2021 Minutes

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Minutes of the meeting of Sutton Bridge Parish Council, held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 28 September 2021, in the Curlew Centre Diamond Hall, Sutton Bridge.

Present: Cllr Simon Booth (chairman), Cllr Anne Scarlett (vice–chair), Cllr Michael Booth, Cllr Chris Brewis, Cllr David Bruch, Cllr Kim Davies, Cllr Colin Robinson, Mr. Robert Smith (Clerk), Mrs. Karen Croxford (Admin Assistant), 6 members of the public.

Absent: Cllr Rachael Goodwin, Cllr Ray Perkins, Cllr Terry York.

Unless otherwise stated, actions to be undertaken by the clerk.

21.188. Apologies were received from Cllr Rachael Goodwin, Cllr Ray Perkins, Cllr Terry York.

21.189. As a member of the Curlew Centre committee, Cllr Bruch declared an interest on the agenda item 9. IV. (min. ref 21.196.04).

21.190. One member of the public indicated that they wished to make representations.

01. Matters on the agenda:

i. Concerns were raised about alleged breaches in standing orders. (See appendix 1)

21.191. It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2021

21.192. Police matters.

01. Police audit of the Memorial Park

i. It was noted that the Police audit may have incorrectly reported that a CCTV camera as not working. This was to be checked.

ii. It was resolved that the Open Spaces working party look at the Police audit and report back to Council with recommendations.

02. It was noted that the latest local Police priority was road safety around schools (parking & speeding), as reported via nextdoor.co.uk.

03. Sutton Bridge World Café

i. The World Café event, sponsored by Lincolnshire Police had taken place at the Curlew Centre on Saturday 11 September with good attendance.

ii. Coding of the feedback obtained at the meeting was underway.

iii. A follow up Community Budgeting event would likely take place in the next few months.

21.193. The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and reported the following:

01. He thanked those members who attended the Propeller and Battle of Britain service in his absence. He invited councillors who attended to express any comments about the events.

02. Thanks were expressed to Cllr Kim Davies and Mrs. K Croxford for their support on the day with the refreshments.

21.194. The clerk reported the following matters not otherwise covered on the agenda.

01. The website had been updated. Cllr Bruch enquired about notifications being sent when the website was updated. The clerk would investigate the matter.

02. The Sutton Bridge Children’s Centre what’s on guide had been published on the website

03. Planning comments had been submitted, as resolved.

04. The notice of Cllr David Summers’ resignation had been published and confirmation on whether an election was be held was awaited.

05. A meeting to discuss a community fund for the Gunthorpe Road Solar Farm had taken place which was to be reported on later in the meeting by the councillors involved.

06. The District Council’s pop-up picnic event had successfully taken place on 23 August with good attendance.

07. Food and refreshments for the propeller service were thought to be particularly successful this year. Appreciation and thanks were expressed to Mrs Croxford for organizing and helping during the event and to Cllr Davies for her help during the event.

08. Internal bank transfers had been actioned to cover this month’s payments.

09. The EV charging point lease with the District Council had been signed and returned to solicitors for finalisation, as resolved.

10. Play equipment training would be taking place later in the year or early in 2022. It should be noted that no recent councillor play inspection checks had been received.

11. Works to the play area fence and the target wall would be completed in October.

12. Reports and evidence of fires having been lit in the Memorial Park had been reported to South Holland District Council (SHDC) Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team. They had stated that community warden patrols were still taking place.

13. Citizen’s Advice had responded to enquiries about future use of the Curlew Centre, stating that they would be looking to open outreach events at Curlew Centre and other sites later in the autumn.

14. The new donated bench for the burial ground was to be installed soon.

15. A meeting about allotment markings would be taking place 29 September.

16. A notice to quit had been issued to the tenant of an insufficiently cultivated plot, as resolved.

17. The old bus shelter on East Bank had been removed. The old notice board was awaiting removal as volunteered by Cllr York.

18. Hedge cutting in the Memorial Park should be taking place later this week.

19. Dates were yet to be agreed for a meeting with the chairman of the Curlew Centre, to discuss office hire arrangements from 2022.

20. Due to personal circumstances about which the chairman and vice-chair had been made aware, several items resolved at the last meeting had been late actioned or had yet to be undertaken:

i. The Police Commissioner had recently been contacted regarding the allegations of abusive and threatening communications being made to councillors, as resolved. A response was awaited.

ii. The Parish Meeting previously resolved to take place in September was now scheduled to take place 12 October 2021.   

iii. The Council’s revised Code of Conduct had yet to be circulated to members for signature.

iv. The highways officer had yet to be invited for a meeting in the Parish and the bus stop markings outside the Boathouse were still to be chased.

v. Work into making the councillors official email addresses more accessible had yet to be completed.

vi. A draft amended Press and Media Policy had yet to be drawn up for consideration.

vii. Damaged/Stolen CCTV camera was to be reported to the Police.

A member of the public interrupted the meeting to ask if standing orders could be suspended so that he could speak. The chairman declined the request.

21.195. The following District Council reports were received:

01. Cllr Brewis (SHDC councillor) reported:

i. COVID-19 rates remained high within the local area. Continued caution was advised.

ii. South Holland District Council, Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council had joined together as the South & East Lincolnshire Council’s Partnership. This was expected to make substantial savings and help South Holland District Council with the repayment of the deficit incurred in 2012. 

iii. Application forms were available if anyone wished to renew/apply for a bus pass or disabled badge.

iv. Wasp nest removal services were no longer available from South Holland District Council for private dwellings only to council tenants.

02. Cllr M Booth (SHDC councillor) reported:

i. He was fully in agreement with Cllr Brewis with the marriage between South Holland, Boston, and East Lindsey Councils. This was the largest joint authority partnership supporting over 300,000 residents.

ii. A summer initiative of free parking in Spalding was now coming to an end. Parking charges would resume as from the 01 October 2021.

iii. There had been a good turn out to the Civic Society exhibition event in the Curlew centre a book was now available to purchase @ £10.00 about the history of Sutton Bridge. 

iv. A gentleman believes he knows the location of King John’s treasure and is working with a local farmer and the BBC on the matter.

A member of the public interrupted the meeting to ask councillors to speak up. 

v. As it was considered to have better acoustics, it was resolved to move the October Council meeting to the Bridge Room. If the room was not available a microphone was to be trialled.

21.196. Finance

01. It was resolved to approve the August bank reconciliation

02. The renewal of the insurance agreement with BHIB insurance brokers in accordance with the long-term agreement terminating 1 October 2023 was noted.

03. As previously delegated to the clerk, a 3-year electrical agreement had been agreed with SSE Business Energy (one of the ‘big six’ energy suppliers).

04. It was resolved to approve payments to 28 September 2021 as below. Cllr Scarlett and Cllr York to authorise bank payments.

 05. Delegated expenditure included above: £100.00 to Humphrey Contracting Ltd for removing slabs and reseeding at the East Bank bus shelter location.

06. The following receipts were noted: bank interest £76.14; Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) East Bank Lighthouse agency litter picking £700.00; SHDC agency litter picking £1,260.00; Garden Allotment rent £56.00; Land registry refund £3.00. 

07. Receipt of the external auditor’s report and certificate was noted with no matters of concern reported. Thanks were given to the clerk and assistant for their work involved with this.

08. There were no applications for grants.

21.197. The following correspondence was noted.

01. Surface water flooding on Anchor Road was to be reported to Highways.

02. Request for improved facilities at the Garden of Rest were noted, it was resolved to contact the resident to inform them that some of the water taps were open for use. Also, for quotes to be obtained to install a sign stating that all litter and old floral tributes were to be taken home.

03. It was resolved to move the discussion on the complaints about the chairman’s farm tenancy and the “police motion” to be raised under closed session, because some of the details the chairman was going to discuss he was not prepared to be in the public domain. 

04. Update on next year’s planned Pilgrim Cross was noted.

05. It was resolved to write and thank LCC for its response on the marina and to state that the Parish Council looked forward to the discussions and consultation with Parish Council about the improvements to made to the facility.

19:40hrs three members of the public left the meeting.

06. Thanks for King’s Street Garden waste collection were noted. A copy to be passed to County Councillor Tyrrell 

07. Concerns about camping near the East Bank Lighthouse were noted, a proposal to contact the Environment agency directly was rejected. It was resolved to contact the resident concerned to inform them to contact the Environment Agency. 

08. An invitation to attend a Citizen’s Advice meeting was noted, any individual Councillor who wished to attend the event should contact them directly.

09. An investigation into flooding at the Boat House in September 2019 was noted.

10. The introduction of Project Edward (Every Day Without A Road Death) was noted. It was resolved for Cllr Davies to contact the Community Speed Watch co-ordinator to discuss the way forward.

11. The Cross Keys Bridge maintenance painting scheme for 2022 was noted. It was resolved to contact the Highways engineer informing him that:

i. The location of works was in Sutton Bridge and not Long Sutton as stated.

ii. To relieve long queues, traffic lights should remain longer times on green and less on red.

iii. All blue light emergency vehicles to be given priority access.

12. Receipt of thanks for the removal of the East Bank bus shelter was noted.

Late correspondence

The clerk declared an interest in the following agenda item as his wife was the clerk to Little Sutton Parish Meeting.

13. A request had been received from Little Sutton Parish Meeting (which doesn’t have its own cemetery), to have its residents counted as residents of Sutton Bridge in respect to burial charges at the Parish Council’s Garden of Rest (rather than being charged as non-parishioners). It was resolved to agree to this request subject to Little Sutton Parish Council making a proportionate contribution to the Garden of Rest’s costs, based on the comparative number of electors.

21.198. Planning applications

01. None

21.199. Planning decisions.

01. H18-0622-21: 26 Wrights Lane. Proposed extensions & alterations & boundary wall. Approved.

02. H18-0645-21: Leesons Garage Railway Lane North, PE12 9XD. Change of use of domestic garden to staff car parking. Approved.

03. H18-0749-21: Avenue Farm House, Avenue Farm Road, PE12 9QF. Replace existing playhouse. Approved.

04. H18-0774-21: 4 Longdon Close, PE12 9QX. Proposed garage conversion to create new living room, single storey link extension and detached timber store in rear garden. Approved.

05. H18-0808-21: The Barn, Grange Farm, Hospital Road, Wingland, PE12 9YR. Conversion of existing agricultural building into dwelling. Approved.

06. H18-0881-21: 46 New Road, PE12 9RQ. Proposed internal alterations & extension to the rear to form kitchen, dining & living area. Nonmaterial amendment. Approved.

21.200. Highways & footways

01. Outstanding matters.

i. Bridge Road outside the School had been repaired.

ii. After declining a request to cut back overgrown vegetation obstructing the footpath across the green, LCC had been asked about its relevant intervention criteria. Unfortunately, it appears that the County Council misinterpreted the request. It is intended to raise this matter during the highway officer’s visit.

iii. LCC have accepted that the dropped kerb in the layby near Nightingale Way as a temporary arrangement. However, for this to be made permanent, a further planning application will need to be made. LCC have stated that they will attempt to keep an eye on the situation.

02. There were no new matters.

21.201. Committee and working party reports.

01. Pavilion

i. A small working party had been set up to move the project forward. A meeting would be arranged soon.

02. Open spaces

i. An Open Spaces meeting was to be arranged to review the Police audit report of the Memorial Park and to report back its recommendations.

03. Garden allotments

i. Thanks were expressed to Cllr M Booth and Cllr S Booth for cutting back the track at the allotments.

21.202. Outside body representative reports

01. Cllr Brewis & Cllr Bruch would report back after the Lincolnshire Association of Local Council’s (LALC) annual general meeting being held 06 October 2021.

21.203. It was resolved to arrange for the purchase up to six additional Christmas lights to be paid for by Sutton Bridge Fund Raisers. All additional costs for supply, installation, and dismantling, would be paid for from Parish Council funds already budgeted to the Christmas lights. 

21.204. The discussion on other Christmas events was to be deferred to the next meeting (Cllr Perkins).

21.205. A virtual meeting had taken place with Enso Energy about the Gunthorpe Road Solar Farm, which had been positive. A physical meeting was to be arranged soon (Cllr Brewis, Cllr Bruch, Cllr York).

21.206. A meeting to discuss a new CCTV system had yet to take place due to questions being raised about camera locations and budgeted costs. Progress to be reported at the next Council meeting (Cllr Bruch, Cllr Davies, Cllr Perkins).

21.207. A meeting had yet to be arranged to discuss a community wood. Progress to be reported at the next Council meeting. (Cllr M Booth, Cllr Brewis, Cllr York).

21.208. Cllr M Booth reported that he had not received any information from the district officer about the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) but would keep chasing the matter.

21.209. To receive requests from members for items to be included on the agenda of a future meeting.

01. It was resolved to set up a working party for the Queens Platinum Jubilee 2022 celebrations, with the following members: Cllr Brewis, Cllr Bruch, Cllr Perkins (subject to agreement), and Cllr Scarlett.

21.210. It was resolved to move into closed session on the grounds of confidentiality in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1(2).   

20.20hrs three members of the public and Cllr Robinson left the meeting.        

i. To consider quotes relating to the Parish Council activities. [confidential, as matters relate to commercial negotiations]. 

ii. It was resolved to proceed with an electrical report of the Pavilion @ £180.00.

20.23hrs Cllr Robinson returned to the meeting

20.23hrs Cllr M Booth, Cllr Brewis, Cllr Bruch left the meeting to deal with a disturbance outside.

20.24hrs Cllr M Booth, Cllr Brewis, Cllr Bruch returned to the meeting.

20.25hrs the chairman adjourned the meeting to deal with a further disturbance. Mrs Croxford left the meeting to call the Police. 

20.30hrs the chairman resumed the meeting.

iii. It was resolved to proceed with the purchase of ID cards, once all councillor photographs had been received.

20.35hrs Mrs Croxford returned to the meeting.

21.211. Cllr S Booth read out his response to the complaint made against him.  

21.212. There were no staffing & administration matters.

The chairman closed the meeting at 20.55 hrs.

Appendix 1.

COUNCIL MATTERS. Speaking Notes September 28th Ref. Agenda Item 10 iii
At the June29th meeting of the council, you, the chairman contravened the Council’s own Standing Orders (SOs) in three clear ways. You allowed your father to propose a motion which was unlawful as the necessary notice had not been given in breach of SO 9b. You then allowed your father to proceed with a motion which was in breach of SO 9a ( not relative to council business) and further did not prevent your father from using offensive behaviour (shouting “hate crime” at members of the public). This in breach of SO 2a. Cllr Brewis seconded this improper motion. As a result, you, your father and Cllr.Brewis have been reported to the Monitoring Officer who has acknowledged the complaint.
You allowed this unlawful motion to go to a vote. Apart from yourself, your father and Cllr Brewis, I recall that Cllrs Scarlett, Goodwin and Davies also voted for the motion. As cllrs, you three should be familiar with the council’s standing orders. Therefore in voting for this motion either you did not understand the Council’s own rules or ignored them. A satisfactory explanation is required from you, failing which your suitability to act as councillors may be called into question.
Our parish council can, it seems on occasions, be little more than a puppet show. We have a sound, practical clerk who keeps essential routine matters under control but for the rest, when puppet masters Booth and Brewis pull the strings, the majority of you, particularly the chairman, dance obediently. There are reputable exceptions to this but the rest of you never seem to think for yourselves as to what might be good for the community.
Sutton Bridge deserves better.
28/9/21