2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of Scothern Parish Council

166/2024 Apologies for Absence

Received from Cllr Nicoll with reason - accepted

167/2024 Representatives Report

District Councillor Baptiste Velan sent his apologies and the following report:

• A few residents have had issues with the new planning portal, it was possible to access the new planning portal by asking your browser on your phone to request the website as a “Desktop website”. The documents are all in PDF format to download and they don’t require a MS 365 subscription if the browser can display PDF documents (or they can download any PDF reader app for free).
• Grants from ACRE are available for Village Halls: https://rsnonline.org.uk/acre-reopens-grant-applications-for-village-hall-improvements
• I have had no queries from Scothern residents.
• I have been elected as WLDC representative to Dial a Ride so if there are any queries about the service, please let me know.
• Please share the link to the CIF, https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/communities-safety/grants-funding/councillor-initiative-fund I’d be particularly keen to hear from residents who have projects that can benefit the community.
• I will be in Scothern on Thursday 20 June 2024 at around 10pm to attend the count of the Neighbourhood Planning Referendum as Count Observe

LCC Cllr Sue Rawlins reported:

• Highways are looking at unclassified roads, all in a terrible state.
• Flooding issues – looking at flooding in the village as a whole, all authorities need to work together, Craypool Lane – serious work required from Anglian Water to work together with Highways to get action done.
• informed the council that Highways are to look at unclassified roads as some are in a terrible state and she will be keeping the council updated on the flood reports in the village

168/2024 Public Participation

A resident voiced their concerns about the recent planning applications and wanted to make sure

the village  benefits from any future developments.

Another resident spoke to the council about the old No11 bus, why they had stopped coming through

the village and maybe an idea to work with other villages to get the No11 bus back.

And a resident spoke regarding last year’s bus shelter cleaning contract.

169/2024 Declarations of Interest

None received

170/2024 Minutes of last Meeting

The minutes of the Annual Meeting & the May Council Meeting held on 8th May 2024 as

minutes were approved & signed as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded Resolved

171/2024 Clerks Report

• Clerk attended the Effective meetings course – very informative and a good refresher course
• Scothern Neighbourhood Plan Referendum – June 20th copies of the Neighbourhood plan can be view by residents at St Germain’s Church, Methodist Church, the Village Hall & the Bottle & Glass.
• Lamp of Peace was lit at the village hall for D-Day 80th anniversary
• Lloyds Scothern Parish Council Debit card has arrived
• Parish Council Engagement Session date has been changed to Tuesday 16th July due to the General Election
• Bench on Meadow Close – report from a resident of brambles growing through – this has been cut back but not contractors’ responsibility. Homeowner behind bench, bushes all overgrown – Cllr Atkins to speak with resident

172/2024 Play Park

a.The only quote received for the repair the Chain Bridge and nest swim from Hammer & Nails for £750, this was proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved

b.The play area routine check was received – some issues requiring immediate repair/action, clerk to ask Hammer & Nails to secure springs on balance bar, and to ask grass contractor to remove nettles around entrance gate.

173/2024 Bus Shelters

a.Only one quote was received for the monthly bus shelters cleaning schedule, £80per month from E Matthews.

 This was accepted, proposed seconded & approved. Clerk to email with contract until 31st March 2025 Resolved

b. An invoice from the previous cleaner was received and approved to pay due to no contract/written agreement in the past and that this was not best practice and would be resolved going forward. Proposed & seconded Resolved

174/2024 Bus Surveys

Cllr Johnson presented the data received from the bus survey that was sent out to

all households in Scothern to determine what can be done to increase usage, with

replies from 46 residents (approx. 11%). Clerk to contact Nettleham PC to arrange

a meeting to discuss a bus service and gain their support before submitting data to LCC.

175/2024 Insurance

The insurance has been updated since the May meeting, the assets register was sent to the

insurance company with assets the council required insuring and due to the renewal date of

1st June 2024, all councillors approved the quotation of £400.11 by email. Resolved

176/2024 NALC Financial Regulations 2024

To be added to the July meeting due to still updating

177/2024 Risk Assessment Policy

The policy was reviewed, recommendations noted. Proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved

178/2024 Safeguarding Policy

 The policy was proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved

179/2024 Lloyds Banking

The 4 bank signatories were reviewed & approved, Cllr Canton, Creaser, Nicoll & Patchett. The clerk

to add all 4  members to the Lloyds online bank for authorisation of the monthly payments.

Proposed, seconded. Resolved

180/2024 APM report

       This was attended by 10 residents, LCC Sue Rawlins, WLDC Baptiste Velan and was chaired by Cllr Neville Reyner.

       The main points/issues received from residents -What can children do in the village? Nothing for the youngsters,

       play park area needs updating; tennis court looks a mess & is not used; Grange Park working group – Terms of

       Reference, new members, picnic benches/animal houses/nature; Speed watch volunteers required; and a

       resident thanked the council for everything they do in the village.

181/2024 War Memorial Relocation

       Quotes for the new footpath & hardstanding area were received from Stoneset Resin Ltd, SPGroundworks and

       Wilkinsons Civils. All 3 were discussed and it was approved to accept SPGroundworks £3391.80. The clerk to send

       this to St Germain’s Church PCC for there consideration and approval from the Diocese of Lincoln. Also to contact

       WLDC re: grant funding cost.

182/2024 Council Meeting venue

       The current contract for the meetings in the Methodist Chapel ends in August 2024. The council discussed staying

       in the current venue or moving to the village hall but required more information to make their decision, clerk to

       obtain this and arrange for members to view the village hall room before the next meeting in July.

183/2024 Best Kept Garden

      Cllr Johnson reported on last years competition. It was approved to have the same prizes as last year, totalling £185.

    Garden Containers - prize 1x £35.00, 1x £25, 1x£15 . Decorative Doorways - prize 1x £35.00, 1x £25, 1x£15  

      Best Overall Front Garden prize 1x£35.00   Clerk to ask for sponsorship from local businesses and the council to pay

      the surplus. Also, to purchase prize vouchers from Scothern Nurseries and presented at the Garden Show.

184/2024 Grange Park

1. Terms of Reference -working group members details to be updated.

185/2024 Village Flooding

       No updates/reports

186/2024 LALC Training Scheme 31/5/2024

       Cllr Atkins & the clerk requested approval to attend  the Planning System training included LALC’s core training, this

       was approved and to claim the milage costs.  Resolved

187/2024 Highways

       Nothing to report

188/2024 Community Speed Watch

       The latest speed data report was sent prior to the meeting by Cllr Creaser and the option to turn the device around

       to face traffic entering the village was discussed.

189/2024 Police

      Email received with the latest report was received and noted

• NC07 Specific email 14/5/2024
•  

190/2024 Internal Auditors Report 2023/24

           The end of year report was received with comments noted for the AGAR Annual Audit.

191/2024 To approve the AGAR Annual Audit 2023/24

1. Section 1 Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 was approved and signed. Resolved
2. Section 2 Accounting Statement 2023/24 was approved and signed. Resolved

192/2024 Finance

1. The revised 2024/25 Budget & reserves was discussed and approved Resolved
2. The monthly accounts for payment & the corresponding bank statements were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

193/2024 Village

       Nothing to report

194/2024 Office Equipment

        A steel 2 drawers, lockable filing cabinet for the clerks office, from Viking Direct £45.83 ex vat was approved to

        purchase. Resolved

195/2024 Emergency Plan

      Meeting still to be arranged.

196/2024 Scothern News

      Since the delivery of the May issue to all households in Scothern, a large number of residents have requested to

      receive the monthly issues by email and 24 residents requesting printed copies. The council received information

      on the income & expenditure, with £363 in the account for the Scothern News plus £1000 to be transferred (mins

      192/2024a) and the cost to print each issue. After a discussion, it was approved to print 25 copies each month

      from Pelican Trust- £30pm (any additional copies £1.20each) with no cost to the residents up to December 2024.

      To be reviewed Nov/Dec 2024.

197/2024 Planning

      To receive any decisions and discuss applications received from WLDC -please note new planning portal

       Ref:148087, outline planning to erect 2 dwellings, Land adjacent 7 Main Street.withdrawn by applicant 21/05/2024

198/2024 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• LALC Training Bulletin April 2024 31/5/24
• LALC – 19/4/24 E-news 20/5/24
• LALC Pre-election briefing 31/5/2024
• Parish News 31/5/2024
• WLDC News 31/5/2024
• Update regarding our works- Anglian Water's Strategic Pipeline 31/5/2024
• City of Lincoln News updates 4/6/2024
• Scothern Parish Grass Cutting Agreement – Contribution rate review 7/6/24

199/2024 Agenda items for next meeting and any updates/points from members    

• Clerks 6month review
• Meeting venue

200/2024 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 not required

The date & time of next Council meeting – 10th July 2024 at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church

The Chair closed the meeting at 9.25pm