2024 Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES

HACONBY & STAINFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

FRIDAY 12th January 2024 IN THE HARE & HOUNDS PUBLIC HOUSE

Present: Councillors Richard Dixon-Warren (Chairman), Brian Blackbourn (Vice Chairman),

Laura Leyland, Dennis Sharman, David Winn

Parish Clerk – Mrs Wendy Gray

One member of the public present

Cllr M Hill arrived early in the meeting

1. Chairman’s Introduction and Announcements.  Cllr Dixon-Warren welcomed all to the meeting. 

2. Public Questions, Comments or Representations. 

1. Flooding – Cllr Dixon-Warren re-writing plan.  Information to be put in Village Voice re relevant contact numbers.
2. Cllr Hill – keeping same schedule re drain clean – Cllrs advised two dykes in the village had not been treated for two years, both sides like a river, one drain not cleared metre deep in water!
3. Recognise fact that road has been properly swept, drains cleared.  Parish Council recognised this, say thank you to SKDC.
4. Mr Kirby – in Stainfield, lamp on corner not been working for 6 months would it be possible to report to Fix My Street!  No streetlight from junction up to Ticklers.

3. Apologies for Absence.  None.

4. External Updates – LCC/SKDC/Parish Council/PCC/Police/LALC.

1. LCC – Cllr Hill updated on progress with Devolution Deal. 
2. SKDC – nothing to add to to December update. 
3. Storm Henk – Chairman’s briefing enclosed on page 3.
4. PCC – have not met since last meeting.
5. Police – no update since last meeting.
6. LALC – no update.

5. Disclosures of Interests. Cllr Dixon-Warren (District Councillor SKDC and Secretary, PCC).  Cllr Sharman (PCC).

6. Minutes and Matters Arising. To resolve that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council meeting held on 9th November 2023 be signed as a correct record.  No matters arising - Cllr Leyland proposed, Cllr Sharman seconded, all in agreement for Minutes be signed. 

7. Administrative Report and Correspondence Received. SKDC Flood Prevention re stock of sand and sandbags, useful telephone numbers for Parish to contact.

8. Invoices.  Discuss and resolve payment and ratification as required.

1. Parish Clerk salary and expenses £274.79.  Cllr Sharman proposed above payment is made, Cllr Blackbourn seconded, all in agreement for payment to be made.

2. Income Received since last meeting. £463.32 SKDC 2nd half payment of Community Cleaner Grant.  £20.00 HMRC refund.

9. Planning Applications.  No new applications received.

10. Risk Assessment Update.  None.

11. Business Items:

1. Parish Action on Public Requests.  No points.

2. Parish Finance/Budget/Precept 2024-25.  Precept request £1,810.00 for the year April 2024 to March 2025 – proposed Cllr Sharman, seconded Cllr Leyland, all in agreement.

3. Parish Land.  Continuing attempts to contact departed allotment holder (one letter returned Royal Mail unable to deliver) and tenant in arrears.  Update next meeting.

4. Parish Guide and Emergency Plan. Link to Parish Guide – feedback required.  Emergency Plan going to be re written, re adopt and not look at for 5 years.

5. Community Cleaner/Grass Cutting.  Continue to meet grass cutting requirements – highways verge and, in future, closed churchyard.  Useful to set up a calendar of cutting requirements.  Discussion on continuing with same contract as opposed to re-tendering each year. Propose roll over grass cutting contract into 2024 and combine with community cleaning, contracts as per Parish Guide.  Cllr Sharman proposed, seconded Cllr Winn all in agreement.

6. BDUK Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme-Quickline.  Work in part of Haconby complete.  Await plan for Church and Chapel Streets.  Cllr Dixon-Warren chasing Quickline.

7. Defibrillator.  Now live on ‘Circuit’.  Village training session – awaiting quote to see if can be done.  Email from resident unable to attend the meeting – question: why is the Parish Council was considering spending money on training to use an automated external defibrillator (AED)?  Resuscitation Council UK quoted:

“The majority of people who survive a cardiac arrest are resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation (VF) by the administration of a defibrillator shock. This is most likely to be successful when it is given very soon after the onset of VF and emergency service personnel are often unable to arrive soon enough to help a victim.  AEDs are designed to be used by members of the public and are very effective at guiding the operator through the process of administering the shock. They have become widely available, are safe and easy to use, and will not allow a shock to be given to a victim who does not require one.”

Answer: Chairman explained that training was intended to familiarise anyone interested in the first aid response to a cardiac arrest event, including how to use the village defibrillator.  This would not preclude anyone, familiarised or not, who was nearest the event from responding and, if necessary, using the defibrillator – no prior training is required.  The training laid on after the defibrillator was first installed in 2016 attracted nearly 50 people and the Chairman suggested that renewing parish awareness of the first aid response to a cardiac arrest might enhance that response if it was required.

12. Any Other Business. 

1. Trees east of Hall Road.  Parish Council cannot do anything about tall trees obstructing view. There is currently no height restriction on trees. Individual issue to be sorted between neighbours.  Cllr Winn – is the tree(s) causing a risk of danger – SKDC could arrange inspection.  Tree owner would be responsible.

2. Damage to pavement west of Hall Road.  Reported to ‘Fix My Street.  LCC determined that the landowner is responsible.

3. Vegetation overhanging Hall road / Headland Way.  Cllr Blackbourn – can we send letter to get hedge cut down/back on Headland Way?

4. Purple-lidded Bins.  Information widely distributed by SKDC.  Businesses cannot get Purple Bins.

5. 80th Anniversary of D Day.  Cllr Dixon Warren will circulate information.  Think about what we want to do – should we have a Beacon?  Agenda item for March meeting.

13. Date of Next Meeting.  Friday 8th March 2024 – at 7.15 pm in the Hare & Hounds Public House.

14. Closed Session.  None.

The Meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.

Enclosure: Storm Henk – Chairman’s Briefing:

Storm Henk was an exceptional event.  Surface water flooding occurs when intense rainfall overwhelms drainage systems.  It is not predictable and can happen very rapidly, as many of us saw.  With the experience of Storm Henk, I suggest a few thoughts:

-           Immediate response should be based on the expectation that no external assistance is likely in the first few hours.  Local planning and preparation now for the flooding or other events in future is advisable. 

-           The parish can now identify with some certainty locations and areas prone to surface water flooding.  This makes it possible to consider what measures might be put in place for a rapid local response.  Reliance on sandbags may not be wise.  For example, a Chapel Street resident has a small flood barrier that can quickly be laid across their driveway to divert flood water.

-           The parish now knows likely tasks for local volunteers and could plan to prepare to co-ordinate and resource those volunteers.  For example, vehicles driving at excessive speed exacerbated the effects of the flooding.  Only the Police and LCC have the power to close roads.  If necessary, to prevent vehicles driving on flooded roads, this authority could be requested.  To enable this, it might be useful to hold ‘Flooding - Road Closed’ signs for rapid deployment when and where required.

-           The Parish Council knows that an up-to-date Parish Emergency Plan is required to inform residents of flooding and other local risks, to suggest preparation required and to outline likely immediate response.  The current plan was recently reviewed and will be updated with lessons identified from the recent flood and will be made widely accessible to residents.  A parish emergency planning seminar, perhaps annually, might reinforce this.

-           Parish Councils are not emergency responders and have no statutory duty in this respect.  They often lead on this in the absence of anyone else stepping forward but there is no reason why a local volunteer group could not do so.  Co-operative communication between all parties is the key to local planning and response in this instance.

If there is a desire to call a meeting to discuss Storm Henk and to formulate the way ahead, this could be done.