Present: Councillors D Stothard, R Butler, D Eldridge, S Ellis, S Gardner, B Handbury, L Healy (from 7.14pm),
C Jeffreys, N Monday, M Myles, I Shaw and A Simpson.
Apologies Received : Councillors H Brumpton, K Chewings and M Chewings and L Healy (for lateness).
Absent : Councillor C Patterson.
Attendance: Julie Stephenson (Town Clerk), Jane Pick (Admin Manager) – Cotgrave Town Council and PCSO Phil Evans (Cotgrave Police)
The meeting was held at Cotgrave Methodist Church and commenced at 7pm
Apologies
2115 The apologies received were approved.
Declarations of Interest
2116 No declarations of interest were received.
Public Open Session
2117 No members of the public were in attendance.
2118 PCSO P Evans gave Council an update on the police crime figures for years 19-20 and 21-22. No figures were available for 20-21 due to Covid-19.
2119 The figures are as follows:-
| Crime | 12/1/2021 – 12/1/2022 | 12/1/2019-12/1/2020 | % |
| All Crime | 517 | 570 | -9.3% |
| Victim Based Crime | 437 | 501 | -12.8% |
| Burglary | 19 | 29 | -60.4% |
| Burglary Residential | 9 | 29 | -67.9% |
| Burglary Business | 10 | 20 | -50% |
| Vehicle Offences | 45 | 52 | -13.5% |
| Theft from Motor | 23 | 29 | -20.7% |
| Theft of Motor | 18 | 13 | +38.5% |
| Criminal Damage | 73 | 89 | -18% |
| ASB Incidents | 212 | 134 | +58.2% |
There has only been an increase this year (+) on anti-social behaviour and vehicle thefts
2120 Councillor Shaw asked if those carrying out the offences had been processed through the judicial system?
2121 PCSO Evans said that they have gone through Restorative Justice, and one has received a final caution.
2122 Councillor Eldridge said that he had noticed that there was still a lot of bus shelter damage being carried out.
2123 Councillor Stothard was also concerned that drug dealing does seem to be within Cotgrave.
2124 Councillor Jeffreys was concerned about cars riding around the Old Park in the evening, where they are a lot of elderly residents.
2125 Councillor Stothard thanked PCSO Evans for the update and attending the meeting.
PCSO Evans left the meeting at 7.20pm.
Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 8th December 2021 and the Personnel Committee Meeting held on 5th January 2022
2126 Resolved : “That the minutes of the meeting held on 8th December 2021 and the Personnel Committee Meeting held on 5th January 2022 be received and confirmed as a true record.”
Progress
2127 M2066 Bridge at Hollygate Lane
No further information has been received when the works will commence.
Councillor R Butler informed Council that Planning Applications and Appeals are taking longer than normal to process due to an increase in workload.
2128 M2067 Recycling bins at Cotgrave Shopping Centre
No response has been received from the Borough Council. The Clerk will write again.
Planning Minutes
2129 Resolved :
“To confirm the planning minutes recorded the decisions taken by the Council and those of the Planning Authority.”
Financial Matters
2130 Payments
Councillor L Healy queried the payment to Glasdon of £474.00 for a litter trolley. This is the trolley that has been purchased for the member of staff who is now litter picking around the town.
Councillor Ellis queried the missing amount for Notts County Council for the October salaries. The figure had been omitted due to an error by the County Council in taking the direct debit payment. This has now been taken from the bank account.
Resolved: ‘’That the payments made since the previous meeting totalling £32,672.11 as recorded below, be approved and the invoices awaiting payment be paid’’.
| COTGRAVE TOWN COUNCIL 12TH JANUARY 2022 | ||||
| Opus Energy | Sports Pavilion Electricity | 1 | 53.22 | |
| HSBC | Bank Charges | 1 | 6.50 | |
| Meerkat Comms | CCTV and Broadband | 1 | 108.12 | |
| Adlard Print | 19046 | Newsletter Printing | 1 | 1332.00 |
| D Ella | Christmas Lights Event Entertainer | 9 | 200.00 | |
| KMC | 910 | Christmas Grotto | 9 | 150.00 |
| Roffesoft | 7192 | Move server/broadband support | 1 | 216.00 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 70899147 | Unit 28 Rent | 1 | 600.00 |
| WPS | 511448260 | Christmas Lights Event Insurance | 1 | 100.00 |
| Acora | 1285-48585 | Veber Data Back Up | 1 | 13.20 |
| Notts County Council | 92658681 | November Salaries | 1 | 9754.44 |
| Three | 1261334673 | Mobile Phones | 1 | 29.78 |
| Glasdon | 51827278 | Litter Trolley | 1 | 474.00 |
| Notts County Council | 92647442 | October Salaries | 1 | 9780.72 |
| Methodist Church | Room Hire | 1 | 30.00 | |
| UK Fuels | Fuel | 1 | 97.02 | |
| Really Scrumptious | Refund Christmas Lights Event | 1 | 35.00 | |
| The Joker | 3014 | Christmas Lights Entertainment | 9 | 780.00 |
| ICO | Licence | 40.00 | ||
| WaterPlus | 5557439 | Forest Close Allotments | 1 | 109.33 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 70900669 | Unit 28 Rent | 1 | 600.00 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 70900865 | Suite F Rent and Service Charge | 1 | 567.00 |
| C Knott Insurance | Allotment Insurance 2022 | 1 | 141.02 | |
| Roffesoft | 7211 | PC Support | 1 | 72.00 |
| Big Bang Fireworks | 1191121 | Deposit Display 31.12.21 | 9 | 500.00 |
| Cotgrave Futures | 454 | MUGA Electricity | 1 | 53.28 |
| CBOC | Poppy Appeal (Grant) | 1 | 300.00 | |
| Sharpes | Transport for Pensioners Christmas Meal | 9 | 315.00 | |
| Halls Locksmiths | 53985 | 3 x Abloy Padlocks | 1 | 539.85 |
| Rushcliffe BC | 9175638X | Business Rates – Suite F | 1 | 1429.33 |
| Manvers Arms | 48 x Pensioners Christmas Meals | 9 | 768.00 | |
| Notts Golf Club | 27528 | Pensioners Christmas Meals | 9 | 3468.00 |
| L Knight | Reimbursement for Plants | 1 | 9.30 | |
| TOTAL | 32,672.11 |
2131 Income
Resolved: “That the income totalling £230.75 since the last meeting, as reproduced below.
| 1.11.21 | Cotgrave FC | Rent | 155.00 |
| 2.12.21 | Little Horse Box | Christmas Market Rent | 20.00 |
| 14.12.21 | Western Power | Wayleave Payment | 5.75 |
| 17.12.21 | Fair Rides | Christmas Market Rent | 50.00 |
| TOTAL | 230.75 |
Financial Statements
2132 Members considered the Statements for November 2021 as reproduced at the back of the Minute Book.
At the end of November 2021 Council had £24,290.85 in the Co-op account, £162,041.43 in the HSBC account and £201,102.73 in the NatWest account.
Budget 2022-2023
2133 A working group had attended a Budget meeting with the Clerk and set a budget for 2022-2023 and this had been presented to Council for consideration.
2134 Councillor S Ellis proposed that the budget be agreed. This was seconded by Councillor I Shaw.
2135 Resolved : “That Council apply for a precept of £234,660 which equates to £96.42 per year or £1.75 per week for a band D property, which is an increase of 1.93%
Working Group Updates
Welcome Back Fund
2136 Council has spent £8,400 of the £10,000 provided by Rushcliffe Borough Council. This figure included the cost of insurance for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display of £948. This leave £1,500 that could still be spent and used by 31st March 2022.
2137 The Borough Council are asking if Councils would consider returning any monies not spent to a central pot that could be used for a larger centrally located event withing the Borough.
2138 The Clerk asked if Council would like to consider a further payment of £200 for Cotgrave Library for a craft event during February half-term. Due to Covid, if it were not possible to have the event in the Library, packs could be made up and collected from the Library for the children to take home and use.
2139 Councillor Stothard asked if some of the funding could be used for a children’s trail around the Green area, using some plaques with different pictures on. This is something that could be moved to the Country Park in the future.
2140 Resolved : “To use £200 to purchase craft items for an event at the Library during the February half-term.
Cotgrave Play Areas
2141 The Clerk will arrange a Zoom meeting to move forward with the replacement/refurbishment of the play equipment on Grassmere Play Park.
2142 The Clerk has spoken with Notts County Council regarding the LCF and asked if it was possible to have an extension to the application process, so Council can apply for £10K to purchase a piece of equipment for Grassmere. Council agreed to put in £25K towards this project.
Pensioners Christmas Meal
2143 Councillor L Healy gave an update on the Pensioners Christmas Meal.
122 meals had been provided at the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club and 48 home delivered meal that had been cooked Steve and his team at the Manvers Arms.
Councillor Healy also thanked Councillors Myles and Simpson for helping with the delivery of the meals.
2144 It was disappointing that the Church of England School could not attend the event at the Golf Club due to Covid, but the U3A had supplied a singer, who provided some entertainment, with those attending joining in with the Carols.
2145 Council thanked Councillor L Healy for his work in the arranging of this event.
2146 Councillor D Eldridge said that those attending the event were not aware that the Christmas Meals were actually provided through the funding from Lightsource and not through Council’s precept. He asked if this could be included in the advertising material for the event in the future.
Parks Inspections
2147 Council has been copied into the latest Park inspection report, carried out by Streetwise Environmental.
2148 Council’s ground staff will carry out the snagging repairs to some of the equipment.
2149 The report had highlighted that the Skate Ramps on Grassmere were now unsafe and needs removing. The ramps have been tapped off and Council staff will put in arrangements to have the ramps removed.
2150 The report also highted problems with the two small gates on the play area on the Green. The gates are staying open, and the inspector said that they had been installed incorrectly. Streetwise Environmental have provided a quotation to reinstall the gates to the correct specification.
2151 Councillor Stothard asked if Council could go back to the original installers of the equipment and query why the inspector if saying that they have been incorrectly installed.
2152 The Clerk will contact the supplier/installer of the gates.
2153 Council also suggested that a further ROSPA inspection of the gates should be carried out.
Cotgrave FC
2154 The Clerk has spoken with Cotgrave FC, and they had agreed to contribute £590 towards the costs of new swing gate at the sports ground.
2155 Council asked if the Football Club has sole use of the facility. The Clerk informed Council that the Club are given a year-on-year licence which states “the Council lets the property to the hirer for the term at the rent payable as set out on the understanding that it may hire out the facility to other users during the period. Such lettings will not be detrimental to Cotgrave FCs normal usage.”
Cotgrave FC carry out the maintenance of the pitches and Cotgrave Town Council as responsible for any maintenance of the sports pavilion.
2156 Councillor N Monday proposed to accept the contribution from Cotgrave FC, and Council provide the remainder of the funding for the installation of the new swing gates.
2157 A vote was taken, and eight councillors agreed to provide the funding for the swing gates.
2158 Resolved :
“To purchase a manual swing gate (3-9M) heavy duty and installation at the cost of £2,047.43.”
Personnel Committee
2159 This item was not discussed in full, and recommendations were not approved, and this will be represented at the next council meeting.
Covid-19 Policy
2160 Council are continuing the spray with play equipment on the parks twice a week.
The Clerk and Administration Manager were limiting access to residents etc into the office whilst the Omnicom variant was active and asking that residents contact the council in the first instance by telephone and/or email. This information has been placed on Council’s website.
Correspondence
2161 Nottinghamshire County Council
Correspondence has been received regarding watercourses and rights and responsibilities as a riparian owner.
2162 Crime Figures – December 2021
| Date | Crime | Location | Details |
| 8.12.21 | Criminal Damage | Flagholme | Rear window of car smashed |
| 20.12.21 | Criminal Damage | Edgington Close | Rear window of car smashed |
| 26.12.21 | Criminal Damage | Miners Welfare | Rear window of car smashed |
Clerks Reports
2163 Notts 4 x 4 had contacted Council regarding event dates for 2022. At the moment planned events includes the Queens Platinum Jubilee event on Sunday 5th June and the fireworks display on Sunday 6th November.
2164 The Clerk asked if Council would allow her to have access to a Debit Cash Paying In Card for the HSBC bank account. This card would allow the administration staff to pay in cash at the Post Office, rather than have to visit the branch in Nottingham. The card only allows for money to be paid in and not drawn out of the account. A form would be required to be completed and signed by two councillors.
Councillors’ Reports
2165 Councillor Eldridge commented on the state of the grassed area on Ringleas (near to the bus stop where cars are parking on the grass). He has taken some photographs and will pass these onto Councillor R Butler.
2166 Councillor Ellis has received an email from a resident regarding some hedge works on Owthorpe Road. The Clerk has also been copied into the email and she will reply accordingly.
2167 Councillor Gardner has been dealing with a Metropolitan tenant’s issue, which he is please to say has now been resolved.
2168 Councillor Handbury asked about the tanker that keeps appearing on Owthorpe Road. Councillor Shaw said that there are issues with the stench pipe that serves the nursing home, Saxon Way and Gripps Common and Severn Trent Water are attending site on a regular basis to pump out on a daily basis.
2169 Councillor Healy informed Council that the Borough Council have formed a scrutiny group to look into the location of pumping stations and sewage leaks within the Borough and this information would be passed to that group.
2170 Councillor Healy said that Cotgrave will no longer have a covid-19 lateral flow testing station but said that testing was available at Bingham.
2171 Councillor Simpson informed council that Nottinghamshire County Council were considering removing the free tram travel from the bus concession pass.
2172 Councillor Simpson said that he had noticed on Rightmove that there was a piece of woodland up for sale at the rear of Hickling Way and would this be of any benefit for Council. It could only be kept as woodland.
2173 Councillor Simpson had heard that the probation services were now able to provide the community payback service.
2174 Councillor Stothard had seen on Facebook that some young people had been rolling beer barrels (from the rear of Strezza) down the path onto Candleby Lane. He asked if Strezza could be asked to be aware of this and make sure that the barrels are not left outside the back of the business.
The restaurant and Rushcliffe Borough Council are aware of this, and a solution is being put in place.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 20.47pm
Chair:…………………………………… Signed as a True Record (Date)………………………………
Planning Minutes
The following responses were made to plans under consideration by the Planning Authority, Rushcliffe Borough Council.
No objections were raised except where stated.
074 At Council Meeting on 12th January 2022
21/03122/FUL Church of England School, The Cross, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3HS – Replacement of opening casements within existing timber window frames to front and side of property.
21/03172/FUL Rose and Crown, Main Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham – installation of a pergola structure to rear garden with festoon lighting and Astroturf. Installation of covered pergola and festoon lights and rope and post fencing to side elevation facing the car park.
21/03176/FUL 14 Bingham Road, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3JR – single storey rear extension and first floor balcony to side elevation.
Rushcliffe Borough Council, the planning authority, has forwarded the following decisions:-
075 Permission Granted:
21/02673/FUL 1 The Park, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3JT – Construction of single storey front and side extension, canopy car port land landscaping including increased driveway parking. Removal of boundary trees and hedges and replacement with new front wall and metal and timer fencing to the boundaries.
The minutes remain in draft form until approved at the next council meeting. (9th February 2022)