October 2019 Minutes

STUBTON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting Held on Wednesday 2nd October 2019

Present:

Cllr M Davis   Vice Chair
Cllr D Butler
Cllr R Crooks
Cllr A Wise

District Councillor  P Milnes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Maughan

The Clerk read a letter of resignation received on 2nd October 2019 from Mr Rob Thornton.

The Parish Council will now follow due process to fill the resultant vacancy.

The meeting was Chaired by Cllr Davis

There were no declarations of interest and the Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved as a correct record.

1.   Matters arising from the Minutes

1.1   Permissive Paths:  although the date of the closure of the permissive paths was to have been investigated, due to the cancellation of the previous meeting, all permissive paths will now have closed.

1.2   BT  lines on Hargreaves Row – this is still outstanding

1.3   Village planting;  bulbs will be planted for spring near the speed restriction gates once these are in place.

1.4   Village Gates: an update had been received from Mr Thornton.  The project is ready to proceed once the authorizing signature is given by Highways.  Cllr Davis asked DC Milnes if she could chase this up with Highways.

Discussion ensued regarding the need to check placement of the gates and the need to gather a working party together to paint the gates and carry out the bulb planting.

It was agreed that although gates in their wooden state looked more natural on a country lane, in order for them to have full impact and fulful their purpose they needed to be painted white.

2.   County Councillor Maughan:  An update  was read and is attached

3.   District Councillor Milnes

3.1   There have been many changes in executive positions at SKDC and numerous replacement personnel are in place.

3.2   DC Milnes had asked that a note regarding the measurement of noise which provided a diary to record nuisance noise be circulated to the village.  This had been done and as a result questions were raised from the floor.  DC Milnes explained that this form of recording noise was being adopted in order to comply with EHO requirements.  However DC Milnes will forward a further email giving clarification.

4.   Any Other Business

4.1   Cllr Davis informed the meeting that Mr and Mrs Scrimshire had moved to Marston on 30th September after living in the village for 61 years.  This was a move that had come about rather more suddenly than expected.  It was agreed that the Parish Council would purchase a gift on behalf of the village for the Scrimshires as a note of the regard in which they are held.

4.2   Cllr Wise asked if a note of the reason for a flag to be flying could be placed in the shelter.  It was agreed that a note of the dates and reason the flag was flying would be placed in the shelter on a monthly basis.

4.3   Mr Watkins pointed out that a dumped mattress was still on the roadside despite numerous reports.  The Clerk will make a further report to SKDC.  Residents were reminded that this was a District Council matter not a County Council issue and that flytipping reports should be made to SKDC.

4.4   Mr Wilson asked that the Parish Council made a full and sincere vote of thanks to Mr Thornton for his twenty years of service to the Parish Council and the village.  In summary, Mr Wilson pointed out that Mr Thornton had given selflessly of his time and had been an integral part of many activities of the Council, too many to mention in detail,  but three of the most notable were the building of the village hall, the production of the village Neighbourhood Plan and his membership of the two groups who prevented the two very large windfarms being built a mile from Stubton.  It was agreed that a letter be written and a gift purchased as is the custom in the village when a Councillor steps down.

4.5   Mrs Snook raised the question of the reconstituted human waste that is being used as a fertilizer on fields adjacent to homes in the village.  The smell is overpowering and Mrs Snook asked if there was a minimum distance that this product could be used in relation to the proximity of houses.  The Clerk will contact the EHO to obtain a ruling on the matter.

4.6   The drain on Church Lane is blocked and the churchyard is flooding in heavy rain; the Clerk will ring Highways and ask for the drain to be flushed.

The next meeting of the Parish Council:    Wednesday 20th November 2019.