December 2023 Minutes
TORKSEY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 18th December 2023 beginning at 7.30 pm. St Peter’s Church, Main Street, Torksey
01. Those Present.
Cllr F. Bridges. Chairman.
Cllr S. Johnson.
Cllr S. Scawthon.
Cllr M. Burke.
Cllr R. Ford.
Cllr N. Large.
Mr R. Pilgrim. Partish Clerk. District Councillor.
02. Apologies for absence
Cllr Levitt. Having been informed of the reason for her absence, Council approved her apologies for absence.
03. Declarations of Interest.
None received.
04. Approval of the Minutes of the last Meeting
Resolved. That the Minutes of the last meeting, held on Monday 20th November 2023, be approved as a true record.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr Johnson. Carried unanimously.
05. Matters arising from the Minutes of the last meeting. (not included in this agenda)
None received.
06. Amendments to the agenda by Resolution.
None received.
07. Emergency Plan.
a. Contact with Cove Communities.
The manager responsible for The Elms has been informed of the need to update the emergency plan for Torksey Parish. He is willing to meet so that the existing plan for The Elms can be included in the whole Parish Emergency Plan.
b. Committee Meeting held on Wednesday 29th November 2023. Report. (Cllr Bridges).
The existing Parish Plan has been converted into word by Cllr Bridges. The updating of names and contacts within the plan now needs to be completed and a meeting will then be arranged with Cove. Addresses will not be included in the document.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th December 2023.
08. Purchase of Land for the Cemetery Extension. Report. (Clerk)
The Clerk will contact Burton Dyson Solicitors to see whether a planning application will have to be made to register a change of use for the Cemetery Extension.
HSR Law are now preparing the necessary transfer documents which will be forwarded to Burton Dyson.
09. Condition of the Railway Embankment and the question of ownership.
a. Response from Sturton by Stow PC concerning ownership. (Clerk).
Sturton by Stow PC confirmed that the elector quoted as being the owner does not in fact now own the bank. Sturton by Stow PC has asked for further information in an attempt to find the present owner.
b. Response from Sustrans.
Sustrans did not attend the meeting.
10. CSW Group. (Cllr Bridges).
The camera has been returned together with a Calibration certificate for 2024-2025.
Cllr Bridges will look to organise checks in the new year.
11. Events in St Peter’s Church.
a. FilmBankMedia. Film night. (Cllr L. Levitt).
b. Virtual Screening.
Councillor Levitt was not present at the meeting. The business will be transferred to the next meeting. Monday 19th February 2023.
12. Information Kiosk.
Installation of a Defibrillator.
The Clerk will look at the forms for application and the requirements of the site for installation.
13. Village Green.
a. Monthly Inspection.
No change.
b. EIBE: Play Fort maintenance and Painting. (Cllr N. Large).
Council has received a quotation from EIBE for the refurbishment of parts of the Play Fort. This will have to be part of a rolling programme of annual maintenance. Councillors will consider the quotation, approximately £15,000.00, and discuss the situation at the next meeting Monday 19th February 2023. It is certain that some funding will be required if the quotation is accepted.
c. Sponsored event on the village green for July 2024. (Cllr Johnson)
Book acts and activities – Guiding Sparkes Circus.
Cllr Johnson has produced a fact sheet of things which will need to be done in preparation for the event.
Resolved. That Councillors will meet to discuss the requirements on Monday 15th January 2023, at the White Swan, Torksey Lock. The meeting will start at 7.00 pm.
Proposed Cllr Bridges. Seconded Cllr Ford. Carried Unanimously.
d. Bridge. There are cracks in the support of the bridge. (Clerk)
The Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board are aware of the cracks. However, they are not considered to be dangerous as the cause is usually due to the ground above the main support shifting. The situation will be monitored as part of the Boards maintenance programme.
e. Issues with the fencing around the bridge. (Clerk)
The fencing has a shared ownership with the Internal Drainage Board. The Clerk will look to obtain a quotation from a local contractor. Councillor Large is to provide details of a second contractor for comparisons.
f. Pond. Maintenance of the water level. Policy for the future. (Clerk).
The Clerk has approached Cove Communities (The Elms) for permission to use their pump as and when required. A decision will have been received in time for the next meeting. Monday 19th February 2023.
g. Damage to the Village Green. Activity by rabbits. (Clerk).
A contractor has been asked to inspect the area and produce a plan to deal with the rabbits.
h. Provision of a Pedestrian Shelter. (Cllr Bridges).
After some discussion it was decided that the Clerk would approach IN Sheds to see if they could design a three-sided shelter for Council’s consideration.
Resolved. That the Clerk approach IN Sheds for a design and quotation.
Proposed Cllr Bridges. Seconded Cllr Burke. Carried unanimously.
i. Grass Cutting Contractor 2024 season.
The Clerk has contacted Continental Landscapes for a quotation.
Cllr Large is to provide contact details for a second contractor as soon as possible.
14. Highways Issues.
Grass cutting along the A156. Western Vege, Torksey Bridge to Torksey Village.
The Clerk will contact WLDC to see if there is any possibility that the present contractor could be asked to strim the bank on a regular basis.
15. Traffic Calming.
a. Street Furniture. Gateways. North end of the village. (Cllr S. Scawthon).
The permissions form has been received and will be completed as soon as possible.
Cllr Scawthon has agreed to produce a diagram with rough measurement for the positioning of the “gates”.
Cllr Scawthon will also produce design examples of gates for consideration at the February Meeting.
16. Health and Safety.
a. Village Green. No issues reported.
b. Cemetery. No issues reported.
c. Play Area. RoSPA Play Safety Reports August 2023. Noted.
17. Facebook Page.
Content will be uploaded as and when required.
18. Finance.
a. Financial Statement November 2023.
Resolved. That the Financial Statement for November be approved as a true record.
Proposed Cllr Johnson. Seconded Cllr Ford. Carried unanimously.
b. Clerk’s Salary and Expenses. November 2023. £487.60
Resolved. That the Clerk’s salary and expenses be approved for payment.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr Ford. Carried unanimously.
c. Invoices for payment December 2023.
HMRC PAYE £70.20
Truvelo UK Ltd. £238.80
Clarke A £35.00
Resolved. That the above expenditure at 18.c. be approved for payment.
Proposed Cllr Johnson. Seconded Cllr Bridges. Carried unanimously.
19. Correspondence.
No comments.
20. Future Agenda Items.
None received.
21. Dates for Future Meetings.
Monday 18th December 2023.
Monday 19th February 2023.
Monday 18th March 2023.
22. Closure of the meeting.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 2102 hrs. (9.02 pm)
R. Pilgrim.
Clerk to Torksey Parish Council.