2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Scothern Parish Council held in the Methodist Church, on Wednesday 8th November 2023 at 7.30pm

In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO)

168/23 Chairs Report nothing to report

169/23 Representatives Reports

a) Apologies received from District Councillor Velan, report sent regarding recent flooding and a few residents made contact with him – he will report back to all. Also, sent a link for residents affected with flooding - WLDC discount in council tax with evidence of flooding

b) Apologies received from County Councillor Rawlins, reported that all flooding information/photos were sent to Highways and she hadn’t heard back re: bus questions

170/23 Public Participation

None present

171/23 Apologies for Absence

Received from Cllr Reyner – reason accepted

172/23 Declarations of Interest

None declared

173/23 Minutes of last Meeting

The Minutes of the Parish CouncilMeeting held on 11 October 2023 were not approved,

Chair requested alterations and will be presented at the next meeting for approval.

174/23 Village Flooding

Emails/reports received from residents were discussed. Main issues: gullies not cleared; village not swept; beck not cleared; Craypool Lane service water/foul sewer; EA not opening floodgates; road not closed causing tidal waves into properties. AW identified problems Craypool Lane & passed to LCC as it’s a big scheme to solve. Clerk to contact residents with report; email 3rd Witham Drainage Board re:beck clearing; email EA for answers Why & what can be done in future; email LCC & WLDC. The PC discussed purchasing sandless Floodsax and due to the urgency of flood prevention, approved to purchase 4 packs (20 in each pack) at £149.89 per pack to be stored in a central village location for emergency use. Update/report on Facebook and possibility of a talk from a National Flood Charity with flooding advice. Link to WLDC discount to be available on website/Facebook.

175/23 Clerks Report

• Cllr Atkins was booked onto the Finance Zoom Course, 7th November, but will be rescheduled as unable to attend
• The clerk attended the Precept & Budget 2023/24 Settings course 30th October, full of information on the process with timings/requirements for WLDC
• Cllr Johnson is booked on the Chairs/Vice Workshop online – Dec 12th

176/23 Public Footpath -FP149

The PC accepted responsibility for the footpath and 2 quotes were received to clear 

 bushes/shrubs/trees, level and seed areas. It was approved to accept the quote from Glendale

for £595.00 + vat. Clerk to check all areas are covered in quote. Cllr Atkins volunteered to

speak to residents adjacent to the footpath to inform them of the PC plans before work begins.

177/23 Play Park

Email received from Playdays regarding broken play equipment (Burma Bridge & Nest Swing) with advice to either remove fully or repair at a cost of £1250.00. After discussion, it was approved to repair the equipment as per quote. Proposed Cllr Atkins, seconded Cllr Patchett.  Also, to get quotes to add more play bark for next meeting.

178/23 Scothern Magazine

Email sent prior to meeting from the Parish Magazine group meeting with a request that the PC produce the magazine and share by email/Facebook/website with hardcopies on requests at a fee. Cllr Nicoll to produce in a new format initially and appeal for interested persons in the future to carry it on. The PC approved the actions: an article to be placed in the December edition: to apply for £250 from Cllr Velan’s Councillor Initiative Fund to enable printing and maintain finance/advertising costs.

179/23 Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan Review

Email sent prior to meeting was discussed and approved to support. Resolved

180/23 Bank Mandate

The bank mandate to add the clerk for online banking was approved and signed. Proposed Cllr Patchett, seconded Cllr Johnson. Resolved

181/23 Grass Cutting Tenders 2024

 The grass cutting specifications were discussed, Cllr Nicoll & the clerk to check the legality to cut the open churchyard and playing field. Tender to be sent out for quotes to be received at the next meeting.

182/23 Highways

To discuss and receive any issues/updates

• Notification of Temporary Traffic Order – Craypool Lane. Clerk to check the exact locations, the reason and if tree has a TPO
• Regarding a request to clear offlets and gulley’s on Main Street and Dunholme Road and jet drains following resurfacing works – completed 31st October 2023
• The cycle path (eastern side) of Sudbrooke Road – no report
• Footpath (western side) of Sudbrooke Road – no report
• To request LCC improve the grass verge at end of Elmdene adjacent to St Luke’s Nursing Home to improve parking in the vicinity – no report

183/23 To receive any updates

a) Community Speed Initiative/Speed Indicator Device – report sent prior to meeting

b) Speed watch – Cllr Creaser has the equipment  & Cllr Creaser the key but no high viz vests.

c) War memorial – nothing to date

d) Police matters  - crime report received

e) Neighbourhood Plan review – Cllr Nicoll & Johnson online meeting, examiner appointed.

f) Bus services through village – still awaiting questions for delivery

g) Christmas tree lighting event – date now 8th December

h) Training Courses – Cllr Atkins informed the PC of a PLAY AREAS - Routine Inspectors course(with EXAM) £175 on the LALC training and that she would volunteer to inspect the play area if attendance on course was approved. Clerk to register Cllr Atkins on the course due to limited numbers & to be approved at the next meeting.

i) LALC Website maintenance service – still a few hours remaining which can carry forward to next financial year

j) HMRC, PAYE payments – issue with an outstanding payment, Cllr Johnson to contact HMRC

k) Scothern Recreation Centre and Spirit of Scothern meetings – no report

184/23 CPR Refresher course

Still waiting for reply from LIVES with available dates for the course

185/23 Finance

a) The 2024/25 Budget was discussed and will be finalized at the December meeting

b) The 2024/25 Precept Estimate was approved as £31,000.

c) The monthly accounts and payments were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed Cllr Creaser, seconded Cllr Canton Resolved

186/23 Village

• Dog bin need replacing Grange Park-Church St

• PAT testing was carried out by Plug Safe Lincs free of charge, clerk to send letter of thanks

187/23 Planning

        Ref:147300 Planning application for the part change of use and extension of an existing barn to

                       form 1no. annexe -Grove Farm Langworth Road Scothern – fully support, no comments

        Ref:147330 to render dwelling –Providence, 26 Craypool Lane, Scothern -fully support

188/23 Grange Park Working Group

         To receive an update from the working groups last meeting and work to the damaged fence Grange

           Park/Barber’s Farm – nothing to discuss

189/23 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• Bus Service 43- new timetable
• WLDC Notice of meetings
• LALC – E-news 13/10 & 27/10
• LALC – Training bulletin October 2023
• LCC Town and Parish Council Newsletter October 2023
• Rural Bulletin 31 October 2023

190/23 Agenda items for next meeting to be received by 6th December 2023

191/23 The date & time of next meeting, Wed 13th December 2023, 7.30pm approved

Meeting Closed 10.15pm