8th November 2024 Minutes
MINUTES
HACONBY & STAINFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
FRIDAY 8 TH NOVEMBER 2024 IN THE HARE & HOUNDS PUBLIC HOUSE
Present: Councillors Richard Dixon-Warren (Chairman), Brian Blackbourn, David Winn
Parish Clerk – Mrs Wendy Gray, 3 members of the public were also present
1. Chairman’s Introduction and Announcements. Cllr Dixon-Warren welcomed all to the
meeting. He regretted that progress on some outstanding Council issues has been limited.
The Council does not currently have the capacity to address these issues because it remains
two Councillors short, and Councillors have other concurrent commitments.
2. Public Questions, Comments or Representations.
3. Apologies for Absence. Cllrs Leyland and Sharman.
4. External Updates.
LCC – no update.
SKDC – work has begun on an £8.8 million depot to enhance council services. Advice on
how to treat condensation, damp and mould from SKDC.
PCC – Rev Neil Bullen, Rector of Ringstone in Aveland Group of Churches since 2017, is
moving on in January 2025 to a new Benefice in Peterborough Diocese. He will be missed
– his ministry has been enthusiastic and caring. A ‘good egg’.
5. Disclosures of Interests. Cllr Dixon-Warren (District Councillor SKDC and Secretary PCC).
6. Minutes and Matters Arising.
Minutes. Cllr Winn proposed, and Cllr Blackbourn seconded that the Minutes of the meeting of
the Council held on 13 th September 2024 be signed as a correct record. All in agreement.
Matters Arising – Defibrillator. Problem – door jammed, need code. LIVES recommended
replacing case – significant estimated cost, around £ 600. Consensus – try to fix locally.
7. Administrative Report and Correspondence Received.:
Report from resident that posts supporting the “Haconby” sign on the back road from
Morton are seriously rusted and in need of replacement. Response – this does not fall
within the Parish Council’s remit, but individual can report to LCC online via “Fix My Street”.
Purchase Order requested from BSPlaceHighways to enable us to produce invoice re
Parish Grass Cutting Agreement – invoice amount £233.68.
8. Invoices. Payment proposed by Cllr Blackbourn and seconded by Cllr Winn. All in agreement.
Invoices below:
Parish Clerk salary and expenses – £293.54
JK Cutting Services – grass cutting and Community Cleaning – £522.44
St Andrew’s Church – contribution towards mowing of closed Churchyard – £560.00
9. Planning Applications. No new applications.
10. Risk Assessment Update. Drains blocked in West Road – to be reported on ‘Fix My Street’.
11. Business Items.
a. Parish Finance: Cllr Dixon-Warren will draw up budget for 2025-26 and circulate before
January meeting.
b. Parish Land Maintenance and Tenancies:
Maintenance. Cllr Blackbourn – work to do in Rose & Louth programme, subject to
priorities.
Tenancies. No capacity to advance on this since last meeting. Consensus agreed:
o Common Law Tenancy for dog training on Plots 3 and 4 with use of gun dog training
‘primer poppers’ subject to consultation with other tenants who train / exercise dogs.
o Allotment Garden Tenancy in Plot 5 – meeting to be arranged.
o Rent review in April 2025 – increase in rent not foregone decision but Parish Council
has responsibility to review market rates and has not done so since 2017.
c. Parish Community / Events: Summer events in Church and Pub (Open Garden, Tuneless
Choir, Arnhem 80 reflection / commemoration, Comedy Night, and Melody Flyte concert) all
went well. Christmas programme separately advertised. Act of Remembrance to take
place on Haconby ‘green’ on Remembrance Sunday. Flag flying, wreath and memorial
crosses procured (thanks to Cllr Winn), external speaker to broadcast Last Post, Reveille
and National Anthem procured (thanks to Cllr Dixon-Warren).
d. Parish Maintenance – Grass Cutting / Community Cleaner. Grass cutting and
community cleaner contracts working well with useful and timely passage of information,
particularly on flytipping (thanks to John Kirby). Consider putting up signs to deter flytipping
and CCTV to record and report, legality to be investigated – Cllr Dixon-Warren.
e. Parish Guide and Emergency Plan: Latest updated versions sent out to members today.
f. BDUK Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme. Quickline project to install ultrafast fibre
broadband in Haconby completed. Issues remain for individuals.
g. Transfer of Responsibility for Churchyard Maintenance. PCC will arrange local
stonemason to repair church wall once ivy has been cleared – task for volunteers on
Saturday 9 th November. Cllr Dixon-Warren will then arrange for SKDC representative to
attend a joint PCC / PC meeting to determine condition of churchyard for hand over of
maintenance responsibility. Afternote: wall repaired 17 November (thanks to Mr Will Ewer).
12. Any Other Business / Public Responses. Items for next meeting:
Noticeboard in Stainfield – Cllr Blackbourn will measure up and brief Cllr Dixon-Warren on
cost of replacing.
Signs for Defibrillator – need to advertise location within village.
Cllr Winn – request for additional streetlights in areas where no lights – LCC or SKDC.
West Road drains – reiterate need to be cleared. Reported to LCC on ‘Fix My Street’.
Updated Parish Council contact list – Clerk.
13. Date of Next Meeting. Friday 10 th January 2025 commencing at 7.15 pm in the Hare &
Hounds Public House.
14. Closed Session. No requirement for Closed Session. Meeting closed at 8.03 p.m.