14 November 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 14 November 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  Date:  3 November 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 10 October 2023. 
     
4. Financial Matters (Information previously circulated).
   4.1. To consider approval of payments made since the last meeting held on 10 October 2023.
   4.2. To consider approval of the bank reconciliations for August, September, and October 2023.
   4.3. To consider the allocation of £1930.69 CIL money from the development of land to the east of Lincoln Road and north of Springfield Road, Ruskington, (planning reference 20/0391/FUL), to a community project. 
   4.4. To consider subscribing to Amazon prime at a cost of £95.00 per annum for fast delivery of items not available locally. 
   4.5. To consider a donation to the charity, The Conservation Volunteers, following a donation of free trees. (Information previously circulated).
   4.6. To consider the purchase of the following items as requested by the Parish Caretaker (Information previously circulated.)
      a. Hand trimmer for cutting grass between headstones in the cemetery. (£114.99)
      b. Garden vacuum for removing leaves and debris from the paths in the cemetery and Garden of Remembrance. (£124.98, excluding VAT).
   4.7. To receive an update on the staff pay award for 2023-2024.
   4.8. To consider projects and requirements to inform the budget for 2024-2025. 

5. To receive an update on co-option to Ruskington Parish Council.

6. To receive the Clerk’s report – for information only. 
   6.1. To receive a report from the NKDC Engagement Event held on 10 October 2023 – Cllr Cotter. 
   
7. To receive an update on the Communication Strategy and Policy, (Draft previously circulated) – Cllr Bain.

8. To consider re-establishing committees, or joint committees, to oversee the following: -
   8.1. Finances (meetings required in November/December to consider the budget for 2024-2025)
   8.2. Environment
   8.3. Recreation
   8.4. Estate Management
   8.5. To consider any other committees required.

9.  To receive an overview of a meeting held on 31 October 2023 to discuss the flooding on 20 October 2023, during Storm Babet; the response by available councillors and staff, and considerations on how future flooding can be prevented. (Notes of meeting previously circulated).
   9.1. To receive an update from Lincolnshire County Council, if available.
   9.2. To consider all councillors being part of a Ruskington Parish Council Emergency WhatsApp group.    
   9.3. To receive an update on the Community Emergency Plan and consider how this can be promoted.
   9.4. To consider keeping £50.00 in cash in the Emergency Plan box for the purchasing of refreshments in an emergency.
   9.5. To consider a flood resilience campaign for sharing information.
   9.6. To ratify the decision to allow Ruskington Scouts to use the Pavilion on Monday evenings (7-9pm) at no charge whilst the Scout Hut, damaged in the flooding, is suitable for use again.

10. To consider the quotes below for the renovation of the Parish Office: -
   10.1. Replacement of the flat roof over the former dining room and the tiled roof over the former entrance lobby and downstairs toilet at the rear of the parish office. (Quotes previously circulated.)
   10.2. Supply and installation of solar panels for the Parish Office. (Information previously circulated.)
   10.3. Smoke shaft and pivot window for the rear staircase. (Information previously circulated.)

11. To receive an update on the kitchen for the Parish Office – Cllr Cox.

12.  To receive an update on the byelaws by the Byelaw Working Party and consider any recommendations – Cllr Cox.

13. To receive an update / report from the Pavilion Working Party regarding the renovation of the pavilion and incorporation of a café area – Cllr Cox. 
   13.1. To consider/agree the expenditure for the planning application at a cost of £231.00.
   13.2.  To consider a date to visit the students at the University of Lincoln who are involved in developing the proposal for the pavilion. 

14. To consider information from the Lions Junior FC regarding maintenance of the playing fields.

15. To consider a request from a cricket team to have a pitch at Parkfield playing fields.

16. To receive an update on the community garden and its access, following a site visit by councillors on 11 October 2023. 

17. To consider the opening, closing, and cleaning the public toilets over Christmas and New Year 2023.
   17.1. To consider the opening/ closing of Parkfield carpark over Christmas and New Year 2023/24.

18. To consider updated information on the Santa - Crow competition for Christmas 2023 and agree a first, second and third prize. (Recommended to the value of £50, £30, £20 vouchers or gifts) – Cllr Cox.

19. To consider information on the 2025 calendar competition. - Cllr Cox
     
20. Planning – Applications received and approved since the last meeting 
      20.1.  Application Reference: 23/1075/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of single storey rear extension
Location: 60 Station Road Ruskington Sleaford (Approved by NKDC)
    
21.  Correspondence – For information only. (Circulated prior to the meeting.)
    a. LALC (via email) – Fortnightly newsletter
    b. LALC (via email) - Training Bulletin for October 2023
   c. NKDC Corporate and Civic Support Team (via email) - European Local Democracy Week
   d. PC Green (via email) – Sleaford Rural Neighbour Police Team newsletter
   e. Lincolnshire Police – Requests for suggestions for next police priority setting meeting
   f. Zion Church – (via email) – Thank you or helping during the flooding on 20 October 2023
   g. Cricket Team (via email) - Enquiry regarding the use of Parkfield for a cricket pitch 
   h. NKDC Property Officer (via email) – Information request regarding streetlights owned/maintained by Ruskington Parish Council.
   i. LALC (via email) - Notification of School Admission Policy Consultations 2025/26 for The King’s School, Grantham.
   j. Resident (via email) – Ruskington flood. (For information only. Copied into email sent to other agencies.)
   k. Anglian Water (via email) – Anwick Water Recycling Centre - alternative provision
   l. LCC (via email) – Parish and Town e-newsletter.
   m. Aurora Security Services (via email) – Incident at village hall/ Parkfield carpark on 31/10/21 at approx. 5.30am.
   n. Anglian Water (via email) – Anwick Water Recycling Centre now working as normal.
   o. Ruskington Scouts (via email) – Use of the pavilion on Monday evenings
   p. Aurora Security Services (via email) – Incident number for incident on 31/10/23

22. 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. 

23. To receive District and County Councillors’ Reports – for information only. (Any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.)

24. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the staff and issue 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.

25. To consider overtime payments for staff who worked beyond their normal working hours to help during the flood on 20 October 2023.

26. To consider a potential safeguarding issue at Parkfield playing field and carpark, as reported by Aurora on 31/10/2023.