2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting                                                                  

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Scothern Parish Council

Present: Cllrs C J Nicoll (Chair), J Johnson, D Canton, R Creaser, B Patchett, N Reyner

In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO) LCC Cllr Rawlins,                 

                           3 residents (1 resident left before item196/23, 2 residents before item198/23)

192/23 Chair’s Report – Welcome Statement was read.

193/23 Apologies for Absence

            Received from Cllr Atkins with reason – proposed and seconded, accepted.

194/23 Representatives Report

             Cllr Rawlins spoke to the PC about the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution proposal from LCC. Flooding – Local

             Resilience Forum best place for information, serious questions were put at the flooding meeting – good

             co-ordination required, lots of section 19 reports needing to be investigated individually.

             Report read from Cllr Velan with his apologies, he’s still working on the flooding casework for

             Scothern residents, he will contact them with updates.

             Police - email sent prior to meeting with data from Gainsborough Rural North & a CBM PC Connor Brandwood

             has been appointed for the area.

195/23 Public Participation 7.44pm

             The meeting was suspended to allow three residents to speak to the council. Two residents spoke regarding a planning application, item 215/23 with proposed planning amendments, and another resident spoke regarding the Parish Magazine changes- the need for older residents to read a hardcopy and the need to advertise local/village events.

196/23 Declarations of Interest 7.55pm

            None received

197/23 Minutes of last Meeting

            The Minutes of the Council Meetings held on 11th October 2023 and 8th November 2023 were approved & signed as true & correct records with an amendment to min183/23b – Cllr Canton has the key. Proposed and seconded Resolved           

Chair proposed to bring forward item 215/23 Planning- approved

         Ref:147597 for first floor dormer bedroom extension in the detached garage roof including two Storey link extension between the main house & garage, balcony and rendering, 8 The Alders – no objections 

         Ref:147640 for 1no. detached dwelling being variation of condition 11 of planning permission 146509 granted 8 September 2023 - to amend the location of the building, Land Adjacent to Stonefield House, 10 Main Street – no objections

         Ref:147522 Application for a lawful development certificate for the erection of buildings to be used for stabling, the construction and use of an arena for equestrian uses and the use of the land for the keeping of horses, land south of 1 Saxon Fields – no comments

         Ref:147330 to render dwelling – 26 Craypool Lane WLDC Granted time limit plus conditions 9/11/23

198/23 Village Flooding

             Emails were received from the Environment Agency & 3rd Witham Drainage Board that were discussed. It was

             approved to ask 3rd Witham Drainage Board to cut/clear the vegetation from the beck twice a year instead of

             the current once. Clerk to contact Cllr Velan to ask for more reports/actions to the flooding and gully clearing.  

             The Floodsaxs have been delivered, once confirmed where these will be located, locations will be advertised.

             Letter to be sent to Cllr Rawlins, requesting that the lead on LCC Environment & Drainage, facilitate a meeting

             with all the relevant authorities and other local councils in the area affected by flooding.

199/23 Clerks Report

• CIF – application for Grant Funding has been submitted to WLDC for £250 to enable any printing of Scothern News hard copies.
• Nettleham Plan Review – no comments, fully support sent to WLDC
• Gendale – public footpath  Cllr Atkins spoke with residents, Glendale instructed to commence work
• Letter sent to Plug Safe Lincs – thanking for PAT testing lights
• LALC Internal Auditor has been assigned – S Knowles
• Christmas Decoration Comp update – only 5 entries, Cllr Johnson will put photos on Facebook to vote by liking best
• Training - Cllr Nicoll attending the Councillor refresher course In February

               - Cllr Johnson has postponed the Chairs/Vice online course

• HMRC - Cllr Johnson & the clerk still trying to sort out the issue,  getting a different answer/reply each call.
• Clerk only collected the Finance File on Monday (11th) and the Bank Change Mandate for Lloyds.

• Clerk had a meeting with the Internal Auditor from LALC this morning. Only got halfway through and will need to arrange for another meeting to complete. A few updates/policies, Suggestion to get a quote for resurfacing the Sudbrooke Rd car park,/and it’s condition, just for information purposes.  Assets register needs updating and putting on website. Cllr Responsibilities Terms of Reference and Councillor & Employee protocol. Full report to follow.

200/23 Dunholme Neighbourhood Plan Review

           Email sent prior to meeting, approved to send no comments & support the review Resolved

201/23 Sudbrooke Neighbourhood Plan Review Consultation

            Email sent prior to meeting, approved to send no comments & support the review Resolved

202/23 Play Park

             Two quotes received, one supply & spread bark, one just to supply. After discussion, decision couldn’t be made,

             clerk to obtain more quotes for supply and spread for comparison.

203/23 Scothern Magazine

            Cllr Nicoll sent the front page of the First Edition to all prior to meeting with a suggestion of name – Scothern

            News, approved. Cllr Nicoll to produce but advertise for new editor. Past advertiser not wanting to continue due

            to being online. Cllr Reyner & Canton volunteered to stay on working group, Clerk to email copies to residents

            that request it monthly. Any resident that would like a paper copy, to request from the clerk or any Councillor.

204/23 Play Park Inspection Training

             It was approved for Cllr Atkins to attend the Play Park Inspection Training with exam for £175 +vat in March

             2024 with the condition Cllr Atkins will take over the play equipment inspections once qualified. Proposed &

             seconded Resolved

205/23 Speed Device Mounting Bar

             The quote was received but after discussion it was decided not to purchase due to the excessive cost of delivery

             for the mounting bar. No further actions at this time.

206/23 Grant Applications

             An updated grant application form was sent prior to the meeting, after discussion and the change of max grant

             available - £5000, it was approved. Proposed & seconded Resolved

207/23 Playing Field & Open Churchyard

             Emails sent prior to meeting with the suggestion from LALC – that each organisation can apply each year

             through the PC Grants Policy and application form. After a discussion it was approved to send an application

             form to both the Recreation Committee and the Church for grant aid to cut the grass in 2024, to be considered

             at the next meeting. Proposed & seconded Resolved

208/23 Grass Cutting Tenders 2024

             Only one tender was received, two other companies replied – one already has a full 2024 schedule and the

             other the workload was too large for them. It was approved to accept the quote from Glendale for £8491.25.    

             Proposed & seconded Resolved

209/23 Highways

• 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 updates
• Craypool Lane – Cllr Rawlins will chase up

210/23 To receive any Councillor Updates

a) Community Speed Initiative/Speed Indicator Device  received - Cllr Creaser sent prior to meeting

b) Speed watch – spare key required

c) Police matters - none

d) Neighbourhood Plan review – need comments agreed by 29th December

e) Scothern Recreation Centre and Spirit of Scothern meetings – Cllr Reyner updated the PC on mole management; ordering of table & chairs; the options of the extension of the outer wall.

f) Bus Service survey – Cllr Nicoll circulated the questions from LCC prior to the meeting- to be added to next agenda

211/23 CPR Refresher course

            Cllr Atkins sent dates of availability from LIVES members to conduct the courses, the clerk had contacted the

            Methodist Church with the suggested dates. The PC approved 24th February 2024, 10-11am & 11-12pm.

            Clerk to contact Cllr Atkins to confirm the date with LIVES. To be advertised for residents in the New Year.

            Proposed & seconded. Resolved

212/23 Office 365/IT

           The IT & 365 package was discussed but further investigation is required, to be discussed at later date once

           new information has been gathered.

Cllr Rawlins & Cllr Reyner left the meeting

213/23 Finance

a) The 2024/25 Budget was approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

b) The 2024/25 Final Precept was approved as £31,000. Proposed & seconded Resolved

Cllr Nicoll left the meeting, Cllr Johnson Chair for the rest of the meeting

c) The monthly accounts for payments were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

214/23 Village

Cllr Creaser updated the council that the dog bin on Grange Park didn’t need changing, and the beck fencing

needed cleaning, councillors decided that a possible working group of volunteers could do it.

216/23 Grange Park Working Group

           Nothing to report

217/23 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• HW Craypool Lane tree confirmation- 21/11/23
• LALC – E-news 24/11/23 -27/11/23
• LALC – E-news 8/12/23  - 8/12/23
• LALC – Training bulletin November 2023- 21/11/23
• LCC Town and Parish Council Newsletter November 2023 -27/11/23
• Nettleham Medical Practice Winter Newsletter – 27/11/23
• Rural Bulletin 21 November 2023- 21/11/23
• Christmas Bus Service Information 5/12/23

218/23 Agenda items for next meeting and to take any points from members    

             (to be received by 4th January 2024)

219/23 To consider the exclusion of the public and press in accordance with the Public Bodies

             (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the items to

              be Discussed

              NALC PAY AWARDS 2023/24 (sent 27/11) approved to accept, Proposed & seconded Resolved

220/23 The date & time of next meeting was confirmed as Wed 10th January 2024, 7.30pm

Meeting Ends – 10.12pm