17July 2024 Minutes
At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 17 July 2024 in Bratoft Church Room.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mr C. Moore; Mrs S. Wilford; Mr G. Holmes; Mr S. Roachford; Mr R. Currie; Mr R. Harman and Miss H. Smithson-Whitehead.
Apologies were received from Mr A. Brewer; Mrs C. Brewer and LCC Cllr Mrs W. Bowkett.
1. Minutes of the last Meeting
Subject to the amendment shown below in Cllrs Bowkett's report it was agreed that these be signed as a correct record of the proceedings.
2. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
There were no matters arising.
3. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Bowkett sent her apologies and the following report:
"I have attached call connects posters re their summer offer, any new sign up gets a free journey, all for £2.00 each way. It is trying to encourage teenagers to use it during the summer months.
Lady Wath will be having two further cuts in Aug and Oct and a weed cut beginning of August. Bushing around the Cowcroft in the winter.
Outfields Lane should be done in September, it is being used for trials using different techniques for filling potholes at present.
The minutes from last month should be changed to read that it is hoped the steeping will be chosen by the LDB for their maintenance. The monies they have put in for they are still waiting to receive."
4. Correspondence
a) Email received from Mrs Mitchell regarding the flower planter in Great Steeping. It was agreed to ask the Great Steeping Community Group to trim back the grass near to the noticeboard and relocate the flower planter to that position in Great Steeping. Winter pansies will be purchased once they are in the garden centre.
b) Email received from Environment Agency regarding maintenance to take place in the 5 Parishes. Details to be sent to all Councillors.
c) Verbal request from Miss Smithson Whitehead regarding the cutting back of over grown hedges on Brambleberry Lane and overgrown trees on Aerodrome Road. The relevant parties will be contacted for action to be taken.
d) Verbal request from Mr Holmes regarding the overgrown hedge which needs cutting back on Station Road, Firsby. It was agreed to contact the owner for action to be taken.
5. Plans
Application No S/020/00975/24 by Mr Haigh for Planning Permission - Erection of replacement vehicular and pedestrian access gates with walls and pillars to a maximum height of 2.6m at Bratoft Manor, Summergates Lane, Bratoft. It was agreed to support this application.
6. Highways
It was agreed to report the following matters:
There is a pothole next to the drain cover which needs repairing on the B1195 and the corner of Old Church Lane, Great Steeping.
Burgh Lane, Irby is not fit for purpose. There are so many potholes and a few repairs that makes this road uneven and sometimes dangerous to use. It needs levelling out and repairing properly.
The undulations on the Little Steeping Road to Thorpe is getting worse and needs attention. This is another road that is not fit for purpose.
Following a flooding incident the bridge on the footpath at the back of the Old Church, Great Steeping, has been removed. The footpath has been shut since November 2023. The matter has now been rectified and the bridge needs to be restored to its original location. Cllr Bowkett to be informed.
7. Any Other Business
Mrs Wilford asked whether there are any levelling up funds available for the Parish Council. There should have been some money available due to the abandonment of the HS2 line to our area. It was agreed to ask Cllr Bowkett for information.
Mrs Wilford stated that bat and owl boxes were set up in Little Steeping for 1 week By Eastern Green 3 & 4 and then removed.
Mrs Wilford asked for an update on the registration of the Village Hall and 2 plots of land in Little Steeping. The Clerk stated that matter is with the solicitors at the moment for the next steps to be agreed.
Mr Heane stated that heavy trucks continue to use Sandy Lane instead of driving along Aerodrome Road despite the signs by Halton Stone Bridge. The road surfaces are being damaged where they turn out at the end of the Lane. It was agreed to contact Keily and ask them to instruct their drivers to use the correct road.
8. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Bratoft PCC for use of room £10
Bolingbroke Deanery for printing of Aug/Sept Newsletter £140.