March 2022
Approved Minutes
Rippingale Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting of Rippingale Parish Council, held in the Village Hall on Thursday 10th March 2022
Present: Cllrs C. Charlton (Chairman), A. Vaughan, C. Laing, K Manley
In Attendance: Angela Adams, David Knibbs, Cllr Martin Hill (for 828).
There were no Press in attendance.
Public Forum
1. Chairman’s Opening remarks.
All were welcomed to the meeting, with a mention that Cllr Kate Manley was attending her first meeting since being appointed and it was positive to have her on the team. The Chairman then advised that it would not be required to go into closed session at Item 10.1 as tender details had been clarified. Comments, Questions & Queries from Press & Public
The Chairman closed the Public Forum and opened the Council Meeting at 7.05pm
Agenda
1. To receive Apologies for Absence
825 Cllrs J Howard, J. Petch, K Palmer & Parish Clerk L Davies
2. To receive any new Declarations of Interest.
826. There were no new Declarations of Interest to be recorded.
3. To approve the Minutes of the last meeting held on 10th February 2022 (All).
827. The previously circulated draft minutes were considered and the Council unanimously resolved to accept them.
4. Receive External & Community Group Updates:
4.1 County & District Council Reports
828. Cllr Hill gave an update from the County perspective:
• Richard Dixon Warren appointed to Aveland local ward: Action: Invite to next Meeting
• Footpath to JPF from Station Street on target
• No extra Central Government funds for road maintenance so continuation of £51m funding to be sourced in house.
• COVID numbers county wide increasing but hospitalisation containable.
• Ukraine: limited visa approval to date but this will change significantly and preparations underway to facilitate accommodation.
• Inflation costs set to affect budget but CC looking at mitigation measures.
4.2 Community Groups & Organisations
829. Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr Charlton – No progress with Regulation 16 documentation as Consultant off work due to COVID but re-draft expected Monday next. Fees have been waived due to the delay.
830. RGAG –
• Fruit trees have been removed as agreed.
• Nat Allotment Society giving free public liability insurance but need plot-holders personal details for enrolment. Suggested that individual tenancy agreements be amended to allow release. The RGAG Secretary would like plot holder list. Action: Chairman to finalise with Clerk.
• It was agreed pathway ruts could be filled when required.
• Manure to be placed on designated site.
• Non-payment of rent and plots vacated in poor condition were raised as areas of concern. £20 up front (refundable) deposit suggested for new plot holders but not clear should be imposed on current holders. More discussion needed.
• RPC is responsible for vacant plot maintenance as RGAG cannot meet this task. Means to be considered. Action: available plots to be mentioned in the Newsletter. Rising food costs could add to the allure.
831. Feast – outline programme now agreed and Feast Committee now finalising detail. Council member needs to be invited to meetings.
832. HCS –Minimal use. Replacement for the coordinator not yet found. The Chairman pointed out that the coordinator does not need to be a driver. Further Newsletter advert for replacement.
833. VHMC – Dog mess prevalent around the Village Hall and beyond. Action: Newsletter reminder regarding disposing of mess properly.
834. PCC – Nil
5. Parish Matters:
835 Jubilee Playing Field play equipment repairs: one quote received, one further awaited.
Safety signs – Action: wording to be circulated for comment
836 Village signs: repair and upgrade proposed. Action: Chairman to follow up with Phil Rippingale, for proposed replacement.
837 Picket fencing around play area. After proper consideration of three tenders for the work it agreed to select S Cox quote for 3-sided fence (£3072) with the hedge forming side 4. Cox’s quote for the works were judged better value for money after considering all tenders’ 4-sided wooden picket fencing costs. Action: Clerk, Purchase Order to be raised
838. Dog enforcement order to be sought for play area. Action: Clerk
839. It was then discussed whether it was appropriate for dogs to be allowed on the JPF once fencing in place. The consensus was this was probably appropriate, but residents should be consulted. Action: Chairman to raise in Newsletter.
838 JPF Portacabin replacement. The Chairman presented a case for a sports pavilion as a replacement, with associated costs (£41,801). After discussion it was agreed this was the preferrable option, depending on fund raising success, from Trusts, District and Parish Council sources. It was seen that there should be regular review of the success of the project to ensure it remained a viable option. Action: Chairman to take forward.
6. Financial Matters:
6.1 Accounts and payments
839. The accounts and payments were approved, namely Clerk’s salary, printing, HCS, meeting and maintenance costs.
840. Financial reports to be finalised for year end and expected budget surplus to be confirmed.
7. Admin Matters
7.1 Clerk Report & Correspondence.
841 No additional information
8. To Receive any Urgent Reports.
842. The proposed amendments to policy documents were approved. Action: Clerk update.
843 Environment SK were agreed as the grass cutting contractor for 2022, the pricing anomaly with the Beeby quote having been clarified Action: Clerk to place order.
844 Cllr responsibility changes
Kate Manley – Feast and Accessibility and disablement assistance (new role)
Colin Laing – Allotments
Jamie Petch to continue with PCC.
9. Closed Session. Not required.
Next Meeting: Parish Council Meeting agreed (post meeting) as Tuesday 12th April 2022 in Village Hall at 7.00pm
Alan Vaughan Chris Charlton
Parish Clerk (temp) Chairman
14h March 2022