July 2023 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON the 3rd of July 2023.
Present: Cllr S Brigham; Cllr S Smith; Cllr S Collingwood; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr K Redhead; Cllr I Mills.
Also present Boston Borough Councillors James Cantwell and David Brown.
Chairman’s remarks – Thank you to Bruce Leggott for undertaking the role of Chairman to the Parish Council for the last 2 years and for all the work he has done in the Wildlife Garden.
27/23 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011: None.
28/23 Notes of the meeting held on 16.5.23 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.
The above notes were agreed and signed as minutes. It was resolved to accept the notes as minutes. ACTION: Clerk to post minutes on website.
29/23 Financial matters: Accounts due for payment
It was resolved to authorise the above payments and budget figures. ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website
30/23 Planning: B/23/0194, Proposed single storey extensions, alterations and refurbishments of 2 storey dwelling and conversion of outbuilding to form ancillary accommodation at Guide Post Farm, Wigtoft Bank.
Following a discussion it was resolved that there were no comments to make. ACTION: Clerk to submit response to planning department.
A response of “no comments” to planning application B/23/0141, land to the east of Llewelyn House, Main Road, Wigtoft has been sent to Boston Borough Council. Comments were sought from Councillors by email as the deadline for response was before today’s meeting. This process is in line with the Parish Council’s Standing Orders.
31/23 Correspondence
15.5.23 LALC weekly enews Emailed to Councillors 16.5.23.
12.6.23 Email from Lincs Police re meeting with Parish Councils Emailed to Councillors 21.5.23.
9.6.23 LALC fortnightly enews Emailed to Councillors 22.5.23.
26.5.23 LALC weekly enews Emailed to Councillors 30.5.23.
23.6.23 LALC weekly enews Emailed to Councillors 26.6.23.
22.5.23 Email from resident re the Wildlife Garden, see below. Emailed to Councillors 22.5.23.
“Yesterday I took time to visit the wildlife garden. It is so beautiful, so well designed and cared for. Please convey our gratitude to those who have provided Wigtoft with this lovely natural space. A place to enjoy, walk and sit”.
**NALC is short for National Association of Local Councils.
**LALC is short for Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.
**BBC is short for Boston Borough Council
** LCC is short for Lincolnshire County Council
32/23 Councillors’ Reports
Cllr IM – some pot holes have been filled in on Asperton Road and some have been left untreated. Cllr IM will let the clerk have details of the locations. Dog fouling is still happening near Fishmere End Road. Suggest we put a notice in the newsletter again.
Cllr S Brigham – what are the Councillors thoughts re asking people to leave when then bring dogs into the park? Members of the public who have been approached and politely asked not to bring their dogs in can occasionally be verbally abusive. There is clear signage at the entrance to the park. Cllr SC suggested asking the community police team to check the park when they are driving by. Clerk to contact local PCSO’s.
33/23 Clerk’s report
Darren Rush has dealt with the damaged tree in the playing field. The invoice is included in this month’s meeting schedule of payments to be approved.
Re the sign for the Bowls Club, I have forwarded a quote to them from the Pelican Trust. No reply has been received from the original enquiry to LCC about a brown tourist sign. This has been chased. No reply received yet.I have been advised by Nathan Chapman that the gate and fencing will be fitted in the Wild Life Garden by the end of June.
34/23 To confirm the quote of £5 per cut for the area around the benches in the Wildlife Garden to be strimmed. To confirm the payment for £80 for urgent safety work on a tree in the playing field.
It was resolved to accept the quote of £5 per cut and to make the payment of £80 for the tree work
35/23 To confirm the review of the Risk Assessment document.
The document had been sent out to Councillors prior to the meeting. The Clerk advised Council that the document had been thoroughly reviewed and minor changes made. It was resolved to accept the revised version.
36/23 To review the June play area inspection, including the inspection of the footpath in front of the chicken farm, undertaken by Cllr Smith. To decide who will do the monthly inspection due this month. To review the plan for the volunteering day in the playing field and to decide who will undertake any actions need on the day the work is due to take place and also the following day.
The inspection findings were reviewed. Any minor items have previously been noted and actions are in hand. Cllr Leggott volunteered to undertake the July inspection and Cllr Redhead volunteered to undertake the August inspection. The plan for the volunteering day was reviewed and any outstanding actions were agreed on.
37/23 To discuss the email from Lincs County Council about the offer of free litter picking equipment.
The clerk had contacted the litter picking group prior to the meeting. They currently get their equipment from Boston Borough Council and would prefer to keep to that arrangement. They have asked if LCC have any bag hoops. It was resolved that the clerk should respond to LCC to ask about the hoops. ACTION: Clerk to contact LCC.
38/23 To discuss the idea of using a Handyman for general work in the village.
Following a discussion it was decided that this is an idea worth investigating. It was resolved in the first instance that the clerk should contact Smart Gardens to see if they would be interested in taking on the ad hoc work and to ask for a quote for the hourly rate to be charged. ACTION: Clerk to make contact.
Meeting closed at 20:17. Next meeting 7.8.23 at 19:30.