July 2020 DRAFT Minutes VIC
Minutes of Cherry Willingham Parish Council’s Village Improvement Committee, held at The Reepham and Cherry Willingham Village hall, on Friday 10 July 2020, at 10:00 am
Present: Cllr Fleetwood (Chairman) Cllr Mellor (Vice-Chairman) Cllr Bates, Cllr Brylewski, Cllr Bucke, Cllr Burge, Cllr Palmer, Cathy Doggett (Parish Clerk)
The Chairman welcomed committee members. All persons present confirmed that they and none of their immediate household had recently had COVID-19 symptoms.
1. To resolve to receive apologies and accept reasons for absence.
All committee members were present and therefore there were no apologies for absence.
2. Disclosure of interests in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider requests for dispensation and disclosure of any gifts or hospitality.
Cllr Fleetwood disclosed that, as he was the Chairman of the Planning Committee at West Lindsey District Council, he might potentially need to deal with the pending application for the Oasis project (agenda item no. 4), and therefore the Vice-Chairman should conduct this business. It was agreed that the Vice-Chairman would take Item 4.
3. To receive the notes of the Village Improvement Committee Meeting, held on 29 May 2020 and approve as Minutes.
Proposed: Cllr Bates, Seconded: Cllr Palmer. All in Favour.
4. To consider the response from the Oasis, regarding planning.
The Worth Foundation’s planning application had been submitted to West Lindsey District Council but the application was unfortunately invalid. The Committee were concerned about this registered by several Committee members. There was also concern regarding the safeguarding of vulnerable children, what was being stored and a lack of communication.
ACTION: Clerk/Members: To ask Alison Merryman of the Worth Foundation for a copy of their Health and Safety policies and Risk Assessments and also why their planning application had been deemed invalid.
ACTION: Clerk/Members: To ask the Worth Foundation for a face to face formal meeting within the next two weeks in the Millennium Hall, with Mr Hodgkinson, the Worth Foundation’s solicitor and a solicitor for the Parish Council.
Proposed: Cllr Palmer, Cllr Mellor. All in Favour
It was pointed out that when dealing with planning applications to the Planning Department of West Lindsey District Council should make reference to policies contained in the following three documents: Cherry Willingham Neighbourhood Plan, the Midlands Local Plan or the National Planning Policy Framework. All applications are assessed against these policies and if issues were sent to the District Council which were not supported by planning policies/reasons they were carry very little or no weight in decision-making.
5. Items in Progress: to consider and agree any action as appropriate:
a. An update on the Emergency Plan
This plan needed updating within the next two weeks, especially with regard to the people involved and COVID-19. 3 to 4 people were needed to know the plan, take ownership creating the policy and if something did happen to liaise with emergency services. The sub-group would meet with a view to advancing this policy quickly.
ACTION Volunteers: Cllr Bates, Cllr Burge, Cllr Fleetwood, Cllr Mellor
Proposed: Cllr Fleetwood, Seconded: Cllr Burge. All in favour.
b. Update on the Community Speedwatch Scheme
This scheme was restarted on 15 June 2020. 195 sessions/hours had been completed. Out of 42,197 vehicles checked, 1023 vehicles were reported to be speeding. A second set of equipment had been applied for with North Greetwell. Manning levels and the need for village gates to aid speed restrictions and welcome people to the village were discussed. This might require up to 10 gates with speed restriction signs and planters.
ACTION: Cllr Burge to prepare figures for the purchase of the gates, permits/licenses.
Proposed: Cllr Burge, Seconded: Cllr Mellor. All in Favour.
c. Update on litter picking
Manning levels were discussed. There were still 8 to 10 active voluntary litters pickers in the village.
d. Update on the Millennium Hall
Outstanding work to renovate the kitchen area is outstanding and it was agreed that a kitchen unit was to be fitted and the small fridge changed for a larger fridge. The council agreed to sell the small fridge for £25.
ACTION: Proposed: Cllr Palmer, Seconded: Cllr Mellor. All in Favour.
ACTION: Cllr Burge to adjust the kitchen unit and purchase the items required from a kitchen supplier, for a cost beneath the RFO’s threshold.
Proposed: Cllr Palmer, Seconded: Cllr Mellor, All in Favour
6. Update on Probation Service Individuals Work (Cllr Mellor)
4 people with 2 supervisors might be available from August onwards. The logistics of supervision and lunches on Wednesdays at the Millennium Hall were discussed.
ACTION: Cllr Brylewski to monitor probation personnel.
Proposed: Cllr Bucke, Seconded: Cllr Palmer. One committee member was not in agreement with this.
7. Update on Railway Barriers
4 railway barriers, instead of 2 would be much safer. Network Rail had given a negative reply to this provision.
ACTION: Clerk/Cllr Fleetwood: Sir Edward Leigh MP would be contacted to escalate this matter.
Proposed: Cllr Palmer, Seconded: Cllr Bates. All in favour.
8. To consider quotes for the Little Cherry Notice Board
Quotations were shown to the meeting and it was decided to accept the Pelican Trust proposal. ACTION: Clerk: to order the Pelican Trust notice board totalling £888.
Proposed: Cllr Bucke, Seconded: Cllr Burge. All in favour.
9. Christmas Tree Order and Parade Planters
ACTION: Committee members agreed to the ordering of a Christmas Tree up to a maximum value of £150.
Proposed: Cllr Mellor, Seconded: Cllr Burge, All in Favour.
Retrospective approval was given for the purchase of plants and compost for the planters on the Parade. £114 including VAT. Cllr Brylewski apologised for not following the normal financial procedure.
Proposed: Cllr Bates, Seconded: Cllr Bucke.
10. Holding Items
The footpath between Green Lane and Hawthorn Road has not advanced.
11. Defibrillators
ACTION: Clerk to contact West Lindsey District Council regarding obtaining a free second defibrillator for Little Cherry.
12. Matters for report and future agenda items
The use of bunting around the village.
Speed gates.
Christmas lights.
The Resilience Plan
13. To confirm a date for the next meeting
To be advised, but in approximately four weeks’ time.
(Post meeting note: This meeting may now take place in September, as there are to be no meetings in August.)