Minutes of the Meeting of Martin Parish Council held on
29th January 2004 at the Martin Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.

1. There were apologies for absence from Councillor R Krampf (domestic problem) and County Councillor Patricia Bradwell (illness). Present: Councillors F Ambridge, H Ambridge, W Busby, M Corbett, J Evans, Z Scoley, M Stephens, C Vickers, parish clerk M Lockyer.

2. Cllr F Ambridge declared a prejudicial interest in relation to item 12, Sleaford & District CAB.

3. The minutes of the meeting on 24 November 2003 were amended to correct Cllr Stephens’ name, a typing error on item 5f and to clarify prejudicial interests on item 6b. They were then approved for accuracy and signed by Cllr Evans. Proposed Cllr Z Scoley, seconded Cllr Stephens, carried.

4. Report from Outside Bodies: Cllr Stephens gave a short report on the Playing Fields and the NKDC contractor’s visit to the site on 26 and 27 January. It will take 4 – 5 weeks to analyse the bore results and report to NKDC, who will then inform the Parish Council.

5. There were no members of the public present.

6. Matters Arising
a) Half the potholes have been repaired in Martin Dales. The repairs to South Drove on Martin fen will be done bit by bit. There is a pothole at the junction of Timberland Road and the main road, and at the T junction with the B1189 and B1191 at the turn to the village. Cllr F Ambridge will talk to Karll Smith about the repairs needed. It was reported that Cllr Bradwell is to ask for a road name to be put up in Church Rd.
b) Martin name plate: LCC have informed the council that a new sign is being manufactured. It will be fixed using anti-vandal bolts.
c) Community shelter: Cllr Scoley had a leaflet showing possible designs. She will find out prices. Cllr Stephens will also check prices and details of such shelters.
d) Cllr Vickers will fix the dog waste bin as soon as possible.
e) Jubilee Close bench: NKDC have said they would replace the bench. Cllr F Ambridge will follow up.
f) The tree has been collected. Cllr Stephens will put it on the boundary line of the cricket pitch.
g) Alison Wallace of the Post Office rang Cllr F Ambridge last week. A man in the village is interested in the shop and post office, but is away for the next 3 weeks. A woman in the village has expressed an interest in setting up a post office. Alison was due to see her on Thursday 22 January.
h) Pound Rd field: NKDC have said the ownership is not yet determined, but they will try to find out again. They have contacted the Land Registry and an insurance company. It was thought by Cllr Evans that Alan Boardman rented the field behind it. She would phone him to find out who he rented it from. Cllr Busby thought it was possible that Val Houseman rented it.
i) Letter received from East Midlands Electricity Board re power cuts, which had been due to a falling tree in one case, and component failures in the other three cases. A phone number was given if councillors wanted to pursue this further.
j) BT rationalisation of public payphone: letter received saying that removal will proceed despite the parish council’s serious concerns. Emma Maplethorpe from NKDC had contacted Cllr Ambridge and the parish clerk about the issue. She would be sending a letter in support of the retention of the payphone. A reply to be sent from the parish council deploring the attitude of BT and stressing that this is a rural community with elderly, infirm and disabled people. The nearest payphone is over Kirkstead Bridge. The parish clerk to contact Cllr Bradwell to ask her to highlight the social services implications.
k) More frequent meetings: this item again deferred because not all councillors present.
l) Lincs Police Local Safety Fund: our application for a grant for play equipment has been acknowledged. Due to the large number of applications, it will be some time before a decision is reached.
Cllr F Ambridge gave information about 2 other possible grants: the Heritage Lottery Fund and Healthy Communities. The parish clerk to ring for information.

7. Financial Matters
Balance at 24 December: Current a/c £1488.85 Reserve a/c £6861.17

It was agreed at the last meeting to transfer £1000 from the current a/c to the reserve a/c. This was not done because of the amount of money going out on precept payments.

Precept payments: still awaiting request and accounts from PCC. Cllrs Scoley, F Ambridge and H Ambridge will make enquiries.
Accounts and more detail on precept request received from PTA. They want help towards a portable sound system to take into church or other places without equipment. It will cost £150. It was agreed to give them £100 towards the cost of this. Proposed by Cllr F Ambridge, seconded Cllr Stephens.

Precept application for £2,300 had been sent in to NKDC as agreed.

8. Clerk’s report
• NKDC Register of Electors distributed at the standards training session on 15 December
• There has been an increase in dog fouling on the pavements and there have been complaints. Nina Camm at NKDC has been contacted about putting more signs on lampposts.
• There has been one burial in the village: Alan Holvey
• Date and plans for the Annual Parish Meeting: It was agreed to have the meeting on Tuesday 4 May and to invite Alan Aistrup to come and speak to the meeting about the state of highways maintenance.
• Mobile Police Office in the village: 13 February

9. Planning Applications –
Permission granted:
• single storey side extension 9 Wyatt Close, Martin
• Erection of garage, 1 Church Rd, Martin Dales
• Change of use from public conveniences to domestic garage, High St, Martin
• Approval granted for land west of Mill Lane, Martin
• Revised details at plots 5 & 6 Manor Farm, Timberland Rd, Martin
• Erection of conservatory, 28 High St, Martin

Applications received:
Erection of chalet bungalow (outline), 16 Mill Lane, Martin. The council had no objection.

10. Both the leaflet distributor and the village improvement officer had resigned. A notice has been put on the noticeboard and in the newsletter about the posts.

11. Playing fields update: dealt with under item 4.

12. Correspondence
Items for information
a) Standards Committee agenda for 8 December
b) Lincolnshire Police: Mobile Police Van 13 February
c) Labour MEPs in East Midlands: 2004 Annual Report
d) Defra: Equine Issues
e) FWAG: Conservation Grazing Project
f) LCC School Organisation Plan 2003 – 8 to Cllr Scoley for reading
g) Lincs Police: police and community forums
h) Countryside Agency: Parish Transport Grants

Items for discussion/action
i) NKDC: Dog Waste Bins: proposed increase from £50 per year per bin to £80. It was agreed that a more reasonable increase would be £65. The reply slip was completed accordingly.
j) Rural Transport Partnership- Delegated Fund. It was decided there was no need to apply for a grant
k) LCC: Capital Grant Aid 2004/5. The parish clerk will request more information
l) Sleaford & District CAB: request for donation. Cllr F Ambridge had declared a prejudicial interest. A donation of £25 was agreed. Proposed Cllr Stephens, seconded Cllr Scoley
m) NKDC Area Advisory Forum Meetings: no one would be attending
n) NKDC: Local Plan – Pre-Inquiry Changes. The change to PIC2 2.21a was noted. The council welcomed any relaxation in development planning as it was felt it would save the village from dieing.

13. No items for discussion or information were raised.

14. Date of next meeting: Monday 15 March in the Village Hall at 7.30pm.