Minutes, 18 July 2024
MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of Marston Parish Council held on Thursday 18th July 2024 at Hougham and Marston Village Hall, Bridge Street, Marston:
Attended by: Cllr Maughan, Cllr Vickers, Cllr Cartwright, Cllr O’Sullivan, Cllr Brown, Cllr Stephens, Cllr Duckett, Cllr Watson
MINUTES
1. WELCOME by the Parish Council Chairman.
2. APOLOGIES – Cllr Paul Woods
Declared by 12 midday before the meeting
Proposed by: Cllr Stephens
Seconded by: Cllr O’Sullivan
3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
Under the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, made under s30 (3) of the Localism Act, members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.
None declared
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
The meeting will be adjourned for an agreed time by the Chair for the public to ask questions about agenda items. The Chair will allocate speaking time as appropriate.
As per Standing Orders the Chair will assign time for public questions depending on the agenda length. Normally 3 minutes will be allocated per person. Residents are encouraged to register their questions beforehand with the clerk.
Email: questions to marstonpcclerk@gmail.com
5. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – 16th May
Proposed: Cllr Brown
Seconded by Cllr Cartwright
6. PLANNING MATTERS -
No planning matters before agenda circulated.
7. COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
County Councillors: Cllr Maughan – update on solar farms, 2 large applications approved by central government. County Council have opposed due to good farmland being taken out of food production. Proposals for new pylons will likely be approved by central government. County will object to Central Government whenever the need arises. Onshore wind ban has been lifted. Devolution had been signed off by previous government. LCC are waiting to see whether that continues under new government.
Lack of progress on proposed new speed limit between Bridge Street and the railway bridge on Brandon Road.
Cllr Maughan has raised it again with Head of Highways and asked him to bring the road speed limit to a conclusion. Clerk informed Cllrs of additional children now living at the old farmhouse and the need to ask Highways to consider both parts of the road such as the top area before the Gelston turn and the Hougham and Marston S bends. Discussed accident data and how it is reported
There is a need to balance reactive and proactive action on road maintenance.
The reason is to try to keep good roads in a good condition while balancing repairs of bad roads, this is called Programmed Maintenance and ensures that roads that are wearing out are layered to ensure further longevity. Cllr Maughan explained how the process works on a particular pothole being apparently ‘missed’ Edge damage cannot be patched and is generally repaired by ‘squirting in tarmac‘ at a later date using a specialised machine to fill the edge appropriately. On unspecified roads such as Sand Lane the aim is to complete repairs in 90 days.
8. COMMUNITY MATTERS
a) EV Chargers - Lincolnshire County Council are seeking Parish Council help in looking for Electric Vehicle locations to help hit the 2030 projection of 4000 charge points which will ideally work in conjunction with LEVI (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) to ensure people with no access to off street parking will be able to fulfil their charging needs locally.
The clerk gave an update after attending Countywide meeting. There is still a need for a huge number of sites to be found in the county. No immediately viable sites in Marston, discussions on near the school on the new layby may be a possibility and The Thorold have contacted LCC
b) Update on letters to select residents.
Chair discussed and updated Councillors. No further areas to be raised.
c) Himalayan Balsam at Riverside Walk and update. A working party cut down the Himalayan Balsam on the river bank on Sunday 7 July completing the work started by Councillor Brown and the Village Cleaner. Cllr Duckett updated on how to control it. It has spread considerably over both sides of the river.
d) Discussion on speed of road into Marston. Previously discussed on item 7
e) Further discussion on Village Hall car park. Following the last meeting Cllr Brown submitted a proposal to Cllr Maughan. This was accepted and
is being processed by LCC and the Clerk will follow with Ellie at LCC
f) Discussions on whether we progress with surgeries & notices in Thorold.
Cllr Duckett explained what proposals have been discussed over the last few months about raising the Parish Council profile. Cllr Vickers said it would not be possible a have a notice board in the passage at the pub because of fire regulations. The Parish Council agreed that we need to make more use of Facebook and the Clerk will set up a Facebook page.
g) LALC Conference and AGM – 24th July at Belton.
Due to holidays the Parish Council will not send a representative. Clerk to send apologies.
h) DPI new forms to be completed by Councillors.
Completed. Clerk to send to SKDC Democratic Services
i) SKDC grant to Parish Councils (Coronation Living Heritage grant) to celebrate the King’s Coronation of up to £1,500 – applications due by 27th September 2024 for planting and finishing by March 2025.
The Clerk will apply for the grant to see whether we are eligible
j) Cllrs thanked Cllr Stephens for cleaning the signs in the village,
k) Letter from a Parishioner. Councillors discussed a letter received from a parishioner concerning a dispute with a neighbour. Councillors unanimously agreed that the Parish Council has no jurisdiction on the issues raised and will take no action. Clerk to notify parishioner accordingly.
9. FINANCIAL MATTERS
AGAR ACCEPTANCE BY AUDITOR
Signing of monthly reconciliations for May and June 2024 –
Signed Cash report to be sent out to Cllrs shortly as we approach half year
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 5th September – 7:30pm
11. MEETING CLOSED AT: 21.23