2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Ashby de la Launde with Bloxholm and Temple Bruer with Temple High Grange Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting of Ashby de la Launde with Bloxholm and Temple Bruer with Temple High Grange Parish Council held on 13th October 2022

Present: 

Mrs L Reilly (Chair), Mr R Walker (Vice-chairman), Mr T Eley, Mr G White, Mrs J Wilkinson

Also present:

Mrs J Eley (Clerk)  Mrs J Sutherland – member of the parish and prospective Councillor

Meeting opened 7.33pm

22/75  Chair opened the meeting, and welcomed all present.

22/76  Apologies for Absence  -      

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr W Lawrence who was unable to make the meeting.

22/77 Declarations of Interest  -  

Cllr T Eley expressed an interest in discussion and vote on Clerks pay increase - note 22/81.

22/78 Draft Notes - 

The notes of the meeting on 28 September 2022 agreed as correct and signed by the Chair.

22/79 Clerks Report   -  

Calendar for 2023 put forward but vote taken to move meetings to Thursdays which was agreed by all present.  Calendar to be updated accordingly.         

Thank you card from Mr & Mrs I Douglas - card passed around

22/80 Clerks Appraisal - 

Carried out on 16th August, 2022.  Displayed for all to read.

22/81  Formation of Sub-Committee & Clerks Salary – 

Vote taken on the formation of a committee -  

NO votes – Cllr J Wilkinson, Cllr L Reilly, Cllr T Eley

YES vote – Cllr R Walker

Cllr G White stated that if it is a legal requirement then Yes, if not then No. The decision was therefore made to ‘not’ form a committee mainly based on the premise that as the council is so small and the Chairman would not be a part of the committee it would pretty much represent the council as it is anyway.

Cllr T Eley & Clerk J Eley left the meeting at 7.50pm as per regulations on Pecuniary Interest re discussion of clerks salary. 

Chair L Reilly took notes as follow -  ‘the discussion commenced with the chair inviting each member of the council to give their view for or against a pay rise. Each councillor put their opinion forward and it was decided a salary increase would be granted. It was decided the increase in salary should be in the middle of the band to allow for another rise in the future when the clerk has gained more experience and more training has been undertaken. 

It was brought to our attention by Cllr White that the salary information we had was in fact from 2020/2021 however it was agreed by all that the pay still be increased to Salary Level 21 and back dated to April 2022’  8.04pm Cllr Eley & Clerk returned to meeting.

22/82  Vacancies – Mrs Jac Sutherland has agreed to take up one of the vacancies in the parish in representation of Temple Bruer.  Co option forms to be completed.

22/83  Annual Wreath – agreed by those not present at last meeting to keep to previous method of purchasing annual wreath directly from the RBL at a total of £60 to include a donation.

22/84 Village Gates  -   Cllr T Eley spoke again about the difficulty in trying to move this item along due to pressures on his time and his apprehension that he may, if rushed, fail to meet all protocols and regulations in implementing this project.  He suggested that another councillor might wish to take the matter up.  No one currently in a position to pursue this project at this time, all agreed that the idea should be shelved for the time being.

22/85  Speeding – Cllr R Walker presented the results from the speed monitoring device which weren’t indicative of a big problem within Ashby de la Launde village.  However, he further explained that the results are somewhat skewed and that the average speed was misinterpreted by those residents who were pulling in and out of driveways and pulling off at very slow speeds.  Police not prepared to take the issue further at this time.  Cllr Walker is to research the criteria for speeding action to be implemented.
Dorrington Speed Limit reduction – Ashby PC has offered support to Dorrington PC in requesting a lower speed limit through the main road part of the village.  Cllr R Walker to approach Cllr R Kendrick for support with this.

Bloxholm road signage -  Cllr R Walker has made enquires to NKDC regarding requests for better road signage within the village.  He has been advised that there are a total of 243 similar requests which are being systematically dealt with and Bloxholm is on that list.  A matter of waiting.

22/86  Village Emergency Planning  -  After much discussion, it was felt that there is a clear indication that there is a natural propensity for humans to pull together as a community and help those less able in the event of a disaster.  It was felt that, even if the time were taken to put together an Emergency Plan, in the actual event of a crisis, few would know where to access such a plan and if time were of the essence would react and deal with what was presented in a reactionary manner.  This was supported by events surrounding the pandemic focusing on behaviours displayed during the Covid crisis and the way the community pulled together to help each other.

22/87  Civility & Respect Pledge  -  all in agreement to sign up to the pledge.  Clerk to implement.

22/88  Defibrillator for Temple Bruer – quotes from LIVES indicate that their services are now very expensive.

Further quotes to be requested from EMAS and Brook & Mayer as possible fitters for the defib.  Only private residences available to attach the defib to and the costs of continual power to such a property discussed.  Running costs of defib to be further investigated along with payment of such costs to the occupant of which ever property the defibrillator is fitted on to.

Financial Matters

22/89/01    Financial Report – Reconciliation and Balance Sheet - approved & signed at previous meeting

22/89/02     The following cheques awaiting second signatory -

Further cheques for signature -                                                                                                                             

22/89/03  Bank Mandates

Bank Mandates for signatories for Cllr W Lawrence  and Cllr L Reilly (Chair), upgrade of Cllr R Walker to     Full Signatory, change of bank account address to receive statements to new clerks address and inclusion of clerk (Jane Eley) as a non-signatory.  Bank Mandates ready for individual signatures. Handed to Chair to sign and pass on.

22/90    Planning Applications -  approved at meeting on 28th Sept 2022

22/91   General  Correspondence – pamphlets and brochures available.  LALC AGM Minutes & Report

22/92   Date of next meeting   -   The next meeting is scheduled for 17th November 2022

Meeting closed at 20.55 pm.