November 2020 Minutes
Minutes of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Parish Council Meeting
Date: Thursday 30th November 2020
Venue: Virtual Zoom meeting at 6-30 p.m.
Councillors present Cllr T. Packer – Chairman, Cllr S Remzi – Vice Chairman, Cllr M. Bradshaw, Cllr P. Randell
Also Present County Cllr M Whittington, District Cllr P Bosworth
Clerk & RFO Mrs Emma Wilson
Due to the current Covid-19 Coronavirus situation, the Parish Council had this meeting via Zoom; detail of some agenda items were sent via email to councillors to enable some background and pre-decision making and followed up with confirmation detail during this meeting.
1. Chairman’s Welcome Remarks
The chair thanked those attending and welcomed all to this zoom parish council meeting.
2. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr J. Salmon due to IT technical issues. Reasons for absence were noted and accepted.
3. Disclosure of interest in agenda items – Nil
4. To approve Minutes of meeting held on the 21st September 2020
The draft minutes having been circulated prior to the meeting were agreed and proposed to be a true and accurate record. They were passed as approved by resolution of the Council and recorded as so at the meeting.
Plans were put in place for the clerk to meet with the Chair to get a physical signature on the documents. The minutes were duly signed and dated accordingly by the Chairman on 01/12/20.
5. Playground - Regular Safety Checks - Update Cllr Remzi & Cllr Bradshaw
Nothing to report
6. Parish Speed Check Equipment - Clerk & Cllr Bradshaw (updated quote for solar speed sign)
Options were discussed (information circulated prior to meeting) regarding the new speed sign, size & colour.
It was agreed that the Bluetooth connectivity and data logging as an extra £350 was not a requirement. The ‘Check Your Speed’ reflective sheet in Yellow/Green was chosen and proposed by Cllr Remzi, this was seconded by Cllr Randell and passed as approved by resolution of the Council.
Action; Clerk will reaffirm costs and specification with Anthony Rylance and request an invoice proforma then go ahead with the order.
7. Ground maintenance Mr Hughes - Update Chairman
Cllr Packer confirmed he had received the correct invoice which has now been paid. He also received the invoice for end of March and the work will just need checking for completion before payment. Unfortunately Mr Hughes then handed in his notice to finish the contract for ground maintenance permanently at the end of the financial year. The clerk offered to get an up to date quote from the contractor that was approached last year and also to contact Environment SK as they have been emailing to request to quote anyway. The clerk said she would forward on the contact details of Cllr Randell to ESK as they would probably need assistance with a site visit.
Action; Clerk to update original quote and facilitate second quote with support from Cllr Randell
8. Query costs new Parish Noticeboard - Update Clerk
Clerk confirmed she had sent measurement detail to Cllr Bradshaw that he asked for re siting of the board near ring tree. She confirmed she had received a 10% discount which ended today but had contacted the company and they have agreed to extend this to be included in our order if we could confirm 1st December. This would save just over £80.
It was confirmed receipt of the £500 grant very kindly offered by Cllr Bosworth towards the noticeboard.
Cllr Bradshaw asked about installation of the noticeboard. Clerk verified that a ready mix ‘postcrete’ is available but obviously the holes would still need digging. Cllr Randell offered to help with digging and preparing the holes but also asked about making sure there are no utility supplies beneath. It was agreed this would need checking before any groundworks were commenced. It was also recorded that we should check the freehold landowner on the ring tree site to make sure permission is granted to site it here if required. It was agreed though that the order could be instigated. It was thought with allowing for lead time on manufacture and other checks required early spring/Easter would be earliest time for site work. Cllr Remzi mentioned a valid point that it was unlikely permission was granted to plant a tree on the site if utilities were there. Cllr Randell offered to contact Electricity and Anglian Water to make enquiries on the council’s behalf. Cllr Whittington offered to email the local Highways Manager and ask just in case LCC do have any records about utilities pertaining to the proposed site.
Cllr Packer offered to contact Belvoir Estate to make enquiries about the land and also enquire about when the ring seat was sited and the tree planted they may have been aware of any issues at that time.
There was discussion about how we would continue to utilise the existing Parish Council Noticeboard, and though no final decision was made, consensus was that maybe we could allow that to be used for village notices predominantly with a note directing parishioners to the new larger board which will have more capacity for minutes/agendas and Parish Council Posters etc. It was agreed more discussion would be required about this as and when the new board is in situ.
After much discussion Cllr Remzi proposed whilst we have the discount available and the funding, the order should go ahead, the site itself can be confirmed at a later stage if the proposed site is not appropriate. The proposal to order was seconded by Cllr Bradshaw.
Action; Clerk will place order and request invoice proforma which will be for 50% of the total costs and instigate payment as required.
Action; Cllr Randell to contact Electricity Suppliers and Anglian Water to make enquiries on the council’s behalf.
Action; Chairman to also contact Belvoir Estate to make enquiries on the council’s behalf.
Action; Cllr Whittington to email local Highways Manager
Action; Cllr Bradshaw offered to check with ex-chairman Gilly Ward to see if he has any knowledge.
9. Village GP Surgery- Chair (correspondence circulated at time of sending/receipt)
Detail from meeting agenda below
1. Action from 21/09/20; Cllr Bradshaw to follow up on the petitions in Woolsthorpe and Knipton to facilitate submission before the end of the consultation.
Cllr Bradshaw confirmed he had posted the petition off to the CCG on 16th November as requested
2. Action from 21/09/20; Chair to put together a summary of our objections and concerns; circulate to all councillors before submitting to the agreed official representatives and professional bodies.
Chair sent the following
Letter to Vale Medical Group
Letter to NHS England
Letter to MP re surgery closure
Letter to Lincs CCG
Letter to East L & R CCG
Letter FOI request to surgery re Car Park
Correspondence received (attached again for information)
a) Vale Med Group to WPC 05_10_2020
b) WPC Response to Vale Med Group 06_10_2020
c) Vale Med Group further response to WPC 12_10_2020
d) Letter from MP 13_10_2020
e) Email NHS England 17_11_2020Action
Further to the information above Cllr Packer confirmed that he attended the Zoom sessions that the GP surgery had. Cllr Randell and Cllr Bradshaw also logged in to one of these meetings. Cllr Packer mentioned at the session that contrary to their claims that only 4 people per week were using the prescription service that this was highly unlikely having witnessed himself on one particular day at least 5 people in the queue using this service and this was just one day.
Cllr Randell commented that his main concern was with the survey sent out as letters were sent out only to one person per household which would not give a true reflection as potentially up to 4 or 5 people from the same household could use the surgery. The survey was also only sent as he understood it to people in the village itself when there are plenty of people from surrounding villages that also access the practice.
It was felt that we have made the parish councils view on opposing the closure very clear indeed and we must now await the outcome and then as required move forward with any appeals process as it becomes available.
Cllr Whittington said he is a member of the Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee and at their meeting mid-October Woolsthorpe GP Surgery was on the agenda and the CCG were there also. Cllr Whittington said he asked what the current status was and he was told this decision was going to a meeting on 11th November 2020.
The actions from Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee meeting were as follows:-
1. That the Chairman be authorised to write to Vale Medical Group, recording the Committee's opposition to the proposal to close the Woolsthorpe Branch Surgery.
2. That the Chairman be authorised to write to the Chairman of the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group's Primary Care Commissioning Committee, urging that full account is taken of the views of Woolsthorpe residents when it makes a decision on the proposed closure of the Woolsthorpe Branch Surgery.
3. That the equality impact assessment; information on demand and capacity modelling; and the response of patients to the survey on the proposal be circulated to the Committee when this is available.
However in the November meeting this item was not even on the agenda. Cllr Whittington has queried this and has been promised that as and when the item is to be discussed again he will be notified.
Cllr Bradshaw reported that he had a response from Samantha Vamplew after submitting the petition to the CCG which stated it had been shared with senior colleagues at NHS Lincs CCG and that it would be considered at the Primary Care Commissioning Committee at their public meeting due to be held on 13th January 2021.
Village Christmas Tree - Cllr S Remzi
Cllr Remzi sent email out to all councillors for opinion on buying tree from Stathern primary school who are raising funds this Christmas by working with a local supplier to sell Christmas trees. It was approved and a 9ft traditional Christmas tree has already been delivered. It was agreed that Cllr Bradshaw would need the tree a few days before putting up to reduce the size of the trunk slightly. Cllr Remzi will deliver the tree to Cllr Bradshaw this coming week and he will prepare and put it in situ on the Sunday when the shop is closed.
Cllr Remzi has submitted a receipt to the clerk and approval was given to reimburse on this month’s accounts for payment.
11. Village Bench (Hagues Family)
Chairman confirmed that he would pen a letter of thanks as soon as time allows, perhaps with a Christmas card from the parish council.
12. Highways (Report by Cllr Remzi to Cllr Whittington)
(Action from 21/0920; list and submit survey of completed and outstanding highways jobs) Cllr Remzi had a full work agenda herself but confirmed she has started the list and hopes to have this done by the end of the week if possible and if the weather allows.
Cllr Packer asked Cllr Whittington if he could shed any light on the fact that several of the rather large craters in Cliff Road up the hill had been marked out by LCC and we were hoping that this meant they had been earmarked for corrective work. Unfortunately the marks have now worn away.
Cllr Whittington said he wished to report the about where Belvoir Road meets Cliff Road at Gateside (Brewers Grave) see below.
The chevrons sign has gone from the roadside approx. 6 months ago and there have been several instances where cars have driven in to the garden of gatehouse. The estate has made effort to help by siting some large logs in front of the property. He confirmed he had visited the residents about 3 weeks ago. Cllr Whittington has had assurance that both the chevrons and the other missing sign from further up Belvoir Road would be replaced as a matter of urgency. He confirmed he would be chasing up both matters shortly.
Cllr Bradshaw highlighted to Cllr Whittington an issue regarding the round 30 mph sign situated as you come down Cliff Road hill in to the village. This sign is electronic and did flash up red to deter speeding. It was damaged some time ago and subsequently straightened by highways but since being straightened the electrics no longer work.
Action; Cllr Remzi to finish off and submit list of survey of completed and outstanding highways jobs
Action; Cllr Whittington to chase potholes, chevron signage and fixing of village 30 mph sign with Highways.
Action; Cllr Whittington suggested a ‘village walk around’ with a member of the parish council to view all highways sites with issues. Cllr Whittington will email the chairman with suggested dates, hopefully before Christmas.
13. Clerks Report
a. Bank Statement & Reconciliation (circulated)
Cheque issued to Mr B Hughes has still not been presented and hopefully he will bank it very soon. Circulated prior to the meeting, no questions raised. Agreed by resolution of the council and to be signed by the Chair 01/12/20.
b. Precept 2021/22 (sheet circulated)
Circulated prior to the meeting not for discussion at this stage but to remind all councillors to review the information sent ready to make a decision at the next meeting in January.
14. Correspondence -circulated prior to the meeting.
a. SKDC Parish Update Oct 2020
b. CAB Pension Credit Poster
c. Parish Update Nov 2020
15. Planning
a. Greyhound Cottage S201666 – circulated correspondence with Pasture View Nurturing homes
Clerk confirmed she had submitted parish council response by the deadline 09/11/20 incorporating comments from parishioners and council members received. Chair then received the a letter 10/11/20 from Pasture View Homes which he responded to responded accordingly and it was then also circulated to parish all parish councillors for information.
Cllr Whittington commented that though not a planning issue if there are any concerns about quality of care for the children then this can be raised by anyone to Children’s Social Services at Lincolnshire County Council.
16. Documented Accounts paid – October 2020
a B Hughes, half year payment – Grass Cutting £575.00 100997
b. Clerks Salary, Hol. Pay Oct 2020 - £243.02
Exp. and Travel Oct 2020 (Inc. stationery) - £37.86 £280.88 100998
c. Community Cleaner Salary, Hol. Pay Oct 2020 £104.02 100999
d. Wave (Anglian Water) Charge Cobleas 09/03/20- 29/09/20 £23.94 101000
Total £983.84
17. Accounts for payment – November 2020
a S Woodward June £80-00, Sept £115-00, Oct£35-00 Total to Pay =£230 £230.00 101001
b. Clerks Salary, Hol. Pay Nov 2020 - £252.35
Exp.Nov 2020 - £5.40 £257.75 101002
c. Community Cleaner Salary, Hol. Pay Nov 2020 £86.82 101003
d. C Remzi – reimbursement Xmas Tree £78.00 101004
Total £652.57
18. Items for next month’s agenda/AOB
- Cllr Randell wished to highlight just for information that the graveyard wall at the top of the village had fallen down, however it is currently being repaired through action via the diocese and the district.
- Cllr Bradshaw asked the clerk if she had received any communication about a solar farm next to the A52; clerk confirmed that she had not. Cllr Bradshaw went on to report that he had spoken to the owner of Woolsthorpe Village Shop and Knipton Post Office and is also on Knipton Parish Council. He has said that everyone should have received notification about a pending planning application which has not yet been submitted regarding this which he says will encroach quite considerably towards Woolsthorpe. Further discussion at the meeting seemed to suggest that this application was actually on the Bottesford side of the A52 which would of course not fall within our parish and therefore we would not be notified officially. Cllr Remzi said she would see if she could find the information she had seen on the Woolsthorpe Facebook page and if found would circulate it to all for information.
- Confirmed date for next meeting is Monday 25th January.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.30 p.m.