2021 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 7th Sept 2021 at 6.30pm

Present 21-122 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr P Golding, Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr G Steele, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), SKDCllr D Bellamy, 1 resident

Apologies for Absence 21-123 Cllr F Parish, LCCllr B Adams

Chairman’s remarks 21-124

Cllr Ashton welcomed all Cllrs to the meeting following the Summer break.

Receive Declaration of Interests 21-125 Cllr White declared an interest in agenda item Moor Lane field – state of hedging/ entrance to field 21-133 see below.                                          

   Public Forum 21-126

Resident present had sent in an email to raise various highway issues, circ. to cllrs prior to meeting.  Discussion took place on;

the state of the roads generally through the village and poor pothole repairs – ongoing issue raised regularly with LCC by PC.

Church Lane poor state of lane and barriers – again raised with LCC several yrs ago and on its list for improvement works budget depending, awaiting date for works. Development work to field on North Witham Rd -  allowable work re. agriculture replacement of barn. Moor Lane field removal of trees and hedging dealt with under agenda item 21-133 below.The resident advised that he had invited Cllr Richard Davies to a walk around the village to show him the state of the Highways. Clerk suggested that one or two Cllrs join him, Cllr Ashton passed on his contact details for this purpose.

Reports from LCCllr Adams/ SKDCllr Bellamy 21-127 Cllr Bellamy reported that he had made checks to see that all GI Joes works are in accordance with planning permissions granted and had found that the

new access gate was not on any plans. This is now being investigated further by SKDC Planning Dept.

He advised that the Deepings Leisure Centre is closed until Christmas due to ceiling repairs needed to make safe. He also advised the SKDC is about to embark on a review of its complaints procedures.

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 6th July 2021 21-128

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 21-129

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

SWPCC 1/2 year churchyard grass cutting return, 8 cuts at £75 a cut, total £600.00 PC approved, clerk to pay.

SWPC agreed to waive the VHMC rent for the second half of 2021/22 in view of Covid19 and reduced bookings, clerk to advise VHMC.

PKF completion of the limited assurance review for SWPC AGAR for the yr end 31/3/21

Audit complete with no issues found. Clerk to display conclusion of audit notice and publish certified AGAR.  

Allotments, Cllrs van Straubenzee  It has been reported to the PC that produce has recently been stolen from the site again and also the chain to the padlock / gate. Also reports of non allotment holders walking around the site. Cllrs Oldfield and van Straubenzee to look into ways to make the site more secure and prevent non allotment holders from accessing the site. To involve allotment holders in discussions.

Village Hall, Cllrs van Straubenzee

Update on VH matters

Cllr van Straubenzee updated on the following - Cllr Parish is still awaiting a company to quote for the flat roof work. Richard Medcalf is to do the VH Pat testing in the next two weeks and a local resident, who is an ex. British Gas worker, has managed to get the hot water working. There is still a problem with the hallway thermostat to resolve.

Play area monthly inspection/maintenance, Cllr Oldfield Repairs to play surface undertaken by Cllr Hughes since the last meeting. Clerk awaiting annual Rospa inspection reports following August inspection, to circ. to cllrs when received.

Planning Matters 21-130

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment after publication of the agenda  none

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S21 1017 28, Coverley Rd, single storey side extension – SKDC certificate of lawful use or development (proposed) granted , permitted development.

Emergency arrangements for the village, Cllrs Ashton 21-131

PC agreed that a notice should be put up on the village noticeboards and SWPC website giving the following information; contact details for Cllrs Parish, van Straubenzee, Hodgkins and Hughes to be used in an emergency situation to access the village hall. Also Stamford Police details and the location of the two defibrillators in the village (with location map). Cllr Ashton to give his keys to Cllr Hughes for this purpose and key registers SWPC/VHMC to be updated accordingly with correct details.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Cllr van Straubenzee 21-132 Celebrations taking place across the UK between Thursday 2/6/22  - Sunday 5/6/22 to mark the Queen’s 70 yrs on the throne. Initial discussion took place re mementoes for SW children. Clerk to put on November agenda for further consideration.

Moor Lane field – state of hedging/ entrance to field 21-133 SKDCllr Bellamy advised that a SKDC Planning Enforcement Officer had been out to visit this site and will be contacting the owner of the field regarding this matter. Cllr White as owner of the field then issued an apology for the state of this field. He had allowed a family member to use this field for her horses and she had requested to tidy a corner of the field only. He was not aware that she was going to destroy the hedging and create the eyesore on the outside of the field and is upset at what she has done. He has contacted Mr Elson to replant new hedging in Oct and will personally deal with the rubble/soil piled up, although appreciates it will take time for the hedging to re-establish. The family member will not be using the field.

Teenager meeting re. holiday activities, Cllr Ashton 21-134

PC agreed to hold a meeting, to invite the teenagers of the village along to engage with them regarding future holiday activities clubs to see what they would like organised, as attendance has been particularly poor in this age category. Envisaged this will be held in October. Cllr Ashton to liaise on dates with Cllr Parish and Cllr Parish to set up meeting. To then advertise on SW FB and notice boards in the village.  

Correspondence 21-135

Secretary of State for Housing Communities & Local Government letter, YMCA Community Lincs news & update bulletin Jul & Aug 21, LCC Town & Parish Newsletter July & Aug 21. Tree Planting for Parish Council, Bus service improvement plan engagement survey, C & C Direct, Pizza truck ltr re.use of PC VH car park – PC advised no permission.  Lincolnshire Riparian Project questionnaire, SKDC Village Services & Facilities Survey 2021 – completed by Cllrs Ashton, Parish, van Straubenzee & clerk, Activities for teens (to 16yrs) poster re.holiday club activities 16th - 20th Aug 21, Sir John Sedley Educational Foundation grant info leaflets – to put on village FB page via Cllr Kinning, clerk/ Cllr Ashton to put on village noticeboards. LALC news and Enews weekly throughout July/ Aug. NHS Lincs Annual Public Meeting by Live Microsoft Teams 22/9/21 5-7pm 

Additional items 21-136

Resident letter received re. HGV stuck on Church Lane once again which had ignored the signs not to go along this road. The HGV had scraped the wall and the SWPCC had been informed of this by the clerk. Cllr van Straubenzee advised that the wall had been scraped but no major damage had been done. PC requested that clerk contacts LCC to see what other measures could be put in place to prevent HGVs using this road.  

Date of next meeting 21-137 Tuesday 5th Oct 2021 at 6.30pm in the larger hall of the VH.        

Meeting closed at 8pm