2025 Minutes

Morton and Hanthorpe Parish Council

5, The Paddock, Morton, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 0NY

      Telephone: 07547171357    Email: mhpc.clerk@btinternet.com

                                               

 

                         Clerk’s Notes of the Morton & Hanthorpe Parish Council Meeting,  

                                                           Tuesday 29th July 2025

 

In attendance: Cllrs:   B. Hyde, W. Lawrance, S. Reynolds, C. Walker, R. Carlton, K. Morris

Also in attendance:    N. Walker (R.F.O. & Clerk) + 1 member of the public.

                                                                 

            7.15pm PUBLIC FORUM

 

Grass on Bakers way around the trees has not been cut. Clerk to investigate.

Numerous overgrown hedges withing the village. (See Other Matters).

 Illegal car parking. – Car parking on the verge to the east of the Church: Bollards have now been installed  

 but where openings have been left for grass cutting access continues to allow entry for illegal parking.  

 Clerk to investigate option of fitting locking poles to access points to inhibit parking on this verge.

 

Broken fence / dog concern at Church bungalows. Report to SKDC.

Missing Station Rd. sign. Already reported to Highways. Action awaited.

 Weeds in gutters. Last (and only one this year) of the weed control spraying was largely ineffective. Clerk 

 to communicate with Highways to: ascertain date of next spraying campaign and request a slower 

 application of herbicide.

 Best Kept Village Competition: Morton and Hanthorpe won the Best Kept Village Competition in 2004.  

 Could we enter again and bring the villagers/volunteers together to address some of the above and other 

 maintenance issues to a focussed aim? Due to the nature of the competition and the issue of the old Kings 

 Head site unfortunately entering the Best Kept Village competition would be a non-starter.  Clerk to write 

 to the Co-Op. (land owners) to ascertain current plans / progress.

 

            7.35pm PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

         

1. TO CONSIDER APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr. M. Tuohy, Cllr. M. Harris, 

Cllr. A. Morris, Cllr. R. Wells, Cllr. A. Tilley, C.Cllr. M. Hill, C. & D. Cllr. S. Woolley.

 

Cllr. A. Tilley has not attended for a period of 6 consecutive months. In accordance with Local Government Act 1972, Section 85 has therefore ceased to be a member of this Council. Clerk to inform Cllr. Tilley & SKDC Democratic Services accordingly. 

 

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

 

3. TO CONSIDER CLERK’S NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 24th JUNE 2025 FOR APPROVAL AS MINUTES:

 

      Following a proposal by Cllr. W. Lawrance, seconded by Cllr. C. Walker, the Clerk’s Notes of the 

      meeting of 24th June 2025 were approved as Minutes & duly signed by the Chair Person, Cllr. B. Hyde       

 

4. CLERK’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:

 

Report:

National Grid proposed WMEL pylon lines. Public meeting attended. Objection / comment re: ‘outline’ (possible pylon proposed location) in cemetery! Invitation to join joint villages response group. 

The Clerk (Nick Walker) was proposed as the attendee from Morton & Hanthorpe. 

Discussion with Mr. G. Trafford re: PC adopting the defib. located at Morton School (as discussed at last meeting). Maintenance assessed: new battery pack + pads required. Clerk to address.

Litter picking equipment (grips & ring) broken. Replaced.

Tender requests for play equipment issued – responses awaited.

 

Correspondence:

Notification of proposed PRoW to Bourne Woods.

Notification of Playsafety (RoSPA) Station Rd. playing field & play equipment inspection in August.

 

5. TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH BUDGET:

 

Payments:

Anglian Water	Cemetery tap use 7/3 to 6/6	£           21.53
Mrs. L. Lawrance	1st qtr. playing field litter collection.	£         216.30
Mr. M.  Lawrance	1st qtr. cemetery maintenance.	£         477.75
St. John the Baptist Church	Church hall hire – June PC mtg.	£           15.00
Mr. N. Walker	Clerk’s 1st qtr. expenses.	£         135.08
Mr. N. Walker	Clerk’s salary for June.	£         651.66
Mr. N. Wilkie	Litter picking 14/6 to 5/7	£           87.60
Mr. N. Walker	Reimbursement- Defib spares + litter picking equipment.	£         196.88

 

                                                                  Total payments in period=         £      1,801.80

     

Following a proposal by Cllr. R. Carlton, seconded by Cllr. S. Reynolds, the Council approved the payments.

 

 Receipts:

Cemetery fees (x 3)

Interment (x 1) + Memorials (x 2)

£        375.00

                

                  Total receipts in period =           £        375.00  

 

6. TO CONSIDER PLANNING MATTERS:

 

        Applications:   None in period.

 

        Decisions:

 

        S25/0046   Manor Farm, 38 High St. Morton. Barn Conversion to single dwelling.          Granted

        S25/0648   Manor Farm (as above)….                                                                                  Consent

        S25/0651   1 The Sidings. Removal of outbuildings & erection of annex.                          Granted

        S25/0708   Elvidges Farm, South Fen, Morton. Vary condition – erection of general        Granted

                          purpose agricultural building.

 

7. TO CONFIRM THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 23rd SEPT. 2025

 

8. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES: None in attendance.

 

 

      OTHER MATTERS:

 

It was raised that there are a number of household overgrown hedges within the village that are causing obstruction of the pavements. These are, in some cases, constituting a safety issue in that they are forcing pedestrians to step into / walk in the road. The Clerk has issued a number of polite requests to have hedges cut back however the Parish Council does not have any powers to address the issue. Clerk to write to Highways to ascertain way forward.

 

Car regularly parked on Hanthorpe Rd. in proximity to the Co-Op. store. This is causing a danger to turning vehicles and farm traffic using the crossroads. Clerk to investigate further control options.

 

Grass cutting: The 3 year contract for the verges and playing field cutting are due for renewal at the end of March next year (2026). The re-tender packs are shortly to be drafted. Numerous issues / complaints have been raised over many years; mostly due to historic allowances. (Home owners wanting to cut their own section, plant stuff, etc). However, when these homeowners move or are infirmed, they expect the task to fall on the Parish Council and with immediate effect. Contract amendment is required and this is both time consuming and creates a delay that leaves areas unsightly for a period. The next contract will address all the verges for which Morton & Hanthorpe PC is responsible (Note: there are 5 different bodies responsible for varying areas withing the villages!). A proposed ‘cutting map’ for Morton & Hanthorpe PC will be posted nearer the time for viewing / comment.

 

   There being no further business the meeting terminated at 8.30pm.

 

N. Walker

Clerk & R.F.O., Morton & Hanthorpe Parish Council