November 2019 Minutes

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

A meeting of Scothern Parish Council took place on Wednesday 6th November 2019 in the Methodist Church, Main Street, Scothern.

Present:   Cllrs Mrs C Nicoll (Chair) (CJN), D Canton (DC), J Fotheringham (JLF), B Patchett (BP) and G Wiswould (GW).

Also Present:   County Cllr Sue Rawlins and District Cllr Bob Waller 

In attendance:   Clerk, Mrs L Richardson

1 member of the public 

151.19   Housekeeping

152.19   External Reports

a)   Police report – Burnt out car in the field on Dunholme Road.

b)   District Councillor Report:

-    by-election took place in Torksey; Conservative held the seat.
-   Full council meeting took place at WLDC where there was a special report on Climate Change. 
-   WLDC is the first council in Lincolnshire to go paperless.
-   West Lindsey Community Awards will take place again next year – deadline for nominations is 6th March 2020.

c)   County Councillor Report:

-   A meeting has taken place with Highways regarding drainage on Sudbrooke Road.
-   A meeting has taken place with Trevor Hines (Highways Officer) and Mike Reed (Area Highways Manager)regarding drainage in neighbouring villages, as well as in Scothern.
-   The Audit committee will sit in two weeks time to review the County Councils general running.
-   The 2020-21 budget has started to be discussed.

153.19   Public Session – Resident requested an update on the drainage issues on Sudbrooke Road.

154.19   Apologies for Absence: None made

155.19   Declarations of Interest (Pecuniary or Non-Pecuniary):  Cllr Patchett declared an interest in agenda item 158.19b.

156.19   Minutes of previous meetings

a)   Notes of the Council Meeting held on 2nd October 2019 – to receive, approve and sign as minutes – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Wiswould and agreed by all that the notes of the last meeting be approved and signed by the Chair.

157.19   Update Reports:   

a)   Future use of BT phone box – To receive an update regarding the production of information boards – Examples of the boards were shown to Councillors. It is hoped to have a finalised copy by the December meeting.

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Wiswould and agreed by all that Cllrs Fotheringham and Mrs Nicoll will look through the drafts and make any necessary amendments.

Action: CJN

b)   To receive an update regarding the 2nd village defibrillator and take any necessary action – Cllr Fotheringham has spoken to Mrs Scott, Ellison Boulters Headteacher; the necessary work cannot take place this financial year due to the finance restraints.  If the electricity is not in place by April 2020, then the location will be revisited.  Agreed by all to remove from the agenda until April 2020.

c)   To receive an update regarding the erection of a bus shelter on Dunholme Road 

Action: JLF

Cllr Fotheringham to continue to monitor. To be removed from agenda as works almost complete.

d)   To receive an update regarding the Community Speed Initiative, including deciding upon a storage unit for the equipment – The latest figures show 9 sessions with 97 vehicles found to be speeding - 2 were recurrent offenders and will receive a police visit. Cllr Canton will look further into providing a secure box.  The maximum dimension of the box needs to be 1 metre by 0.5 metres.  The Clerk will let the Recreation Centre know and Cllr Canton will obtain prices for the December meeting. Arrangements for access to the Village Hall discussed and agreed – Recreation Centre to be advised.

Action: Clerk/DC

Post meeting note: second hand gun cabinet purchased to be located in Village Hall.

e)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding bus services in the village – Cllr Mrs Nicoll has been in a number of communications with Call Connect – no action is currently required.

f)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the review of Council policies and procedures including risk assessment – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to adopt the policies and procedures of Scothern Parish Council.

Action: Clerk/CJN

The risk assessment and GDPR policies will be reviewed in December.

g)   To approve and adopt Health and Safety Policy – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to accept and adopt the Health and Safety Policy.

Action: All

158.19   Council Functions:

a)   Playpark – To discuss and take any necessary action regarding email from Scothern Recreation Centre regarding surplus play area funds held – A process needs to be undertaken in order to obtain the charity money from Scothern Recreation Centre.  Once this has been resolved, the Council will apply as necessary to have the monies paid.  Cllr Mrs Nicoll will keep the Council informed on any updates.

Action: CJN

b)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the boundary of Grange Park and properties to the East – More information needed from resident of one of the properties prior to further action.  

c)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the Parish Council website – Cllr Fotheringham requested his email address be changed.  Cllr Patchett requested his home number be changed.

Action: Clerk

d)   To discuss and take necessary action in relation to the annual Christmas Event – The Christmas tree lights have been PAT tested.  Cllr Rawlins will turn the lights on.

e)   To note confirmation from Sudbrooke Parish Council regarding contribution towards maintenance of grass verges/hedge between Scothern and Sudbrooke – Sudbrooke Parish Council have agreed to contribute towards the costs of the grass verges/hedge between Scothern and Sudbrooke.  

Action: Clerk

f)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding a request from the Parochial Church Council for land in the village for overflow cemetery – The Clerk has spoken to WLDC who have confirmed there is no legal stance for the Council to provide land for a cemetery.  There is also no land in the village to use.  Grant White (WLDC Officer)is looking into this further and will contact the Clerk at a later date.  The Clerk will update the PCC.

159.19    Financial matters

a)   Current financial statement – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to accept the current financial statement.

b)   To receive the budget and precept setting pack from WLDC – Noted as received.

c)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the 2020/21 budget and precept setting – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to accept the 2020-21 draft budget as presented.

d)   To complete and sign the 2020/21 draft precept demand form and submit to WLDC – Proposed Cllr Patchett, seconded Cllr Fotheringham and agreed by all to submit an estimate precept demand of £25427

Action: Clerk

e)   To receive and decide upon a grant request form from Scothern Recreation 

f)   Centre – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Wiswould and agreed by all to pay the remaining balance of the grant request of £471.30 to Scothern Recreation Centre.

g)   To agree increased costs for cleaning the additional bus shelter – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to increase the bus cleaning costs per quarter to £200 with effect from 1st October 2019.

h)   Invoices for payment to be agreed (all excluding VAT where appropriate):- Proposed Cllr Wiswould, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to make the following payments - 

-   Multidata – Broadband charges - £38.92
-   Mrs L Richardson – Clerks Salary including use of home as office and telephone/broadband costs - £461.00
-   Welton Parish Council – Play area inspections - £20
-   Derek Canton – Mileage and speed gun batteries – not claimed
-   Royal British Legion – Remembrance Wreath - £19
-   Play Days – Playarea equipment and maintenance - £3200
-   MAS Seeds Ltd  Grange Park seeds - £50
-   Hallmarque – PAT testing Christmas tree lights- £10
-   Glendale – Grass Cutting - £718.6
-   Scothern Recreation Centre – Grant - £471.30

160.19   Highways and Maintenance

a)   Update report

-   The surfacing footpath on the west side of Sudbrooke Road not included in Lincolnshire County Council Highways 2020-2021 budget.
-   Ellison Boulters School to request that parents/carers do not keep car engines running when parked in the vicinity of the school.
-   Cycle/footpath from Sudbrooke to Scothern is muddy and grass verges are damaged where new rising main is being laid by Anglian Water (AW) contractors.

Post meeting note:  commitment received from AW advising restorative works will be undertaken when new main brought into use.

b)   To receive an update regarding meeting with LCC in relation to flooding matters on Sudbrooke Road 

Noted LCC advised that whilst there is ongoing CCTV work there will be no further works carried out, other than previously advised works adjacent to 10 Sudbrooke Road.

c)   To receive an email from a resident regarding Heath Road and take any necessary action – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to contact LCC to request signs at either end and on both sides of Heath Road “Single track road – no passing places”. 

Also to request and ensure that Heath Road is not used as a diversionary route whilst the roundabout on the A46 is being constructed.

d)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the 2020/21 village maintenance and grass cutting contracts – following review Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to accept grass cutting and ground works schedule as presented. Tenders to be invited as soon as possible. 

161.19   Planning matters :-

a)    To discuss and take any necessary action regarding Community Infrastructure Levy payment in respect of housing development off Langworth Road – Clerk is in communication with WLDC planning department and is waiting further information.

Action: Clerk

162.19   Fieldpaths

a)   To discuss any maintenance due to the village fieldpaths - None

163.19   Reports

a)   Grange Park – receive update report

-   500 wild daffodils have been planted.

b)   Scothern Recreation Centre and Spirit of Scothern – receive update report

-   Various maintenance has been undertaken following receiving the Parish Council grant.
-   £71,284 in the bank.-    New router is needed to enable the wi fi in the building to work
-   Fundraising is going well; Flix in the Stix is still well attended, a fashion show recently held.
-   A drawing of a possible new layout has been drawn up ready to use for grant applications.

164.19   Compliance – none

165.19   Correspondence – for information only

-   LALC – Weekly newsletter
-   WLDC – Pocket parks programme funding information
-   Sudbrooke Parish Council – Re Sudbrooke Road
-   Active Seniors Programme – Cancelled session
-   Scothern Recreation Centre – Email of thanks

166.19   Next meetings 

-   Monthly Meeting Wednesday 11th December 2019 at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Scothern
-   Monthly Meeting Wednesday 8th January 2020 at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Scothern.