
Cranwell Community Pavilion Sub Committee.
Village Hall Liaison.
Cllr Maureen Cassidy
Police Liaison / Neighbourhood panel
R.A.F. Liaison.
Cllr Shane Chapman
Cranwell Community Pavilion Sub Committee.
Cllr Mark Collier
Area of Flowerdown Avenue to Cherry Tree Crescent – Delhi Square, North Road, Bagdad Road and all other streets – hedges, trees, roads, pavements, lights and bus shelter.
Transport related matters.
10. To discuss the speeding through Cranwell Village and the action that the PC wish to take.
Cllr T Batten proposed that the Parish Council write to the police, regarding the ongoing increase in traffic and the speed of the traffic through the village. He suggested that the council write to; The Chief Inspector of Lincolnshire and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to write to the police regarding the traffic issues through Cranwell Village. Proposed by Cllr M Collier, Seconded by Cllr C Batten and approved unanimously.
11. To discuss the redecoration of the old school kitchen.
The Chairman informed the councillors that there had been water damage in the Old School kitchen, and this has caused damage to the plaster, which needs repairing. This is not covered by the insurance as when the damage was caused the roof was not in a good state of repair.
The Chairman stated that he would seek quotes for the work for the next Parish Council meeting.
12. To resolve how many trees the parish council would like from the LCC tree offer, the type of tree and where they will be placed around the parish.
After a little discussion it was decided that the Parish Council would like to request the following trees:
• 10 Oak Trees – for the sports field border.
• 4 Rowan Trees
• 4 Wild Cherry Trees
Action: The Council RESOLVED to request 18 trees from Lincoln County Council.
Proposed by Cllr Michael Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Maureen Cassidy and approved unanimously.
13. To consider whether to write to LCC to ask them to alert the RAF about streetlight 64.
This was no longer necessary as Cllr Michael Cassidy had presented County Cllr Richard Wright with this information before the formal meeting begun.
14. To resolve whether to obtain a quote to cut the hedge adjacent to the portacabins.
Action: The council RESOLVED to obtain a quote that does not exceed £300 to cut the hedge adjacent to the portacabins.
Proposed by: Cllr T Batten, Seconded by Cllr M Collier and approved unanimously.
15. Update on the Cranwell Community Pavilion project.
The report for the last sub-committee meeting had been circulated to all Councillors.
It was concluded that due to the effects of Covid/lock down on the economy the total cost of the committee build will exceed the budget. The sub-committee does not expect to ask the public for anymore money and will look to find funding from other sources such as, the National Lottery etc…
16. Confirm the date of the next meeting.
The Clerk confirmed that the date of the next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council will be on, Monday 8th November 2021.
17. 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.Consider the expression of interest to fill, via co-option, the vacant post of Parish Councillor.
Action: The Council RESOLVED to go into closed session.
Proposed by Cllr M Pears, Seconded by Cllr Michael Cassidy and approved unanimously.
This part of the meeting closed at 8.30pm
The members of the public left the meeting at 8.30pm.
The meeting continued in the absence of the public at 8.30pm.
(Not for publication by virtue of section 100(a) para 4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the items being of a confidential nature.)
18. The Chairman closed the meeting at 8:34 pm.