December 2023 Minutes

Wyberton PARISH COUNCIL
Mrs Val Austin, Clerk, Wyberton Community Centre, 295 London Road, Wyberton, PE21 7DE
Telephone: 01205 351450
Email: clerk@wyberton-pc.gov.uk

Minutes taken by The Clerk Mrs Val Austin for the Parish Council meeting at Wyberton Parish Council, which was held on Wednesday 13th December 2023 at 7pm in Wyberton Community Centre 
(These minutes will be checked at the next meeting before the council amends/approves them as a correct record)

Present: Cllr Jason Stevenson (Acting Chair), Cllr Richard Austin, Cllr Steve Slater, Cllr David Williams (Co-opted at meeting) & the Clerk Val Austin. 

The meeting was called to order at 19:02pm

1.   Chairman to open meeting: Welcome all to this cold and wet December meeting, we are quorate, and will begin.  

2.   Co-Opting 

i.   To consider the applications for the casual vacancy on the council & co-opt a new councillor.

•   Cllr Richard Austin Proposed and Cllr Jason Stevenson seconded, to co-opt David Williams as councillor. 

ii.   To receive the signed acceptance of office from the newly co-opted councillor.

•   Cllr David Williams signed the necessary paperwork. 

3.   Apologies for absence: To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting:  

•   Cllr Mike Sharp – Work Commitment
•   Cllr Hev Ainsworth – Work Commitment
•   Cllr John Smith – Family commitment
•   Cllr Maxine Stones – Family commitment 

4.   Public Forum: To resolve to suspend the meeting for a maximum of 10 minutes to allow members of the public to ask questions or make short statements to the council.

•   No members of the public were present

5.   Declarations of interest (if any): To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests: 

•   No interests declared 

6.   Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 8th November 2023- To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes. 

•   Cllr Richard Austin proposed and Cllr Steve Slater seconded for Cllr Jason Stevenson acting chair to sign the minutes. 

7.   Lincolnshire County and Boston Borough Councillors – Reports to be sent to The Clerk prior to the meeting. 

a)   Cllr Mrs Alison Austin:   

•   Cllr Alison Austin sent her apologises. Notes read out by Cllr Richard Austin. 

The pedestrian crossing will be installed along the drop kerb by the Coop on London Road, works to start approx. April 2024.  

The A52 crossing by Downtown, which was installed over 10 years ago, will be turned into a light control crossing. 

b)   Cllr Mr Richard Austin:

•   Urges Wyberton Parish Council to object to the planning of Heron Park / Stephenson Close, for as this is not in the parish it will impact the parish. 
•   The community orchard – Against the proposal and this is ongoing. 

c)   Cllr Mr Chris Mountain: 

•   See annex A below for report.

8.   Update from the Community Centre Committee meeting 

Security Camera’s - See item 10.5. on agenda – See below

9:   Update on Items from previous agendas: 

9.1 -   LHP Land Parthian Avenue Village Green / Play Area.

•   Cllr Richard Austin advised that LHP have in principle agreed to sell the land to Wyberton Parish Council for an agreed sum. Further update January 2024
•   The clerk advised that the solicitors chosen to represent Wyberton Parish Council are Chattertons. 
•   Cllr Richard Austin advised that the planning application will be advertised on the lamppost for a period of 3 weeks and residents will receive a letter.

9.2   Footway Lighting – Update - Cllr Richard Austin

•   Cllr Richard Austin advised that a meeting was still required with all the parishes with Boston Borough Council. Cllr Richard Austin will speak to the chair of Old Leake Parish Council. Ongoing. 

9.2.1   See agenda item 10.4 regarding repairs to footway lights. – See below.

9.3   Website – Update – Cllr Jason Stevenson to update on progress 

•   Cllr Jason Stevenson mentioned that he has been adding information to the website, and has a meeting with DNA Websites, early January 2024, update at next meeting.

9.4   Wyberton Parish Gates –

•   Cllr Mike Sharp had a meeting with Highways, where they advised that the Wyberton part of the sign was to be removed, and replaced with just the wording of Please drive carefully through our village. 
•   Cllr Steve Slater to find out the measurements for the replacement signs.
•   Update at January 2024 meeting.

9.4.1   The clerk to find out the prices for the new signage – Ongoing 

9.5   Speeding – Fen Road and London Road – The clerk has been in contact with Highways for both roads and still awaiting a response. 

•   Update from Cllr Mike Sharp – Update January 2024 meeting.

10:   Councillors to discuss & resolve the following items:

10.1   Newsletter – Cllr Steve Slater – Update from previous meeting.

•   Cllr Steve Slater advised that the four-page newsletter will cost approx. £300 and to have a spring edition, with useful numbers, what is going on at Wyberton Community Centre.
•   Cllr Steve Slater mentioned that he knows of a volunteer that will edit the newsletter.
•   The newsletter could be funded by sponsorship 
•   Update at next meeting January 2024

10.2   Annual Parish Meeting – Cllr Jason Stevenson – Setting date between 1st March and 1st June, and the creation of a working group to plan the Annual Parish Meeting

•   Deferred to the January 2024 meeting. 

10.3   Nomination – Letter of Thanks – Cllr Steve Slater - Two residents for letter of thanks for dedication to the Wyberton Village.  – See below for further information 

•   The clerk showed the councillors a draft of what the letter would be. 
•   Cllr Jason Stevenson proposed and Cllr Richard Austin seconded. 
•   The clerk to deal.

10.4   Footway Lighting - The clerk received an email from BBC regarding the repair to the following lights –S/L 1 & 2 Low Road / S/L 3 Slippery Gowt Lane Junction Low Road.

See below for further information.

•   Councillors agreed that the work was required but to change to Part Night instead of All Night lighting. 
•   The clerk to liaise with Boston Borough Council 

10.5   CCTV Camera’s – Original quote received and accepted by councillors £2,499.10, revised quote for a further 3 cameras would cost £3,963.07. A difference of £1,463.97.

The clerk has been in contact with GBSG for further information regarding the cameras. 

See below for more information. 

•   Deferred to January 2024 meeting. 

11:   Finance

11.1:   Approve Payments of Accounts

   All councillors resolved for Cllr Jason Stevenson to sign the payment list
   Payments to be made December 2023 - £10,922.74
   Payments made in between meetings. - £914.99
   Receipts received from 9th November 2023 to 13th December 2023 - £1,458.31

11.2:   Bank statements – Dated 13th December 2023 

   Treasures Balance £14,354.17
   Business Bank Insta £94,045.78

11.3.   To Resolve: Finance meeting have a figure for the precept at £62,150, an increase from the previous year of £56,500. 

   Cllr Richard Austin proposed and Cllr Jason Stevenson seconded. 

12:   Planning matters: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and appeal decisions advised by the Borough Council – The parish clerk has delegated authority to respond to planning applications, in consultation with the councillors via email. 

To include those received between the day of posting this notice and the day of the meeting

B/23/0363 – No objections advised BBC
B/23/0352 – Objections – advised BBC
B/23/0384 – No objections advised BBC
B/23/0395 – No objections advised BBC
B/23/0404 – For the planning application of the land off of Parthian Avenue.

13:   Please note: - Cllr Hev Ainsworth – Christmas Fayre update: 

•   To be deferred to January 2024 meeting 

Next Meeting: Wednesday 10th January 2024 – at 7pm

With no other matters the meeting closed at 20:24pm