July 2024 Minutes
Waddingham Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 3rd July 2024, 7pm at Jubilee Hall
Present: Cllrs L Williams (Chair), P Williams, G Thacker, J Thacker, C Jones, E Law, Cllr A White and the Clerk
County Councillor S Bunney
5 members of the public
Public participation- A member of the public noted that there is no road signage for the High Street. Clerk to contact WLDC to report.
A member of the public raised the issue of maintaining the track at North Ramper. This was an agenda item and discussed late in the meeting.
A member of the public suggested that since one post box has been removed from the village it may be sensible to move the remaining one top a more central location. This was also an agenda item and discussed later in the meeting.
It was noted that the newly refurbished phone box library looks wonderful and is already being utilised and a real asset to the village.
A member of the public reported that she had contacted planning enforcement regarding the building land that backs onto the Old School House. The site is very untidy and weeds and bushes from the site are encroaching on other properties. Citizens Advice have a legal team who may be able to assist landowners with putting a case together. Clerk to contact owner of the building plots.
A member of the public reported that the old water pump near the village hall is overgrown with weeds. It was pointed out that this is the responsibility of the Village Hall as it is on land leased by them,but Cllr C Jones volunteered to tidy the area anyway.
A member of the public asked why there had been a long debate regarding the replacement and refurbishment of barriers over the beck, but less time was spent deciding upon spending additional items for the play area. It was explained that the play area has been discussed for a number of years. The funding for the play area has come from fundraising and grant awards not from the precept. The issue of the barriers was taking time as it was necessary to get quotes. This was also an agenda item and discussed later in the meeting.
67/24 Apologies for Absence- Apologies were received and accepted for Cllr S Kirman and Cllr B Tiley.
68/24 Declaration of Interest
a. To record declarations of interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared. To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed- None
69/24 Minutes of Previous meeting to be approved and signed.
The minutes from Wednesday 1st May 2024 were signed as a true and accurate record.
70/24 Matters Arising- Cllr L Williams explained that following discussions with the play equipment manufacturer it had been decided to put on hold ordering the additional inclusive play equipment. This was due to the size and the need for specialist ground coverage. Further accessible equipment will be purchased but careful consideration needs to be given to what will be the best and most appropriate option which would be ROSPA approved and best suited to the environment.
71/24 County Councillor/District Council report- District Councillor Duguid was not in attendance.
County Councillor Bunney reported that work on the flood relief scheme has still not commenced but it is due to shortly.
72/24 Police report-Cllr White reported that there had been 1 break in in the village on High Street.
73/24 Clerk’s report- Nothing additional to agenda items.
74/24 Finance
(a) Schedule of payments and receipts- approved
(i) C. Wright, salary June- £293
(ii) C. Wright, salary July- £293
(iii) C Wright, expenses June, July- £20
(iv) AJ William, grass cutting- £192
(v) Play quest £2294.50
(vi) Zurich- £264
(vii) PAYE-£163.20
ACTION: Clerk
75/24 Removal of village post box-. Cllr L Williams has contacted the Post Office again to request an additional post box. Royal Mail have confirmed that they will not be supplying an additional post box. Cllr L Williams to contact them again to see if the remaining post box could be moved to a more central location in the village, near to the phone box.
ACTION: Cllr L Williams
76/24 Flood relief scheme and beck cleaning matters-. Clerk to contact AJ Williams to ask for the village beck weeds to be sprayed. Licence is already in place. Work to repair the slipped bank has not been started yet.
ACTION: Clerk
77/24 To discuss repair and refurbishment of bridge barriers- One quote has been received for £1600. Other contractors contacted have not quoted for the work. Resolved to ask Ian Moore to complete the work and to be paid for using money from the Constable Ings trust. Cllr White to inform residents who will be affected and contact Ian Moore to organise the works.
ACTION: Cllr White
78/24 Emergency Plan Update- The emergency plan is now complete. Resolved for the plan to be signed and submitted. Date to be decided upon when all necessary signatories are available.
76/24 Play area update – Play equipment has now been installed and children are enjoying the facility. The new benches have arrived and will be sited soon. Resolved to drop the kerb and install notices and a bin. The council will investigate inclusive play equipment to add to the area.
ACTION: Cllr L Williams
77/24 Constable Ings Trust- The new bank account is now operational.
78/24 North Ramper Update- The clerk has made initial contact with the landowners concerned regarding the upkeep of the track at North Ramper. Resolved for the clerk to contact them again with a date to meet and discuss in more detail.
ACTION: Clerk and Cllr G Thacker
79/24 Highways Matters- The volunteer scheme has rejected the application to clear the footpath down to Clock House Corner as it does not fit under their remit. However, it has been agreed that it will be carried out by Highways under their routine maintenance scheme. Clerk to contact Anna Grieve at WLDC regarding the missing signage on High Street.
Footpath 46304 WDGN72/1 was reported as overgrown, Cllr Bunney to contact LCC to report. Clerk to also report. Clerk to also contact the landowner of the building plots behind the Marquis of Granby as overgrowth from the plots is encroaching neighbouring properties.
ACTION: Clerk & Cllr Bunney
80/24 Planning Matters: None.
81/24 Tree Survey- The previous tree survey was completed in 2022 and the recommended work was undertaken.
82/24 Letting of roadside herbage-to be carried over to the next meeting.
83/24 Update regarding streetlighting- There is a need to assess the streetlighting and to apply to have them improved if necessary. Cllr Bunney advised that there needs to be a ‘specific reason’ for streetlighting to be assessed. The community events team are the people to contact.
ACTION: Cllr P Williams
84/24 Confirmation of date and time of next meeting 4th September 2024 Jubilee Hall- 7pm
85/24 Additional items for the May agenda- marking Remembrance.
Meeting closed at 8. 34pm