February 2024 Minutes
TORKSEY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES
AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
held on Monday 19TH February 2024
Beginning at 7.30 pm. St Peter’s Church, Main Street, Torksey.
01.01 Those Present.
Cllr F. Bridges. Chairman.
Cllr S. Johnson.
Cllr M. Burke.
Cllr L. Levitt.
Cllr N. Large.
Cllr S. Scawthon.
Cllr R. Ford.
Cllr R. Pilgrim. Parish Clerk. District Councillor Torksey Ward.
Members of the Public. 4
01.02 Apologies for Absence.
None required.
01.03 Declarations of Interest.
None received.
01.04 Approval of the Minutes.
Resolved. That the Minutes of the last meeting, held on Monday 18th December 2023, be approved as a true record.
Proposed Cllr Ford. Seconded Cllr Scawthon. Carried unanimously.
01.05 Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Last Meeting.
None received.
01.06 Amendments to the Agenda by Resolution.
None received.
01.07 D Day Landings. Remembrance.
The suggested purchases which will be used on the National Day are very expensive and thereafter will get very little use. It was suggested by a member of the Council that the Church could be opened for the day and parishioners given the chance to light a candle in remembrance.
01.08 Emergency Plan.
Council is to adopt the latest copy of the Template, sourced from Lincolnshire County Council.
The Clerk will contact Mr R. Turner of Cove Communities.
a. To arrange a meeting to discuss combining The Elms Emergency Plan with the Parish Emergency Plan.
b. Use of a pump from the Elms to top up the water level of the pond on the village green during summer months.
01.09 Church Refurbishment.
The Rev Jane Foster-Smith is to attend the next Parish Council Meeting, which is to be held on Monday 18th March. The future of the Church and what will be required from the community if it is to be kept open will be the main subject for discussion.
01.10 Flooding at the Elms.
The Parish Clerk contacted West Lindsey District Council at the time of the flooding. The local water companies and the internal drainage board were contacted for a possible explanation. The reply which WLDC received is attached to these Minutes.
At the present time no further action has been requested by the Parish Council.
02.11 Purchase of Land as a Cemetery Extension.
The Parish Council has received two maps for approval, detailing the land to be purchased together with the square metre area of the additional land.
The plans were approved as an accurate record of the purchase.
The application is now near completion and should be submitted during week beginning 26th February 2024.
02.12 Condition of the Railway embankment. The Question of Ownership.
Enquires have not produced the name of an owner for the embankment. A Land Registry search may be used in the near future if present enquiries fail to produce a positive result.
It is essential that something is done to clear the ground adjacent to the pathway before Spring.
02.13 CSW Group.
Councillor Bridges has resigned from Council for personal reasons.
The CSW group will now be looking for a new organizer.
02.14 Events at St Peter’s Church.
Councillors decided that this business should be removed from the Agenda for the time being. If the future of the Church can be assured for the community, possible events will once again be considered.
02.15 Information Kiosk.
Cllr Bridges will approach the Surgery to see if they will consider having a defibrillator on an outside wall at the Torksey Surgery.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr Levitt. Carried unanimously.
The Kiosk will need attention ion the near future. Council will look at this once the question of the defibrillator has been settled.
02.16 Village Green.
a. Monthly Inspection. No new issues reported.
b. EIBE Play Fort Maintenance. It was suggested that the principle expenditure should be targeted at the Play Fort. A recent Quotation for refurbishing parts of the structure came to approximately £15,500. £10,000.0 of which could be raised through Awards4All, and the remainder sourced from contingency funds.
Proposed Cllr Burke. Seconded Cllr Johnson. Carried unanimously.
c. Issues with the fencing at the Village Green Bridge.
After some discussion it was decided that Moulds Fencing should be approached for a quotation to make the existing fencing safe.
The cost of the work is to be shared with the Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board.
d. Maintenance of the Water Level in the Pond.
Cove Communities has been approached for the possible use of one of their pumps when needed. The owners have been contacted but, to date, no reply has been received.
e. Damage to the Village Green by Rabbits.
A contractor has been briefed, but recent weather conditions have meant that he was unable to start the treatment. As soon as conditions improve work will begin to control the rabbit population around the Village Green.
f. Purchase of a Pedestrian Shelter.
Councillors are to look for a suitable site for the shelter, preferably on the south side of the village Green. The site will be decided during the March meeting of the Paroish Council.
g. Grass Cutting Contractor for 2024.
The quotation received from last years contractor was 8% more than the cost for 2023.
Council decided that this still represented good value for money.
Resolved. That the quotation received for the 2024 season be approved.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr Ford. Carried unanimously.
h. Waste Bin at the Play Area.
The bin in question is being used principally for dog faeces rather than general waste.
After some discussion it was decided that the bin should be removed and placed in Council’s container to see what effect this might have.
Proposed Cllr Johnson. Seconded Cllr Burke. Carried unanimously.
03.17 Highways Issues.
Grass cutting along the A156 western verge.
West Lindsey District Council will be contacted to see if they will agree to ask the contractor to strim the banking from Torksey Bridges to the village as and when necessary to keep it looking tidy and prevent growth from blocking the footpath.
03.18 Traffic Calming.
Councillors have information about the different styles of “gate” available.
Thery will inform the Clerk within fourteen days of their preference for a suitable gate.
03.19 Health and Safety.
a. Village Green. No issues reported.
b. Cemetery. No issues reported.
c. RoSPA Reports. Noted.
03.20 Facebook Page.
Material is uploaded as and when required.
No requests received.
03.21 Finance.
a. Financial Statement.
Resolved. That the Financial Statement for January 2024 be approved as a true record.
Proposed Cllr Johnson. Seconded Cllr Bridges. Carried unanimously.
b. Clerk’s Salary and Expenses. £329.10 £285.10
b. Resolved. That the Clerk’s Salary and expenses be approved for payment.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr Burke. Carried unanimously.
c. Invoices for Payment.
HMRC PAYE £70.00
Continental Landscapes £326.40
Parish Online £45.00
HMRC PAYE £70.00
PKF Littlejohn. £252.00
Resolved. That the above expenditure at 03.21.c be approved for payment.
Proposed Cllr |Johnson. Seconded Cllr Levitt. Carried unanimously.
d. Appeal Section 137 for funds to aid the Church Insurance expenses for 2024.
Resolved. That Council donates £250.00 to St Peter’s Church Torksey to aid Insurance commitments.
Proposed Cllr Large. Seconded Cllr |Levitt. Carried unanimously.
03.22 Correspondence.
No comments relating to correspondence forwarded to Councillors.
03.23 Future Agenda Items.
No items received.
03.14 Closed Session.
04.25 Dates of Future Meetings.
Monday 18th March 2024.
Monday 15th April 2024
Monday 20th May 2024.
03.26 Closure of the Meeting.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 2135 hrs. (09.35 pm).