2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES POINTON & SEMPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday 21st November 2023 at 7.30 pm in St Gilbert Primary School

Councillors Present: Cllrs Christie, Green, Greenwood, Keeley and Wesley (Chair).

In attendance: D. Cllr Dixon-Warren, Parish Clerk Boden and 30 members of the public.

To be noted that the meeting may be recorded for the purpose of transparency.

23103. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

To receive reports from outside bodies.

Report from C.Cllr Hill. No report received.

Report from D. Cllr Dixon-Warren. The November update will be forwarded shortly.

Questions or Points raised by residents and members of the public. A member of the football team read out the September minutes and asked whether the clerk was qualified. Cllr Wesley answered the question and explained the clerk worked for the Council and had carried out the work as requested by them.

A resident complained that 4 street lights that had previously been reported had still not been repaired. The footpath towards Billingbrough was in a mess and dangerous. Footpaths are the responsibility of LCC and works are already part of the programme for next year.

A member of public expressed concern that nothing had been spent on the Pavilion for the last 20 years and wanted to know why. This is before the present Cllrs term of office and answers could not be given but money now needs spending.

At this point a member of public wanted the meeting recording for transparency as they were concerned that the usual recording equipment was not in situ for the evening. It was explained that Cllr Clarke could not attend the meeting and it was usually recorded by him.

Some of the public were upset about the state of the grass and this had been requested to by spoken about at the PC meeting. They were upset that the volunteers were not being allowed to cut the grass. It was stated that they had not tendered for the contract or provided any information and previously they were charging the PC £100 a month. Volunteers cannot charge for their service but for their expenses. The PC were being charged for both.

A resident asked if the PC had the 3 quotes required for the H&S report being discussed in closed session and why was it being discussed in closed session. It was explained that the PC had 3 quotes and it was classed as commercially sensitive information. The PC were following recommendations from the ICO website.

COUNCIL SESSION

AGENDA

23104. To receive and accept apologies for absence. It was resolved to accept apologies from Cllr Clarke due to personal reasons.

23105. To receive Declarations of interest. No declarations were received.

23106. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 17th October 2023 and for the chair to sign. It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 17th October 2023 and for the chair to sign.

23107. Playing Field.

a) To consider the state of the grass cutting. The grass was left in an appalling condition after the last cut and it was not cut low enough. It was resolved to request a meeting on site with the contractor.

b) To receive an update of the ROSPA inspection. The ROSPA inspection showed the extent of the problems with the play equipment. Cllr Clarke has been working on the grant applications but the amount that can be applied for from the National Lottery changed on the 18th November so it has been sensible to delay.

23108. Finances:

a) To receive the clerk’s report on payments between meetings

It was resolved to accept the clerk’s report on the payments between meetings.

b) To approve payments as list below.

Invoice Date Payee Amount

It was resolved to approve the payments listed above. 

c) To consider and approve the bank reconciliation. It was resolved to approve the bank reconciliation.

23109. Newsletter. To consider a donation towards the Village Newsletter. It was resolved to donate £25.00 towards the Village Newsletter.

23110. Clerk’s report. To receive an update of outstanding matters from the previous meetings. The clerk had received the payment for the outstanding amount from the small claims court. She had also received an email from SKDC showing the minutes of the meeting on the decision regarding the grant made by FC for the temporary welfare unit. The PC had no involvement in the decision made by SKDC.

23111. White Gates. To form a working party to measure up for the white gates after receiving planning permission. It was resolved for Cllrs Christie and Wesley to measure up for the white gates after receiving planning permission.

23112. Employment. To consider the employment of a lengthsman and the placement of the job description. Due to the recent resignation, it was resolved for the staffing committee to create an employment pack for the position of a lengthsman.

23113. Pavilion. To consider the future situation of the building following the public meeting. The public meeting was held on at the Village Hall.  Cllr Wesley expressed his feeling that the public views came across well and questions had been answered.

Members of the public expressed their concern again that the PC had never put any money into the building over the years and that the FC need a welfare unit. The meeting became raucous with many members of public reacting and shouting out

The meeting was suspended at 8.12pm after following the correct procedure.

The meeting was resumed at 8.15pm.

The PC discussed the way forward for the Pavilion and resolved that it would be best that the structure of the building be established first before instructing a H&S report

23114. Date and time of next Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 12th December at 7.30pm. 

CLOSED COUNCIL SESSION:

Items of a confidential nature to be debated in the absence of the press and public. Under the Public Bodies (Admission to the Meetings) Act 1960 (due to the confidential nature of the business).

23115. To review the NALC pay awards accepted for the financial year 2023-24. It was noted that NALC pay award be accepted for the financial year 2023-24 and for any back pay owed be paid.

23116. To consider the quotes received for the Pavilion.

a) Quotes for a Structural Engineers report. It was resolved that the quote from Quarrington Design Ltd for £500 + vat be accepted and for the clerk to instruct the company.

b) Quotes for an H&S Audit. As previously discussed in the Council Session the quotes for the H&S be deferred until the structural engineer’s report has been received. 

If the structural engineer’s report states the building is of sound structure it was resolved that both an electrical report and legionnaire’s report could be carried out, to move the situation along.

The meeting closed at 9.04pm.