Meeting Minutes – August 2020 - Inskip with Sowerby Parish Council

Meeting Minutes – August 2020

September 12th, 2020

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on: Thursday 20^th August 2020 at 7pm on Carrs Green, Inskip

Present:

Cllr Phil James (PJ – Chair)
Cllr Geoff Carter (GC)
Cllr Alan Lingard (AL)

Clerk: Mike Ainsworth (MA)

Members of the Public: Brian & Eileen Dearnaley

Apologies: Cllr Carol Berry (CB); Cllr Martin Delaney (MD); Cllr Chris Houghton (CH)

Cc:
Parish Councillors; Joanne Porter (Wyre Council); Wyre Cllr Susan Catterall; Wyre Cllr Peter Cartridge; LCC Cllr. Matthew Salter

Meeting opened: 19:00

Meeting closed: 20:10

Agenda

Next meeting Scheduled for: to be arranged (see para. 3.6 below)

Status: APPROVED

Chair: Cllr. Phil James
Date: 12th September 2020

Minutes of Last Meeting – approved as read. The Parish Clerk signed the minutes on behalf of the Chair.

The Parish Clerk presented quotations received from three suppliers for provision of a boardwalk on part of Footpath No. 15 at the northwest corner of the Common. Two of the quotations were for recycled plastic, which as preferred by Councillors to treated wood as it would be more durable. Councillors approved the quotation from Howard Clark.

Action 8.20/1 – MA to award business to Howard Clark

The Parish Council agreed to scrape out two Ponds on the Common, natural ponds that had previously dried up but clearly visible as rushes grow at these locations. Councillors proposed that these ponds be fenced off. The Parish Clerk had advised that the placement of fences on the Common would require prior approval from the Secretary of State for Environment however Parish Councillors felt that as the fencing was for health and safety reasons approval would not be required. The Clerk advised that estimates from three suppliers for proposed fencing remained outstanding.

The Parish Clerk presented quotations received from three suppliers to scrape out ponds on the Common. Councillors approved the quotation from Will Scott. In addition the Clerk proposed to offer ARGSL two days consultancy to oversee the pond creation, which was agreed.

Action 8.20/2 – MA to award business to Will Scott and to ARGSL

The need to advise members of the public about Parish Council plans was now urgent. In particular the proposal to scrape out ponds would involve considerable disruption on the Common that might prove unpopular unless presented carefully. A leaflet campaign through residents’ letterboxes had been considered but some Parish Councillors did not wish to deliver these personally on health and safety grounds and the Parish Clerk had failed to obtain commercial quotations. It was agreed therefore that the proposed changes would need to be advertised on the Parish Council noticeboards and website and via an InFocus article. In addition this information could also be highlighted on local social media channels

Action 8.20/3 – MA to advertise Carrs Green developments on Parish Council noticeboards and website and via an InFocus article

There was discussion about clearing the banks of the Tank Trap south of the main road and the course of the Tank Trap further downstream and it was agreed that the Parish Clerk would seek estimates from contractors

Action 8.20/4 – MA to seek estimates from contractors for clearing the banks of the Tank Trap and the course of the Tank Trap downstream

It was agreed that the ideal time to plant trees was towards the back end of the year. Cllr. James offered to liaise further with the Tree and Woodland Officer at Wyre Council.

Action 8.20/5 – MA to supply PJ with contact details for Tree and Woodland Officer at Wyre Council

With regards to provision of birdfeeders and screens is was agreed that the Parish Clerk would liaise with Fylde Bird Club

Action 8.20/6 – MA to liaise with Fylde Bird Club with regard to the provision of birdfeeders and screens

The Parish Clerk informed Councillors that we was in process of obtaining estimates for provision of information panels though he had yet to move forward with the proposal to install additional footpath signage for the proposed circular walk from Inskip crossing the Common. He confirmed that Parish Councillors would have a further opportunity to approve the content of information panels before any business was awarded.

The Clerk advised the Parish Council that it will need to make further decisions over coming weeks if the development of the Common is to move forward smoothly and that it was not really practical to hold business meetings al fresco. As local public halls are not currently available for hire the Clerk urged that those Councillors who objected to the holding of virtual meetings re-consider their objections. Cllr. Lingard stated that though he would be prepared to use Skype he felt that Zoom was unacceptable. The adoption of voice-only meetings was also considered. Later, after Parish Councillors had inspected the Common, Councillors asked the Parish Clerk to ascertain when local public halls might be available to allow physical meetings to be held.

Action 8.20/7 – MA to ascertain whether YIPS or the Baptist hall were available to be booked for future Parish Council meetings

Payments approved at the meeting: Clerk salary; PAYE; Clerk expenses; Rent for land at Manor Road; minor maintenance to a shed, Lengthsman fees.

The Parish Clerk proposed submitting a claim to the Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) for 25% of the overall value of the grant to aid cash-flow. Parish Councillors approved this proposal.

Action 8.20/8 – MA to submit initial claim to LEF for 25% of the overall grant

The Parish Clerk informed Parish Councillors that he would like to set up internet banking, for which he would require to provide dates of birth for the signatories. Councillors agreed that this was a sensible modernization.

Action 8.20/9 – all Parish Councillors to advise Parish Clerk of their DOB

With regards to provision of birdfeeders and screens is was agreed that the Parish Clerk would liaise with Fylde Bird Club