2024 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 3rd Sept 2024 at 6.30pm

Present 24-79 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr F Parish (Vice Chair), Cllr M Kinning, Cllr J Oldfield, Cllr N O’Shea, Cllr C van Straubenzee, LCCllr C Vernon, SKDCllr D Bellamy, SKDCllr B Green, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), 7 residents

Apologies for Absence 24-80 Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr P Golding, Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr A White

Declarations of Interest for items on the agenda 24-81 none         

Public Forum 24-82

Several Hill View Rd residents in attendance to discuss the planning application lodged, S24/1213, Land to the North & South of Hill View Rd, 2 new bungalow dwellings with a parking space, landscape enhancements to adjacent open space. Residents have lodged their objections / comments prior to the deadline set 16/08/24. Objections raised include inadequate car parking for the proposed dwellings and for visitors, access issues for Emergency vehicle, for the established dwellings the location of utilities is unclear and possibly under the silver birch trees. The Hill View Resident Association has for the last 17 years maintained the undeveloped land and larger area at its own personal expense, including tree maintenance as the developer has failed to do so. Other concerns raised, the road remains unadopted and there is still no street lighting. SKDCllr Green has already called for this planning application be put before the Planning Committee, at which the Resident Association and the Parish Council may attend and comment. LCCllr Vernon to check on rules re. adoption of roads. A resident present wish to ask why road sweeping in the village appears to be only done on one side of the road as seen recently on Water Lane, due to parked cars. It is unclear whether SKDC or LCC is undertaking road sweeping, enquiries to be made to establish and request advance notice of such work, so that residents may move vehicles in readiness. Also concerns raised re. parking outside South Witham Academy in view of the location of the yellow lines and (legal) double parking further up the road where no lines exist. LCCllr Vernon to look into this, clerk to request police spot checks and also to remind the school that parents / teachers may park at the village hall.           

Reports from County/District Councillors 24-83

SKDCllr Green advised that he has 152 signatures on the petition to reinstate the swings at the Wild Witham play area and would like to get this to 300/400 to be considered by SKDC. He aims to leaflet the village and it was also suggested that he contacts the school for further support. SKDC battery collections are due to start w/c 16/09/24. Residents may leave spent batteries along with their rubbish but they must be put in clear bags alongside the relevant bin being collected. SKDCllr Bellamy advised that as part of the SKDC Local Plan review currently being undertaken, the new government have set a target of building 1.5 million dwellings during this parliament or the next five years. This means that SKDC’s new build target has risen from 690 to 912 houses per annum, a 24% increase. LCCllr Vernon in association with Alicia Kearns (MP) is looking at the safety of the A1. There is to be a meeting organised locally for residents to attend, further information to follow. She also stated that many eligible pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit and then also Winter fuel allowance which they would then also be entitled to. Information to be provided to SWPC to get this message out to residents via the usual methods. LCCllr Vernon to attend an upcoming community coffee morning with this and information on fraud prevention too.

To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 2nd Jul 2024 24-84

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

To approve the minutes of the Parish Council Extraordinary meeting held on the 30th Jul 2024 24-85

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 24-86

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly Accounts

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - Sept 2024

Additional payments; MCS VH grass cutting ( 3 cuts Aug) £510.00, H Sandon refund for defibrillator pads £83.99,  Garden Angel- cemetery grass / hedge (3 cuts Jul) £240.00.

Village Hall, Cllrs Parish & van Straubenzee

VH flat roof / grant application

Clerk awaiting response from South Kesteven Prosperity Fund to the grant application £7800 net, submitted for the fibreglass flat roof work, to further chase.

Other VH matters none

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield

VH rec play park – annual Rospa inspection / maintenance

Cllr Oldfield has over the Summer undertaken repairs, painting and cleaning to the various play areas to bring in line with Rospa requirement. He has some further painting to do and was reminded to submit his expense receipts to the clerk for reimbursement. He also advised that he has stopped collecting tin cans, so does not want any further left at his property. Other ideas are being explored to raise further Play Project funds and Cllr Oldfield is looking at dates for a meeting to progress the project. Matt O’Dell has repaired the vandalised skatepark bench and SWPC thanks him for this. Play Project monies total £9765.93, including £500 raised by Natalie Totty from her Hadrian’s wall walk, SWPC is most grateful for her contribution and has thanked her for this. Cllr Kinning requested permission from SWPC to once again hold a firework event on 2/11/24 date tbc, this was agreed.

LRSP Community Speed Watch Scheme (CSW)

PC to vote on undertaking regular speed checks as per the CSW scheme and the purchase of equipment necessary

proposed by Cllr Oldfield, seconded by Cllr Parish and with all in favour and no abstentions,this motion was carried.

To agree lead Councillor

Cllr O’ Shea agreed to take on this role.

To identify four locations of concern and recruitment volunteers for LRSP training

Cllr O’Shea to consider the above and progress with help from the clerk and Cllr Kinning.

Flood investigations, Cllr Brabbin

Cllrs Brabbin and Parish met with a LCC representative regarding SW flood investigations and it proved unproductive as areas SWPC had identified previously were not on the list to look at. Cllr Brabbin has since requested a meeting with Brett Rycroft- Jones, LCC officer in charge of the flood investigations to discuss further.

Future of St John’s Church, Cllr van Straubenzee

Cllr van Straubenzee advised that the current church warden Christal Medcalf and the PCC treasurer Penny Small are both retiring, therefore the PCC Chairman, Alex van Straubenzeeis currently interviewing to fill these roles to ensure that the church may continue. There is an urgent need also for new members of the PCC. Interested residents should contact Alex, email address, . Next church services, Sunday 13th October at 9am, Rev. Sylvia Rice-Oxley and Sunday 10th November at 9am, Remembrance Sunday Service, Fr. Andy Hawes.    

Planning Matters 24-87

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S24/ 1114, St John’s Church, Church St, section 211 notice trees in CA, reduce & reshape Sorbus Aria tree by 20% - no objections from SWPC

S23/2099, 33 High St, demolition of existing outbuilding, erection of 1.5 storey annexe with adj. car port - appeal to the Secretary of State against Council refusal of Planning Permission, no comments

S24/1213, Land to the North & South of Hill View Rd, 2 new bungalow dwellings with a parking space, landscape enhancements to adjacent open space – Cllr Parish to formulate SWPC’s response to this application for PC approval/ submission.

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

S24/1114, 16 High St, section 211 notice trees in CA, to reduce conifer hedge in size by 50% - no objections from SWPC

S24/1448, 5 High St, works to TPO trees, re-pollarding of Willow Tree (T1) to previous points and cutting back of Sycamore Trees (T2 and T3) to boundary by up to 5 metres - no objections from SWPC

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S24/1110, 14 Church St, section 211 notice trees in CA, repollarding & reducing height of various trees – work allowed by SKDC

Correspondence 24-88

LALC Enews, Parliament -Safety of Lithium batteries, LCC Town & PC newsletter (July & Aug), SKDC Local Development Scheme update, Office of Police Crime Commission - Safety Together newsletter, Call Connect Summer promotion/ bank holiday information, SKDC Contaminated Land Strategy, Lincs & Northants – maintenance in Parish by EA/ IDB, SKDC affordable foodhub launches 3 food hub in Lincs, Lincolnshire Minerals & Waste Local Plan consultation (deadline 24/9/24), SKDC PC & Town Council forums 2024, LCC Town & PC news- Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Greater Lincolnshire (deadline 2/9/24), Biodiversity Project Fund- green space improvement (UK Prosperity grant funding), SKDC Proposed Council Tax Scheme Support Consultation 2025/26 ( deadline 30/9/24)

Additional Items 24-89

Request from Distinctive Developments to meet with a PC rep to further discuss the development of Moor Lane land, PC declined the offer.

Date of next PC meeting 24-90 Tues 1 Oct 2024 at 6.30pm in the small hall of the VH

The meeting closed at 8.25pm