2021 minutes

  Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 2nd Nov 2021 at 6.30pm

Present 21-152 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr P Golding, Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr G Steele, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), SKDCllr D Bellamy

Apologies for Absence 21-153 Cllr L Hughes, Cllr F Parish, Cllr A White, LCCllr B Adams

Chairman’s remarks 21-154

Cllr Ashton reminded the Cllrs of meeting etiquette. He also asked that the various sub committees continue to report briefly to the PC on their respective areas each month, but remember not to undertake any work/ expense without prior full Council approval.

Receive Declaration of Interests 21-155 None

Public Forum 21-156 A resident and her son attended the meeting. The boy addressed the meeting on how he would like to improve the village by litter picking, asking others not to throw litter and by there being Public recycling bins if possible. He also asked if he could put posters up to say “do not drop litter”, PC agreed to this and suggested the posters could be put on the VH rec bins. He was also asked to maybe get his school friends involved too with his ideas. They were both thanked for coming along to the PC meeting.  

Reports from LCCllr Adams/ SKDCllr Bellamy 21-157

SKDCllr Bellamy stated that ownership of the hedge backing onto the High St (opp. Blue Cow) is proving hard to establish. His advice was to report to LCC if this is found to be obstructing the pavement. The flooding under Thistleton Lane bridge was raised again. Clerk to forward to Cllr Bellamy the email of 10.5.21 stating that LCC would be undertaking works to the pipework/ soakaway to rectify the problems/ remove the standing water during the current financial year, for him to take up with LCC.

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 5th Oct 2021 21-158

The notes of meeting were approved by the Council and signed by the Chair in acceptance of minutes.

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 21-159

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

South Witham Parish Council - Financial Statement   - 2nd Nov 2021

Items not included in above figures discussed by PC, clerk to arrange payments;

Refund to Cllr Steele for pipe lagging £79.00, (£65.83 net).

Garden Angel invoice £600.00, for period August to October 2021 8 cuts x £75.00 includes hedge cut. RBL invoice for Remembrance wreath, £17.50 

SKDC ½ Yr Precept received to PC bank account £12500.00

  Allotments, Cllrs van Straubenzee   - Update on allotment matters

The security of the allotments was discussed by the Parish Council.

Village Hall, Cllrs Parish / van Straubenzee  - Update on VH matters

Loft pipe lagging done by Cllr Steele, thanks expressed by PC, clerk to refund Cllr Steele for expense incurred £79.00. Pat testing completed, report given to the clerk, invoice to follow. PC agreed that VHMC should take this over again from 2022 onwards. Clerk to forward report to VHMC for its records.

Boiler service completed by Paul Dalby, report given to clerk. VH flat roof has been inspected, awaiting report/ quote for works.

Play area monthly inspection/maintenance, Cllr Oldfield Football goals had been broken/ repaired in last month. Cllrs Oldfield/ Steele to fix various minor issues once weather improves.

Planning Matters 21-160

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S21/1938, 16 Wellfield Close, single storey front extension – no objections from SWPC.

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment after publication of the agenda

S21/2139 21 Church Street, Trees in CA - Section 211 Notice, Cherry tree - prune as crossing branches are rubbing against each other – no objections from SWPC.

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S21/1834 11Church Lane, Trees in CA Section 211 notice, White Beams, reduce to 3 metres to reinstate hedge. Pollard 1 x lime and 2 x beech-  work allowed by SKDC.

Correspondence 21-161

SKDC Council tax Support Scheme 2022/23 Consultation, NH Police Stamford team update for South Witham, LCC bus changes, LALC news, Towns & Parishes newsletter Oct21, LCC salt bags available for Councils  – one bag requested by PC , to be delivered to Cllr van Straubenzee (Dec 21/ Jan 22). Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons 2nd June 2022, Aspire Trust Consultation, YMCA News & update bulletin Oct21, LCC Local Transport Plan Consultation ( deadline 1/12/21), LCC Admissions Policy Consultation on 2023/24 admission arrangements x 2 schools, LALC Enews weekly. Resident letter on various village highway issues, to be considered at December PC meeting.

Additional items 21-162 Cllr Kinning advised that there were only 3 responses received to the poll put on SW FB to see if teenagers are interested in a meeting to discuss holiday activities. Noted all the replies were from parents. Cllr van Straubenzee advised that there will be no Service of Remembrance in St John’s church on Sunday 14th November as the vicar will be in Castle Bytham church. However, her husband Alex van Straubenzee, as Chairman of the PCC, will be leading a short Service of Remembrance outside the church, by the War Memorial, starting at 10.45am. He will lay the PCC wreath, Cllr Ashton to lay the SWPC wreath, other wreaths to be laid too and all welcome. Cllrs Steele and Golding (& his wife) thanked for putting up the lamp post poppies around the village. Cllr van Straubenzee to request that the school and church Union flags are raised. Cllr Oldfield is finalising the emergency contact notices. To then forward to the clerk to laminate with notices to be displayed on the various village notice boards / PC website and SW FB page.

Date of next meeting 21-163 Tuesday 14th Dec at 6.30pm in the larger hall of the VH.

Meeting closed at 8pm