2024 Town Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the Meeting of Market Deeping Town Council held on Wednesday 12 June 2024 at 7.30pm at the Town Hall, Market Deeping

Present:

Cllr Dr Byrd
Cllr Broughton       
Cllr Neilson
Cllr Ms Reed          
Cllr Mrs Jones
Cllr Miss Collins
Cllr Mrs Sked
Cllr Mrs Steel
Cllr Hughes
Cllr Hanson

The Clerk and the Deputy clerk were in attendance.

There were representatives of Legend on the bench, Raft race x 2, The Deepings River Action Group and two potential new Councillors also in attendance.

Cllr Dr Byrd welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7.30pm and the Open Session commenced.

The representative from “Legend on The Bench” explained that they would like to provide and install a bench in Market Deeping to provide support and comfort to anyone in a crisis.  The bench is lit and has QR codes which link to online and telephone sources of support and guidance.  The charity has already raised £45,000 and request permission to install a bench in Market Deeping.

A representative of Deepings River Action Group explained the group are part of Beach Care and River Care programme and are supported by Keep Britain tidy and Anglian Water.  The group cover the River Welland from Molecey Mill down to Deeping Lakes including parts of the Stamford Canal.  On Saturday 29th June they are meeting at 10am at the Bell Deeping St James to litter pick until 12pm.  They will be planting and checking water in the future and hope to install bird and bat boxes to improve the wildlife.

Representatives from the Raft Race committee attended to support their application for grant aid.  They are requested £400 towards the insurance for the event and will be approaching DSJPC for the remaining £400.  The Committee is now 12 strong they have already received pledges of sponsorship and hope to raise lots of money for local charities this year.    

The 2 prospective gave representations about why they would like to be a Councillor and what skills and experience they could offer Market Deeping Town Council.  Cllr Dr Byrd thanked them for their time and explained that the Councillors would discuss this in closed session.  She explained that although there was only 1 vacancy at present there was likely to be another shortly.

There being no further business the public session was closed.  

25.   Chairman’s Welcome & Introductions

Cllr Dr Byrd again welcomed members to the meeting at 8pm.

26.   To note apologies and accept valid reasons for absence
 
There were no apologies for absence.

27.   Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011 

Cllr Miss Collins and Cllr Dr Byrd signed the declarations of interest book in respect of Agenda item 9.

28.  Acceptance of the minutes of a meeting held on 8 May 2024 

Cllr Dr Byrd asked members if they were to accept the minutes of the meeting of 8 May 2024.  It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the notes of the meeting as a true and accurate record.   The Chairman signed the minutes.

29.   For members to consider the Co-option of a new Councillor

It was agreed that this would be discussed in closed session as the candidates had already given their presentations.

30.   Reports: Including reports from Committees: Planning and Highways, DNP, AOS, Mayor’s diary and the Clerk’s report

Amenities and Open Spaces

There were no comments.

Planning and Highways

Cllr Shelton was thanked for all his hard work as a Councillor. 

Grass cutting issues will be discussed later in the Clerk’s report.

Deeping Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Dr Byrd reported that there is a meeting for all DSJ and MDTC Councillors about Biodiversity Net Gain which will be held on 24th June 2024 in the Town Hall Chambers at 7pm.

Mayoral Diary

The Mayor attended the opening of Taylor’s fair on 24th May 2024.

The Mayor visited the Citizen’s advice update meeting on 5th June 2024.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor attended the D Day 80 remembrance event organised by Royal British Legion on 6TH June 2024.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor attended the Civic Service on 9th June 2024.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor visited Sue Ryder on 11th June to present a cheque for £1500, which represents funds raised in the previous year.

Clerk’s Report – 12 June 2024

31.   Correspondence to be noted and resolved upon

32.   Council Finances

a)  Income and expenditure by cost centre

Members had received a copy of the Council Finances and Omega report prior to the meeting. Cllr Dr Byrd asked if there were any questions.  There were none.

b) Accounts to be paid June 2024

It was RESOLVED that the council pay its’ bills for June 2024.  See appendix A.

c) For members to review Council Finances to 30.5.24

It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the report.

33.   For members to consider allocation of precepted amounts to the library, play scheme and Youth group

It was RESOLVED with 1 abstention to give £7,000 to Library

It was RESOLVED unanimously to give £3,000 to Playscheme

It was RESOLVED with 1 abstention to give £6,000 to Youth Group

34.    For members to consider grant aid for Story festival

It was RESOLVED unanimously to give £100 to Story Fest

35.   For members to consider grant aid for the Raft race

It was RESOLVED with 1 against to give £400 to Raft Race

36.   For members to consider and adopt changes to Standing orders

A discussion took place and it was decided to defer the discussion to the next meeting.

37.   For members to review and adopt the Town Council’s Code of Conduct

It was RESOLVED unanimously to adopt the Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

38.   For members to review the representation on or work with external bodies and arrangements for reporting back

Cllr Miss Collins represents the Deepings Youth Group, the Feoffes and for Mary Scotney Alms Houses. 

Cllr Dr Byrd represents the Council on the Deepings Neighbourhood Planning group, the Deepings Community Trust, The Coronation Hall Committee and the Deepings Community library.

Cllr Broughton is a Trustee for Feoffes, Coronation Hall Committee, Royal British Legion and Mary Scotney Alms Houses.

Cllr Mrs. Jones represents the Deepings Neighbourhood Plan and the Deepings Business Community.

Cllr Hanson represents the Coronation Hall and Rotary.

Cllr Neilson represents the Council on the Citizen’s Advice meetings.

Cllr Hughes and Cllr Steele represent the Council at the Funday Sunday meetings.

39.   For members to consider the co-option process for a new Councillor

The Clerk outlined the process for recruiting a new Councillor.

40.   For Councillors to receive an update on CAB provision – NN

MDTC has contributed £4,250 towards CAB provision in Market Deeping, which provides 1 day of support for the people of Market Deeping.  Mornings offer a drop-in appointment with no appointments necessary.  Afternoons are pre booked 1-hour appointments, with a maximum of 3 per afternoon. 

Reports will be sent quarterly to the Clerk.

Cllr Neilson was thanked for his comprehensive feedback. 

Cllr Neilson left the meeting at 8.55pm 

41.   For councillors to consider health care provision

A lengthy discussion took place and Cllr Reed accepted responsibility for taking this forward. meeting.

42.   For Councillors to discuss Section 106 – PH

Cllr Hanson will find out what is happening with regard to the Section 106 transfer and will report to the next meeting.

43.   For Councillors to receive an update on Rotary Funrun – PH

Cllr Hanson reported that the Rotary Funrun was a great success, with an 89% increase in runners and made a profit.  The Rotary have kindly repaid MDTC by donating £500 towards a defibrillator for The Green School.

44.   For Councillors to receive an update on a Banking hub – DJ

Cllr Mrs Jones has made an application to LINK for a banking hub in Market Deeping.  The application will be reviewed by a panel and will hear in 3 months whether we fit the criteria.

45.   For Councillors to consider repairs to the Town Centre clock – DH

Cllr Hughes reported that he can’t find a clock specialist to fix the Clock in the UK or overseas.  The Clerk reported that the Company who built the clock are based in Portsmouth and a call out fee is around £900.  The clock is over 20 years old and consideration should be given to remove it and replace it with a more manageable and easier clock.

It was agreed that Cllr Hughes and Cllr Broughton would look at the clock and try to find a suitable replacement.

46.   For members to discuss forthcoming events:  Funday Sunday (7.7.24), Remembrance events Christmas Market (1.12.24) and Celebration event.

Funday Sunday (7.7.24)

Plans are progressing well.  Cllr Hughes is expecting it to be a great day.

Christmas Market (1.12.24)

There have been lots of enquiries about stalls which are being collated for the time being.

Celebration event

No further update available at this time.
 
47.   For members to discuss and consider any points raised in the public session

It was RESOLVED to accept the offer of a bench and to discuss its’ location at the next AOS meeting on 17 July 2024.

48.   Personnel Matters:  Consideration to go into Closed Session to discuss: Councillor 

It was RESOLVED to invite a candidate to be a Councillor and invite the other to apply for the next vacancy.  The quality and enthusiasm of both was congratulated.

49. To consider items for inclusion on the agenda items for next meeting of the Town Council, to be held at The Town Hall, Market Deeping on 10 July 2024

Stab/bleed packs for defibrillator– DJ

The Chairman thanked all members for attending and declared the meeting closed at 9.30 pm.  The next scheduled meeting of the Full Council will be held on Wednesday 10 July 2024.