2024 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 1st Oct 2024 at 6.30pm

Present 24-91 Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr P Golding, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr J Oldfield, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White, SKDCllr D Bellamy, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), 2 residents

Apologies for Absence 24-92 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr F Parish (Vice Chair), SKDCllr B Green

In the absence of Cllr Ashton, Cllr Brabbin chaired the meeting.

Declarations of Interest for items on the agenda 24-93 Cllr Brabbin declared an interest in, Planning Matters 24-98, new planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comments, S24/1519, 8 Church St, replacement windows/ roof tiles.

Public Forum 24-94

Two residents in attendance to discuss/ request help with damp problem affecting property on North Witham Rd, resulting from rainwater congregating. Residents had been in touch with LCC several times re. this and the drain has been jetted but problem persists. Photos and information had been shared by the clerk with PC, SKDCllrs and LCCllr Vernon prior to the meeting. Agreed, Cllr Brabbin to raise this matter at 8.10.24 meeting with Flood Assessment officer and to also liaise with LCCllr Vernon to find out what LCC has / may do to fix this.  

Reports from County/District Councillors 24-95

SKDCllr Bellamy advised that SKDC are to replace the swings at the Wild Witham play area pre Christmas. He also confirmed that the planning matter S24/1213, land to North & South of Hill View Rd, 2 new bungalow dwellings with a parking space is to come before the Planning Committee on 17.10.24, with the recommendation for refusal.

To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 3rd Sept 2024 24-96

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 24-97

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly Accounts

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - Oct 2024

Additional payments; MCS VH grass cutting (2 cuts Sept) £340.00, PKF Littlejohn external audit fee £210 plus vat.

PKF Littlejohn has completed the 2023/24 accounts review, couple of items discussed / noted by PC. Clerk had prepared/ displayed the closure notice as required.  

Village Hall, Cllrs Parish & van Straubenzee

VH flat roof / grant application

South Kesteven Prosperity Fund has awarded the roof grant of £7800, clerk has accepted the offer and is in the process of arranging the work with LRH Roofing, with assistance from Cllr Parish.

Other VH matters

Moss in the village hall guttering to be removed by Cllr Oldfield. Cllr Oldfield to produce/display signage above the kitchen taps, to remind hall users not to continuously run the hot water tap as this causes an airlock which results in costly boiler issues.

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield

VH rec play park monthly maintenance

Cllr Oldfield has been looking into Mugas, youth shelters and other various equipment for the VH rec. He is to call a meeting with fellow councillors to explore further, with the aim to draw up three options for the PC to consider, pre. consultation with the village. He also handed over cake bake monies from South Witham Academy £48 approx. Clerk to bank to the Play Project account and send thanks to the school.

LRSP Community Speed Watch Scheme (CSW)

In the absence of Cllr O’Shea, no update on this item, however a request has gone out via SW FB to recruit volunteers for this project.

Planning Matters 24-98

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S24/1519, 8 Church St, replacement windows/ roof tiles - no objections from SWPC.

S24/0568, Sewstern Anaerobic Digestor (AD), additional information noted/ circulated to councillors

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

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused none

Correspondence 24-99

LALC Enews,C & C Direct, LCC Emergency Planning training sessions, SKDC battery collection info, SKDC potential free Xmas car parking, SKDC free defibrillators to Ukraine, Alicia Kearns MP- flooding summit (4 Oct 24 at 12.30pm Careby), Alicia Kearns MP- Pension Credit Campaign, Greater Lincolnshire Devolution information.SKDC defibrillators to Ukraine- 5 donated, SKDC Green Habitats pledge/ Boothby Wildland,LCC Town & PC newsletter Sept.

Additional Items 24-100

Cllr van Straubenzee advised that following the accident on Church Lane, damaging the posts along Fishpool Dyke, LCC has closed off the job marking as complete but has not replaced all the barriers, at least five are still missing. Clerk to raise this with LCC and LCCllr Vernon.

Cllr Kinning confirmed that the village firework event to raise funds for the Play Project is once again taking place at the village hall on Sat 2 November. She has sent out requests to local businesses for financial support and is in the process of sorting out her team and refreshments for the evening. Cllr White offered a £500 donation from the A1 Truckstop. With the ongoing poor weather, it was agreed that Cllr Kinning places a post on SW FB to let residents know that there is now a supply of sand / sand bags located at the allotment site for them to access, to protect their properties from water damage.

Date of next PC meeting 24-101 Tues 5 Nov 2024 at 6.30pm in the small hall of the VH.

The meeting closed at 8pm