10 October 2023
Notice of a meeting of Ruskington Parish Council
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hereby give you notice that a meeting of Ruskington Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 10 October 2023 at the Winchelsea Centre, 11 High Street North, Ruskington, NG34 9DY at 7pm. A public session, lasting no more than 15 minutes, commences at 7pm. Members of the public and press are welcome to attend. Alternatively, questions or short statements can be submitted to the Clerk in advance of the meeting.
All Members of the Parish Council are summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the business to be transacted at the meeting, as set out hereunder.
|
Signed: K H Locke |
K H Locke |
Date: 4 October 2023 |
Agenda
1. Apologies for absence. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
2. To receive Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011- being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests.
3. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Tuesday 12 September 2023.
4. Financial Matters (Information previously circulated).
4.1. To consider approval of payments made since the last meeting held on 12 September 2023.
4.2. To consider approval of the bank reconciliations for July, August and September 2023.
4.3. To receive the annual report from the External Auditor (PKF Littlejohn LLP) for FY 2022-2023.
4.4. To receive an update on the funding award from Quickline for the sensory garden.
5. To receive an update on co-option to Ruskington Parish Council.
6. To consider / approve the policies below following review and recommended amendments.
6.1. Flushing & Purging policy
6.2. Volunteer policy
6.3. Advertising policy
6.4. Cemetery Regulations
6.5. Complaints policy
7. To consider the following grant applications from village clubs and groups and agree the awards. (Information circulated prior to the meeting.)
a. Parochial Church Council - Christmas Lunch
b. Methodist Chapel – Warm Space Initiative
7.1. To consider a donation to The Conservation Volunteers who have provided the Council with 2,250 trees, hedging plants, and canes at no cost over the last two years.
8. To review the risk assessment for the community garden and amend as required.
8.1. To consider the access to the community garden via the office yard for members of the public, and for RPC staff and users of the offices at the rear of the parish office.
9. To consider Council purchasing the office kitchen directly to keep within the £2,000 allocated.
9.1. To consider the installation of the kitchen by either contractor. The cost for installation has been previously approved by Council.
10. To consider the purchase of a DAB radio for the parish office at a cost of £44.99.
10.1. To consider the expenditure of £202.96 incl VAT for an annual PPL & PRS licence (backdated from 1 February 2023) to play a radio in an office that it available to the public. There would be an additional fee of £85 for a DAB radio.
11. To consider a communication strategy for the Council to include the Signpost magazine, social media, communications and dignity at work policies.
11.1. To review and consider the future of the Signpost magazine.
11.2. To consider the best ways to share information with residents.
11.3. To consider forming a working party to review the communication strategy.
12. To receive an update on the vouchers and quotes to help reduce the costs of installing an electric charging point at the parish office.
12.1. To consider the installation or an electric vehicle charging point at the parish office.
12.2. To consider the purchase of a Mercedes Benz eVito L2 electric van, to extend the lease of the current diesel vehicle, or to lease a new, non-electric van.
13. To consider planting a hawthorn hedge, at no cost to council and with minimal maintenance, along the outside of the fence at the community garden, with the consent of North Kesteven District Council.
14. To consider a 2025 calendar competition, with residents invited to submit images of Ruskington.
15. To receive an update on the broadband improvements for the parish office and agree the next steps.
16. To receive the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday (12 November 2023) following a meeting held on 26 September 2023 with Rev’d Jenkins,
16.1. To consider any improvements for the Garden of Remembrance, including the gravel path to suppress weed growth.
17. To consider request by the Ruskington Athletic Football Club to install a whiteboard in the changing rooms.
17.1. To consider a request by the Sleaford Barge Netball Team to store their bibs and netballs in the Pavilion.
18. To consider / approve the quote for two village entrance signs from the signwriters approved at the meeting held on 12 September 2023.
19. Planning – Applications received since the last meeting
a. Application Reference: 23/1075/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of single storey rear extension. Location: 60 Station Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9B.
b. Application Reference: 23/1093/FUL Proposal: Erection of 4 no. dwellings and formulation of new vehicular access to Rectory Road. Location: Land North of Rectory Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire.
19.1. Application of Proposed Works to Trees Subject to Tree Preservation Order.
Application reference: 23/1172/TPO
Description of works: T1 Horse Chestnut - Prune back OHB's from neighbours Lime to
boundary line to give clearance of footpath to 2-3m and remove
epicormic growth to 4m; T2 Horse Chestnut - Remove epicormic
growth to 3-4m; T10 Sycamore - Prune back to clear lines by 1 to 2m;
T11 Horse Chestnut - Clear around base to allow access; T12 Sycamore
- Prune back OHB'S to clear all by approx 2m; T13 Beech - Prune back
Purple Beech OHB's to clear house by approx 2m, cut back side and
maintain as hedge.
Location: St Georges Academy, Sleaford Road, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
19.2. Applications approved by NKDC since the last meeting.
a. Application Reference: 23/0716/HOUS
Proposal: Proposed single storey rear extension. Location: The Coach House 37 Rectory Road Ruskington. (Approved by NKDC)
b. Application Reference: 23/0719/FUL
Proposal: Erection of a garden office for hairdressing use. Location: 44 Tennyson Road Ruskington. (Approved by NKDC)
20. Correspondence – For information only. (Circulated prior to the meeting.)
a. LALC (via email) – Fortnightly newsletter and Training Bulletin
b. NKDC (Via email) – Parish Newsletter
c. NKDC Conservation officer (via email) - Heritage Listing and Conservation Areas in North Kesteven
d. Residents – Dog continues to be off lead on Larch Close and Elmtree playing area (NKDC ASB Team aware)
e. Resident (via email) – Signage on the pillars outside a business on High Street South (Referred to NKDC planning)
f. Lincolnshire Police (via email) - Invitation to an online Parish Council Engagement Session with the Police and Crime Commissioner on 7th December 2023.
21. To receive Councillors’ reports for information only and items for inclusion on the next agenda. Councillors are requested to use this opportunity to report minor matters of information not included elsewhere on the agenda and to raise items for future agendas.
22. To receive District and County Councillors’ Reports – for information only. (Any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.)
23. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the following staffing matters below. Should this resolution be passed, members of the public and press will be required to leave the meeting. The meeting will end, and a further meeting of the Council will be convened immediately.
24. To consider ways to manage and improve staff health and wellbeing at work.