Minutes for October 2024

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DRAFT MINUTES: CORBY GLEN PARISH COUNCIL

Draft Minutes of the meeting held on Wed Oct 9^th 2024 at 7.00pm in the Willoughby Memorial Gallery, Corby Glen.

Present: Cllrs Lamming (Chair), Ellam, Harty, Harwood, Mardling, & Walsingham.

In attendance: 1 resident (part time), Cllr Robins (part time), Mrs. S. Woodman (Parish Clerk).

Open Forum:

Councillor Resignation: Cllr Evans has resigned because of pressure of work. The Clerk will notify SKDC. The council thanks him for his hard work in the past. He will continue to help out where required.

Parking Restrictions: The resident requested clarification of the council’s position regarding the proposed parking restrictions on Station Rd / Barleycroft.

Barleycroft garages (owned by SKDC): The concrete lintel over one of the garage doors is cracked and in a potentially dangerous condition. Although not the Parish Council’s responsibility, in the interests of community safety, Cllr Ellam will mark with hazard tape. Cllr Robins will again alert SKDC.

Phone Box: Cllr Walsingham reported that the bottom window has been pushed in.

1. Apologies for absence: Cllrs Evans & Shepperson. Reasons given and accepted.
2. District and County Councillors’ Reports:
   The leader of the District Council has written to Rachel Reeves in support of retaining a more workable Winter Fuel Allowance. Also, our MP Alicia Kearns is treating this as a hot topic and is fully on board.

Alicia Kearns has launched a Pension Credit campaign to make sure all those who are eligible in our community are signed up ahead of the winter months. The final deadline to apply for Pension Credit in order to receive the Winter Fuel payment is the 21^stDecember. It is currently taking approximately 6/8 weeks for the DWP to process claims.

A major voids contract has been awarded for 2 years in the hope that some unused properties can be returned to SKDC stock.

3. The minutes of the meeting of the Council both held on Wed Sept 12^th 2024 were approved by a majority
   (5 for, 1 abstention, cllr not present)
4. Councillors’ Declarations of Interest:
5. Review of Action Log:

24/09/19: The Defibrillator has been added to the list of S106 projects.

24/09/22: The beacon has been registered for May 2025 (VE Day 80 anniversary)

24/09/23: Benches have been cleaned of bird poo, but the bench at the bottom of Coronation Rd remains a problem as it is under trees. Consideration of moving the bench to the opposite side of the road to be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

6. Clerk’s & Chairman’s reports on matters outstanding:

01 Christmas Tree Lights: Mr Cook has purchased some of the elements of the Christmas Tree; the rest are expected soon. The residents who usually provide the electricity are happy to continue to do so.

Mr Cook was unable to obtain 2 further quotes as the tree is a bespoke fabrication, and as the item has already been part purchased / commissioned, S106 funding will not be sought.

02 Neighbourhood Planning: No update. The group plan to comment on the draft local plan when available.

03 War Memorial renovation / valuation: Cllr Ellam has fitted a combination lock to the railing gates and circulated the combination.

The War Memorials Trust has confirmed its grant which is expected soon.

Valuation: No valuer located locally. To be left until insurance renewal / market cross renovations.

04 S106 funds from new developments:

NCHA (S18/0452): The new play equipment is expected on November 18th. The ‘old’ equipment will need to be moved before then. Funds for maintenance will be paid when the invoice for the new equipment is submitted.

Allison Homes (S19/2235 – RDMH): Cllr Shepperson is liaising with the Ron Dawson Hall and has completed the S106 application form for the SIDs on Swinstead Road. The council agreed unanimously to endorse this application.

DWH (S21/1841):

1. CSR Roof: Application submitted.
2. CSR Exterior Paintwork: Application submitted.
3. Road Safety: Cllr Shepperson has completed the S106 application form for the SIDs on Bourne Road. It was agreed unanimously to endorse this application.

Cllr Harwood reported that once the above projects have been completed, approximately £9,000 will be left of the funds currently available.

1. New uprights for swings: Quote to be sought from Mr Cook for metal uprights as per the toddler swings.
2. River Glen Sign: LCC Highways to be consulted.
3. Memorial Bench: More research to be carried out to determine which bench is preferred.
4. Funding for Market Cross Surgery: Requested by resident. Clerk to inform the resident that funding has already been provided.

The recommendations of the working party were discussed and agreed unanimously.

05 Emergency Planning: Cllr Mardling to chase.

06 Leaflet with useful contacts etc: In progress. Allison Homes confirm that they are happy to fund the printing.

07 Issues associated with the new housing estates – sewerage issues: At the instigation of Alicia Kearns MP, a meeting had taken place between herself, SKDC officers & CGPC.

Cllr Ellam’s notes have been posted on the web site for this meeting and a previous meeting between Ms Kerns, the 3 developers, the sewage pump installation contractor, Anglian Water & the Corby Glen Smell Action Group (CGSAG).

The council thanked Ms Kearns for her active support.

The Action Group is proposing to notify all who expressed an interest and to obtain further information from those directly affected. This will be forwarded to the SKDC Environmental Health Officer, who has the power to issue a ‘Smell Abatement Notice’.

08 Progress on tree tags: No progress. It was noted that if the council needs to fund an election, this might limit its ability to spend on new trees. Further exploration of new trees was therefore suspended at this time.

09 Trees: The grass mower reported that low branches on trees on the Horsepool were inhibiting mowing. He offered to remove them. Clerk to check whether the trees are in the conservation area and get detailed quotes for the work.

10 Consider a resident’s request to add the St John’s grass area to the grass cutting schedule: No response from Kier. Cllr Robins & SKDC had viewed the site. SKDC will re-seed in Spring. No action at this time of year, but gorilla gardening in Spring. Consider options when grass cutting contract renewed.

11 Request for a bench / dedication re Mr & Mrs Marsh – update: Response from Mr Marsh to suggested bench favourable. Awaiting dedication wording from daughter. Mrs Marsh visits in December. Location to be considered.

12 Purchase of 30mph signs – update: Cllr Shepperson not present.

13 (duplicate)

7. Matters to be resolved:

14 Consider including Cyber protection with the insurance: No definitive answer obtained from local government community. No further action at this time.

8. Reports from:

Planning: to consider planning applications received prior to & after publication of the agenda:
S22/0731 Allison Homes / S21/1841 David Wilson Homes / S22/1808 Nott’m Housing Assoc’n)

Greens Working Group:

15 Playground Equipment Maintenance: The Greens Working Group currently comprises Cllrs Shepperson & Harty.

9. Payments and Accounts

(i) Bank balances – monthly update approved unanimously as set out below.

(ii) Invoices for payment – Councillors resolved unanimously to approve payments as set out in schedule below.

10. Matters to be further discussed at the meeting:

16 Agree arrangements for Remembrance Day (Sunday Nov 10^th 2025): It is understood that there will not be a church service on Remembrance Sunday immediately before the Act of Remembrance at 10.45am (the service will be at 3.00pm because of the availability of priests).

Arrangements for leaf clearing and the service as per Action Log.

It was agreed unanimously that the clerk should make a donation of £15 to RBL.

17 Consider layout markings for the Market Place: The ‘road’ round the square / parking area could be designated with a solid white line. To be discussed with LCC Highways during site visit.

Clerk to draft a letter to residents of the square asking for views on roadway outlining.

18 Review complaint re bus services and agree action: Clerk to contact complainant and establish agreement to forward complaint to Call Connect.

19 Consider matters concerning the election of a new councillor (eg poll cards?): It was agreed unanimously that poll cards are not required.

The general view was of disappointment that 10 residents had felt it necessary to request an election, but the council respected that this option was open to residents.

If an election is required, this will incur a direct cost to the Parish Council of £2,000 – £3,000 and could mean that traditional spend for the benefit of the community might have to be limited going forward in the face budget constraints and scrutiny. The council wondered whether all the residents who had signed to request the election had been advised and appreciated this.

The chairman considered that, on the part of a minority of residents, this demonstrated a lack of trust of the council’s ability to co-opt councillors to serve the community. For these reasons, and despite 15 years’ service with the council, Cllr Lamming had taken the difficult decision to resign as chairman and as a councillor.

Councillors greatly regretted Cllr Lamming’s decision and thanked her for all her hard work and dedication in the past.

20 Consider response to SKDC’s Design Code Consultation: Councillors to consider and respond either personally or via clerk.

11. Next meeting:

Due to the vacancies and Cllr Lamming’s resignation as chair, it was considered essential for as many councillors as possible to attend the upcoming meeting. As a result, it was unanimously agreed to reschedule the November meeting to Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, at 7:00pm, at the Willoughby Gallery in Corby Glen.

Meeting closed at 8.58pm.                                                                                                            Mrs. Sue Woodman – Parish Clerk

Action Log 10^th October 2024