February 2021 minutes
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 1st February, 2021. DRAFT
This meeting was held by a video link conference call due to the restrictions in force in relation to the Corona virus pandemic.
Present: Cllr P Craven; Cllr S Brigham; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr S Smith: Cllr S Collingwood
Also Present: Borough Councillor M. Cooper.
Public forum: None
Chairman’s remarks: None.
119/20 Apologies for absence and reasons given
County Councillor M Brookes sent his apologies.
120/20 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
None.
121/20 Police Report.
An email had been received from the local PCSO advising that there had been no reported crimes since the last meeting.
122/20 Notes of the meeting held on 7th December 2020 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.
The above notes were agreed as minutes and will be signed by the Chairman at the next face to face meeting. It was resolved to accept the notes as minutes. ACTION: Clerk to post minutes on website.123/20 Financial matters: Accounts for payment; budget figures and financial report.
It was resolved to authorise the above payments and the up to date budget figures.
Finance report
The bank mandate variation request has been sent to Lloyds Bank and confirmation has been received that it is in order and is now in place.
The precept request for £10211 has been sent to Boston Borough Council.
The final budget figures for 1.4.21 to 31.3.31 have been completed and sent out to all Councillors and will be published on the website in due course. ACTION: Clerk to process payments and add updated budget figures to the website.
124/20 Planning
None.
125/20 Correspondence (received since December meeting).
10.12.20 LCC confirm new website now live emailed to Councillors 13.12.20
10.12.20 Boston Rural West Neighbourhood Policing Team December 20 newsletter emailed to Councillors. Added to website and link added to Facebook.
16.12.20 Boston Flood Barrier now operational emailed to Councillors 30.12.20. Added to website and Facebook.
21.12.20 LALC e news emailed to Councillors 22.12.20
21.12.20 Boston Borough Council details of free parking from 1.1.21 emailed to Councillors 30.12.20. Added to website and Facebook.
22.12.20 LALC quarterly news no. 174 emailed to Councillors 22.12.20
8.1.21 Notice about temporary traffic restriction emailed to Councillors 13.1.21. Posted on website and Facebook.
8.1.21 LALC e news emailed to Councillors 13.1.21.
8.1.21 LCC Town and Parish Council update emailed to Councillors 20.1.21
11.1.21 Ass. Of Play Industries newsletter emailed to Councillors 13.1.21
12.1.21 NALC open letter to Councillors emailed to Councillors 13.1.21
12.1.21 Boston Borough Council information about the Open Impact Grant emailed to Councillors. 16.1.21. Posted on website and Facebook.
12.1.21 Boston Borough Council details of the garden waste scheme 21 – 22. emailed to Councillors 20.1.21. Posted on website and Facebook.
18.1.21 Laic e news 18.1.21 emailed to Councillors 20.1.21
18.1.21 LALC 2021 members survey for Councillors and clerks. emailed to Councillors 20.1.21
20.1.21 Details of contact numbers for vaccination transport etc emailed to Councillors 26.1.21. Posted on Facebook page.
21.1.21 email from Wigtoft Litter Picking Group advising not litter picking at the moment due to Covid rules. emailed to Councillors 26.1.21
25.1.21 LALC e news 25.1.21 emailed to Councillors 26.1.21
126/20 Councillor’s Reports
Cllr PC – reported that bis daughter has approached the litter picking group with a view to joining them once the current restrictions have been lifted. She has also been working in the play area and has repaired a hole in the fence. She is undertaking these voluntary activities as part of her participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. He also reported an overgrown hedge in the Market Place. Cllr SC remarked that there are also thorns growing out of the hedge and the hedge and thorns are encroaching on most of the footpath, ACTION: Clerk to send letter to owner/occupier.
Borough Councillor MC - there were no bins emptied last week, green bins need to be left out on Monday.
127/20 Clerk’s report
The new website is now live and the old website has been switched off.
A letter of thanks was sent to John Craggs for his help with the Christmas Lights. He has advised me that the letter was very much appreciated.
A quote for the replacement sign in the play area has been requested – see agenda item 12.
It has been confirmed that the noticeboard repairs will be done as soon as possible – update the work has been completed and the invoice received. See agenda item 18.
128/20 To discuss whether a second memory stick is needed to store the PC data from the laptop for the Chairman to retain as a back up in case of loss of data. PC
Cllr PC told the Council he has raised this issue as he has experienced an issue with loss of data personally. The clerk advised that the idea of a second memory stick wouldn’t work at the moment as there are no face to face meetings taking place to exchange the memory sticks on a regular basis. The clerk suggested that the Council consider Cloud based storage. It was resolved that the clerk should investigate the options available at a maximum cost of £30 per year. ACTION: Clerk to investigate options within the above budget. Agenda item for next meeting.
129/20 To discuss the repairs to the noticeboard and the extra work required.
Cllr PC explained to Council that he had been to look at the repairs to the noticeboard and was not satisfied with the finished job, in particular the back panel inside the noticeboard. He has met with the joiner who is going to complete the repair to the required standard and Cllr PC will review on completion. ACTION: Clerk to send out photos of the noticeboard to all Councillors.
130/20 To review the quote for the required sign for the play area, to review the play area inspections undertaken since the last meeting, agree any actions required and to confirm who will do the February inspections.
A further quote had been obtained for a new sign at £55 + vat, optional delivery and fitting to existing posts £35 + vat and optional extension to the board to incorporate space to fix the other signs onto it and tidy the overall look £25 + vat. It was resolved to spend £115 + vat for the full package subject to sight of proof copy of the proposed sign beforehand. ACTION: Clerk to Place order, asking for sight of the proof copy for confirmation first. The play area inspections completed since the last meeting were reviewed. There is some cleaning work required. It was resolved to wait until the weather improves to complete this work. ACTION: Agenda item for next meeting.
131/20 An update on the donation for work done on the new website by P. Langford.
The Lincs Association of Local Councils (LALC) have advised all Parish Councils that Mr Langford does not want gifts or donations sent to him as he stated when he offered to help that he did not want any form of remuneration. He is happy for donations to be made to the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Guide Dogs for the Blind. LALC will invoice those Councils who have already agreed a donation, collate the money and send to the two charities on behalf of Parish Councils. Local Authorities have the power to donate money to any charitable body in furtherance of it’s work in the United Kingdom. Wigtoft Parish Council previously resolved to purchase a gift to the value of £50 to Mr Langford. This resolution has now been amended to donate £50 via LALC to the two charities previously mentioned. ACTION: Clerk to make payment to LALC.
132/20 To discuss buying benches for the wildlife garden. It was resolved to add an item to the agenda for February to discuss the idea of having benches and perhaps sending letters out asking for donations towards the cost if it is decided to buy some. Minute number 107/20.
A discussion was held considering making a bench secure, keeping it clean and how may memorial plaques one bench would hold.
Cllr S Brigham suggested a memorial board for plaques. As the grass is very wet at the moment and not suitable for installing a bench of a memorial board it was resolved to discuss this item further at the next meeting. ACTION: Clerk to add to March agenda.
133/20 An update about purchasing addition bins/dog bins for the village.
A discussion was held about where additional bins may be needed. Possible sites suggested were: dog bin at the playing field; dog bin near the top of the Church grounds; a dog bin at the entrance to the Wild life Garden and a bin on the lay by near the entrance to Clover Lane. ACTIONS: Clerk to find out process of bins. Cllr PC to send a photo of a possible location for a bin. Agenda item for next meeting.
134/20 To discuss the next actions required to fill the Councillor vacancy.
It was resolved to readvertise on Facebook and the new noticeboard. ACTION: Clerk to action as detailed.
Meeting closed at 20:15
Next meeting 1.3.21 at 7 pm.