2025 Parish Council Minutes of meetings

Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.       

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the June Meeting of Scothern Parish Council

Present:  Cllr J Atkins, R Creaser, J Johnson (Chair), B Patchett, S Watt Jones

In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk), WLDC Cllr B Velan and a resident up to 182/2025

179/2025 Apologies for Absence

Received with reason from Cllr D Canton, accepted.

180/2025 Representatives Report

Apologies received from Cllr J Smith and report send to all prior to the meeting.

Cllr B Velan reported on the old RAF Scampton site, which is currently For Sale and WLDC are trying to obtain it back. Various grant funding options now available from WLDC & the Government.  

181/2025 Public Participation

A resident presented her request to make Church St from Sudbrooke Rd – one way and asked for the support from the PC.

182/2025 Declarations of Interest

None received

183/2025 Minutes of last Meeting

The minutes of the June Council Meeting held on 11th June 2025 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

184/2025 Clerks Report

-Outdoor Play Devon Ltd pre-start assessment completed. New play equipment will be installed on Wed 16th of July and no more than 2 days’ work. I have received all the relevant documents from the company -RAMS, Public liability ins and DSB’s of all workers. H & S information received and the SRC have been informed.

-Dunholme Rd planter theft was reported to the police but with no evidence this can’t be investigated. Rudies Roots have been thanked for replacing the plants.

-A First Aid kit was purchased from Boots at a cost of £17 and was paid with the PC Debit Card. The kit was available at the litter picking event, as stated in the risk assessment for self- administering for anyone that required it.

185/2025 Budget and Reserves 2025/26 Review

The Budget & reserves were reviewed and approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

186/2025 Meeting venue 2025/26

Quotes were received from the Methodist Chapel at £27 and SRC at £36 per meeting. Both were discussed & considered, it was approved to accept & use the Methodist Chapel from August 2025-2026 but also to book & use the village hall when wi-fi is required for a meeting. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

187/2025 Grange Park - Trees

a. 2 quotes were received from specialists to survey the trees for their condition and risk management, Arborez Ltd - £600+vat and Watson Lindsey Arboriculture - £425. It was approved to accept Watson Lindsey at £425. Proposed & seconded Resolved

b. Tree Management and Green Spaces Policy was approved. Proposed & seconded Resolved

c. Ian Moore Contracting quoted £500 to remove 2 dead trees. This was approved as it was a safety risk. Proposed & seconded Resolved

188/2025 Grange Park drainage report

The report and video images from Ajet’s investigation works were circulated prior. The pipe has been jetted and cleared with a recommendation -The dyke levels are above the outfall pipe, and we would recommend the dyke is dug out and cleaned. Update received from Lindum Homes – says they contacted WLDC regarding the dyke – ‘they are part of our Biodiversity Net Gain Baseline, and we are required to do some minimal planting within them and are unable to touch them’. LALC has been contacted for advice and the legalities. Clerk to email WLDC with a copy of Ajet’s report and recommendation.

189/2025 Grange Park/Cade Close Fence

The PC were updated on the missing fence plank and reasons why this was removed by a resident. The PC discussed several options & approved to instruct Ian Moore Contracting, £20 per man, per hr  +materials (2-man team) to move the end post ½ metre and screw removed wood back in place to repair. Proposed & seconded. Resolved  

190/2025 Play Area

a. Stage 2 quotes for the new play equipment were received from Outdoor Play Devon Ltd with 2 updated options as discussed. The all-in-one Tower 3 option, with an inclusive roundabout and mini beast maze at a cost of £21,000 was approved as it contained equipment that was voted for on the resident’s survey. Proposed & seconded, Resolved. The option for the swings to be received at the September meeting but for the clerk start the application & apply for the Grant funding from WLDC.

b. The monthly play area report was received, nothing urgent but showing signs wear/old age

c. Annual Play area inspection – 3 separate quotes were received – Nordic Play £595; Sport and Playground Services Ltd £29 per site and RoSPA £110 +vat. It was approved to accept Sports and Playground Services Ltd at £29 per site. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

191/2025 Communication Strategy

a. The action plan/SWOT was approved following recommendations from the working group and to arrange another informal meeting in Sept. A village competition for a new PC logo.

b. A Notice Board was discussed as part of the Communication Strategy, to connect with all residents near Dunholme Rd area of the village. 3 quotes were received, these varied from £815+vat - £1670+vat depending on materials used - wood/metal, from Pelican Trust Lincoln & Prestige Range online. The council approved the quote of £865+vat from Pelican Trust with the option to have one side for residents to advertise/put up notices and to use the CIL money of £547.90 towards the cost. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

192/2025 Scothern News

a. Quotes were requested from Pelican Trust and Visual Print for the cost of 420 monthly copies of A5 booklet style. Only received from Pelican Trust, colour front & back, black inner, 36 pages £253.50, if 40 pages £270.00. Current printing is from Pelican Trust, it was approved to continue to use Pelican Trust, 36 pages at £253.50 per month. Proposed & seconded. Resolved  

b. Cllr Patchett has spoken with the current editor, and they are willing to continue with the help from Cllr Atkins to produce the new style, A5 booklet. The fees for advertising were approved to increase to ¼ page £8, ½ page £12, full page £18 for businesses and non-Scothern groups. Events page free to advertise for Scothern groups/charities, Churches and GP surgeries. Proposed & seconded Resolved

193/2025 Scothern Best Kept Garden Comp 2025

Scothern Nurseries, Paul Maxey has agreed to judge this year’s competition. Total amount from sponsorship received - £175 from Mark Harris, Hammer & Nail, Scothern Nurseries, Bottle & Glass. PC approved to pay the shortfall of £10 from the Chairs Allowance to make the total of prizes £185. The clerk to purchase Scothern Nurseries vouchers for the prizes. Winners to be announced at the Flower & Produce Show in September. Resolved

194/2025 Finance

The monthly accounts for payment and the corresponding bank statements up to 30/06/25 were approved as a true & correct record, bank balance £98,663.90.  Cllrs Johnson & Patchett were nominated to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded. And approved expected payments to be made in August and to be presented in full at the September meeting. Resolved

195/2025 Village maintenance

a. 2 companies were asked for quotes to repair/mend/varnish notice boards at the village hall, Grange Park and near the bus stop but nothing received to date. To add to Sept agenda.

A quote to replace the header -Scothern Parish Council, near the bus stop on Church St was received from Pelican Trust at a cost of £75 was approved and a quote for a Welcome to Grange Park plaque for £95 was approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

b. The quote received from Ian Moore was received with the Grass/Maintenance Tender in November 2024, to clear the beck bed of vegetation to help keep clear and prevent flooding. The quote was still £1200+vat and was approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

c. Quotes to purchase litter picking equipment from Amazon – 6 x bag hoops at £4.59 each = £27.54 were approved for the clerk to purchase using the debit card

d. Cemetery car park – overhanging trees and weeds were approved for Ian Moore Contractors maintenance at a rate of £20 per man, per hr as approved in November 2024.

e. Footpath Grange Park from Church St – rainwater washing over the surface has created an uneven, tripping hazard of rubble which requires urgent repair on Health & Safety grounds. A quote was received from Ian Moore Contractors to remove the rubble & repair with a new hard surface at a cost of £1100.00+vat . As this was urgent and needed repairing before the winter, it was approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

f. Overgrown area and hedge near the Public Footpath sign at Grange Park and weeds/nettles at Play area – the weeds/nettles at the play park will be removed at part of the play contract. The overgrown area and hedge was approved under the Grass cutting/maintenance contract at a cost of £20 per man, per hr. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

196/2025 Grass/Maintenance Contractor

Cllr Patchett and the clerk walked around the village with Ian Moore for a mid-year review as proposed when the contract was approved – November 2024. Cllr Patchett reported back to the council with a 3-year proposed deal from Ian Moore Contractors – this would only change if fuel cost increased considerably. This was discussed, all members happy with the grass cutting/maintenance throughout the village and with the 3-year deal figures received. Proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved

197/2025 Risk Assessments

The Litter Picking and Employee & Council Members General Risk Assessments were approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

198/2025 To receive reports/updates

a. Community Speed Watch – report sent prior from Cllr Creaser

b. Police – latest report sent prior and Police Engagement Meeting in September, Cllr Canton to attend.

c. Barlings Solar Farm, formally Dunholme Solar Farm – a report/update was received from the Project Team, with only 25 residents responding to the public consultation out of 890 sent out, showing 47.6% supported proposals, 33.3% objected and 4.8% had no opinion and 14.3 didn’t provide an opinion. Access will be from the A46. The planning application will be submitted to WLDC this Summer -2025.

d. Village flooding – Craypool Lane still experiencing flooding in heavy rain, resident still reporting to Highways & AW. Cllr J Smith has been updated with all information to chase with Highways.

e. Lindum Homes – West Thorn Grange information sent prior

f. Village maintenance issues – nothing to report

g. War Memorial – St Germains PCC have applied for the faculty to refurbish the memorial and the Rev Lynne happy for the PC to apply for the road closure on Remembrance Sunday, more details of the service at a later date.

h. Bus Service – the increased No.43 service will begin 21st July, time to follow once confirmed but residents have heard the No.11 Call Connect service will be stopping. Awaiting a reply from Highways Transport on this.

199/2025 Highways

a. Cllr J Smith sent a report from Highways with the ongoing issues

b. Highways Group – invitation received to join with other councils in the area to form a Highways group was received from Nettleham PC. The clerk to reply, SPC interested and when a date has been confirmed, a member will attend.

200/2025 Planning

To receive any decisions and discuss applications received from WLDC

Ref: WL/2024/00504 – land to rear of Brinkburn House, 16 Church St.  WLDC – Permission granted

Ref: WL/2025/00670 – to render a gable end, 30 Townsend Farm, Craypool Lane – no comments Resolved

201/2025 LALC Training Scheme

No current requests of training.

202/2025 Grange Park working group

The notes from the groups meeting on 16th June was received and noted. Primrose plugs plants to be ordered beginning of Sept. Yellow rattle quotes to be added to the Sept meeting agenda. The 2 dead trees for removal have been marked and their next meeting is on 22nd Sept at 11am.

203/2025 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• LALC –  E-news 20/6/25  
• LALC AGM & Annual Report 15/6/2025 & 30/6/2025
• LCC Town & Parish Newsletter 26/6/25
• NALC Bulletin 21/6/25
• LALC Training bulletin 1/7/25

204/2025 Agenda items for next meeting (to be received by 3rd September) and any updates/points from members 

• Church St from Sudbrooke Rd – one way request from a resident
• Remembrance Wreath
• SLCC – clerks request to join
• Yellow Rattle seeds quotes – Grange Park
• Tree Survey – cemetery/car park  

205/2025 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 the next Meeting of the Council  – 10th  September 2025 at 7.30pm