2022 minutes

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

Present 22-126 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr P Golding, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr F Parish, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), LCCllr C Vernon, SKDCllr B Green, SKDCllr D Bellamy

Apologies 22-127, Cllr C Hodgkin Cllr A White

Chairman’s Remarks 22-128 none

Receive Declaration of Interests 22-129 none

Public Forum 22-130 none

Report from County/District Councillors 22-131

SKDCllr Bellamy reported on the following; devolution is ongoing for LCC/ SKDC, SKDC is still helping Ukraine families, various organisations are working together to combat unlicensed fly tipping, SKDC is moving into the Cinema complex to save costs and provide better working conditions for staff. He will forward FCC grant info (prev. Wren) to clerk re. SW Play Project. LCCllr Vernon reported that the LCC website has links to various organisations to help with hardship this winter and £5.46 million has been made available until 31/3/23, although the qualifying criteria has yet to be decided. LCC is also asking that people look out for their neighbours who may need help. Street lamps are being adjusted, so in line with the clocks changing. Firework awareness is a current topic, with requests that illegal, highly dangerous fireworks are reported. Avian flu is in the local area and residents are asked to report any dead birds found. Biker Down, a nationwide scheme is running, offering free motorbike safety courses. She had contacted LCC re. the zigzags markings outside the school and will put SW on the list for 20 mph speed limit markings. 20 mph speed is advisory/ non enforceable but will hopefully deter any speeding along Water Lane. Great Close flooding issue is ongoing, she will liaise with Rowan Smith, LCC Highways Manager over this matter. SKDCllr Green advised that Lincs Police are recruiting more PCSOs and aim to increase numbers from 3 to 10 in the area. It also aims to have a PCSO attend at least one Parish Council meeting a year minimum.  Pot holes on Templars Way were photographed/reported to LCC to deal. Residents are urged to report fixed potholes that subsequently fail.       

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 4th Oct 2022 22-132

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 22-133

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - Nov 2022

Additional items – G H Elson, SW cemetery hedge cutting, £150.00 plus vat. Complaint received re. overgrown hedge to field next to cemetery, clerk to contact landowner.

Proposal by Cllr Oldfield to purchase a disability ramp for the VH, cost £90

Proposed Cllr Oldfield, seconded Cllr Hughes, with all in favour and no abstentions, this was agreed.

Clerk to order ramp.  

Bonfire night event at SW VH  - Sat 5/11/22 , Cllr Kinning

Update on event  / donations raised

Cllr Kinning outlined the bonfire event that she and her partner are organising with the help of many volunteers. There will be a guy competition with the winning guy to go on top of the bonfire, followed by the fireworks. Food and refreshments will be available. Cllr Kinning has written to 24 local businesses for donations towards the fireworks and has raised £600 to date.  

SWPC to agree its donation to the event

PC to fund £616 towards the fireworks - proposed by Cllr Oldfield, seconded by Cllr van Straubenzee and with all in favour and no abstentions this was agreed.

Village Hall update, Cllrs van Straubenzee/ Parish

Recent work completed – New Beginnings has undertaken guttering clearance work £70,

Paul Dalby has serviced the boiler, (report on file with the clerk), plus attended to large sliding door trim work,£291.50 plus vat. Cllr Ashton to check with Paul Dalby that all doors have been done. Cllr van Straubenzee had obtained a quote from Paul Dalby for percussion tap work for the ladies and gents toilets (new blending valves, taps, pipework, labour £508.52 plus vat). PC to defer matter so that further quotes may be sought. Clerk to order a carbon monoxide alarm for kitchen.

Leaking roof  - changing room area Cllr Parish agreed to check where the leak is and report back. Clerk provided contact details for three companies to quote for fire exit doors, Cllrs Parish & van Straubenzee to meet, with PC to explore grant funding for this work.  

Winter fortnightly opening of the VH (Community Group) for hot food  Cllr Parish advised that the Community Group will be extending its usual opening hours of 9 am– 12pm, by a further hour until 1pm so that it may offer soup and a roll for £1 to villagers who wish to partake. Note this is fortnightly, not weekly as listed on the agenda in error.

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield

Monthly inspection / maintenance

Cllr Oldfield to undertake skatepark repairs this month, receipts to be given to clerk for reimbursement. He also has a further £63 from scrap cans to transfer to the Play Area Project and more cans to process.

New skatepark bin arriving this month, Cllr Oldfield to install. He is also researching play area equipment and aims to form a working party to fully look into this project and funding available.   

QPJ replacement tree / plaque for Water Lane/Church St island, Cllr van Straubenzee

Cllr van Straubenzee advised that the tree has been planted and the plaque has arrived, to be installed this week. The school children are to plant bulbs around the tree on Wed 9th November.

Remembrance Service – Friday 11/11/22 at 10.45am, Cllr van Straubenzee

Cllr Golding was thanked for putting up the giant poppies around the village once again with his wife’s help. There is to be a Remembrance service at St John’s Church on Friday 11th Nov at 10.45am around the War Memorial, weather permitting, this will be led by Rev Neil Griffiths, all welcome. This has been advertised on SW FB and SW Academy children are to attend. Contact to be made with ex. Serviceman in the area so they are aware. 

Planning Matters 22-134

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S22/1702, 47 High St – replace summer house with new garden gazebo – no objections from SWPC

S22-1948, 1 Church Lane- tree 1, 2 & 3 fruit tree work (trees in CA, section 211 notice) - no objections from SWPC

Pl/0106/22, South Witham Quarry, Mill Lane, South Witham  - to vary condition 2 of planning permission S17/0563 (Approved plans and documents) to amend approved restoration contours to ensure adequate land drainage for intended after use - no objections from SWPC. Further note, planning passed see below.

S22/1877, 25 Station Avenue, conservatory to rear - no objections from SWPC

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment after the publication of the agenda  Pre planning letter received from Cornerstone re. proposed base station installation upgrade on land adjacent to pumping station, Broadgate Rd, SW – upgrade work noted by PC. 

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

Pl/0106/22, South Witham Quarry, Mill Lane, South Witham  - to vary condition 2 of planning permission S17/0563 (Approved plans and documents) to amend approved restoration contours to ensure adequate land drainage for intended after use - planning passed by LCC on the 1/11/22

Correspondence 22-135

LALC Enews weekly & cost of living challenge, Grantham Relief road update Oct22, Anglian Water non-statutory consultation on a proposed reservoir in Lincolnshire (deadline 21st Dec 22) , Lincs Police priority setting meeting fback form – clerk to request that speeding through the village is put as a priority. Police & Crime Commissioner Safer Together Team newsletter Oct 22, Policing in Lincs  - have your say survey. SKDC Local Development Scheme 2022-25 (revised on SKDC website), SKDC cost of living – a warm spaces working group has been created and is looking at ways to help residents with rising costs (more info to follow), C & C Direct.

Additional Items 22-136

First aid training (defibrillator) – Course booked for Wed 23rd Nov, 10.00 – 11.30am, to be held during the Community Group Wednesday coffee morning, Cllr Parish & Lansdowne to oversee.

Clerk to report damaged grit bin to LCC, location Moor Lane/ Templars Way junction.

Date of next PC meeting 22-137 Tuesday 6th December 2022 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed at 8.30pm