2024 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

250/2024 Apologies for Absence

None – all present

251/2024 Representatives Report

WLDC Cllr Baptiste Velan sent his apologies and report - During the Summer, I supported a Scothern resident asking for a disabled parking bay and forwarded the request to County Cllr Sue Rawlins. 

Residents can always contact me if they have any questions or issues.

252/2024 Public Participation.

No public present

253/2024 Declarations of Interest

Received from Cllr Reyner re: item 272/2024 -WL/2024/00726

254/2024 Minutes of last Meeting

The notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11th September 2024 were approved & signed

as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded Resolved

255/2024 Clerks Report

• LALC website management, T Shaw will be taking over the role since the sudden passing of P Langford
• Remembrance Service at St Germains, Sunday 10th Nov, starting at 10.45am at the War Memorial. Road closure request has been submitted to LCC Highways
• The clerk attended online courses -Budget & Procurement Act 2024 via LALC Parkinson Training for an update. New Procurement Regulations (UK Tender guidance) are changing, was coming into force end of October 24 but has now been moved back to Feb 2025.
• Email received from WLDC Neighbourhood Planning Officer asking -Has your PC done any further work on housing needs in the parish which you would like us to know about? The NP does provide some evidence in its supporting text, but it does not have a housing needs assessment report unlike some other NPs. Do you know if the parish council has produced any information/evidence/surveys on housing needs in the parish since the NP Review was adopted? Clerk to reply to say no further work has been produced on the above.
• Andrew Straw has purchased some sand and sandbags which are now available if required and he is happy for the PC to use his contact details for the Hub and will donate them to the village on this occasion.
• Email reply sent the resident re: area of grass on The Green following the council’s decision at the September meeting.

256/2024 Publication Scheme

This was discussed and reviewed – updating of costs for printing of any documents were approved Resolved

257/2024 Bus Service

Information received from PC Coaches Managing Director -currently, in partnership with LCC, they are trying to secure section 106 funding to provide extra bus services to Scothern with 2 possible options. He is happy to come along to a future meeting to discuss and talk to the council. All agreed, clerk to invite him and also invite Cllr Rawlins.

258/2024 Grange Park 25/9/24

a. The groups notes from 16th September were sent prior, and were received with no comments

b. Email received from Barber Farms – to say the fence near the orchard will be repaired this autumn and that they would flail hedge the conifer trees if the council agreed. The clerk to email- that the council agreed but anything damaged would need replacing. The council also agreed not to pursue the fence near the snowdrop bank.

Anglian Water reported that a concrete obstruction that was blocking a pipe on Craypool/Back Lane, has now been removed but have found other faults after sending a camera through  – further work is required to repair these.

3rd Witham Drainage Board agreed to adopt the maintenance of the back several years ago which is for one full cut per year between July and January.

A resident emailed to asked if the streets could be cleaned every month so that the drains don’t get blocked – the emailed was forwarded to Cllr Velan to ask for advice & support. The clerk reported that the drains were requested and cleared last month, and the road sweeper was requested but had not been in the village.

260/2024 Grass Cutting/Maintenance/planters Schedule 2025

The schedule for tenders was approved, clerk to advertise for quotes to be received at the November meeting.

261/2024 Cemetery grass cutting

Email received from a resident to say the grass hadn’t been cut at the cemetery and was looking overgrown. The council discussed this and were reminded that a resident had been cutting the area for several years. Cllr Johnson volunteered to speak to the resident, before the council consider instructing the grass contractor.

262/2023 Play Area

Cllr Atkins sent a brief report from the Annual Inspection prior – overall risk is low but some equipment in need of maintenance – quotes required for the work. Cllr Reyner reported on the SRC meeting regarding the play area and upgrading the old equipment. Cllr Atkins suggested a survey to see what the residents would like to see in new equipment, possibly by scanning a QR code. Questions to be presented at the November meeting.   

263/2024 LALC Training Scheme

No current training requests

264/2024 Highways

Main St footpath (nr Northing Lane) – a resident emailed the council asking for support to extend the existing footpath in the interests of safety for both adults & children. The council discussed this and requested the clerk to forward the email to Cllr Rawlins for her support and request the extension of the footpath to Highways on FixMyStreet.

265/2024 Community Speed Watch

Cllr Creaser sent the monthly speed data report prior. The council discussed the speed device on Dunholme Rd and decided to turn it, to face traffic entering the village.

266/2024 Police

Cllr Canton reported on the recent crime report with no incidents reported in Scothern this month.

267/2024 Conclusion of External Audit Report

The External Auditor Report 2023/24 was received with ‘except for’ matters on 2 sections of the AGAR Part 3 and actions to instructions to take for the conclusion of the review.  The Notice of Conclusion of Audit was placed on the notice board and website on the 28th September 2024 along with the certified AGAR Sections 1,2 &3 for a min. of 14 days. The smaller authority has confirmed that it has not complied with the governance Assertion in Section 1, Box 3 but it has provided the appointed auditor with an adequate explanation for non-compliance and details of the actions necessary to address weaknesses identified.

The fee is statutory and is due immediately on receipt of invoice – the clerk made the payment -24/09/24  Resolved

268/2024 Publication Scheme Repeated 256/2024        

269/2024 Finance

The monthly accounts for payment & the corresponding bank statements were approved

as a true & correct record. Resolved 

270/2024 Emergency Plan

The clerk reported that she is still awaiting permissions from people etc to be included in the plan and requested the initial draft is sent to the LRF to seek advice on some areas that are unsure on. The council agreed – the clerk to forward to LRF.

271/2024 Village Maintenace

The footpath from Church St to Grange Park hasn’t been repaired due to illness, clerk to follow up

8.46pm Cllr Reyner left the meeting due to his Declared Interest, Cllr Johnson took over as Chair for the following item

272/2024 Planning

Ref: WL/2024/00726, First floor garage conversion and alterations. 9 Saxon Fields – Cllr Nicoll mentioned a 5 year Protective Covenant built into housing contracts for properties on Saxon Fields. The clerk didn’t think this was a material consideration for a council to make comments, but the council requested the clerk make enquiries regarding Protective Covenants and approved no comments/objections to be submitted if this was confirmed as irrelevant.

8.52pm Cllr Reyner returned to Chair the meeting

273/2024 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• LALC Training Bulletin 24/9/24
• LALC – 20/9/24 E-news 24/9/24
• LCC Town & Parish September Newsletter 23/9/24
• Central Lincolnshire Design Code consultation 4/10/24

274/2024 Agenda items for next meeting and any updates/points from members    

• Scothern Christmas -Competition, Christmas Tree & lights
• Scothern News

275/2024 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

nothing to be discussed

The date & time of next Council meeting – 6th November 2024 at 7.30pm

The Chair closed the meeting – 8.56pm