Items
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19. |
Minutes PDF 167 KB
To sign as a correct record the
minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2022 (copy
enclosed).
Minutes:
Consideration was given to the minutes of the
meeting held on:
AGREED:
That the minutes be signed as a correct
record.
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20. |
Declaration of Interests.
Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary
Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting
and leave the meeting without participating in any discussion or
making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is
permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.
Minutes:
Councillor Timewell declared an interest in
item 6 on the agenda.
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21. |
Draft Spalding Special Expenses Budget 2023/24 PDF 219 KB
To consider the Spalding
Special Expenses Draft Budget 2023/24 (report of the Deputy Chief
Executive (Corporate Development and S151 enclosed).
Minutes:
Consideration was given to the report of the
Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Development and S151) which
considered the Draft Spalding Special Expenses Draft Budget
2023/24.
The Chairman introduced the Assistant
Director – Finance, who would be able to answer any questions
on the Spalding Special Expenses Draft Budget The Assistant
Director of Finance advised:
- That the Special Expenses Draft
Budget shows the services that are delivered by the Council but
deemed specifically for the Spalding Town area.
- The Council Budget had experienced
inflationary pressures, the Council are proposing a budget for
23/24 of £240,000 versus last year’s
£233,000.
- There would be an increase on
Council Tax of taxable properties in the Spalding area. For
example, a typical band D property will experience an increase of
ninety pence per week, from £24.57 to £25.47, a
percentage increase of 3.7 %.
- The government had set its Council
Tax referendum limits at £5.00 or 3%, whichever was
greater.
- The Town Forum and South
Holland’s Council budgets will be within the referendum
principal set by Government.
- Section 3.7 of the Spalding Special
Expenses Draft Budget report provided a detailed breakdown of the
subjective headings for the areas within the Forum budget.
- It was confirmed that no requests
had been received from St Mary’s and St Nicholas Parish
Church regarding an increase of maintenance budget for the church
yard.
- Reference was also made that
Spalding has many different banded properties so the increase would
vary, depending on what band property residents lived in.
- It was suggested to make sure the
authority was as energy efficient as possible in all Council
buildings given the currently energy crisis.
- Officers were currently reviewing
ways to save energy and reviewing estimates that had been set prior
to the energy crisis, to ensure that they reflected the latest
energy prices.
The Chairman raised the following points.
·
Expressed his concern on the energy crisis and suggested everyone
who works within the Council Buildings, be energy efficient.
·
Discussed the issue with the Floodlights at Halley Stewart football
ground, hoping future developments would resolve the energy
issue.
·
Ensuring that we were mindful of future
projects being as cost effective as possible.
The question was raised if solar panels would
be installed on existing council properties to make them more
energy efficient.
- The Chairman responded,
- This was outside of the forums
remit, suggested this may be more practical on new builds.
- Cllr Lawton responded that as a
council we were following the Councils green agenda but conceded it
would not be practical to install solar panels on existing Council
property but would make enquiries to see if there were any pilot
schemes being trialled.
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22. |
Enforcement Contract for Flytipping and Littering
A update giving an overview of
the new flytipping and littering enforcement contract and how this
will operate in Spalding town centre will be provided by the
Chairman at the meeting.
Minutes:
The Chairman of the Forum provided an update
and overview of the new flytipping and littering enforcement
contract and how this would operate in Spalding Town Centre.
The Chairman informed the Forum of the New
Enviro Crime Contract that is coming into effect.
The following points were raised:
- SHDC has been subjected to some
criticism for not fining perpetrators for littering/flytipping and
other environmental crimes.
- One of our partner councils had been
particularly successful at reducing environmental crimes which had
resulted in the contract being adopted across the Partnership.
- The Chairman requested further
information to understand the impacts to the Spalding area, which
was one of the areas that suffers the most intense
littering/flytipping.
- The new contract should enable the
partnership to be more proactive in catching perpetrators of enviro
crime, providing more resources, so the district could see the
benefits in the short and long-term future.
- The Chairman would give an update at
the next Town Forum meeting of contract developments.
- The Portfolio holder confirmed that
the PSPO Public Spaces Protection Order has been extended for
another year with a full review taking place later in the year. The
Portfolio Holder explained to the forum how community wardens were
able to enforce the PSPO which could result in fixed penalty
notices and high fines. It was suggested that there needed to be
more awareness publicised to residents of how to report
flytipping/antisocial behaviour to the Police so authorities could
gather more evidence for prosecution.
- The Portfolio holder suggested that
the New Enviro Crime contract contains a brief description of the
responsibilities of the contractor to provide residents reassurance
that they would carry out a wider piece of work above just
patrolling the towns/villages. The portfolio holder advised he
would pass on further figures and information at the next
meeting. The Chairman agreed
further information would be of public interest.
- It was suggested that when residents
have asked the council to collect large items of waste, a sticker
be provided to avoid it being wrongly identified as flytipping. The
Chairman was unsure if residents would commit to printing or
collecting a ticket/sticker once they have paid for collection. It
was also noted that residents should only leave the items out on
the specified day of collection and not before as this causes some
of the issues. If items are reported as flytipping when they are
due to be collected this may displace statistics.
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23. |
Spalding Flower Parade Float
Members to discuss progress on
the building of a float on behalf of Spalding Residents for the
upcoming Spalding Flower Parade.
Minutes:
The Chairman of the Forum provided an update
on the Spalding Flower Parade.
.
Spalding Town Forum were participating in the
Flower Parade which was due to take place on 13 May 2023. The
Chairman had recently sent out some information and proposals from
the Transported contributors, who are extremely experienced in
organising large events. The Transported Contributors will:
- Involve some of our local
Schools
- Build the float
- Ensure local school children are
involved and can relate to the project -
- The Spalding Town Forum float theme
will be based around bees, as they play a crucial part to our
environment.
The Chairman handed over the Cllr Cronin, to
give his thoughts.
- Cllr Cronin noted that this was a
fantastic proposal with lots of inclusion across all ages.
- The financial budget was questioned,
and contingency plans discussed. Members would not have access to
their designated Councillor Budgets and required clarification on
how the float would be financed.
- It was raised that Transported
Contributors have not contacted any central Spalding town schools
which was a concern.
- Members were concerned that at
present there has been no mention of how the late Councillor Angela
Newton will be featured in the design of the float. It was thought
that the float should be a celebration of the late Angela
Newton’s years representing the people of Spalding.
- The Forum must move swiftly on this
action with officers to assist.
- Members sought clarity as to what
finances were available to them.
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24. |
King Charles III Coronation
Members to discuss plans for
the celebration of King Charles III’s coronation.
Minutes:
Members to discuss plans for the celebration
of King Charles III’s Coronation
Councillor Gary Taylor presented ideas to
involve the people of Spalding in the upcoming King’s
Coronation celebrations.
- It was noted that this event would
play a huge part in history, and this will be seen once in a
lifetime for many of our residents.
- Spalding Town Forum would liaise
with the Communities team, ensuring events can run consecutively to
offer something in the Town Centre and Ayscoughfee.
- The Communities Development Officer
gave an insight into what the Communities plans are, suggestions of
a Big Lunch at Ayscoughfee on Sunday 7 May, where the public can
bring their own picnic to join in with entertainment and
activities.
- It was suggested that all events
should be promoted on SHDC website and advertised, so the residents
of Spalding are involved, marking this event as symbolic, it was
suggested a plaque should be presented from the Spalding Town Forum
on behalf of the people of Spalding.
Other suggestions were;
- A keepsake for school children.
- Asking local Schools to make pieces
of artwork that could be displayed in local shop windows.
- The Forum asked what budget was
available
- Cllr Timewell asked if the
town’s hanging baskets could be put up earlier than usual
with red, white, and blue flowers, this could then run through to
the Flower parade.
Cllr Gibson agreed to promoting the town
centre and contacting specialist Markets to draw people into the
centre.
The Chairman suggested to think outside the
box and added that there would l be competition for specialist
markets so need to be swift to make contacts.
- It was suggested that all flower
displays should be carried through to the bus station.
- The Chairman to look at any reserves
available in the budget for funding the King’s Coronation,
for this once in a lifetime event.
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25. |
Any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent
NOTE:
No other business is permitted unless by reason of special
circumstances, which shall be specified in the minutes, the
Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as
a matter of urgency.
Minutes:
- The Chairman decided the next
meeting will be face to face, this would be the final meeting of
this administration.
- Cllr Lawton commented that the
Spalding Bus Station refurbishment still had work to be completed
to make it user friendly.
- The lack of bus timetables could be
frustrating for travellers and lack of signage when arriving at
Spalding was disappointing. It was
suggested that LCC produce a more use-friendly Bus timetable,
- Ideas of a pictorial map and signs
directing to shops would lift the look of the bus station, creating
a more appealing, welcoming, and inviting area.
- Cllr McLean asked for some answers
as to the situation at Park Road and what was the long-term impact
of the roadworks.
- Cllr Taylor praised the work of the
Officers, and all involved to secure the £20million levelling
up fund. Updates would be made available when the designs were
ready.
- Many
sports and groups were interested in what facilities would be on
offer and it was important to keep residents informed.
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