Thursday 5 April 2012

Parish Council Report

Meeting - 3rd April 2012

A summary of issues considered at the April meeting is set out below:

Policing Matters:  It was reported that the perpetrators of a theft of metal from Nocton Hall had been caught and were being dealt with by the Police.  Sheds on the field at Nocton Park where horses are kept had also been broken into.  The Police are suggesting that owners of horses might wish to join the Horse Watch Scheme.

It was noted that there had been an increasing number of burglaries in the areas around Nocton (not in the village itself) with a key time for such activity being between 5.00 and 11.00 p.m.  Residents are, however, being asked to be particularly vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the Police.

Following a discussion of crime generally, the Parish Council agreed to publicise the “Lincs Alert” scheme which some residents might wish to take advantage of.  Further details on the scheme and the possibility of starting Neighbourhood Watch in the village are provided elsewhere in The Doodle.

Gas Supply: Some 28 households have registered their interest in the possibility of having a gas supply to their homes.  Although this is a rather lower response than had been hoped for, the Parish Council will see if there is any benefit in joining with Dunston residents (who are also exploring the possibility) but, in any event will now pursue the matter with the National Grid for Gas.

Best Kept Village: It was agreed to enter Nocton in this year’s Best Kept Village Competition, the judging for which begins in June.  Further details of how residents can help to prepare for the competition will be provided in due course but, in the meantime, everyone is asked to make an extra-special effort to keep their gardens and streets tidy – not only so that we can do well in the competition but also in preparation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations when our village will be on show!

Car Parking: A local councillor has witnessed a couple of “near misses” in the area by the junction of The Green and Main Street.  Part of the problem is, of course, the number of large lorries trying to negotiate the sharp bend by the Post Office and whilst we are trying to address this issue with Lincolnshire CC Highways Department, the Parish Council would like to remind all residents who have no alternative but to park their cars on the road in this area and also those parking to use the Post Office to take special care when doing so.  If possible, please try to avoid parking directly opposite another vehicle or near the apex of the bend itself.

Dates of Forthcoming Meetings:  1st May – Annual Parish Council Meeting; 8th May – Ordinary Parish Council Meeting and Annual Parish Meeting – 22nd May.

Councillor Ian Goldsworthy


REDUCING CRIME IN NOCTON

At the April meeting of the Parish Council, it was agreed to publicise the following initiatives to help reduce the incidence of crime in the village and surrounding areas.  Whilst we are so fortunate to have very low levels of crime in Nocton, there can be no room for complacency and so the Parish Council and local Police would like to draw residents’ attention to the following schemes:

“Lincs Alert”

“Lincs Alert” is a community messaging system run by Lincolnshire Police.  The benefits of the scheme include: 

  • 24 hour a day website
  • Receipt of alerts by email, phone and text
  • Access to an on-line virtual Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
  • Ability to report information to our Neighbourhood Policing Teams
  • Feedback and updates on reports you submit
  • All services are free of charge
  • Can unsubscribe at any time
Currently some 31,000 people are registered with the scheme.  Further details are available at www.lincsalert.co.uk; by emailing info@lincsalert.co.uk or by telephoning the Watchline Administrator on 01522 558399.

Neighbourhood Watch

For a number of years, Nocton benefitted from a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and you can still see some of the now faded “warning” signs on our lamp posts!  The scheme was, however, abandoned when the former Co-ordinator resigned some considerable time ago.

The main aim of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme is to create a partnership between the local community, the police and the local authority.

Neighbourhood Watch started in the UK in 1982 and there are now some 150,000 schemes running throughout the UK covering nearly five million households.  This makes Neighbourhood Watch the largest voluntary movement in the country.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes can target local crime problems and take action to prevent them.  In consultation with the local police they can find out from local people what crimes most concern and affect them and focus on those specific problems.  Further information is available at www.neighbourhoodwatch.net

At its last meeting, a resident suggested that it might be opportune to reinstate the scheme and so the Parish Council is asking if anyone in the village would be willing to act as a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Co-ordinator.  If you are interested in establishing such a scheme in Nocton or would like to take on this role, then please contact our Parish Clerk, Doreen Green, on 01526 322323 or by email at: noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk


ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

The Parish Council is required to hold an Annual Parish Meeting at which all residents of Nocton are invited to attend and participate in the discussion of issues of particular concern to both them and the village.

This year’s meeting in to be held on Tuesday, 22nd May 2012 at 7.00 p.m. in the Village Hall and for the first time a whole evening is being devoted to this important occasion.

Parish Councillors would, therefore, welcome hearing from all residents about the issues they would like to discuss with them and so if you have something on your mind about life in our village, then please tell our Parish Clerk, Doreen Green, on 01526 322323, by email at:
noctonparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk or by wiring to her at 1 Potterhanworth Road, Nocton LN4 2BP.

We can then make sure that your ideas or concerns are properly considered.  It is, of course, only by working with its residents that the Parish Council can be truly effective in making the improvements the majority of people want to see.  Please make sure you let Doreen know of the things you want to raise by Friday, 4th May.

Please do make a note of this date in your diary, come along and let us know what you think.  Refreshments will be provided!


ANNUAL VILLAGE LITTER PICK

The Parish Council would like to express its grateful appreciation to Ralph and Mary Timms for again organising the annual village litter pick and to thank those residents who gave up their time to collect over 10 bags of rubbish from our streets and verges!  I think everyone will agree what a fantastic difference their hard work has made to our village.

Councillor Ian Goldsworthy
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