- Minutes 13th September 2024
HACONBY & STAINFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
FRIDAY 13 TH SEPTEMBER 2024 IN THE HARE & HOUNDS PUBLIC HOUSE
Present: Councillors Richard Dixon-Warren (Chairman), Brian Blackbourn, Dennis Sharman and
David Winn
Parish Clerk – Mrs Wendy Gray
County Councillor M Hill and one member of the public were also present
1. Chairman’s Introduction and Announcements. Cllr Dixon-Warren welcomed all.
2. Public Questions, Comments or Representations. Speeding through the village – couple
of incidents vehicles travelling in excess of 30 mph – people need to be aware of speed limit
in particular when near footpaths. Sign “Watch Your Speed” (costly), Police figurine, notice
on Facebook. Drain clearance – consider responsibility for checking.
3. Apologies for Absence. Cllr Laura Leyland.
4. External Updates – LCC/SKDC/Parish Council/PCC/Police/LALC/SKDC/Police/LALC.
LCC. Update on escalating costs, school transport, highway maintenance (eternal
problem of road works and road closed signs), flooding (need for personal planning and
preparation), the new Government (await effects of new decisions) and Lincolnshire
devolution (election for new Mayoral authority likely in 2025).
SKDC. Update on battery collection, 80 th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden,
Parish / Town Council Forums and surplus Council defibrillators to save lives in Ukraine.
PCC. Intent to work more closely with PCC on issues of common interest.
5. Disclosures of Interests. Cllr Dixon-Warren (District Councillor SKDC and Secretary, PCC),
Cllr Sharman (member, PCC).
6. Minutes and Matters Arising. Cllr Blackbourn proposed, Cllr Sharman seconded, all agreed
that that Minutes of the meeting on 12 th July 2024 be signed as a correct record.
7. Administrative Report and Correspondence Received. Update from Police.
8. Invoices. Parish Clerk salary and expenses – £295.44 includes next day delivery postage
costs for return of Cllrs DPI forms to be returned to SKDC by deadline. Cllr Sharman
proposed payment, Cllr Winn seconded, all in agreement.
9. Planning Applications. No new applications received.
10. Risk Assessment Update. Defibrillator – LIVES noted difficulty opening in recent inspection
and sent details of a replacement box – £ 600. Agreed need to inspect and repair.
11. Business Items.
a) Parish Finance. Chairman noted need to look hard at budget for 2025-26 – no time so
far. Anticipate Parish Council assuming full responsibility for maintenance of closed
churchyard sometime in 2025 (currently over £ 1,000 per annum) and continue to meet
costs of maintaining Parish Land, cutting highways verges and maintaining defibrillator. If
increase in precept to be decided for January 2025, need to define the case and
communicate this to the parish. Chairman to draft budget for discussion at meeting on 8 th
November 2024.
b) Parish Land. Cllr Blackbourn – still quite a bit of work to do – come to a bit of a
standstill. Cost of disposing rubbish that has been there two years – consider burn on
Bonfire Night.
c) Parish Land Tenancies. Replies sent to each of those who expressed an interest in
renting Parish Land on 2 September. Not yet contacted SKDC about changes of use.
Informal discussion after the last meeting indicated mixed views on the ‘poppers’ used for
gun dog training and continuing shooting rights over land that is no longer agricultural.
Consider consultation with tenants and the wider shooting community.
d) Parish Guide and Emergency Plan. Cllr Dixon-Warren – work nearly completed on
Parish Guide, hope to have completed work on Emergency Plan by next meeting.
e) Parish Community/Events.
Ride & Stride / Open Church 14 th September.
Open Garden 21 Chapel St 14-15 th September.
Arnhem 80 ‘Reflection and Commemoration in church 21 st September.
Churchyard clear up 5 th October
Melody Flyte musical evening in church 26 th October.
No follow up community interest in wider use of church – pre-requisite for grants
Bells – Nicholson Engineering visit 4 th September. Seek sponsor for 6 th bell
f) Grass cutting and Community Cleaner.
Laybys cleared (shrubbery). Morton layby not responsibility of Haconby & Stainfield.
Map Haconby Spinney for LCC request for them to clear out.
g) BDUK Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme – Quickline. 13 th August Quickline update –
confirmed 23 premises in Chapel Street passed and final testing being undertaken before
‘soon be available for connections’. Await response to reminder sent 29 th August.
h) Transfer of Responsibility for Churchyard Maintenance. Quote for repair to the wall
at the churchyard received 28 th August – £ 1,000. Confirmatory note follows. SKDC reps
would be happy to meet with PC and PCC reps on site to resolve this long running matter
and agree what needs to happen to transfer the churchyard to the Parish Council.
Identify dates – Tuesdays preferred.
12. Other Business.
Parish Clerk to produce new Contact List for all Councillors.
‘Just Detect’ weekend – further finds from Haconby’s history in Viking and Saxon coins
and items. Note for ‘Village Voice’.
13. Date of Next Meeting. Friday 8 th November 2024 commencing at 7.15 pm in the Hare &
Hounds Public House.
14. Closed Session. No requirement to move into Closed Session. Meeting closed at 9.05 p.m.