16 May 2024 - Annual Meeting of the Parish Council
Ruskington Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 14 May 2024 at the Winchelsea Centre at 7pm.
Present: Cllr O Ditch, Cllr G Cox, Cllr A Jennings, Cllr M Trolley and Cllr C Bain
Also in attendance: Kirsty Sinclair (Deputy Clerk and RFO to Council) and District & County Cllr R Wright
No members of the public or press were present.
The Chairman opened the meeting opened at 7.15pm.
1. To elect a chairman for the civic year.
Action: It was RESOLVED that Cllr Ditch be elected as Chairman for the civic year. Proposed by Cllr Jennings, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
2. To receive a Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman for Ruskington Parish Council
Due to limited office access, a paper declaration was not available to sign at the meeting and would be signed at the next available opportunity.
3. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies were received from Cllrs D Conway, L Tomlinson and S Cotter.
Action: It was RESOLVED to accept reasons for absence for all absent councillors. Proposed by Cllr Bain, seconded by Cllr Cox and approve unanimously.
4. To receive declarations of interest and consider applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs.
None were declared.
5. To approve the notes of the last meeting held on 18th April 2024 as accurate minutes.
Action: It was RESOLVED to approve the notes as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved with four votes for and one abstention. (Had not been present at the previous meeting.)
6. To elect a vice-chairman for the civic year.
Action: It was RESOLVED that Cllr Cox be elected as Vice-Chairman for the civic year. Proposed by Cllr Jennings, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
7. To agree the Committees and Working Groups of Council
7.1. Appointment of members to serve on Committees and Working Groups of Council, as required.
Action: It was RESOLVED that all present councillors remain on same committees and working groups as previous civic year. Councillors that were not present at the meeting would be allocated committees as required at the next available meeting. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
8. Appointment of representatives to outside bodies:-
8.1. Ruskington Emergency Plan Committee
Action: It was RESOLVED that Cllr Ditch remain the representative for the Emergency Plan Committee. Proposed by Cllr Jennings, seconded by Cllr Bain and approved unanimously.
8.2. Ruskington Village Hall Management Committee
Action: It was RESOLVED to defer this item until an update on the village hall structure was received. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.
9. Financial Matters.
9.1. To nominate and approve bank signatories
Action: It was RESOLVED that Cllr Trolley replaces Cllr Cox as a bank signatory. Proposed by Cllr Cox, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
9.2. To approve the payments made and consider the invoices for payment received since the meeting held on 18th April 2024
Action: It was RESOLVED to accept the payment and approve the invoices received since last meeting. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Bain and approved unanimously.
9.3. To consider/approve the bank reconciliation for April 2024
The April 2024 bank reconciliation was not available for meeting and will be considered at the next ordinary meeting scheduled for 11 June 2024.
9.4. To receive an update on the funding application for the solar panels at Parkfield
Council was informed that they were unsuccessful in obtaining the funding due to the work commencing before the funding was allocated. The solar panels installation has now been completed.
10. Consider/approve the following documents and consider and amendments recommended: -
10.1. Standing Orders
10.2. Financial Regulations (until the updated model regulations are available from LALC)
10.3. Code of Conduct
10.4. Terms of Reference for:
a. The Chairman
b. The Vice-Chairman
c. Delegates to outside agencies
d. HR Committee
e. Estate Management and Planning Committee
Action: It was RESOLVED to adopt all the above documents mentioned under item 10 with no amendments required. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Bain and approved unanimously.
11. To receive the District and County Councillors’ reports – for information only.
Cllr R Wright gave the following LCC updates:
11. To receive the District and County Councillors’ reports – for information only.
Cllr R Wright gave the following LCC updates:
- The Hykeham Relief Road work was scheduled to start in 2025 and hopefully would be completed by 2028.
- There would be a meeting held in Ruskington with the flood committee later this month, with the time and date to be confirmed.
- The planning committee did not believe that the proposed biomass plant at Anwick would have an impact on Ruskington village. Consultations would be carried out and the pre-application was currently with LCC.
Cllr R Wright gave the following NKDC updates:
- Changes to the food waste policy for NKDC would be coming next year which would see the introduction of weekly food waste collections. National roll out to be completed by March/April 2026 as led by DEFRA and Central Government.
- Garden Waste to remain a chargeable service.
- There would be a meeting with applicants of a planning application received for 77 Westcliffe Road, Ruskington for policy discussion.
Cllr R Wright left the meeting at 7.55pm.
12. To receive feedback from the visit from Flood Mary and the Flood Mobile on 10th April
Cllr Ditch informed Council of how well attended and informative Flood Mary and the flood mobile was. There was lots of information regarding flood prevention and insurance cover. Council would like to note their formal thanks for their visit and support to our residents.
13. To consider revised quote for the cemetery lychgate following a meeting with the contractor on 29th April
Action: It was RESOLVED to investigate possible funding opportunities and raise some publicity around the lychgate before approving the quote received. Proposed by Cllr Cox, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
14. To consider proofs for the village entrance sign (revised quote for the signs within the approved budget allocation for 2024-25)
Action: It was RESOLVED to await enhanced images from Cllr Tomlinson before approving proofs. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
15. To consider the inspection of the memorial headstones in the cemetery and closed churchyard following training by caretakers on 25 April 2024
15.a. To consider the making safe of any headstones that are deemed to be unsafe on inspection
Action: It was RESOLVED that all high-risk headstones identified so far be made safe as soon as possible and a full inspection be carried out and documented. The model policy from ICCM to be considered for adoption at the next ordinary meeting. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
16. To consider planning applications and amendments to planning applications received since the last meeting:
a. Application Reference: 24/0240/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of two storey rear extensions and single storey rear and side extension along with new vehicular access.
Location: 3 Brook Way Ruskington Sleaford
Amendments consist of amended proposed first floor plan and rear elevation to show the increased width of the external door and screen to the first-floor bedroom.
Additional amendments consist of a revised design including Lincolnshire limestone course stonework with dressed stone quoins instead of a rendered finish.
Action: No comments raised regarding the above amendments.
16.1. To receive notification of planning applications approved by NKDC.
a. Application Reference: 24/0168/HOUS
Proposal: Single storey rear extension
Location: 27 Sessile Crescent Ruskington Sleaford
b. Application Reference 23/1534/HOUS
Proposal: Construction of single storey side extension to accommodate plant room, siting of 6 no. external air conditioning units to rear and erection of bin store enclosure to front (retrospective)
Location: 48 Rectory Road Ruskington Sleaford
Action: Decision notices were acknowledged.
16.2. To consider/ ratify responses to the Scoping Review for a planned biomass plant at Anwick, as received from LCC. (LCC have granted an extension for further comments to 16 May 2024.)
Action: Further comments and questions were raised regarding the transport plan and operating hours. It was RESOLVED that comments above be submitted to the LCC. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
17. Correspondence - for information only. (Circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting).
a. LALC – (via email) - Fortnightly e- news
b. LALC (via email on 12/4/2024 – April Training Bulletin
c. NKDC – via email on 16/4/2024 – Bins for community groups and village halls (not applicable to Ruskington Parish Council)
d. Resident via email on 16////4/2024 – Location of a Wings to Victory Plaque dating from WWII. (Whereabouts unknown)
e. NKDC - via email on 18/4/2024 – Changes to the NKDC privacy notice in relation to emailed newsletters.
f. Resident (by hand on 18//4/2024) – Objection letter for planning application (77 Westcliffe Road). (Advised to send correspondence to NKDC planning. Residents attended the meeting on 18 April 2024 when this application was discussed as an agenda item.)
g. NKDC via email on 18/4/2024 – Pre election period information prior to the election for the Police and Crime Commissioner on 2 May 2024.
h. Anwick resident (via email on 21/4/2024) – Proposed biomass plant for Anwick.
k. LCC Planning via email on 22/4/2024) – Scoping Review for a planned biomass plant at Anwick. (Agenda item above.)
j. LCC (via email on 24/4/2024) – Extension to the travel survey for Lincolnshire.
Action: No comments raised regarding correspondence received.
18. To receive member’s reports – for information only. (any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting)
Cllr Jennings – requested that the basketball hoops requested for Parkfield MUGA be investigated further.
Cllr Bain – informed Council that the HR and Business Planning meeting were postponed until 5th June following the Clerk’s absence and ongoing renovation work.
Cllr Cox – requested an update on the pavilion plans.
19. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the following contractual and 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.
Action: It was RESOLVED to formally close the meeting and go into closed session at 8.54pm. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.
20. To receive an update on HR Matters – Cllr Bain
As discussed, the HR meeting was postponed until the 5th June 2024 so no updates were available on HR matters.
The chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm.