March 2025 minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the March Meeting of Scothern Parish Council
Held in the Methodist Church, Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs J Atkins, R Creaser, J Johnson (Chair), C Nicoll, B Patchett, M Unwin
In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk), Cllr S Rawlins LCC, Cllr B Velan WLDC & 4 residents (all left 52/2025)
49/2025 Apologies for Absence
Receive with reason and accepted. Resolved
50/2025 Representatives Report
LCC Cllr S Rawlins – will take list of ongoing issues in Scothern to her meeting with Highways on 25th March before stepping down as the County Councillor in the area. LCC council tax increase 2.99% min.
WLDC B Velan – had received an update on the current issues in Scothern from a meeting with the clerk. Agreed to fund a trophy for the SRC Flower & Produce show through his CIF.
51/2025 Public Participation Meeting suspended at 7.38pm
The landlord of the Bottle & Glass spoke to the council about his plans for a village shop in the garage behind the pub and whether the council thought it would be successful, used and worthwhile to the village, possible Farm Shop, no alcohol or cigarettes/vapes, just groceries and fresh produce.
52/2025 Declarations of Interest 7.45pm Chair opened the meeting
None received
53/2025 Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 12th February 2025 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
54/2025 Clerks Report
-Had an enquiry from a gentleman whose father had requested his ashes were scattered in Scothern beck. The clerk enquired with the ICCM (Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management) - you can scatter ashes but should have the landowner’s permission, but a lot of people don’t and scatter them anyway, and there is not a lot you can do about it. The gentleman was sent this reply.
-New residents on The Alders – to receive the latest Scothern News & a Welcome to Scothern Leaflet
55/2024 Flooding
-Cllr S Rawlins email was received regarding work on Church St, Vicarage Lane and Sudbrooke Rd (from Church St to Main St) to be completed by the end of March, investigating, jetting, measuring and repairing the pipes.
-Still awaiting meeting with Ajet to obtain a quote to investigate/repair the drainage pipes across Grange
56/2025 Meeting Dates 2025/26
The monthly meeting dates were approved as the 2nd Wednesday of each month but no meeting in August Proposed & seconded Resolved
57/2025 Great British Spring Clean
Information was received for this year’s Spring Clean event, the council approved to participate on the 5th April, to include small village maintenance – cleaning/overhanging branches etc. Clerk to request equipment from WLDC and to advertise for volunteers in the village to join in and help.
58/2025 Chemical Spraying/Weedkiller
Emails from 2 resident’s regarding the use of chemicals & weedkiller throughout the village was received and discussed. The clerk obtained some answers to these questions from the new grass contractor, the clerk to reply to the residents, thanking them for their concern, and that the contractor has guidelines to follow for the health & safety of all residents and it will be monitored.
59/2025 Pub is the Hub
The council discussed the information received from The Bottle & Glass and think it would be a great idea to open a village shop, positive comments received by residents on Facebook and fully support the landlord in his venture. Would like to be kept updated on the developments.
60/2025 Tesco Mobile
The clerks mobile phone is out of contract and will be increasing in April to £7.95pm. The council decided to keep the monthly cost at £7.50pm and for the clerk to purchase a sim only deal for 24months at this price. Proposed & seconded Resolved
61/2025 War Memorial
Quotes were received from Draper Memorials, a specialist company to renovate/relocate the war memorial. The first quote for £5800 - to renovate, rotate but keep in current position on a new larger base, a new gate with the possibility of steps from the footpath. A second quote to relocate, renovate to the front of the village hall for £9800.
Following a phone call from WLDC Community Manager, the grant funding could be reset and to make sure that the funding wasn’t lost, the payment would need to be sent before 31st March but would need returning if the project wasn’t fulfilled. More details to follow from WLDC. Both quotes were discussed in detail and it was approved to go with the first quote of £5800, to keep in St Germains Churchyard. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
The clerk to send all details to the PCC to obtain a faculty from the DAC and to update WLDC of the council’s decision.
62/2025 Highways
Dip in Sudbrooke Rd – Cllr Rawlins to add to her list
63/2025 Community Speed Watch
Cllr Creaser sent the speed data prior to the meeting
64/2025 Police
Monthly police crime data email circulated prior to meeting
65/2025 Finance
The monthly accounts for payment with the corresponding bank statements and bank reconciliation up to 28/02/25 were approved as a true & correct record. Cllr Nicoll & Patchett were nominated to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
66/2025 Scothern Emergency Plan
No updates
67/2025 Village maintenance
Cllr Creaser circulated the latest inspection report of the village/council assets with no current issues
68/2024 Play Area
a. Cllr Atkins one more site meeting arranged a play company and only 2 quotes to date. To add to future agenda.
b. Cllr Atkins reported on her recent play area inspection, no urgent repairs but still outstanding – nest swing shackles
69/2025 Grange Park
The meeting notes from the group were received and noted.
a. Quotes were received to purchase 2kg Yellow rattle seed, but further information from the group – not required until the Autumn. New quotes to be obtain at a later date
b. to purchase sharp sand and freezer bags – required in the Autumn same as seeds, obtain new quotes at a later date
c. Quotes received from 3 companies to purchase 150x Primrose plug plants. Boston seeds £165 +£5.99p&p, Wildflowershop £365 +£7.95p&p, Meadowmania £168.98 +£5.99p&p. It was proposed & seconded and approved to purchase from Boston Seeds for £165 +p&p Resolved
d. Information on broken rail & post fence -west side of Grange Park near Cade Close was received, clerk to obtain quotes for the April meeting.
e. The clerk met with the owner of Barber Farms to discuss issues raised by the group. The Leylandii belongs to Barber Farm, it forms a boarder with Grange Park – he hopes to trim this back later in the year. The panelled fence and overhanging trees – he has posts to put in place to straighten the fence & repair it, the group can cut any overhanging trees/branches. The rail & post fence near the snowdrop area – the council agreed not to pursue it in October 2024.
The notice board – will be assessed & quotes to retreat will be obtained for a future meeting.
70/2025 LALC Training Scheme
No current training requests
71/2025 Planning
No planning decisions received
72/2025 Lindum Homes – Nettleham Rd Development 7pm
The meeting at 7pm was attended by 9 residents. Mark Foster explained the WLDC planning procedures and that no planning permission will be granted until a legal agreement has been approved for S106 payments. He answered & explained many questions raised. Residents raised the following – flooding & drainage, unkept ditches in the North & East, housing mixes and Biodiversity. S106 payments to benefit the village? Bus service – lack of. Who will name the new roads? How will construction traffic enter & leave the village?
The council would like to create a working group of council members and residents, to meet again with Mark Foster to work through the points raised, then to bring to a PC meeting for discussion & consideration. The clerk to contact Mark Foster for his available dates.
73/2025 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
- Central Lincolnshire Design Code 27/2/25
- LALC – E-news 25/2/25
- LCC Town & Parish February Newsletter
- WLDC Council Agenda 3 March 25 25/2/25
- WLDC Parish News Newsletter 1/3/25
- WLDC Community Projects 1/3/25
74/2025 Trees – safety cut Sudbrooke Rd from National Grid email received, proposed & seconded to approve permission Resolved
75/2025 Agenda items for next meeting and any updates/points from members none
76/2025 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 – 9th April 2025 at 7.30pm
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on the 9th April 2025 at 6.45pm before the April meeting
The Chair closed the meeting at 9pm