February 2025 Minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of Scothern Parish Council
Held in the Methodist Church, Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 7.30pm
Present: J Atkins, D Canton, R Creaser, J Johnson (Chair), C Nicoll, M Unwin
In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk) LCC S Rawlins and 5 residents
25/2025 Apologies for Absence
Received and accepted from Cllr B Patchett
26/2025 Representatives Report
LCC Sue Rawlins reported – the request from the PC for a highways surface water pipe on Craypool Lane and is awaiting a response. The Mayor elections will take place in May. LCC council tax to increase 4.99%. Cllr Rawlins announced she will be standing down in April.
Apologies sent from WLDC Baptiste Velan
27/2025 Public Participation 7.35pm meeting temporarily suspended.
The residents present spoke to the council about the lack of a bus service; flooding in the village – blocked drains & frequency of clearing; the new development planning application on Nettleham Rd – flooding issues, road access, who names the roads.
28/2025 Declarations of Interest 7.50pm meeting declared open, 3 residents left
None declared
29/2025 Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8th January 2025 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
30/2025 Clerks Report
-Cllr M Unwin had returned his Register of Interest and this has been forwarded to WLDC
-The trip hazard at the play area will be completed in the next few months once the weather improves
-The road sweeper was requested and seen in the village
31/2024 Play Area
a. Information from the residents’ survey results were received. A good response and the information will now be used to help obtain the quotes for new equipment, for a future meeting.
b. Quotes to be received for a future meeting
c. Cllr Atkins monthly inspection report was received – stepping stones need removing for safety, slide will be removed in the next month, shackles on the nest swing still haven’t been addressed.
32/2024 Flooding
a. Cllr Unwin circulated a presentation report on the flooding on Grange Park/Church St prior. This was discussed and approved to investigate the pipes under Grange Park, clerk to contact AJET Drainage. Cllr Rawlins to request LCC investigate/jet Church St pipes & gullies.
b. Email from resident re: flooding Grange Park/Church St was circulated prior to the meeting, clerk to reply with details of the PC actions.
33/2025 Bus Shelter Cleaning Contract 2025/26
The future requirements were discussed, and it was decided not to tender for a new contract from April 2025, but to monitor and reassess if required. Cllr Creaser to add the bus shelters to the village maintenance schedule and report back to the council with any issues. Clerk to contact the current contractor with thanks for the last years cleaning contract. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
34/2025 LALC Training Scheme
a. The clerk and Cllr Atkins recently attended planning courses. Cllr Johnson & Atkins both attended Part 1 Communicating with the community and found it very interesting & important. Cllr Johnson has rescheduled the Chairing a meeting training for 7th April.
b. Cllr Unwin is booked on the New Councillor training with LALC. Cllr Johnson & Atkins requested to attend Part 2 Communicating with the community – 14th April, costing £30 each through Breakthrough Training. Proposed & seconded. Resolved.
35/2025 Developing a Communication Strategy
To be added to a future meeting once Cllr Johnson & Atkins have attended Part 2 of the course
36/2025 Highways Grass Cutting Agreement 2025
The updated terms of agreement were approved, proposed & seconded Resolved
37/2025 WLDC Defib Maintenance 2025/26
It was approved to continue with the WL Defib scheme with the new annual fee - £110 inc vat. Proposed & seconded, Resolved.
38/2025 War Memorial
A meeting has been arranged with Draper memorials to obtain new quotes for relocation and cleaning.
39/2025 Highways
A Puffin crossing has been approved for the A158 at Sudbrooke.
Cllr Rawlins has requested a reduced speed limit on Sudbrooke Rd before entering the village.
40/2025 Community Speed Watch
Cllr Creaser reported on the latest speed data through the village.
41/2025 Police
Cllr Canton reported that the Police Engagement session in February was cancelled
42/2025 Finance
The monthly accounts for payment with the corresponding bank statements and bank reconciliation up to 31/01/25 were approved as a true & correct record. Cllr Nicoll & Creaser were nominated to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
43/2025 Scothern Emergency Plan
The plan is now in the next stage, LRF have requested dates available for the key persons of the Emergency Plan to conduct a tabletop exercise to test the plan. Clerk to submit dates
44/2025 Village maintenance
Cllr Creaser reported no current issues
45/2025 Planning
WL/2024/00570 Nettleham Rd development – re consultation on amendments.
The council discussed the amendments, clerk to submit the following, proposed & seconded Resolved:
Scothern PC are pleased that some of their original comments have been addressed in the re consultation however, there are still concerns: The PC is still concerned about the flooding issues, due to the significant surface water in the area and would like to stress the importance to solve the issues as stated in the reports. If the proposal is approved, the PC would like to see the work on the drainage which effects Grange Park and Church Street commenced as soon as possible. The increased number of vehicles still remains a concern, and we support the developers view of no access to the site from the Alders. Concerns were raised over the safety to the entrance of the development and would like Highways to reassess the area- the driveways from Plots 17, 18 & 1,2,3,4 all exit very near to the entrance off Nettleham Rd- there is no footpath to the west side for the safety of pedestrians from the site The PC would like to see a financial contribution to a local bus service and to be included in the 106 Agreement decisions.
WL/2024/00504 Amended application for re consultation, Land to rear of Brinkburn House, 16 Church St – no further comments
46/2025 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
- LALC Training Bulletin 4/2/25
- LALC – E-news 5/2/25
- LCC Town & Parish September Newsletter
- EA Maintenance in your area 5/2/25
- NALC Newsletter 5/2/25
- NALC Chief Executive Bulletin 7/2/25
47/2025 Agenda items for next meeting and any updates/points from members
None received
48/2025 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 discuss
The date & time of next Council meeting – 12th March 2025 at 7.30pm
The Chair closed the meeting at 9.22pm