2022 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 4th Oct 2022 at 6.30pm

Present 22-113 Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr P Golding, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr F Parish, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), SKDCllr D Bellamy

Apologies 22-114 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr C Hodgkin, LCCllr C Vernon, SKDCllr B Green

Chairman’s Remarks 22-115 none

Receive Declaration of Interests 22-116 none

Public Forum 22-117 none

Report from County/District Councillors 22-118

SKDCllr Bellamy reported that the Bullimores development (S22/1241 outline planning) is only utilising half the site so 18 houses (not 34) as he previously thought, so affecting S106 play area monies available to SWPC, it will likely be in the region of £4k as quoted by SKDC originally. He will send over various grant funding information for SWPC to explore. The new Headmaster of South Witham Academy had queried the location of the yellow zigzags on Water Lane, as they are not directly outside the school. Cllr Parish to forward photos to SKDCllr Bellamy to look into this with LCCllr Vernon’s help. Also the PC discussed the possibility of 20 mph speed limit on this road and whether the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership is still in operation. Cllr Parish to liaise with the Headmaster on all raised.

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 6th Sept 2022 22-119

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; 22-120

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - Oct 2022

Additional items – Cllr Oldfield refunded expenses incurred for the allotment site £29.19.

Cllr Parish to be refunded £30.00 for plants purchased by a resident for 2 village troughs.

A request was made by Cllr Kinning for a donation towards the purchase of fireworks for the Bonfire night event to be held on Sat 5th November 2022 on the village hall recreational field.

Proposed Cllr Oldfield, seconded Cllr van Straubenzee and with all in favour and no abstentions this was agreed in principle. Cllr White also agreed to contact local businesses for further funds towards this event. Event to be advertised on village FB / local posters (Cllr Kinning) and via South Witham Academy parent mail (Cllr Parish)       

Completion of the limited assurance review for accounts yr ending March 2022

This had been completed by PKF Littlejohn and no issues were found. Clerk had displayed the completion of audit notice/ financial information on the SWPC website & VH noticeboard as required.

Village Hall update, Cllrs van Straubenzee / Parish

The guttering clearance work, cost £70, to be arranged by Cllr Oldfield. Other VH work to be chased up again ie. taps / window beading.

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield

Monthly inspection / maintenance

Cllr Oldfield to sort materials and paint this month ready for play area maintenance work. He will then circulate proposed dates to councillors to assist with this work .He also advised that he still has the £144 Angel Fest raffle takings to bank towards the Play Area project and fifty bags of cans to process.

Skatepark

The broken bin needs replacing, clerk to order a replacement.

Youth Football on VH rec

Enquiry had been received from SW VHMC for Colsterworth Colts teams to use the VH rec for Saturday football, SWPC agreed to this request. All booking info/ checks to be dealt with by SW VHMC. Cllr Oldfield raised the idea of having an area sectioned off by low fencing to keep dogs off the football area. Enquiries to be made re. costs/ funding available. 

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

Cllr White was thanked for removing the old crab apple tree. Cllr van Straubenzee explained that she will order the replacement tree, a silver birch, which will be planted once there has been sufficient rainfall.

The PC agreed that grass and bulbs should be planted around the tree, thus making it low maintenance, Proposed Cllr Oldfield, seconded Cllr Parish, with all in favour and no abstentions, this was agreed. Information had been circulated by Cllr van Straubenzee regarding various Green Canopy plaques available to mark the tree. The purchase of an A4 size plaque from the Royal British Legion at £129.99 plus stake £25 ( plus vat), was proposed by Cllr Lansdowne, seconded by Cllr Oldfield, with all in favour and no abstentions, this was agreed. Once the tree is planted, clerk to register it on the Queen’s Green Canopy map and also on the tree register within Lincolnshire. Once all is in place, SWPC hopes to hold a small commemorative event at the tree involving the Parish Council and SW Academy children. Clerk to update a concerned resident with all the above, as an enquiry had been made regarding the removed tree.

War Memorial, Cllr van Straubenzee 22-121 This has been cleaned by Cllr van Straubenzee/ Parish.

Large poppies to be erected around the village in the first week of November. Cllr Golding agreed to sort the top end of village, Cllr Parish to assist Cllr van Straubenzee with the bottom end of the village. 

There is no Remembrance Service at St John’s Church on Sunday 13th November this year as there is no one available to take the service. It was suggested that on Friday 11th November residents could still meet outside the church at 10.45am for a short service with wreath laying and 2 minutes’ silence. The Community Group to attend, with SW Academy to be invited by Cllr Parish. Cllr van Straubenzee to ask her husband if he would lead this and hold the minute silence. Cllr Kinning to post a notice on SW FB to advise residents this will be taking place.

Planning Matters 22-122

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

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S22/1407- 27 Water Lane, replace roof structure & tiles, construct new rear first floor bedroom extension & new windows to rear of house – granted by SKDC

S22/1686- 5 High St, fell maple tree – work allowed by SWPC

S22/1712 – 7 High St, fell & reduce various trees – work allowed by SWPC

S22/1582- 37 high St, fell tree 1 & 2 and crown thin tree 3- work allowed by SKDC

Correspondence 22-123

LALC Enews weekly, Lincolnshire Reservoir Project Team stakeholder briefing pack Sept22, Lincs Police newsletter, SKDC Polling station interim review, deadline 7/10/22 – clerk had advised SKDC that SWPC supports the venue reverting to South Witham village hall for future elections, SKDC Council Tax Support Scheme consultation 2023/24 , deadline 21/10/22. LALC conference and AGM 12/10/22, LALC annual report 2021/22Town & Parish update Sept 22,

Additional Items 22-124

Cllr Golding agreed to attend to the speed sign on Mill Lane as it need recharging and to replace some of the damaged static 30 mph speed signs. 

First aid training (defibrillator) – Cllrs Parish and Lansdowne agreed to be available when the first aid training takes place. Clerk to request Weds 9th Nov for this training (2nd date of 23rd Nov if the first date is not available), to be held during the Community Group Wednesday coffee morning, further details to follow.   

Date of next PC meeting 22-125 Tuesday 1st Nov 2022 at 6.30pm

Meeting closed at 7.45pm