2025 minutes

Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the village hall on Tues 4th Feb 2025 at 6.30pm

Present 25-01 Cllr C Ashton (Chair), Cllr F Parish (Vice Chair), Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr P Golding, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr J Oldfield, Cllr H White, SKDCllr D Bellamy, SKDCllr B Green, LCCllr C Vernon, Mrs H Sandon (parish clerk), 1 member of the Block Biogas Plant at Gunby Group.

Apologies for Absence 25-02

Cllr L Hughes, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr A White

Declarations of Interest for items on the agenda 25-03 none

Public Forum 25-04 A member of the Block Biogas Plant at Gunby Group thanked South Witham residents and the Parish Council for its support and help objecting to the AD Digestor plant at Gunby. This planning application (ref S24/0568) was refused by the SKDC Planning Committee meeting of the 23/1/25. She explained that it is likely that the applicant will lodge an appeal to this in the next six months and asked SWPC to consider joining up with other Parish Councils namely Colsterworth and Buckminster/ Sewstern along with the CPRE who has been approached also, to fight this as part of a rule 6 group. She also asked the SWPC to consider lobbying Buckminster to withdraw its support for this planning application. Potential March agenda item for SWPC.   

Reports from County/District Councillors 25-05

Cllr Green advised that SKDC has set its 2025 fee / charges for its various services and in particular the annual green bin charges have been set above inflation which he objected to. He also advised that A1 litter clearance will take place overnight at the same time as the A1 carriageway improvement works.The Wild Witham swings are installed and being enjoyed by local children. The Local Government review resulting in a Unitary Council is underway and decisions are being made as to where the boundaries lie. It is hoped this will lead to increased powers for Town and Parish Councils. Cllr Bellamy advised that the Local Plan review has been updated and the target for houses to be built in South Kesteven each year has increased to 890 houses. Cllr Vernon advised that LCC has proposed for its Council Tax to increase by 2.99%. She also advised that there is a lorry watch site to report misuse of weight restricted roads by heavy goods vehicles (HGV) in Lincolnshire. Visit the following link,https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/traffic-management/report-misuse-weight-restricted-roads.Report the name of the road, date and time of sighting(s) and the vehicle registration number.Cllr Vernon reminded that she is looking into “No HGVs” visual signage for Church Lane and has also been asked to look at warning flooding signage for the village, particularly for the High St/ Church Lane junction. She asked that residents report any flooding to their properties to LCC. Ongoing parking issues outside South Witham Academy, Water Lane are being monitored.

To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 3rd Dec 2024 25-06

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; 25-07

Co-option to fill the two councillor vacancies

Heather White was co opted onto SWPC and welcomed by the Chairman, Cllr Ashton. There is still one councillor position unfilled and it is hoped someone may come forward to fill this position.

Clerk to advise SKDC of Cllr White’s appointment and update PC records accordingly.

Financial Matters, clerk

Monthly Accounts

South Witham Parish Council – Financial Statement   - Feb 25

Village Hall update, Cllrs Parish & van Straubenzee

Cllr Parish advised that following the alarm going off randomly of late, she has displayed various phone numbers in the village hall window, so this may be reported and dealt with promptly. Alarmline had attended/ fixed the problem. Cllrs Ashton, Golding and Parish met with the VHMC to discuss the 2025/26 lease agreement. Discussions took place on options to a) increase the rent or b) the VHMC taking on fully the utility costs - Gas, Electric & Water, as the size of these bills are exceptionally high and cannot be met fully by the Precept alone. It was agreed that the VHMC would look at its accounts and come back to the PC with information on its costs/income stream, to assist in rent negotiations. Cllr Ashton to contact the VHMC to chase up the figures and arrange a further meeting.

Play areas, Cllr Oldfield VH rec play park monthly maintenance

Cllr Oldfield clarified that the Play Project fund target has been raised from 10k to 15k, to allow sufficient PC funding to back any grants applied for. He along with his Play Committee Councillor reps will be meeting and working on several ideas/ costings for equipment, in readiness to put to the village and create a full Play Committee to advance this project.   

Planning Matters 25-08

New planning applications received by SKDC for Parish Council comment

S24/2137, 13, Water Lane, erection of single storey front & side extension- no objections from SWPC.

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

SKDC planning permissions granted/refused

S24/0948, 5 Thistleton Lane, erection of a two storey 3 bedroom dwelling on garden land adjacent to existing dwelling  - application withdrawn by applicant

S24/0905, Land East of Park Farm Access Rd, Morley Lane, Castle Bytham, Appeal to Secretary of State against Council’s planning permission refusal, for removal/ replace timber framed building for use as a dwelling.

Correspondence 25-09

LALC Enews/ training scheme 25/26 info, Rutland & Stamford Flood Forum Summit presentation slides (Oct24), A1 South of Grantham Safety Improvement Scheme (works to take place 20th Jan – mid Apr 25, Mon- Frid 8pm – 6am). SKDC call for volunteers to plant trees in the District (Dec24- Mar25), Invitation to SWPC to join the Rutland Quarry Group, clerk forwarded to Cllr Ashton/ Parish as members of SWPC Quarry Working Group. Rutland Quarry group next meeting date to be requested by the clerk. Alicia Kearns, support during flooding information, LCC Town & PC news Dec/ Jan25, sharing LCC survey on council tax budget proposals (deadline 28/1/25), SK Community Fund workshop in Stamford (23/1/25),Cllr Davies National Highways & Transport (NHT) survey (deadline end of Feb 25) , Leisure SK save a life sessions, free adult CPR / defibrillation training sessions Mar- May25, Cllr Kinning to gauge resident interest for a course via SW FB post. Melton Local Plan partial update (reg19) consultation notification (17/1/25 – 28/2/25), Live & Local information for village halls, SKDC green bin info 2025, Safety of Lithium batteries campaign, UK Parliament.   

Additional Items 25-10 Cllrs Ashton and Parish had met to organise advertising the parish clerk/RFO job as the current clerk resigned mid December, deadline set for applications, 7th Feb 2025. It was agreed that interviews would take place w/c Mon 10th Feb. Cllrs Ashton, Brabbin and Heather White to interview candidates. The current clerk was thanked by all for her hard work over the last 21 years.

Date of next PC meeting 25-11 Tues 4th March 2025

The meeting closed at 8.25pm