2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

A meeting of Scothern Parish Council was held remotely on Wednesday 14th April 2021 at 7.30pm.

Present:

Cllrs Mrs C Nicoll (CJN)(Chair), R Creaser (RC), J Fotheringham (JLF), B Patchett (BRP)

In attendance:

County Cllr Mrs Rawlins, District Cllr Waller and two members of the public.

Clerk, Mrs L Richardson

51.21   Housekeeping

52.21   External Reports   

a) Police Update – Nothing received

b) District Councillor Report – District Cllr Waller reported:

-   Current Covid-19 figures nationally are 48.1/100,000, Lincolnshire is 48.2/100,000, 60 plus group in Lincs is 10.8/100,000 and WLDC is 9.9/100,000
-   Mark Harris planning contravention – the planning contravention investigation is still ongoing.
-   Deers Leap planning contravention – Planning Officer is liaising with the new owner.  If this is not resolved in the near future, legal action may be taken against the owner.  Further correspondence detailing this will be sent to resident/Deers Leap.
-   Fly Tipping is a national problem, 976,000 fly tipping incidents have been dealt with over the last year by the Local Authority – a 2% increase from the previous year.  Considerable expenditure by WLDC noted relating to fly tipping; further actions are being explored to try and reduce the number of incidents.

c) County Councillor Report – County Cllr Mrs Rawlins reported –

-   Cllr Rawlins will investigate an issue of a resident being turned away at the Market Rasen recycling centre where confirmation email had not been printed.   
-   The cut-off date for remote meetings is currently the 6th May 2021, objections to be discussed by Government on 19th April 2021.
-   Auditors have stated that County Councils should hold at least 5% of their money as reserves.
-   The A46 roundabout is on course to meet published deadlines for opening.  A resident has asked if drivers will be encouraged to turn up Heath Road from the round-a-bout to get to Scothern.
-   Lateral flow tests are currently available in the County for Covid-19.
-   County Councillor Richard Davis, (portfolio holder for Highways) has confirmed that  the upcoming budget will be interrogated to see if any work can be undertaken on the Sudbrooke Road footpath.  This is currently a resource issue.

53.21   Public Session

Smoke nuisance around the Abbots Way/Deers Leap area.  It has been confirmed by Scothern Nurseries to the residents that the smoke is from their biomass burner.  District Cllr Waller will contact WLDC departments to ascertain if there regulation contraventions.  Information to be forwarded to Cllr Waller by residents. To be added to Parish Council May agenda.
   
54.21   Apologies for Absence:

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to accept apologies and reasons for absence from Cllr Canton.   

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

None.   

56.21   Minutes of previous meetings 

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

57.21   Update Reports:

a)   To receive an update regarding the Community Speed Initiative

Following information received from the Road Safety Partnership the Scothern speedwatch group is again working.

b)   To receive an update regarding the purchase of a speed indicator sign and erection poles, including the purchase of pole clips.

The new speed sign has been delivered; the poles have been installed. The sign will be erected as soon as possible. Reimbursement of cost of pole clips agreed.

c)   Playpark – To receive an update regarding the maintenance of the village play area

Quotation from Playdays has been accepted and work will be completed as soon as possible.

58.21   Council Functions:

a)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the village litter pick

Several volunteers gave up their time to help pick up litter around the village.  Three couples have also agreed to carry on this work on a permanent basis.  WLDC has agreed that supplied equipment may be retained to continue with litter picking.  A note will be added to the Councils communication platforms to thank volunteers for their time and efforts.

b)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the future of remote meetings – following information received from NALC and LALC

Current legislation to hold remote meetings expires on 6th May 2021 to when face-to-face meetings should resume.  Noted High Court hearing on 21st April 2021 to determine the future of remote meetings, following objections from Local Government.

c)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the Annual Parish/Annual Parish Council meetings

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to hold the Annual Parish/Annual Parish Council meetings remotely on Wednesday 5th May 2021.

d)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the annual Volunteer Community Award

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all not to make a Community Award this year in light of the restrictions, due to Covid-19 that have been in place over the past 12 months.

e)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the best garden competition

Proposed Cllr Mrs Nicoll, seconded Cllr Fotheringham and agreed by all to hold the best garden competition this year, judging will commence in May 2021. Parish Council will discuss a monetary donation towards the prizes at a later date.  The Clerk will advertise on all communication platforms.

59.21   Financial matters

a)   Current financial statement

Cllr Creaser abstained from discussion relating to the 2020/21 finance, as a new Councillor and not having input to financial matters.

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to accept the 2020-21 financial statement.

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to accept the 2021-22 financial statement with an adjustment to include two payments previously resolved for LALC annual subscriptions.

b)   To note the submission deadline for the 2020-21 Annual Audit

Noted the submission deadline for the 2020-21 annual audit is Friday 2nd July 2021.

c)   To appoint an internal auditor for the 2020-21 Annual Internal Audit

Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Patchett and agreed by all to appoint Bridget Solly as the 2020-21 Internal Auditor.

d)   Invoices for payment to be agreed

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

60.21   Highways and Maintenance

a)   Update report

Cllr Fotheringham confirmed the following:

-   Heath Road tarmac edge repairs have been undertaken.
-   Dunholme Road tarmac edge repairs have been undertaken.
-   Church Street potholes have been filled.
-   Road repairs from Scothern to the Langworth train crossing have been undertaken.

b)   To discuss and take any necessary action regarding the work undertaken by Western Power on Heath Road

County Cllr Rawlins will take this matter up via LCC Highways in relation to remedial works to the grass verges.

61.21   Drainage

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

-   Saxon Fields

This matter has been referred on Lincolnshire County Council and Third Witham Drainage.

-   Craypool Lane

County Cllr Mrs Rawlins will investigate this further with LCC.

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

Plans are currently being drawn up.

62.21   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 – Granted

b)   142339 – Mark Harris Commercials Ltd – Request for confirmation of compliance of condition 2 of planning permission 140275 granted 12th February 2020 – Undergoing public consultation

c)   142517 - 23 Main Street – Erection of car port to side of property – Undergoing public consultation.

d)   Councillors were contacted to enable comments to be made before the meeting, all Councillors indicated support of this application. It is noted however that no individual Councillor or the Parish Council indicated to the applicant that this application was supported prior to the submission.

e)   142676 – Chesterwood, 30 Main Street – Planning application for external timber cladding new doors and windows and other internal alterations – discuss and submit comments to WLDC – Proposed Cllr Fotheringham, seconded Cllr Creaser and agreed by all to support the application.

f)   To receive an update regarding the planning contravention of the planning application for plot 8 of the Deers Leap, Dunholme Road development – See District Councillor report – no action currently required by the Parish Council.

g)   To receive an update regarding the planning contraventions of the planning application for Mark Harris Commercials Ltd development – See District Councillor report – no action currently required by the Parish Council

62.21   Field paths

To discuss any maintenance due to the village field paths - No action needed

63.21   Reports – to receive update reports:

a)   Grange Park

-   Nothing to update since last meeting.

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

-    Reopening on 21st June 2021, providing the restrictions are lifted as necessary.
-    The produce show will go ahead, providing restrictions are lifted as necessary.
-   A £1000 grant from iGas has been received
-   £2096 lockdown grant from WLDC has been received
-   Spirit of Scothern – provisionally planning to restart Flix in the Stix in September 2021

64.21   Correspondence – for information only

-   LALC – Various newsletters
-   NALC and LALC – Information regarding the future of remote meetings

65.21   Next meetings – Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council meetings – both to be held on Wednesday 5th May 2021 to allow the meetings to be held remotely.

Meeting closed :  20:52