MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BILLINGBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN BILLINGBOROUGH
PRIMARY SCHOOL, BILLINGBOROUGH ON MONDAY 7th JANUARY 2013.
Present:
Councillor M King - Chairman
Councillors: R Free, J Ewens, J North, P Pocock, J North, C Melville
Mrs B Buttery – Clerk of the Council
Public Forum
No Public attended.
01/13 Chairman’s Comments
The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and wished everyone a Happy New Year. He asked that the
clerk send a letter of thanks to Mr Anderton of Hedgehog Tree Care who gave his time to clear the hedges
and brambles at Spring Wells.
Action Clerk
02/13 Apologies for absence and reason given
Cllr Webster – reason for absence accepted.
03/13 Receipt of any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act
2011, and to consider any written requests for dispensations in relation to members’ disclosable
pecuniary interests
All, except Cllr Cummings, completed request for dispensation forms in relation to item on the Agenda in
which members were to set the precept. Agenda item 12/C. The Clerk granted dispensation for this
matter.
04/13 Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 5th November 2012, previously circulated, were approved
as a true account of the meeting and should be recorded as the minutes.
05/13 Police Matters
No police attended.
Cllr King will make further enquiries with regards to trying to get use of the Police Station for Council
matters (such as surgeries).
06/13 Viewpoints on questions from members of the public
No members of the public attended.
07/13 Report from the minutes of the previous meeting
a.
Spring Wells
- The area has been tidied up and the hedges and brambles which were unsightly,
removed. It was proposed by Cllr Free that extra bollards in the Spring Wells area may be
useful to stop the grass in front of the Eon station from getting churned up.
- Cllr Ewens has made investigations into the types of interpretation boards available. He
will bring prices to the next meeting with types so that a decision can be made then.
- After information given by the Clerk, it was resolved that the Clerk should make an
application for brown tourism signs to point to Spring Wells from High Street.
- Cllr Cummings suggested extra planting in the Spring Wells area, but it was resolved to
wait until the bulbs planted last year come up this year and see what is needed, and
where.
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-
It was discussed that the railings next to the pond area are ugly. Members resolved to
have suggestions put in the newsletter and to ask residents to make any comments to
the Clerk/Councillors.
- It was discussed that the no cycling sign at Spring Wells is now out of date and tatty –
Clerk to make enquiries with LCC to have it removed.
Action Clerk
b. Emergency Plan
- Cllr Pocock has arranged with the village hall, a date for a public meeting. He updated
members on his progress.
- Cllr Pocock informed members that some of the dykes are inadequate – some are
maintained regularly and well, whereas others are not maintained to the same standard.
- Cllr King is liaising with LCC with regards to the flooding in July of 2012 on High Street.
08/13 Correspondence received which the Council are invited to resolve on
a. BHATS – letter received showing concern regarding the Black Miles footpath. BHATS believe an
application for a wind farm on Billingborough Fen is imminent. Urging the Parish Council to take
action to ensure that the footpath is secured.
It was resolved that although members are not convinced that a planning application for a wind
farm is imminent, it was a good idea to secure the footpaths in the area. To this extent, it was
resolved that the same course of action should be taken to get the footpath onto the definitive
map with LCC as the footpath on Whiteleather Square. Cllr King will put the request to residents
for supporting evidence in the Newsletter.
Action Clerk/Cllr King
b. Letter received from resident on Pointon Road who copied Clerk into response received from LCC
regarding Pointon Road and enforcing the new 40 mph speed limit. LCC will be carrying out a new
traffic survey plus they have asked the Police to deploy a Speed indicating Device plus carry out
periods of enforcement whenever able.
Members pleased that action is being taken by the Road Safety Partnership. Members also
reported seeing Police hand held speed cameras being used on Pointon Road.
09/13 Planning applications:
Application Decision Notices
S12/2471/FULL – siting of timer office building and provision of addition car parking within curtilage
of grade II* listed building at The Old Hall, 1 High Street, Billingborough - GRANT
10/13 Accounts for payment
It was resolved that payments should be made as per payment sheet dated January 2013.
11/13 Reports for/from District and County Council – these are for information only, and matters raised
for discussion will be put on the agenda for the next meeting.
Cllr King informed members
- from April 2013 owners of empty houses will have to start paying council tax on them –
this is to deter houses being left empty
- there will be changes relating to business rates too – funding for relief will come directly
from central government
- comments are being considered with regards to the Windfarm Policy being drawn up by
SKDC
- The Grantham Area Growth Plan has been rejected by the Government Inspector on the
grounds that there is no plan B for housing development in Grantham
- The LCC consultation regarding its Wind Farm Policy is advertised in the County News
12/13 Parish matters
a.
Receipts and payments list
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Members resolved that it may be worth paying off the Public Works Loan Board – Clerk to
make enquiries.
Action
Clerk
b. Cemetery – to consider proposals for Garden of Remembrance and amended cemetery charges
to allow for the new proposals.
It was resolved to accept the quotation given for the creation of the Garden of Remembrance.
It was also resolved that the old shed on the site of the cemetery should be removed and the
rubbish inside the shed removed too. Clerk to ask contractor to give a quote to do this too.
c. To consider the precept for 2013-2014 financial year.
Members set the budget and agreed not to increase the precept for the next financial year.
d. To consider mole control quotations received for cemetery.
It was resolved to not employ a contractor on a yearly contract, but to just call them out on an
as necessary basis.
13/13 Date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting
The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on 4th March 2013 at 7.00 pm with the public forum at 6.50
pm. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance and declared
the meeting closed at 9.30 pm.
Date:
Chairman:
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