2024 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 7th May 2024 at 6.30pm

Present 24-33 Cllr J Oldfield, Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr P Golding, Cllr N O’Shea (new councillor), SKDCllr D Bellamy LCCllr C Vernon, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), 3 South Witham residents, 1 Gunby resident

Apologies for Absence 24-34 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr F Parish (Vice Chair), Cllr C Hodgkin, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White, SKDCllr B Green

In the absence of the Chair/ Vice Chair , Cllr Oldfield chaired the meeting.

Election of Chairperson 24-35

Cllr Ashton was proposed as Chair by Cllr Oldfield, seconded by Cllr Brabbin, with all in favour and no abstentions, Cllr Ashton was elected Chair. To sign the declaration of office as soon as available.

Election of the Vice Chairperson 24-36

Cllr Parish was proposed as Vice Chair by Cllr Oldfield, seconded by Cllr Kinning, with all in favour and no abstentions, Cllr Parish was elected Vice Chair.

Co- option to fill the Councillor vacancy 24-37

One application was received for the councillor vacancy and therefore Nora O’ Shea was welcomed onto the Parish Council, signing the declaration of acceptance of office to take up the position. Clerk to advise SKDC accordingly and update PC records. 

Declarations of Interest for items on the agenda 24-38 none         

Public Forum 24-39 

A Gunby resident attended the meeting to check SWPC was aware of a planning application submitted to SKDC by Future Biogas (owners of Ironstone Energy Ltd), S24/0568, Development East of Sewstern Industrial Estate, South of Sewstern Rd, Gunby, NG33 5RD, erection of an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility and carbon capture, improvement of existing and part creation of new access track, landscaping and other associated infrastructure. This is a large industrial scale gas plant north of South Witham on Buckminster Estate farm land, supplying less than 40% of the 130k tonnes of the input crop, so 80k tonnes will need to be sourced and transported in to the site, affecting surrounding villages with inadequate roads for this purpose. The AD will operate 365 days a year and will be 19 metres tall, so visually impact South Witham and in particular Moor Lane residents, as detailed on the landscape & impact statement. Noise from the machinery blipping on a daily basis will also be an issue. There is a petition against this AD with over 1000 signatures currently, this may be found on the following Campaign Group website along with other useful information, Block_BLOCK (blockbiogasplant.co.uk). Clerk to forward all information to councillors so they may consider the application fully and formulate SWPC’s response. PC to also decide how best to share information with the village, so residents are aware and have the opportunity to comment on the application individually/sign the petition.

Reports from County/District Councillors 24-40

LCCllr C Vernon reported that the quarry application to allow tipper trucks (HGVS) parked overnight on the site to leave South Witham quarry between the hours of 06:00 and 07:00 had been passed by LCC Any subsequent breaches to permissions should be reported to LCC Enforcement Team to investigate / deal. She also highlighted an A1 survey, how to make it safer, set up by Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland & Melton. Survey details may be found at, www.aliciakearns.com/a1-survey, residents to be encouraged to complete this, clerk to circulate to councillors, with Cllr Kinning to add link to SW FB page. Cllr Vernon was pleased with the recent resident interest in the LRSP Community Speed Watch Scheme. She will look into seeing if a local training event may be arranged (clerk to add to June PC agenda).  Church Lane signage is still an ongoing discussion topic in light of lorries recently getting stuck on this lane having ignored the signage. Cllr Vernon has suggested residents report any subsequent incidents on “Operation Snap” if they have dashcam footage for the Police to investigate. 

SKCllr Bellamy thanked the PC for sending in its comments on the SKDC draft Local Plan review.

   To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 2nd April 2024 24-41

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

Clerk’s and Councillors’ reports on; 24-42

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly Accounts

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - May 2024

Additional payments to be made; Electrical installations (Lincs) Ltd, £1580 plus vat, LED lighting works as agreed at Apr PC meeting (£1445 plus vat) with additional remedial work required for satisfactory emergency light testing (further £135 plus vat). MCS VH grass cutting (2 cuts Apr) £340.00, Clear Councils Insurance renewal (prev. BHIB Council Insurance), £1165.41.

2023/24 SWPC annual audit

The clerk had completed the EOY SWPC accounts pack for 2023/24 (AGAR) and all accounting records were now with Mr Andrew who had kindly agreed to perform the internal audit once again. Donation (£30) in lieu of Mr Andrew’s fee to be made to the SWPC Memorial Reserve fund. Accounts to be signed off by SWPC at the 4 June 24 PC meeting and submitted to the external auditor PKF Littlejohn by the 1 July 24.

Village Hall, Cllrs Parish & van Straubenzee

Update on VH matters

Electrical Installations (Lincs) Ltd had undertaken external LED lighting work and other associated works includ. emergency light testing/ repairs as agreed by SWPC. A few minor issues are currently being sorted (rear floods on permanently). Electrical work certificate issued/on file with the clerk. Cllr Oldfield has undertaken the VH pat testing on behalf of the VHMC, to forward a copy of the information to the clerk for PC records. VH flat roof leaking is an ongoing issue. Clerk holds the 25 yr guarantee for materials (dated 16.12.10), Cllr Hughes to assist with investigating how to action the guarantee when the roofing installation company no longer exists, clerk to forward certificate.

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield

SWPC owned rec play park - monthly inspection/maintenance Cllr Oldfield to ask for councillor assistance soon to form a working party to undertake the minor repairs / equipment painting. He also has further can monies to bank £40.Cllr Oldfield to call a meeting with Cllrs Kinning & Brabbin to discuss Play Project aspirations, prior to a village meeting for residents to attend.

Planning Matters 24-43

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S24/0632, 14 Church St, replace existing garden gazebo with one of similar dimensions constructed of redwood timber with a full weatherproof feather edge timber roof – no objections from SWPC

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

S24/0568, Development East of Sewstern Industrial Estate, South of Sewstern Rd, Gunby, NG33 5RD, erection of an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility and carbon capture, improvement of existing and part creation of new access track, landscaping and other associated infrastructure. Deadline for comments 24 May 24. SWPC to consider the application and formulate its response. To also share information with the village so residents may comment on the application also.

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S23/2256, Land north of Moor Lane, outline application for the delivery of up to 9 serviced plots for self-build and custom housebuilding with associated infrastructure (Access for approval only) – permission refused by SKDC

CATEGORY A, LCC REFERENCE: PL/0056/23 / SKDC REF S23/1472,DEVELOPMENT: Location South Witham Quarry, Mill Lane, South Witham, to vary condition 5 of the planning permission S19/0636 (REF S17/0563) to allow tipper trucks (HGVS) parked overnight on the site to leave South Witham quarry between the hours of 06:00 and 07:00– permission granted by LCC

Correspondence 24-44

LALC Enews, Lincs Police Annual Neighbourhood Policing Plan for South Kesteven, Lincs Police & Crime Commissioner election 2/5/24 notices, SKDC Community orchard grant funding, LCC Have your say on Lincolnshire Moves: your voice , your roads, survey deadline 3/5/24 , further extended to 17/5/24, Cllr Kinning to share link to survey on SW FB. LCC Town & Parish Council newsletter Apr24

Additional Items 24-45 Annual litter pick is to be held on Sunday 19 May 24, 10.00 – 12.30pm, meet at VH, refreshments and equipment provided. Posters to be displayed advertising this event, everyone welcome. Clerk to arrange for SKDC to pick up litter bags from the village hall on Mon 20 May 2024.

Other items the clerk has been asked to add to the June agenda – village troughs, SWPC FB page (Cllr Oldfield to forward login info to Cllr Hughes to look at prior), village hall driveway potholes and VH brambles.

Date of next monthly PC meeting 24-46 Tues 4 June 2024 at 6.30pm in the small hall of the VH

The meeting closed at 8.05pm