February 2023 Minutes
Hagworthingham Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 27 February 2023 commencing at 7.00 p.m.
Present: With Cllr Edmund Done in the Chair, there were present Cllrs – Mark Clayton, Mrs Jan Hewitt, David Powell
Absent: Cllrs Mrs Heather Devereux, David Freeman, Paul Masters
The Chairman opened the public forum and advised that a Councillor had confronted a local resident regarding waste dumping on Old Main Road and had been met with an abusive response.
The Chairman declared the meeting opened at 7.00 p.m.
55. Chairman’s Announcements
The Chairman wished to send sympathy to all those absent and their respective difficulties.
56. Apologies for absence and reasons given
It was
RESOLVED – That apologies, with valid reasons for absence, be accepted from Cllrs Mrs Heather Devereux, David Freeman and Paul Masters
57. Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 not previously notified and/or consideration of any written request for Dispensation
Cllr Done wished to declare a non-pecuniary interest with respect to the churchyard.
58. Notes of the meeting of the Council held on Monday 21 November 2022 to be approved as Minutes and signed by the Chairman
It was proposed by Cllr Clayton, seconded by Cllr Powell and:-
RESOLVED – That the notes of the meeting of the Council held on Monday 21 November 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman and signed at a later date.
59. Damage to Gates
Damage to the Gates at West End of village, with repairs costed at £325, with an excess of £100 and works ordered, was noted.
60. Flags
It was
RESOLVED – That as previously budgeted, payment be raised in the sum of £149.15 + VAT to Newton Flags and Banners for replacement Union Flag and St George’s Flag.
61. Financial Matters
(a) Monies at Bank – Business Account at 9.01.23 was reported as £6037.92, no Current Account statements were provided by Barclays
(b) To approve payment of outstanding invoices and payments made between meetings.
(c) Parish Grass Cutting Agreement 2023/24 – to note allowance advised by LCC of £804.79 and to consider grass cutting arrangements for this year.
(d) Update on bank signatories and change of correspondence address.
It was proposed by Cllr Powell, seconded by Cllr Clayton and:-
RESOLVED – (a) That items (a) and (b) above be noted and approved;
(b) that the Parish Grass Cutting Agreement 23/24 be noted and approved, with no proposal to seek alternative grass cutting quotes.
Note: Bank signatories were an ongoing issue.
62. Planning Matters
Members were asked to consider and make comments to the Local Planning Authority with regard to the following planning application:
(i) S/070/00107/23 | Planning Permission – Change of use and conversion to provide a holiday let (works already completed) - SOUTH COTTAGE, OLD MAIN ROAD, HAGWORTHINGHAM PE23 4LX
It was proposed by Cllr Powell, seconded by Cllr Hewitt and:-
RESOLVED – That the Parish Council has no objection to this application, particularly as the building had been in use for 3 years already.
Note: Cllr Clayton wished to declare a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the above application.
63. Highways Matters
Members noted the proposed reduction in speed limit to 50 mph on A158 at Rachel’s Café.
Following approval from ELDC to the emptying of a proposed resited waste bin from Bond Hays Lane, Members wished to defer consideration of whether or not to proceed, and any necessary public consultation with neighbouring properties, until such time as Cllr Masters was available to contribute to the debate.
The subject of provision of Wheelie bin speed limit stickers was deferred for consideration on the agenda of the next meeting.
64. Village Coronation Event
Members were asked to consider and decide upon hosting a village event during the Coronation weekend (6 May 2023) and to determine maximum expenditure to be funded from general reserves.
It was
RESOLVED – That the Parish Council thanks Cllr Will Grover for his grant offer of £200 and the Parish Council would match fund this from general reserves, to facilitate a Village Coronation Event; the offer of use of a barn was noted, with thanks, and Sue Done would canvass local resident volunteers to participate and form a steering group for the event, on behalf of the whole village, and not one single group in particular.
65. Volunteers for Church Grass Cutting
A report was received advising of poor take up in volunteers for grass cutting at the Church.
It was proposed by Cllr Clayton, seconded by Cllr Hewitt and:-
RESOLVED – That, in order to maintain this asset for the village, the Parish Council would make available from general reserves provision of £200 per cut for the season from March 2023 (with frequency of cuts to be determined and agreed at the next meeting), to the Council’s own current grass cutting contractor for maintenance of the Churchyard.
66. Village Voice
Cllr Hewitt reported that the VV would cease in its present form given the popularity of social media, increasing printing costs and the growing feeling that it had outlived its relevance.
Members noted that a volunteer had come forward to continue with a VV newsletter to be delivered free to every household, with greater frequency; full details to follow. Members noted the foregoing.
67. To receive reports from Councillors relating to outstanding projects
Cllr Powell wished to highlight the need for a long ladder to safely effect the rotation of the Reactive Speed Devices; this matter would be discussed at a future meeting.
68. To receive reports from the Clerk in relation to Council matters
A short report on Parish Elections was read by the Chairman.
69. To receive general correspondence
There was none.
70. To confirm the date of the next meeting of the Council
It was proposed, seconded and:-
RESOLVED – That the date of the next ordinary meeting of the Parish Council be agreed as Tuesday 11 April 2023 at JJ’s Café at 7.30 p.m. and that due to Purdah and the May Parish Elections, the Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Monday 22 May 2023.
The meeting closed at 7.41 p.m.
Note: The matter of rubbish/fly tipping on the A158 near Aura-Soma gates was noted, with the Clerk asked to report to ELDC to effect removal.