February 2022 Minutes

Morton and Hanthorpe Parish Council
5, The Paddock, Morton, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 0NY
Telephone: 01778 571249      Email: mhpc.clerk@btinternet.com

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 22nd February 2022

7.15pm PUBLIC FORUM

No members of the public in attendance. Points received however re:  planning aspects (taken into account in the respective Planning Item 5) and parking on the grass east of the church / junction of East Lane.

The East Lane junction parking on the grass adjacent to the grit bin east of the church was discussed. It has been raised before and action is limited. Councillor Woolley will liaise with Housing /Highways to communicate the issue to local residents and try and dissuade parking on the grass.

7.17pm PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

In Attendance:      Cllr. R. Wells (Chair), Cllr. B. Hyde (Vice-Chair), Cllrs.: W. Lawrance, M. Harris, S. Reynolds, A. Morris, A. Tilley, K.  Morris, M. Tuohy 

Also in attendance:  County & District Cllr. S. Woolley, N. Walker (Clerk & R.F.O.)


1.    TO CONSIDER APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Apologies from Cllr. M. Mumby, Cllr. S. Hardy and County Councillor M. Hill.

2.    TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

None.

3.    TO CONSIDER CLERK’S NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 11th JANUARY 2022 FOR APPROVAL AS MINUTES. 

Following a proposal by Cllr. A.  Morris, seconded by Cllr. B. Hyde, the Clerk’s Notes of the meeting held on 11th January 2022 were approved as Minutes and were duly signed by the Chairman, Cllr. R. Wells.

4.    CLERK’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE:

Report:

Increased HGV vehicles and trailers application for Boarden House Farm withdrawn.
2 cases of fly-tipping in period. Addressed.
Hedges adjacent to A15 and Hanthorpe Road have been cut. Clipping in Hanthorpe dyke/rundle of concern.
Top-up requested for grit bins (Station Rd. nr. Piccadilly Way and Hanthorpe. 
PC holding in trust £500 Ward Member grant (Cllr. Sue Woolley) on behalf of the Morton & Hanthorpe Events Committee. 
                                                                                         
Correspondence:

Various Platinum Jubilee notices received (mostly product/sales offers).
Query re: Contact for Scouts Field. No clear contact point. (NB.  PC still holding trust monies)
Chase up received re: repair/replacement of High St. bench. (Plan in progress)
Offer to take part in ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ Spring Clean campaign.

5.    TO CONSIDER PLANNING MATTERS:

Applications:

S22/0016       14 Primrose Close, Morton. Mr. R. Reed. Erection of Rear Extension.
Due to required response dates from SKDC Planning the above application was reviewed by consultation with available Councillors. No objections were raised to the above submissions.

S22/0231       Halls Garage, Morton. Mr. S. Hall. Siting of mobile home for residential use.

S22/0236       10 Hanthorpe Rd. Morton. Mrs. M. Eddings Side extn. & replacement rear extn.

Correspondence was received from a parishioner regarding application S22/0231 and the points raised communicated to the Council. Elements of the concern will, by process, be reviewed by SKDC Planning.  After deliberation, the Council had no objections to the above applications.

Decisions: 

S21/1953       44A High Street Morton. Removal of Agricultural occupancy tie.                   Approved
S21/2150       78 Station Rd. Morton. 2 storey side and single storey rear extension.          Approved
S21/2191       17 High Street Morton. Conversion & extension of outbuilding.            Approved
S21/2489       Land south of Hill View Gardens. Construction Management Plan.       Approved
S21/2490       Land south of Hill View Gardens. Surface & Foul Water Drainage.       Approved
S21/2325       New House Farm, North Drove, Morton. Conversion (x 2).                          Refused.    
                             
6.    PAYMENTS & RECEIPTS:

Payments:

HMRC            3rd qtr. P.A.Y.E.                    £    403.80        
Mr. N. Walker         Reimbursement of 2 x Blk. cartridges    £      37.30
Morton Village Hall         Hall hire 11th Jan. PC meeting.                £      10.00
Mr. N. Wilkie                       Litter picking 7/1 to 28/1                                £      76.80
Mr. N. Walker                      Clerk’s salary for Jan.                £    461.77
LALC             Annual LALC & NALC subs.        £    493.33

Total in period=                    £ 1,483.00

Following a proposal by Cllr. W. Lawrance, seconded by Cllr. S. Reynolds, the Council approved the payments.

Receipts:
Wayleave                 Western Power Distribution            £     23.26
Cemetery                    Ashes Plot & Interment (Non-parishioner)    £   330.00
Cemetery                            Interment (Parishioner)                                     £   100.00
Cemetery                            Ashes plot/int./Mem. (Parishioner)                 £   265.00 
SKDC                 Ward Member grant. (Trust holding)        £   500.00

                                       Total in period=            £ 1,218.26    

7.    TO CONSIDER THE SELECTION OF APPROVED AUDITORS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22 
 
With the retirement of Keith Noakes as independent auditor for the Parish Accounts a new auditor is required. There has been volunteer from the village however unfortunately does not meet the necessary regulator requirements. 3 local AGAR approved audit companies were approached and quotes provided as follows: 1) £165.oo + VAT    2) £300.oo +VAT.   Third contact has not responded.

Following a proposal by Cllr. B. Hyde, seconded by Cllr. M. Harris, the Council approved the selection of Quote 1. Clerk to formalise selection and engage the respective company.

8.     TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT OF MORTON CEMETERY RULES TO PERMIT THE USE OF MODERN BIODEGRADEABLE CASKETS / URNS.

Following a proposal by Cllr. A. Morris, seconded by Cllr. M. Harris, the Council approved the proposal.  Clerk to amend the Cemetery Regulations accordingly, include responsibility statement regarding soil sinkage/levelling and inform local Funeral Directors of the amendment.
 
9.     TO CONFIRM THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING:  – Tuesday 29th March 2022

10.     TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES:

County & District Councillor Sue Woolley:

Complaint received regarding the number of vehicles parking on Station Rd. adjacent to the church bungalows.

Grassed areas condition on The Crescent and adjacent playing field. SKDC are responsible for these areas through EnvironmentSK. They are not cut during the late Autumn/Winter period. The areas are currently near their longest growth of grass at end of winter period with first cut of this year planned for March. Situation to be monitored.

Road condition of St. John’s Close. General road condition is poor especially the concrete section adjoining the High St. Highways to be contacted and requested to review and address the situation.

Other Matters:

Issue with the dropped kerb adjacent to the school pedestrian gate. Drop insufficient. Effective step not traversable by Mobility Scooters. Clerk to raise FixMyStreet report.

Street light outside school not working. Clerk to raise FixMyStreet report with lamp number detail.

Co-operative Store exit. ‘No Entry’ sign has abraded away and indistinct. Clerk to write to Lincolnshire Co-Op. to request paint refresh as vehicles continue to enter the car park the wrong way (off A15) 

Query as to whether the Church Clock is chiming correctly. Clerk to investigate, engage Smiths (Clock Maintenance Company) if issue found.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 8.28 pm.