2022 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 5th Jul 2022 at 6.30pm

Present 22-084 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr J Oldfield (Vice Chair), Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr P Golding, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr S Lansdowne, Cllr F Parish, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), LCCllr C Vernon, SKDCllr D Bellamy, SKDCllr B Green.

Apologies for Absence 22-085 Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White

Chairman’s Remarks 22-086 Cllr Ashton reported that he had visited numerous schools/ nurseries over the last month with QPJ commemorative coins for the children. He has also received several thank you letters from SW Academy children since. He still has a small amount of coins left and would like to offer these to South Witham children who are under school age and do not attend nursery, so may have missed out on a coin. Cllr Kinning to place a notice on the SW FB page for this purpose. Any coins left after this, will be offered to SW residents to purchase. All monies raised to be passed to the clerk in August to bank.

Receive Declaration of Interests 22-087 none

Public Forum 22-088 none

Report from County/District Councillors 22-089

SKDCllr Green reported the following; those on certain benefits can expect further cost of living support totalling £650, of which £326 will be paid before the close of July, with the remaining £324 to be paid in the Autumn. £400 will be taken off all energy bills, also in the Autumn. This is driven by national Government and further information can be found here: https://costoflivingsupport.campaign.gov.uk/

He also advised that he will be inviting all parish councillors and clerks to the first Isaac Newton Ward Parish Council Summit at North Witham Village Hall, between 10-12am, on Saturday, 6 August. This will be an informal opportunity, complete with light refreshments, for the Ward’s Parish Councils to trade experiences and insights during the August lull. He also advised that the “SKDC Big Clean team” will be visiting South Witham for two days in August, date tba. Councillors to let the clerk know of any areas that need attention, or alternatively report on the Big Clean portal on the SKDC website.

LCCllr Vernon reported that LCC wants to see 750,000 trees planted around the county over the next few years. Residents that plant a tree in their garden or on land they control, can register it and it have it count towards the county’s tree planting target. Register trees on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/green-masterplan/lincolnshire-climate-summit/2

Any trees planted within the last 12 months can also be registered and added to the total. Those with a site that would be suitable to plant 300 or more trees may register their interest on LCC website www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/xfp/form/744  or email sustainability@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Electric Vehicle Charging Point Plan - five local authorities, led by LCC and Midlands Connect, have submitted a joint bid for £935k Government funding as part of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Pilot which would deliver an extra 101 standard and 8 rapid charging points across Lincolnshire. If successful, the £935k will be distributed between Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Herefordshire, Rutland and Stoke-on-Trent Councils. It is expected that this support from Government will attract an additional £2.8million of private sector investment, with the cumulative funds being used to install a total of 322 standard and 27 rapid public EV chargers across the Midlands. Updating the Minerals and Waste Local Plan - LCC has begun the process of updating the statutory  Minerals and Waste Local Plan which is used by developers when putting forward proposals, and by the council when dealing with planning applications. Collection amnesty for unwanted medical equipment extended across recycling centres - the pandemic has meant there is a shortage of medical equipment such as perching stools, bed sticks and commodes, as well as smaller items eg.crutches or rollators. These can now be taken to Grantham Recycling Centre to be given to the NHS and reused. Grantham Bid for Great British Railways HQ was unsuccesful. “Fix my street” – residents are urged to continue to report concerns regarding potholes, or damage to the roads via this website. Also to report any poor fixes not to standard.  

LCC has confirmed that it will be undertaking the Thistleton Lane bridge repair works end of Sept/ early Oct 22. It was agreed that Cllr Kinning should place a notice on the SW FB page to advise residents of this. Cllr Lansdowne raised the Great Close flooding issue again. The PC agreed to forward flooding photos to LCCllr Vernon to take this matter up with LCC.

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 7th June 2022 22-090

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

Co option of a Parish Councillor to fill the current vacancy 22-091

The clerk advised that no applications had been received for the councillor vacancy. Councillors all in agreement that the deadline for applications should be extended until 1st Sept 22, with candidates to attend a short interview at the PC meeting on the 6th Sept 2022. Notices to advertise the vacancy to be displayed on the SWPC website, SW village FB page (via Cllr Kinning) and the VH noticeboard.

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 22-092

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly accounts (see financial statement below)

Additional expenditure – clerk has paid SKDC for the allotment green bin £49.00, to reclaim on next expenses.

PC to consider the purchase of litter pick equipment Confusion in place as to whether SKDC has ceased with the service of providing equipment for community litter pick events. SKDCllr Green asked the clerk to forward to him the email correspondence on this, so he may investigate further.

Play area inspection / maintenance, Cllr Oldfield

Cllr Oldfield reported that he will undertake the minor repair works to the skate park ramps and patch repairs to the wet pour toddlers’ play surface this month prior to the annual Rospa in August. Cllr Hughes to provide wetpour materials she has stored, with any further materials to be purchased for this purpose by Cllr Oldfield / clerk. Re. the ongoing tin can play park project, Cllr Oldfield advised that he has yet to bank/ transfer the £21.00 initial funds to SWPC. He currently has a large amount of cans to take to the recycling site, in the region of 100 kilos. Due to the great response and the huge can volumes involved, he has asked people to crush their cans before giving them to him. SWPC agreed that any funds generated are deposited in the play project bank account. Cllr Oldfield was thanked for his efforts. 

SKDC Play Area rear of Great Close - clerk to forward her email exchanges with SKDC to SKDCllr Green, to take up this matter, as the play area is in a neglected state with little maintenance. It was also noted that equipment has been removed and not replaced in the last few years.  

Planning Matters 22-093

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S22/1092 - 14 Annexe, High Street, installation of ATM installed to left hand side of shop

S22/1093 - 14 Annexe, High Street, internal illuminated free cash withdrawal sign above ATM

S22/1216 - 5 High St, fell Maple & Conifer CA Section 211 notice

No comments / objections from SWPC to the 3 planning applications listed above

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

S22/1241 – Residential development (Outline application) for land to the south of Mill Lane  

No comments / objections from SWPC. Clerk to make enquiry with SKDC re. S106 play area monies available to SWPC for the VH rec area should this development go ahead. 

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused none

Resident request for first aid training course in South Witham, Cllr Kinning 22-094

SWPC considered the request and agreed that it would like to host some further first aid training courses that incorporate defibrillator operation. Clerk to look into courses for SWPC and report back.

Correspondence 22-095 LALC Enews weekly, Lincs Police neighbourhood police newsletter, YMCA June update. LCC Updating Lincolnshire’s Mineral & Waste Local Plan – issue & options consultation & call for sites, consultation 28/6/22 – 12/8/22, Lives Supporters Day 19/7/22, Lincolnshire Showground. Church Street / Church Lane LCC notice of road closure between 1/8/22- 5/8/22, works - removal of railings and posts due to bank slippage. Town & PC newsletter June 22. Reply from G Webb quarry to matters raised by resident, clerk to thank quarry for reply and circ. reply to resident.      

Additional Items 22-096

Cllr Parish advised that the cooker hood has been fixed this month, invoice to follow.

PC agreed that the defunct VH letterbox should be removed, Cllr Oldfield to deal.

Cllr Oldfield had circulated photos of the allotment fencing/ gate work he has undertaken this month.

Decision needed on gate padlocks, Cllrs felt combi locks would be more practical than key locks. Clerk to reimburse Cllr Oldfield for materials, all receipts provided, £500 approx. Cllr Oldfield was then thanked by all for his sterling work.  

Date of next PC meeting 22-097 Tuesday 6th Sept 2022 at 6.30pm  (no Aug meeting ).

Meeting closed at 7.55pm