Minutes of meeting held 17th November 2021.
A meeting of East Keal Parish Council was held on 17th November 2021 at 7pm at the Keal’s Village Hall, West Keal.
Due to an accident on the A16 the meeting did not start until 7.20pm as Cllrs had difficulty accessing the venue.
Welcome. Cllr Grahame Smith welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Public Forum. There were no items for discussion.
Present. Cllr Smith, Cllr Wrisdale, Cllr Boxer, Cllr Mckinlay, Cllr Gray, Cllr Swanson, Mrs E Martin, (Clerk to the Council) and one member of the public.
1. Apologies for Absence. These were received from Cllr Kemp. Apologies were accepted for the reason given.
Belated apologies were received from Mr D Cooper who was turned back by the police due to the accident.
2. Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15th September 2021 to be approved as the minutes. It was resolved that the notes be accepted as minutes of the meeting. Proposed by Cllr Mc Kinlay and seconded by Cllr Boxer. Slight clarification was made to item 8 to state War memorial and village sign.
3. Nomination to co-opt Dennis Cooper as a Councillor. This was proposed by Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Mckinlay. All agreed. The paperwork will be signed in due course.
4. Declaration of Interest. None given.
5. Reports from Representatives on outside bodies.
a) County Councillor. A comprehensive report, from Cllr Gray, had been circulated to Cllrs prior to the meeting. The main points being.
i. Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for Theddlethorpe:
RWM (Radioactive Waste Management) is looking for a suitable site across the UK. A working group is being formed to discuss this and gather information. Participating in the group does not mean the Council wants the GDF at the Theddlethorpe site and no view has been taken yet.
ii. Lincolnshire Waste Partnership – celebrating a successful year: Find out what LWP has achieved during the past year. Details facts and figures are available in the Annual Review 2020-21.
iii. Let’s Talk Lincolnshire is a new online engagement platform. If interested visit www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk and join the conversation.
iv. Live and Local Lincolnshire-Rural Touring promotes groups to bring performances to their local area. This is a ‘not for profit’ organisation. The performances are all designed for village halls, Churches and similar spaces where no stage, special lighting or equipment is necessary.
v. Connect to Support Lincolnshire. This is an online information and advice library, community directory and marketplace for people in Lincolnshire. The service also provides a live chat, email and telephone service for those people who prefer to access information in those ways.
LCC has recently been working with partners to establish the Joint Strategic Asset Assessment, the output of which is a Venues, Buildings and Facilities directory on the Connect to Support Lincolnshire website. The directory aims to give everyone access to information such as community buildings and other venues, green spaces, etc., together with travel options and access routes (public footpaths, cycle routes, etc.) so that people can organise community events, decide where to base new or existing groups and services and find where gaps are so that they can work together to prioritise developments (and much more!).
Please encourage all activities & venues in your areas that are not already on CTS are included on the site. A sign-up form, can be found at: https://lincolnshire.connecttosupport.org/sign-up/ .
vi. New pumps for improved response to flooding. LCC has bought two new trailer mounted flood pumps to support firefighters responding to severe weather
vii. Lincoln Castle illuminated. The Castle will be lit up each evening from 11th-23rd December.
viii. NHS Lincolnshire CCG public consultation on the future of NHS services is conducting a formal public consultation exercise on the future of a number of NHS services. This is your chance to share your views on these services. For more details, please see https://www.lincolnshire.nhs.uk/get-involved/our-campaigns/changes-to-nhs-services
ix. Free flu vaccines. Book your appointment as soon as you are invited. See the gov.uk website for a list of those who are eligible.
x. Queen's Green Canopy Initiative: HM Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Mr Toby Dennis and RAF Coningsby's Station Commander planted a tree at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to commemorate the Queen's 70th Jubilee.
xi. High Needs Strategy for Lincolnshire 2021-23: This strategy sets out the aims over the next three years to make sure children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Lincolnshire are helped to thrive. The full and easy read versions are available at SEND High Needs Transformation Update - September 2021 (sharepoint.com)
xii. Highways issues. Cllr Gray stated that he was aware of the frustration felt by some residents about the seeming lack of progress regarding Hall Corner and recent accidents. He stated that some of the emails he had received from residents were quite offensive and threatening.
He explained that some delays had been caused by teams of workers contracting Covid. He has spoken to the area manager regarding the issue and has brought forward a site visit to discuss the issues raised. This will be between Cllr Gray, K Nettle, and representation from the Parish Council. Cllr Mckinlay was asked to represent the Council. This will take place on 26.11.21 at 8.30am.
b) District Councillor.
i. ELDC are to receive government funding of £84k to support venerable residents living in rented property.
ii. ‘Festival Fabulosa’ is coming to local towns in December. Watch for details on ELDC website.
iii. Public Consultation on climate change. The publics views are being sought. The aim is net zero. Details on ELDC website.
iv. Telephone scams. Cold Callers are offering insulation deals. If you have any concerns you are advised to contact Citizens Advice.
v. LCC have been awarded £19.5 million for work on the A16 in the south of the county.
c) Neighbourhood Watch. There is a webinar, Street safe, available to view on 23.11.21 5pm to 6pm. It aims to help women and girls to identify and inform the police of areas in the county where they feel unsafe, when out and about. This is a three-month pilot. Details can be submitted anonymously. Cllr Boxer will circulate the link.
d) Village Hall Committee. The new shed has been purchased and erected. Groups are already using it.
Hall fees will be reassessed in the New Year.
The recently formed new groups are using the hall regularly.
6 New Social Groups.
i. Art Group. This group has met twice and are planning to meet every other week.
ii. Local History. The aim is to record historic items for future generations. This group has met twice and is enthusiastically supported.
iii) Wildlife Group. This groups are recording the wild life observed in the village. The next meeting is Friday 19.11.21 at 11.30am.
7. Village Groups.
a) PCC. Forthcoming events include:- 27.11.21 The Christmas Fayre.
14.12.21 Carol Singing around the village. Meet at the shop at 6pm. Donations will go to Centrepoint.
19.12.21 Carol Service in Church at 4pm. All welcome.
25.12.21 Christmas Day Service at 9.30am.
b) WI. No Report.
c) Gardening Club. A successful visit to Woodthorpe Garden Centre has recently been held.
On 24.11.21 there is a Christmas table decoration demo and make one to take home. 7pm in the Village hall. Please book your place with Dawn on 753558.
The Christmas lunch is on 8.12.21 at North Shore.
The AGM will be held on 28.1.22 at the Village Hall at 7.30pm.
d) Village Volunteers.
i. Thanks were expressed to all those who helped tidy up the War Memorial for the Remembrance Service.
ii. A volunteer is needed to help strim the grass at the front of this area on a regular basis.
iii. Litter pick equipment. A quote of £152.76 for litter pick equipment was brought to the meeting. It was felt this was rather excessive and if the number of rings were reduced the cost could be brought down to just over £100.
Cllr Gray knew of a scheme where ‘free’ equipment could be obtained. He will forward this information to Cllr Mckinlay. A member of the Council offered to help fund this if grants could not be found.
This item to be included at the next meeting.
8. Planning
a) S/045/01392/21 No progress.
b) S/045/01848/21. This planning application has now been accepted.
9. Finance
a) Reimbursement to Mrs E Martin £23.94 for expenses for Meet the Cllrs and thankyou cards.
b) Invoice for £10.00 for Hire of Hall for 17.11.21.
c) Attendance at LALC’s AGM. Travel for Cllr Kemp £36.68 and attendance fees of £33.00.
d) Wreath £25.00 to Royal British Legion.
Items a to d were proposed by Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Mckinlay. All agreed.
e) Bank reconciliation and Financial Report as at 12.11.21. Acceptance of these documents was proposed by Cllr Wrisdale and seconded by Cllr Boxer. All agreed.
f) Acceptance of draft budget for 2022/23. After a discussion it was agreed that provision for flowers for the village be increased to £75.00. Provision for a new notice board be included, cost £600. This would mean that provision for the transfer of funds be increased to £800.00. Proposed by Cllr Mckinay and seconded by Cllr Boxer. It was hoped that some grant funding might be found.
10. Report from LALC AGM. This document has been circulated prior to the meeting.
11. Concerns over the number of accidents on A16 in village. A recent accident on this corner has resulted in the Armco barrier being flattened. Since then, there have been two more accidents. Some residents felt there was now no protection on the bend for pedestrians. The white lines are mainly obliterated and the slow marking on the road is very dull. Vehicles are being directed to Skegness via Spilsby, off the A52, meaning that the volume of traffic has increased through the village in recent years. Also, as vehicles are getting larger, this often leaves little space for them to pass on this bend.
It was also suggested that some sort of technical analysis should be done on the bend. It was asked if a speed camera could be set up in the village to record the speed of the though traffic. Cllr Boxer offered to contact the local PCSO to see if this could be organised.
12. Update on the Platinum Jubilee event and request for financial support. Plans for this event are well underway.
A letter from this group has been received by the Council requesting financial help.
It was stated that the proposed cost of the event, the hire of a toilet, insurance, hire of a DJ, will come to about £600. So far businesses in Spilsby have donated £250 cash and numerous prizes for raffles. £250 was raised from a recent tabletop sale and coffee morning. £111 was received from the sale of Halloween bags. This totals £611.00. Other events are being organised and they include:-
A coffee morning and Craft fayre on 4.12.21 in the village hall.
Sale of craft bags for Christmas and Easter.
A coffee morning and peg loom craft event on 8.1.21.
Jubilee afternoon teas on Sat 6th Feb 2022.
After a discussion it was agreed that EKPC would pay a grant of £120 towards the cost of the toilet hire. Proposed Cllr Boxer and seconded by Cllr Wrisdale. A cheque for £120 was given to Cllr Mckinay. It is hoped that West Keal will match fund this.
Cllr Gray stated that the National Lottery have recently offered grants to support community events such as being organised. Cllr Mckinay to look into this.
It was also suggested that a beacon could be purchased to celebrate this event. It was agreed that this item would go on the next agenda.
13. Welcome booklet. No new residents identified.
14. Update of documents - Data Map. Data Breech and Data Privacy Notice. These documents had been circulated prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Mckinay and seconded by Cllr Boxer that they be accepted. All agreed. Thanks were expressed to Cllr Kemp for undertaking this.
15. Documents to be reviewed Subject Access Request Policy. Cllr Wrisdale agreed to look at this policy document.
16. Report from Meet the Councillors event 26th Sept. Approx 40 residents attended this event. One item some residents would like to see in the village is a park and play area for local children.
17. Lincolnshire Local Listing. A request for a list of historically interesting items in the village is being sought. This was put to the local history group who could not suggest anything to add.
18. Correspondence
a) Trees for residents. After numerous emails no residents continued with their application for trees.
b) Red Cross courses. After contacting the Red Cross they stated that the courses they are offering at present are not suitable for our village.
19. Any other matters for discussion only or next Agenda.
20. Date of next meeting 19.1.2022.
Signed ………………………………. Date........................