May 2022 Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting
MORTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting for Morton Parish Council held on Monday 9th May 2022, Morton Village Hall
15 minute public forum – Cllr Parry welcomed Mrs B Riddle, Headteacher and Mrs L Frecknall PA from Morton Trentside Primary School and Simon Smoothey, Street Cleansing Manager from WLDC to the meeting.
Cllr Parry thanked Mrs Riddle for the comments and concerns raised in her email dated 4th May which had been shared with Councillors prior to the meeting. Cllr Parry reported that at the last meeting of the Parish Council discussion had taken place regarding resurrecting the Playing Field Association. Mrs Riddle agreed that the formation of a new committee to include members of the community, sporting groups and representatives from the village hall, school, and parish council, would help build better communications and involve the community in how they wished the playing field to be utilised as it was highlighted during the Neighbourhood Plan consultation that the community wish for better access to the field during the day. The school are eager to work with the community to improve the playing field so the space could be enjoyed by all. Currently the rabbits are causing a significant problem and as quick as the holes are filled fresh ones appear. Cllr Parry reassured Mrs Riddle that the Parish Council would explore possible solutions to the problem. Unfortunately, the school have had to restrict access to the field for the pupils for the time being. Discussion took place regarding possible fencing options, as Mrs Riddle explained that frequently members of the public gain access, from the bank to the field during school hours and subsequently must be asked to leave. Cllr Butroid enquired whether the area owned by the school, if fenced off, would be big enough to accommodate all their sporting activities as the remaining field would then be open to the public 24/7. Cllr Parry would arrange to advertise the new committee and gather interest. He thanked Mrs Riddle and Mrs Frecknall for their input and they left the meeting.
Cllr Parry invited Simon Smoothey to address the Council and discussion took place regarding how to tackle problematic dog fouling, specifically in South Street, Manor Road, and Pump Alley. The Council had previously allocated funds to invest in additional bins for dog waste. Simon explained that although he was happy for these bins to be added to his team’s schedule for emptying, additional bins close to current bins would not be viable and Morton had a good number of both general waste bins and dog waste bins. Other deterrents were discussed including spraying temporary paint onto pavements with warning signs using templates and educational material, as many people are unaware that normal bins can also be used for bagged dog waste. A waste bin on the playing field was also discussed, however, this would be the responsibility of the Parish Council to arrange for this to be emptied regularly and not WLDC. Cllr C Allison to meet with Simon to identify locations for potential new bins in problematic areas. Cllr Parry thanked Simon for his input and advise and he left the meeting.
In Attendance - Cllr Parry (Chair), Cllr Butroid, Cllr C Allison, Cllr Gott, Cllr Hammerton, Cllr Bull, PC Shaw, Beverley Riddle, Laura Frecknall, Simon Smoothey, C Graves (Clerk)
1. Election of Chairman for the Ensuing Year – Cllr Parry was nominated by Cllr Gott. Seconded by Cllr Hammerton. Resolved that Cllr Parry be Chairman for the ensuing year.
2. Apologies For Absence – Cllr Panter, Cllr B Allison, Cllr Youngman, Cllr Clews, Cllr Snee, Cllr Rollings
3. Election of Vice-Chair for the Ensuing Year – Cllr B Allison was nominated by Cllr Butroid. Seconded by Cllr Gott. Resolved that Cllr B Allison be Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.
4. Election of Village Hall Representative – Cllr Youngman was nominated by Cllr C Allison. Seconded by Cllr Hammerton. Resolved that Cllr Youngman be Village Hall representative for the ensuing year.
5. Election of Tyler Trust Charity Trustee – Cllr Butroid was nominated by Cllr Parry. Seconded by Cllr C Allison. Resolved that Cllr Butroid be Tyler Trust Charity Trustee for the ensuing year.
6. Election of Tree Officer – Cllr B Allison was nominated by Cllr Butroid. Seconded by Cllr Gott. Resolved that Cllr B Allison be Tree Officer for the ensuing year.
7. Minutes of the Meeting held on 4th April 2022 - Approved by all Parish Councillors. Proposed as a true and accurate record by Cllr Hammerton. Seconded by Cllr Gott.
8. Declarations of Interest – No declarations of interest noted.
9. Matters Arising and Review of Outstanding Items
a) Crime Vandalism and Antisocial Behaviour – discussed in Annual Assembly as part of PC Shaw’s report.
b) Councillors Update – Cllr Butroid informed the Council that an application to remove the agricultural tie pertaining to Kitty’s field had been requested.
c) SID Signage – Clerk reported in the absence of Cllr B Allison that preliminary data from the sign’s new position for March indicates speeds and volume of traffic were lower than front street, however, April’s data should give a better picture.
d) Bus Shelter Walkerith Road – Revised quote of £11,534.40 circulated prior to meeting. This now included the cost of temporary traffic lights and reflects a general increase in costs. Quote proposed Cllr Butroid. Seconded Cllr C Allison. All in agreement. Clerk to action.
10. Accounts - Financial statement for March distributed prior to meeting. Proposed Cllr Parry. Seconded Cllr Gott.
11. Burial Ground – Clerk advised that she had received a complaint that a man had been found to be using the cemetery for exercising and marked the pavement with white paint. Pest control quotes to be considered at next meeting.
12. Planning Matters – no planning applications received for the period.
13. Playing Field and School Facilities – discussed and actioned in public forum. Clerk had received a quote for clearing of the tennis court from A and AL Gelder & Son Ltd for £90. Cllr Gott suggested that basketball hoops were installed so that the area could be used and enjoyed out of school hours and the current basketball hoop removed. Proposed Cllr Gott. Seconded Cllr C Allison. Clerk to action.
14. Dog Fouling and Additional Bins – discussed and actioned in public forum.
15. Items for inclusion on the next Agenda
a) Audit of Accounts and Annual Governance Accountability Return
b) Commemorative plaque for trees
16. Date and Time of Next Meeting – Monday 13th June 2022 at 6.30pm, Morton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8.03 pm.