March 2021 Minutes

Scothern Parish Council

A meeting of Scothern Parish Council was held remotely on Wednesday 10th March 2021.

Present:   Mrs C Nicoll (Chair), D Canton (DC), R Creaser (RC), J Fotheringham (JLF) and B Patchett (BP)

In attendance:   County Councillor Sue Rawlins and 1 member of the public

Clerk, Mrs L Richardson

32.21   Housekeeping

33.21   External Reports   

a) Police Update, if any incidents to report on – No update 

b) District Councillor Report – No update

c) County Councillor Report – County Councillor Rawlins confirmed that she has received some answers to queries made following the last meeting:

-   Residents have attempted to cut back the hedge on Lime Tree Paddock, however this was not to the back of the footpath as requested.  The Highways officer is going to contact the resident to ask they cut it back further.
-   Resurfacing has not yet been confirmed in the village.
-   Works on Sudbrooke Road footpath, some works expected to the east side before the west side is looked at.
-   LCC looking at better retrieving of non-degradable tree guards after 5 years along the A46.
-   Various potholes have been reported throughout the County; last week alone, 1500 potholes were filled.  New equipment is currently being trialled for repairing potholes.   

34.21   Public Session

No comments made

35.21   To receive applications for co-option onto the Parish Council

Proposed Cllr Mrs Nicoll, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to co-opt Robert Creaser onto the Parish Council. Declaration of Acceptance of Office and Register of Interests completed and signed. Cllr Creaser joined the meeting.
    
36.21   Apologies for Absence:   

None   

37.21   Declarations of Interest (Pecuniary or Non-Pecuniary):

None
   
38.21   Minutes of previous meetings 

Notes of the Council Meeting held on 10th February 2021 – to receive, approve and sign as minutes Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to sign the notes of the last meeting as a true record.

39.21   Update Reports:   

a)   To receive an update regarding the Community Speed Initiative - No update due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions

b)   To update regarding the purchase of a speed indicator signs and erection poles - delivery date of equipment awaited.

40.21   Council Functions:

a)   Playpark – To receive and decide upon quotes for maintenance work required to the play area as stated in the annual play area inspection report

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to earmark £2500 from this years unused budget to pay for the necessary maintenance to the play area (£942.10 play area funds already earmarked and £1557.90 village maintenance surplus).

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to accept the quote from Playdays to undertake the necessary works.  Cllr Fotheringham will liaise with the Clerk to agree works to be carried out.

Action: Clerk and JLF

b)   To review and adopt the Health and Safety policy

c)   Proposed Cllr Canton, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to adopt the reviewed Health and Safety policy.

d)   To review and adopt the Risk Assessment Policy

Proposed Cllr Mrs Nicoll, seconded Cllr Fotheringham and agreed by all to make the following amendments to the risk assessment policy before adopting it:

-   Pages 2,3 and 6 – take out reference to the Clarion and replace with Parish Council website and Parish Council social media site, as the Clarion is not now published.
-   A paragraph regarding the use of BACS payments to be added.

Clerks salary is now paid with a BACS payments not cheque or standing order, this change needs to be reflected within the policy.

41.21   Financial matters

a)   Current financial statement 

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to accept the current financial statement subject to minor amendment to reflect credit note received from Glendale in respect of grass cutting to St Germain’s churchyard.

b)   Invoices for payment to be agreed 

Proposed Cllr Canton, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to make the following payments:

Supplier   Details   Gross   VAT   Net
Multidata (March)   Broadband   38.92   0.00   38.92
Mrs L Richardson   Clerks Salary, broadband/ Use of house as office   469.53   0.00   469.53
Glendale   Village Maintenance   1616.40   269.40   1347.00
Welton Parish Council   Play area Inspections   20.00   0.00    20.00
Mrs P Sargeant   Bus Shelter Cleaning (Q4)   250.00   0.00    250.00
Jacob Fotheringham   Bench Installation/maintenance (Grange Park)    510.00   0.00   510.00
HMRC   PAYE Tax liability   8.20   0.00   8.20
To be paid 1st April 2021
LALC   Annual Membership   256.42   0.00   256.42
LALC   Annual Training Scheme    120.00    20.00    100.00 

42.21   Highways and Maintenance            

a)   Update report

Maintenance to the footpath on west side of Sudbrooke Road needs pursuing with LCC Highways, as it is well used by school students and people walking to the Sudbrooke village shop.  Cllr Fotheringham and the Clerk will contact the necessary department.

Action: Clerk and JLF   

b)   To receive quotes, discuss and take any necessary action regarding maintenance required to the Parish Council car park off The Alders

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to accept quotation from Baypark Construction Ltd for £2175.  It will be requested that this work is undertaken when weather is better to ensure the best chance of the new surface adhering to the existing surface.

Action: Clerk

c)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding residents’ requests to plant trees on The Green

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to allow residents to plant Black morello cherry trees on The Green.

d)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the WLDC litter picking initiative

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to advertise the initiative for volunteer litter pickers.  Clerk should order the equipment packs from WLDC for a village litter pick week commencing 10 April 2021. Information to be posted on website, social media site and parish magazine.

Action: Clerk

e)   To ratify costs of footpath edging around the village

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to ratify the costs of £485 for cutting back footpath edging, replacing £400 agreed at the last meeting.

43.21   Drainage

a)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding drainage and management scheme for:

-   Main Street – noted Third Witham Internal Drainage Board investigating.  No further action is required by the Parish Council at this time.
-   Saxon Fields – Further maintenance work with Anglian Water/WLDC are being investigated.  Queries raised regarding the management group listed in the original application.  The Clerk/Chair will contact the management company direct for further details.
-   Action: Clerk and CJN
-   Craypool Lane – reported to Lincolnshire County Council. 

b)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding drainage issues on Sudbrooke Road

Noted conformation received from Lincolnshire County Council that outline funding available to alleviate flooding issues on Sudbrooke Road and surrounding area. A scheme is currently being drawn up by LCC civil engineers.  No action by the Parish Council is currently needed.

44.21   Planning matters:

a)   142322 – Land to rear of 26 Craypool Lane – Planning application to erect 1no. dwelling and detached garage amendment to existing approval number 138949 – Undergoing public consultation

b)   142339 – Marc Harris Commercials Ltd – Request for confirmation of compliance of condition 2 of planning permission 140275 granted 12th February 2020 – Discuss and submit comments to WLDC Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to contact WLDC planning department to request confirmation that previously imposed planning conditions will be met, ie:

-   sufficient parking will be available on site for all current and future employees,
-   provision for all delivery vehicles including HGVs will be available to enter site, turn round and exit in forward gear to prevent parking on Sudbrooke Road,
-   an acceptable scheme has been agreed for implementation to negate excess surface water from the site being diverted to the surrounding area.
-   Action: Clerk

c)   23 Main Street – Erection of car port to side of property – Discuss and submit comments to WLDC – No comments to make until the application has been received.

d)   To receive an update regarding the planning contravention of the planning application for plot 8 of the Deers Leap, Dunholme Road development – No further information to minute.  Clerk to seek update from District Cllr Waller.

e)   To receive an update regarding the planning contraventions of the planning application 140275 for Mark Harris Commercials Ltd development – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Canton and agreed by all to advise WLDC planning department that whilst Council would prefer the new buildings and fence to be constructed/painted in the colours as per the planning approval document Council would be sympathetic to a planning application detailing the building and fence both to be RAL7031 Blue Grey and the fence height increase from 2.8m to 3m.  Cllr Fotheringham will advise Mark Harris.

Action: Clerk

45.21   Fieldpaths

a)   To discuss any maintenance due to the village field paths - no action needed.

b)   To receive an update regarding maintenance due to overhanging tree on FFP 1025 - noted tree has now been cut down, no further action is required.

46.21   Reports – to receive update reports:

a)   Grange Park (CJN)

-   To receive an update from Cllr Mrs Nicoll

   Update regarding the Councils application for Lincolnshire Co-Op Community Champions – noted application unsuccessful. 
   To receive an update regarding supply/installation of new benches – the new benches have now been installed within Grange Park.

b)   Scothern Recreation Centre and Spirit of Scothern – receive update report – The recreation centre successful in the Co Op Community Champions funding.

47.21   Correspondence

-   LALC – Various newsletters

48.21   To agree to close the meeting to press and public

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to close the meeting to press and public.

49.21   To note completion of the Clerks annual appraisal

Cllr Fotheringham stated that the Clerks annual appraisal has taken place.  No concerns were raised by either party.

50.21   Next meeting

- Wednesday 14th April 2021, 7.30pm, to be held remotely via Zoom   

Meeting closed: 20:58