February 2024 Minutes
Croft Parish Council
Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held at Croft Village Hall on Monday 5th February 2024 commencing at 7pm. These are notes of the meeting until approved by the Council as a true and accurate record.
Present:
Cllrs A Coxall (Chair), C Drury, (Vice-Chair), and S Gould.
Clerk - J Sargent.
There was one member of the public in attendance.
Public Session
Resident 1 explained that Kartworld on Low Road in Croft had submitted and then withdrew plans for an alcohol and entertainment licence across the site. The resident advised he was their nearest neighbour and had concerns with what they intend to do at the site. The resident suggested the noise from the karting already ruins their weekends from a personal point of view and as a business, they have lost 100s of 1000s of pounds in sales of lodges and holidays, as well as customers for their touring caravan site.
The resident suggested that they would now be applying for Temporary Event Notices, which would allow for up to 15 events in a calendar year with up to 500 people in attendance to have pop-up bars or music events for example.
Cllr Coxall advised she had objected personally, as it would be a bad idea to mix go-karts and alcohol. Cllr Coxall also suggested that the noise pollution would destroy the peaceful countryside aspect of the village. Cllr Coxall mentioned that Low Road is not a suitable road to accommodate increased traffic.
Cllr Drury suggested that the infrastructure was not suitable to accommodate up to 500 people at temporary events and it was important for the Council to consider how this would affect the residents of the village.
The Clerk advised that he would write to ELDC’s planning department for more information on this issue.
The resident listed criteria that is not being adhered to at the site. Cllr Coxall asked the resident to send a copy of this information to the Clerk.
With no further matters, it was resolved to move into formal session.
93. Welcome from the Chair of the Council.
The Chair welcomed all present.
94. Apologies for Absence.
It was resolved unanimously to accept apologies from Cllrs N Cooper and S Dennis. No apologies received from Cllrs S Blackburn and G Bowser.
95. Declarations of Interest.
None received.
96. To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 6th November 2023.
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
97. To approve the list of accounts submitted for consideration for:
a. November Income and Expenditure
b. December Income and Expenditure
c. January Income and Expenditure
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the list of accounts.
98. To receive updated bank reconciliation for:
a. November
b. December
c. January
The Clerk provided the bank reconciliation for information purposes only, to keep Councillors up to date on the financial status of the Council.
99. To receive a budget review for the third quarter of the financial year.
The Clerk provided a budget review for the third quarter of the financial year, for information purposes only. Explaining items such as agricultural drainage rates, donations, and the VAT repayment.
100. To receive notification of any planning permissions, refusals, withdrawals, or amendments.
Planning applications were emailed out prior to the meeting. No comments were made.
101. To receive reports from the Chairman and Clerk to the Council.
Cllr Coxall reported that the caretaker went on holiday with very little notice and had difficulty with some hirers, who had a poor attitude. Cllr Coxall thanked her son for his help during this time. Cllr Coxall requested to share the workload next time the caretaker takes annual leave.
Cllr Drury suggested setting up a WhatsApp group for quicker communication between Councillors in situations such as this. The Clerk to arrange.
The Clerk mentioned trying to set up a meeting with Highways and the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to discuss speed calming measures, new village signs and gates. The Clerk reported that the historic black and white guidepost on Church Lane had been cleaned up by ELDC’s Pride Team and the guidepost at the junction of Middlemarsh Road and Low Road had been damaged. This has been reported and expected to be restored within 6 months. Information regarding what to do in the event of a flood to be posted on the website and the Clerk is due to attend training over the next few months. Flooding information to be posted on the website.
Cllr Coxall asked the Clerk to check the work had been completed from the previous internal audit and to arrange an annual appraisal before the March Parish Council Meeting.
102. To receive a report on the Village Hall.
Cllr Coxall stressed the need for more bookings to make the hall financially viable and sustainable. Current bookings included the WI and the Young Farmers club. Cllr Coxall also queried why the Parish Council paid the caretakers salary as opposed to the Village Hall which is a separate charity. Cllr Coxall asked the Clerk to provide information on the caretaker’s salary. Cllr Coxall reiterated the need to better communication with the caretaker particularly during annual leave requests to help manage the bookings in the hall in his absence.
Cllr Coxall circulated the Village Hall’s final accounts for the previous final year to be approved and asked Councillors to consider an increase in the Hall’s rent to help raise revenue.
103. To receive a report on the community library project.
Cllr Coxall reported that sadly the library did not have any visitors recently and considered closing until the weather improves. Councillors agreed that the weather is likely to be a factor in keeping residents away.
104. To consider an 80th anniversary D-Day commemoration event.
It was resolved unanimously to defer to the March meeting.
105. To receive a copy of previous resolutions and action points.
The Clerk provided a copy of previous resolutions and action points for information purposes to keep Councillors up to date with works in progress.
106. To consider the budget and precept for 2024-25.
The Clerk presented a draft budget that included a 10% increase on the precept to account for inflation and additional running costs which would balance the draft budget. Cllr Coxall expressed concerns over an increase in the current financial climate.
The Clerk provided figures on the percent increase and the increase per household (a band D property) to help with the consideration of the precept. There was no increase in the precept from 2020-2022 and only in 2% increase in 2022-23.
Councillors discussed items on the budget, amending figures for the grass cutting contract, donations, and agricultural drainage rates, to help balance the budget.
It was resolved unanimously to increase the precept by 10% to account for inflation, rising costs and projects the Council want to deliver in 2024-25.
107. To consider meeting dates for 2024-25.
Councillors discussed the necessity of holding 10 meetings a year, whether there was enough on the agendas to warrant 10 meetings and considered the poor attendance in recent meetings. It was resolved unanimously to hold a further 5 meetings in 2024, bimonthly, starting in March; to hold meetings in February and March in 2025 and then review in 2025.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8:43pm.