2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

OSGODBY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 9th January 2023, at 7.30pm, Village Hall. 

Public forum: 19.30hrs - 19.40hrs. 7 Parishioners present. 

Parish pump is due out at the end of the month, please submit articles to the editor, Machaela Heavens by 23rd January 2023.   Parish Clerk to forward up to date Councillor details for inclusion.  

1.   Present - Cllr J Trafford, Cllr K Fox, Cllr A Wilkinson, Ms S Harvey (Clerk) 

2.   Apologies for Absence - Cllr Bowley, Cllr Bunney.  Apologies for both were accepted. 

3.   Chairman’s and Councillor’s remarks - no comments. 

4.   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the 2011 Localism Act and to consider requests for dispensations – none received. 

5.   Reports from District & County Councillors, Police and the Village Hall, if present

Report received from Cllr Bunney was circulated. 

Village hall - bingo 9th December, was well attended.  Carols and mince pie event was not very well attended.  A review of how events will be undertaken. 

Flooding Updates - After a lot of input from Anglian Water hopefully they have now corrected the sewage issues at Orchard Close. Investigations and discussions regarding Washdyke Lane continue.   The internal drainage board are now involved as well as LCC Highways and Anglian Water. School Updates - Cllr Bradwell has agreed to a site meeting to discuss the option of the school retaining one of the huts as a hall and has also agreed to look into the delay on road markings. 

6.   Minutes of the meeting held on 14th November 2022 and confidential minutes of 26th September 2022, to be approved as the minutes, and the minutes of the meeting from 12th December 2022. 

Cllr Fox requested an amendment to the minutes of 12th December 2022.  Minutes were approved. 

7.   Clerk’s report on matters outstanding – no issues that are already on the agenda. 

8.   Planning Matters - 2 applications received 4th January 2023, which will be c/f to the February meeting: A request for an extension will be submitted to WLDC. (146000 & 146001 – Wold View Fisheries, Claxby). 

9.   Correspondence - To note general correspondence as per the list provided

Thanks to Machaela Heavens, who has provided a detailed report regarding the speed devices.  This will be reviewed at the February meeting. 

Replacement pads for the defib at Hilbury. 

Information has been received and circulated regarding the forthcoming elections in May 2023.  Training workshops are being provided, dates to be confirmed. 

10.   To review income for 2022/23 to date.

i.   To agree and resolve increases for 2023/24 for the following areas: Land Rent, Cemetery Fees 

All agreed to review at the next meeting. Action: Parish Clerk to circulate current contracts for land rent and cemetery fees. 

11.   Financial Matters

Parish Clerk recommended that in 2023/24 ring fencing £3000 in business reserve for contingency of contested elections and allow for 6% increase in salary costs. 

CIL payments of £2751.43 already received (current account), that need to be allocated to a project spend. A further payment will be received in April 2023, the amount is to be confirmed (approx. £1,000). 

i.   Financial Report - see figures below.  

ii.   Final approval of the 2023/24 Precept – The required document was agreed and signed. . 

iii.   Ratification of payment schedule

12.   Email addresses and move to TEAMS - information previously circulated to consider move to domain email addresses.  

i.   To agree and resolve communication methods – It was agreed to carry this forward to the next meeting, due to the absence of the Chair. Action: Parish Clerk to resend the information. 

13.   To discuss and agree the consultation for the next action plan.  

Cllr Trafford is able to lead on this project.  Discussions were held as to the arrangements for collecting ideas from parishioners, through a questionnaire to be delivered with the Parish Pump. 

i.   To resolve the agreed consultation content and method

Cllr Wilkinson to print the questionnaires and insert them into the Parish Pump for circulation. Responses to be returned to the post office. 

Cllr Trafford will put together an opening paragraph and include consultation on the village green, as well as developing the wildlife area (wooded area on playing field). Deadline 28th January 2023.

14.   To receive an update regarding the Gigabit scheme 

Everyone was thanked for their support with the scheme.  A further update is expected, although it is believed that there is still a shortfall in pledges.  It was suggested that the CIL payment could be used to offset this.  

i.   To resolve to sign the contract for OpenReach thanks for hard work to date.

As a new contract had not been received, it was agreed to carry this forward to the next meeting. 

15.   To receive an update regarding the War Memorial Works

Work completed, looks really good, and the contractor has been paid in full.  The contractors are looking to put together a plan to maintain the works/pathways. Elemental are able to provide a contract for maintenance.  Advice has been provided for the current maintenance of the grass. 

i.   To resolve on additional spend 

A quote of £1075.00 was received to provide an additional step however there is already disabled access and including another step is not necessary.  Therefore, the additional work will not be required. All agreed. Action: Parish Clerk to inform Elemental Landscapes.

16.   Receive an update regarding the Deed of Easement for Red House

The Parish Council is awaiting information from the solicitors.  Action: Parish Clerk to contact Wilkin Chapman.  

17.   Village Green signage - to review the decision in line with Standing Orders

Further to advice from LaLC – the motion to revoke the suggestion of signage can be removed under standing orders.   This will now be part of the consultation to develop the village green. 

18.   Councillor update to declarations

These are required to be reviewed, amendments made as necessary and signed.  Action: Parish Clerk to circulate to Councillors.  

19.   Councillor and Parish Clerk vacancies

i.   To resolve on whether the Council will go into closed session to consider the following matte.

Should the resolution be passed the public (and press) will be required to leave the meeting at this stage. All agreed. 

ii.   To review, agree and resolve on the PayScale, contract, advert, job description/per specification for the post of Parish Clerk. 

The documents were reviewed and agreed.  Action: Parish Clerk to advertise on noticeboards/Facebook and the LaLC website. Applications to be sent to Cllr Trafford and Cllr Bowley.