Minutes of the Council Meeting held on
Monday 21 March 2005 at Martin Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.

1. Apologies for absence:Cllr W Busby Present: District Councillor F Ambridge, Councillor H Ambridge, M Corbett, J Evans, F Phillips, C Vickers, M Stephens and Z Scoley; County Councillor P Bradwell (arrived during item 8); parish clerk, M Lockyer. There were no members of the public present.

2. There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting.

3. The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2005 were received. Cllr F Ambridge requested 3 amendments: item 4 para 2 should read ‘by stripping out half a metre from the surface and filling back at a cost of £500,000’; item 5b, sentence 2 should read ‘the Council could be capped’; and item 7e should conclude with ‘There are no signs on BT poles in the village.’ The minutes were then approved for accuracy: proposed Cllr F Ambridge, seconded Cllr M Corbett. All in favour.

4. Reports from Outside Bodies
b) District Councillor F Ambridge reported that he had seen Mark Taylor, NKDC Environmental Protection Officer, who is still awaiting the report from the consultants. It should be ready by the middle of week beginning 21 March. Cllr Ambridge will report directly to Cllr Evans with any updates.

5. No questions had been received from members of the public

6. Matters arising from the previous minutes
a. NKDC Electoral Services had confirmed that the Parish Council should co-opt to fill the vacancy left by Ruth Krampf. Cllr F Ambridge proposed that Fergus Phillips should be co-opted. Seconded Cllr Stephens. All in favour.
b. Crime/disorder grant: Cllr Scoley reported that she had been in contact with the police. She would look out the grant paperwork and she and Cllr Phillips would work on it.
c. LCC Capital Grant Aid: re-seeding sports field: Cllr Stephens: no progress possible until report received on the playing field
d. Dog Waste Bin near West Grove: Cllr Stephens reported that the bin was being used but was not over full.
e. Free trees collection: Cllr Stephens had collected a rowan and a hornbeam. It was agreed he would plant them on the verge side of the field during the coming weekend.
f. Precept request from Martin Playing Field Committee: another letter had been received from the committee giving more details of income and expenditure. However, the parish council needed audited accounts from Martin Cricket Club committee before public money could be donated. The request strictly speaking should come from the Martin Cricket Club committee because 2/3 of the playing field is owned and maintained by the Parish, and part is owned by the school. The Cricket Club only maintains the cricket pitch. The clerk to write making these points.

7. Clerk’s report/ items
a. Annual Parish Meeting: A speaker would be coming from the Shaw Trust. To be asked to speak for 15 minutes.
b. Clerk’s salary: back pay from April 1st 2004: Calculated at £136.32. Cllr Stephens proposed that this should be paid forthwith. Seconded Cllr Scoley. All in favour.
c. Village Improvement Officer: the clerk had taken down the notice displayed in the village shop due to adverse comments about the pay being below the minimum wage. £4.50 per hour, the wage offered, is above the minimum wage for 18 -21 year olds, but not for those of 22 or over. Cllr Stephens proposed raising the wage to £5.00 per hour and re-advertising the post in the village shop. Seconded Cllr Vickers. All in favour.
d. Burial Ground Mowing: Les Freeston had contacted the clerk to say he would not be doing the mowing this season. He recommended Graham Smith, who already cuts around the church. He would chard £20 per cut, the same as Mr Freeston. It was agreed he should do the job.
e. Allotments: tenants had been informed about the need to register for Single Farm Payment
f. Mrs Mary King’s school: Cllrs Scoley and F Ambridge declared an interest. The clerk had been contacted by Eunice Farley, a governor of the school, on behalf of the PTA with a query about the youth shelter which the Parish Council is hoping to erect. The PTA wanted to place a shelter for parents to sit and wait for their children. However, she has since been informed that the PTA cannot spend money on an item which is outside the school boundary. Cllr Phillips proposed that a letter be sent to the PTA requesting their support for the youth shelter, which could serve a dual function for parents and youth. The PTA was also discussing the need for a tarmac path alongside the railings.

g. The newsletter went to the printer on 14 March and should be available shortly.

8. Correspondence –
a. Correspondence for information
a. Visit of Mobile Police Station
b. Office of Deputy Prime Minister: Citizen Engagement and Public Services: Why Neighbourhoods Matter; and Vibrant Local Leadership
c. LCC: Capital Grant Aid 2005/6: Cllr Stephens
d. Metheringham & District Swimming Pool Association: Newsletter
e. Village Hall Committee: re heating of hall
f. NKDC: Community Funding News: to Cllr Phillips
g. Defra: Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
h. Village Hall Committee: thank you for precept payment
i. Sleaford Citizen’s Advice Bureau: thank you for precept payment
j. LCC Highways: Bus stops at Jubilee Close. Work on pavements done. Bus stop signs still to be erected.
k. East Midlands Regional Assembly: Consultation on the Draft East Midlands Regional Freight Strategy
l. East Midlands Regional Assembly: Consultation on the Draft East Midlands Regional Waste Strategy
m. North Kesteven Community Safety Partnership: Community Safety Audit and Drug Audit: to Cllr Phillips
n. NKDC: Local Development Scheme for North Kesteven
o. NKDC (via Cllr F Ambridge): bus scheme for children: to Cllr Phillips
p. NKDC: South Area Advisory Forum: Cllr Ambridge had attended. The issue of whether NKDC should support Lincolnshire Echo’s campaign to publish details of people issued with ASBOs was discussed. NKDC remained non-committal.
q. NKDC: Mobile Skate Park: information about a conference: to Cllr Phillips

Correspondence for decision/action
r. NKDC: Community Service Awards Cllr Scoley proposed that John Audis should be nominated, for all the work he has done for the Village Hall. Seconded Cllr Phillips. All in favour. Cllr Scoley to submit paperwork to NKDC
s. LCC: Working Towards the 2nd Lincolnshire Local Transport Plan Consultation Document
t. Home Office: Burial Grounds Survey: the clerk had completed this for the Parish Council burial ground. She would check with NKDC that they had completed one for the Churchyard.
u. Governors of Mrs Mary King’s School: Crossroads the Governors of the school are concerned about making the crossroads safer for the children. They had been in correspondence with County Cllr P Bradwell and had sent copies of this to the Parish Council, with a request for help on this issue. Cllr Bradwell said that she had spoken to Alan Aistrup who thought that Derek Johnstone of the Road Safety Partnership had this on his list. She would follow this up. The Parish Council will send a letter requesting a 20 mph limit on this section of road, and the establishment of a School Safety Zone.
v. Standards Board: Code for the Future: Consultation document distributed

(5) Reports from outside bodies continued: Cllr Vickers raised the parking along the Witham Bank from the King’s Arms upwards. On fishing match days, cars parked along the bank, which made passing hazardous. Cllr Bradwell said she would contact Karl Smith at Highways to see what could be done. She commented on the new potholes that had appeared on the B1191 by the fen and in the village. She would also mention these to Karl Smith. Cllr Phillips was concerned about the speed of traffic at Martin Moor, particularly now that The Piggeries is registered as a school. Cllr Bradwell doubted whether the stretch of road met the criteria for a speed limit, but would see if it was possible to put a ‘School’ sign up.

9. Planning Applications – Permission has been granted on:
a. Barns at Westmoor Farm: reinstate original approval
b. Erection of dwelling & garage, Chapel House, 12 Mill Lane, Martin
c. Outbuildings to rear of 92 High St, Martin
Planning application received:
Change of use of agricultural buildings to class B1, B2 and B3 use, Martin Moor, Metheringham
Cllrs Evans, F Ambridge, H Ambridge and Scoley declared personal interests.

The Council wished to comment on the road safety issue of the exit on to the road. They were pleased to see the use of derelict or defunct buildings.

10. Financial Matters - approval of accounts
Balance at 14 March 2005: Current a/c £900.50 £Reserve a/c £7713.51

Cllr Stephens proposed a transfer of £1000 from the reserve account to the current account. Seconded Cllr Phillips. All in favour. Cllr Stephens would bring information to the next meeting about the CAF Bank, which specialises in charity accounts and which offers good interest rates.

11 The meeting closed at 8.50 pm