2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Scothern Parish Council Minutes of the Meeting of Scothern Parish Council

held in the Methodist Church, on Wednesday 14th February 2024 at 7.30pm

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

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

31/2024 Chair’s Welcome received

32/2024 Apologies for Absence

           Received from Cllr Atkins

33/2024 Representatives Report

           Nothing received

34/2024 Public Participation

           No public present

35/2024 Declarations of Interest

           None received

36/2024 Minutes of last Meeting

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 10th January 2024 were approved & signed as

a true & correct Record. Resolved

37/2024 Village Flooding

1. Emails received from AW and a resident were discussed. Nothing from LCC or 3rd Witham Drainage Board. After discussion, it was approved to send letters to Sir Edward Leigh, LCC chief executive, 3rd Witham and the Environment Agency stating all the facts, issues, concerns & questions of residents and S19 investigations.

Cllr Patchett informed the council that Andrew Straw is happy to be a hub for sandbags, to store and distribute to residents in flood situations. A tonne of sand costs about £45 and bags 90p each. Cllr Patchett to check costs and number of bags. Proposed & seconded, approved. Also, Cllrs Patchett, Johnson and the clerk to put an Emergency Plan together with details for residents – sandbags/Floodsaxs with contact details.

2. Craypool Lane issues – no further information, keep asking for answers to resolve the issues.

38/2024 Scothern Emergency Plan

Cllr Velan was seeking information from LCC on how to proceed with a village emergency plan

but no information to date.

39/2024 Clerks Report

• Public footpath near the Alders, onlu one half has been cleared, the contractor stated they were only asked to clear half and quoted £75+vat to remove shrubs from the other half but asked the council to look at 'hacked' birch tree and let them know what the council would like doing with it. Quotes for next meeting
• Play Equipment Training – LALC with issue invoice & receipt after the event
• Sudbrooke PC will approve the invoice for verges at their March meeting
• Emailed received from a resident regarding a public footpath across the fields from Scothern to Nettleham, stating that it hasn’t been maintained in the larger field which starts directly after the bend in the road when exiting Scothern towards Nettleham. The field is still in a ploughed/uneven condition. The email has been forwarded to LCC Countryside Access.

40/2024 Play Park

Two quotes were received to remove and replace the Burma Bridge, but no quotes were received to

repair it. After discussion the council decided not to replace at this present time due to the Recreation

Centre’s plans to extend the village hall and decided to wait until the extension plans were finalised.

Play bark chips, 10m3 - Two quotes received to supply & install and one to supply only. After a

discussion and concerns over insurance if councillors volunteered to install the play bark,

Cllrs Creaser, Patchett, Johnson abstained from voting and Cllrs Reyner, Canton & Nicoll voted

in favour of EKM Ltd £1350 +vat to supply & install. Resolved

41/2024 Lloyds Bank

The council agreed to apply for a credit not debit card as approved in mins 11/2024b

42/2024 Assets Register

The clerk requested an assets register showing the PC Assets of £32,629 as stated on the 2022/23

audit but no  copy has been located. This is required to be up to date for the insurance & annual

inspections of all assets at net cost with location. Cllr Nicoll to search and complete for the March

meeting.

43/2024 HR Terms of Reference

This was approved after one correction made. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

44/2024 Grange Park Terms of Reference

This was approved, proposed & seconded Resolved

A Memorial Bench & Tree Policy to be discussed at the March meeting

45/2024 LCC Budget and Council Tax Proposal 2024/25

Received with no comments

46/2024 Community Speed Watch

The January Speed data report was circulated prior to the meeting and 4 keys have been obtained

free of charge for the Community Speed Watch equipment.

47/2024 Scothern Neighbourhood Plan

Information received from the SNP working group -Examiners Report for checking. With the

correction of 2 names, the examiners recommendations were approved by the group.

48/2024 Grange Park

The quotes below were received and approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

a. To repair and re-position small notice board for £218 J Fotheringham

b. To plant four trees, supply stakes, ties and rabbit guards £130 +vat Glendale

c. And to supply and install tree protection to the 4 new trees £244 J Fotheringham

49/2024 War Memorial Repositioning

Cllr Nicoll reported on the site meeting with the DAC with recommendations for the relocation of the

war memorial – a footpath, raised surface and picket fence. £6500 grant funding approved from

WLDC until March 2025. Drapers memorials asked to revisit for quote. PC to obtain quotes for the

footpath as not part of WLDC grant and apply for grant funding from Star Energy for £5000.  

50/2024 Community Clean up Events

Emailed received and discussed but due to regular litter picking, advertising not required at the moment

51/2024 Christmas Tree Lights

The payment for £45.99 for 720 LED Superbright light for the village tree after the

failure of the existing lights in December 2023 was approved. Proposed & seconded Resolved

52/2024 LALC Annual Subs & Training Scheme 2024/25

1. The annual subs of £281.96 to be paid 1st April 2024 was approved Proposed & seconded Resolved

2. The annual training scheme at a cost of £125 +vat was approved Proposed & seconded Resolved

53/2024 Training Bulletin

Cllr Nicoll requested approval to attend the Emergency Planning & Resilience Day course in April,

this was approved with lunch/refreshments at £12.50. Cllr Johnson to attend the Chairs Zoom

workshop in March due to unable to attend the previous course booked. Resolved

54/2024 Bus Service Survey

To be added to the March agenda

55/2024 D Day Celebrations 6th June 2024

Email received & discussed, it was approved to purchase a Lamp of Peace for the village to be lit on

6th June and any other days of Remembrance, at a cost of £55 inc p&p. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

56/2024 Highways

Sudbrooke Road – footpath western side & cycle path eastern side were reported on Fix my street for

repairs,  -Highways response – we’ve assessed the condition and whilst it has deteriorated, it does not

require further action. Cllr Nicoll to forward email to the clerk from 2 years ago from highways stating

the condition and report. Elmdene grassed area – to be reported on Fix my street, requesting a hard

surface to allow vehicles to park where the grass is currently churned up and muddy.

57/2024 Police

 To receive any information or correspondence for discussion

• Monthly report for the NC07 area- received & noted
• Parish Council Engagement Session on Road Safety – Cllr Canton requested to attend
• LWL Parish Council Engagement Session - Thursday 4th July 2024 – Cllr Nicoll requested to attend
• Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership – information received and to be placed in Scothern News

58/2024 To receive any Councillor Updates

Scothern Recreation Centre and Spirit of Scothern meetings – Cllr Reyner reported on the meeting- purchased tables & chairs; the defib light confirmed responsibility and any future works to the PC; need planning permission & builder for refurbishment; a program for events list.

59/2024 Finance

The monthly accounts for payments & the corresponding bank statements were approved as

a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

9.53pm Cllr Nicoll stated that she was resigning as chair

Cllr Johnson (Vice) closed the Meeting at 10pm