2022 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 1st Feb 2022 at 6.30pm

Present 22-015 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr P Golding, Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr G Steele, Cllr A White, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), SKDCllr D Bellamy, 2 members of Public 

Apologies for Absence 22-016 Cllr F Parish

Chairman’s Remarks 22-017

Cllr Ashton apologised for the running of the Jan PC meeting and advised all councillors that residents attending will be reminded that they may only speak in the Public Forum. They will be welcome to stay after this but only for observation. Cllr Ashton then said that as the Parish Council is a non-political party, he would not be allowing the two potential candidates for the County Councillor role for the Division of Colsterworth Rural, permission to speak.

Receive Declaration of Interests 22-018 Cllr G Steele declared an interest in agenda item, Planning Matters 22-023, New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment, S22/0044,5 Launds Green, erection of single storey extension.

Public Forum 22-019 none

Report from SKDCllr Bellamy 22-020

Cllr Bellamy advised that the Anglian Water improvement works had commenced and that traffic was not being compromised. He also raised the email sent by Gareth Davies MP, outlining the A1 safety improvement works agreed. Fourteen new security improvement schemes are currently being planned along the A1 which include Little Ponton, Great Ponton, Woolsthorpe, Colsterworth, and Stoke Rochford. Further details to be announced by National Highways in due course. Cllr Bellamy had lodged a request with LCC to move the 30mph sign back to the edge of the village on the North Witham Rd, further suggestion made to put it before the Industrial Estate if possible. He advised that the private company InvestSK has now come in house again under SKDC. Also Environment SK, a Limited Company owned by SKDC is in operation, offering various maintenance / garden work services. SKDC hopes that Council tax charged may be reduced by profits made by Environment SK. Details of these companies and the services offered may be found on the SKDC website. Cllr Bellamy was tasked with obtaining clarification on the recyclable plastics that may go in silver bins.

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th Jan 2022 22-021

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 22-022

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

South Witham Parish Council - Financial Statement   - Feb 2022

To discuss SWPCC churchyard upkeep – 2nd half of 2021 , 8 cuts @ £75.00 per cut, total of claim £600.00. PC agreed to payment, clerk to process. Further matters since finances were issued - invoice from New Beginnings Restoration £75.00 for  VH rec bin work. Clerk advised that she has prepared PC vat reclaim for period 1/5/21 – 31/1/22 ,£923.12. Clerk chasing £73.35 refund due from CNG Ltd re. VH gas account in credit prior to the supplier change.  Village Cleaner invoice received for Dec/ Jan period, total hours for the 2 months  being 17 hrs not 28hrs, due to illness. Clerk has paid her for all hours worked, including the 3 extra hrs (£30) to amount listed above.

SWPC bank account charges HSBC Bank PLC has automatically moved SWPC’s bank account to a charity account incurring a £5 monthly fee / 40p per cheque issued. Clerk checked this is correct and HSBC advised that it no longer offers society / club type accounts. She has looked at other High Street banks and they too are not currently offering Society Accounts. PC agreed to keep with existing bank account.

Village Hall

SWPC to agree terms of VH lease agreement, Cllr Ashton

Cllrs Ashton, Parish and van Straubenzee had met with the VHMC to discuss updated terms for the 2022-23 one year village hall lease, with a nominal sum of £10 payable for this year only. Clerk amended lease as per changes and circulated to Cllrs prior to the PC meeting. One further change to be made, Clerk to alter clause 5.1 wording “In connection with clause 4.4…” to “In connection with clause 4.5…” with no other changes, the PC voted to accept the lease agreement. Final version to be recirculated to SWPC/VHMC, with both parties to sign off at March PC meeting.

Update on other VH matters, Cllrs Parish/ van Straubenzee Nothing to report, except clerk asked to chase up roof repairs with Cllr Hughes, work as agreed by PC at Dec21 meeting.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Cllr Ashton

Cllr Ashton thanked Cllrs Kinning, Lansdowne, Parish and van Straubenzee for their help with leafleting the village. Purpose of leaflets - to seek out volunteers for a Queen’s Jubilee Committee and to obtain children’s details of those wishing to receive a memento coin marking this occasion. Slips received from three volunteers wishing to be involved and from 56 children, which is a low return. It is known that there are 102 children attending South Witham Academy and Preschool, so with this in mind and demand from other residents wishing to buy a memento for themselves and their family members, the PC agreed to purchase 400 coins at £2.99 a coin, clerk to place order.  Cllr Ashton showed councillors the Commemorative Queen’s Platinum flag which he will take to South Witham Academy this week and ask the Head teacher to raise on Sun 6th Feb this being the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. Then to further raise in June for the Platinum celebrations. Cllr Lansdowne is in receipt of 3 small trees, a Hazel, Crab Apple & Rowan tree from Trailfinders. Cllr Oldfield will take to the allotments and look after/ bring on for future planting. The PC discussed other trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project and agreed to purchase two 6ft Maple trees to plant inside the allotment /cemetery area, either side of the gate. Cllr van Straubenzee to purchase trees/ stakes/ guards from Rassells and arrange for Tracy Stafford to plant.

Play area monthly inspection/maintenance, Cllr Oldfield Cllr Oldfield reported that the rec bin has been concreted in place by New Beginnings (cost £75). No other issues this month.

Allotment Lease Agreement, Cllr van Straubenzee The new allotment year starts on 1st April 2022. The PC agreed to keep the rents as per 2021, ie. £25, £20 & £18 depending on the plot size, with no changes to the lease agreement. Clerk to contact allotment holders re the renewal process and to request those not continuing, let her know as soon as possible and put their plots into good order for the next tenant.

Planning Matters 22-023

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S22/0044, 5 Launds Green, erection of single storey extension – no objections from PC

S22/0030, 35 High Street, resubmission of S21/1817, changes comprise of new windows, fascias, soffits, guttering – no objections from PC

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

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused none

Additional village salt supply, Cllr van Straubenzee 22-024 Salt delivered / stored at Cllr van Straubenzee’s as agreed during January 2022. Cllr van Straubenzee to review the salt supply and its location in the summer, should it not be utilised at all. This supply is for emergency use and is additional to requests to replenish the salt in the various village grit bins.

Village Litter Pick, Cllr Parish 22-025 The PC agreed to hold its annual litter pick event on either Sun 15th or 22nd May 2022 , prior to the Queen’s Platinum June celebrations. Clerk to ask if Cllr Parish has a preference and to book with SKDC.

Correspondence 22-026

Enews weekly, LCC Town & Parish news- country views panel/ Jan 22 newsletter, SKDC Notice of Election for District Councillors for the Wards of Aveland and Isaac Newton. LCC Notice of Election for a County Councillor for the Division of Colsterworth Rural, C & C Direct , One You Lincolnshire Service information, Queen’s Platinum Jubilee information from the Dept for Levelling up, Housing & Communities, Lincs Police- Safer Together Teams Countywide Newsletter (qtr4), A1 Campaign Update on Safety measures for the A1, Gareth Davies MP, Update re. holding Council meetings in person, SKDC Deputy Chief Exec/ Monitoring Officer. LALC Training Schemes information.

Additional items 22-027 none

Date of next meeting 22-028 Tuesday 1st Mar 2022 at 6.30pm in the VH.

Meeting closed at 8.15pm