The Chairmans Annual Report 2022/23 was presented at the Annual Parish Council meeting on 8th March 2023
Chairman’s Report
Scothern Parish Council - Annual Parish Meeting
8 March 2023
My report each year tries to cover the most important issues within Scothern, apologies if I have not included the issues that are most important to you, however, Parish Councillors are always willing to talk to residents about specific issues and councillors do have specific areas of responsibility see https://scothern.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/.
2023 is the year that all councillors (Parish and District) must be elected as our term of office comes to an end naturally after four years service. If you are interested in becoming a councillor, you can get more information from WLDC website or talk to an existing councillor.
We have welcomed Neville Reyner as a new councillor since the last Annual Parish Meeting, he is rapidly “finding his feet” within Council and will be a valuable asset.
The email addresses for all councillors and the Clerk will be changed imminently as a directive has been issued by our governing bodies that “personal” email addresses cannot be used. This is in the interests of security. Details of this change, when effected will be published via social media, parish magazine and noticeboards.
Highways Matters
Cllr John Fotheringham has continued with the portfolio for highways matters around the village.
The big scheme to improve the drainage on Sudbrooke Road was completed in September 2022 and the work seems to have improved the situation greatly. I have not heard of any problems. The scheme “hit” the County Council budgets by some £850,000! The work was undertaken over approximately five months and apart from some early issues which were manifested these, I believe were kept to a minimum and the contractors and Lincolnshire County Council were anxious to keep disruption to a minimum.
A major problem at the present time is flooding on Craypool Lane at its junction with Back Lane and Council is pursuing this with both Lincolnshire County Council and Anglian Water to reach a resolution.
Dunholme Road/Main Street (from Heath Road to Sudbrooke Road) has been resurfaced and although several gullies on both Dunholme Road and Main Street seem to be blocked, the overall result is very much improved.
John has worked tirelessly with LCC to improve road surfaces, footpaths, cycle path to Sudbrooke, hedges, etc throughout the patch. I am sure the residents would wish me to thank John for his work.
Currently the Parish Council is campaigning for:
Improvements to drainage Craypool Lane/Back Lane
Blocked drains and gullies throughout the village to be cleared.
Improvements to the cycle path between Scothern and Sudbrooke.
An extension of the speed limit on Heath Road.
Improvements to the footpath on the western side of Sudbrooke Road.
Any issues in relation to highways matters; streetlights out, potholes, poor parking, overhanging trees, etc can be reported to Fix my Street (https://fixmystreet.lincolnshire.gov.uk). Doing this brings LCCs attention to the problems quickly (and when done by residents seems to get a better response) - the more times an issue is reported the better!
Public Transport
Public Transport continues to be a source of frustration to the Parish Council and residents. Council has continued to campaign for a much-improved service to that currently available. However, should we succeed in achieving this then it is most important that the service is used as the “use it or lose it” phrase will apply. As an opportunity for residents to indicate what kind of a service would be beneficial, we have representatives of WLDC and LCC present, these representatives are here on a “fact finding” mission. It is important that we look forward and not backward during this session.
Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP)
The outcome of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan will shortly be known. The proposal for Scothern includes an additional 94 properties to be built over two developments on Dunholme Road (53) and Nettleham Road (41).
The Parish Council and many residents have made representations against this development and Scothern Parish Council was represented at the Planning Inspectorate’s Hearing held in Lincoln at the end of last year.
Scothern Neighbourhood Development Plan (SNDP)
The SNDP is nearing its final stages and will shortly be submitted to West Lindsey District Council for examination. There will then be a referendum sometime in the summer when residents will have the opportunity to vote to accept the Plan. There will be those amongst you who will remember this from the SNDP which is currently in place.
The plan has been written assuming the two developments detailed above will go ahead, this will mean that SPC can have an input into the development(s). If one or both developments are removed from the CLLP then parts of the SNDP will need to be re-written!
War Memorial
The plan to move and renovate the War Memorial is continuing and there are several “hoops” to jump through but there is hope that the work will be completed in time for this year’s Act of Remembrance.
Grange Park
The Grange Park management group (John Good [chair], Melanie and Steve Tointon and Cathie Nicoll) continue to oversee the park and carry out minor works. Planting during the year has included 500 English bluebells. A tree is to be planted to mark Queen Elizabeth IIs reign – this has been delayed due to the dry weather conditions last year.
Recreation Centre
Cllr Fotheringham sits as a liaison member on the Scothern Recreation Centre committee and regularly updates the PC on activities of both. The Chairman of Scothern Recreation Centre will be presenting a brief report.
Finance
SPC has subscribed to internal audits by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC) which gives an interim audit of processes and methods and a final audit at the end of the financial year.
The interim audit was carried out in December 2022 which raised no specific issues but there were recommendations which SPC has implemented.
SPC aims to keep increases in the Precept request as low as possible and for the financial year 2023/24 is less than 3%.
The Parish Council will continue to meet the cost of grass cutting at St Germain’s Church and the Recreation Centre field and surrounding areas.
Cemetery, Sudbrooke Road
Mark Harris Commercials continue to maintain the cemetery on Sudbrooke Road resulting in a considerable saving to the parish and creating a respectful and peaceful haven. On behalf of the Parish Council and residents of Scothern thanks are offered to Mark.
Speed Awareness Initiative
The Speed Awareness Group in the village must be thanked (you know who you are!) for the contribution to road safety in the village. There are now three Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) in the village located permanently on Dunholme Road, Sudbrooke Road and Main Street however the Main Street SID initially had some “data download” problems. The SIDs record speed both coming into and leaving the village. Some phenomenal speeds have been recorded; information is downloaded and forwarded to the Police.
Cllrs Derek Canton and Robert Creaser both work very hard on the initiative supported by other volunteers. More volunteers are needed to help with the speed guns, if you are interested, please do get in touch with Derek or Robert (or any of the other councillors/volunteers), equipment and training (via Lincolnshire Police) is provided. Three members of the group are needed at any one time and this “mini” group goes out for about an hour each time.
Best Garden Competition
The Best Garden Competition was held during 2022, well done to all those who received awards. The new judges in 2022 had a difficult task in choosing the award winners as there are many beautiful gardens in Scothern. Thank you judges – hope you will run the competition again this year.
Live Christmas Advent Calendar
Jane Johnson aided by the Clerk (and Richard) ran the Live Christmas Advent Calendar this year and there were some wonderful Christmas windows. Thank you to those who took part and making the “trail” a success.
Photographs were taken of all the windows and published in the Parish Magazine during February/March! It is amazing the ideas that participants come up with. Jane has indicated she will lead on this again this year with some new ideas – I wonder what she will come up with!
Christmas Tree Event
The annual “switch on” event of the village Christmas tree lights at the school happened in 2022 and the tree was supplied and decorated by the Straw family, thanks on behalf of village residents are offered. The tree is located on the grass outside the school; thank you for allowing this and providing the electricity for the lights. Clancy Docwra (Anglian Water partner) provided the flood lighting which helps to make the event a great success. The school children participate and sing beautifully.
Clerk
Laura Richardson who had been Clerk to the Council for approximately seven years decided to relinquish this post in July 2022 and a new Clerk was appointed and started in September. Unfortunately, due to personal issues this new person had to offer her resignation and terminated in January of this year. Thank you to both.
A new Clerk has been appointed and will commence on 13 March 2023. Contact details will appear on the village notice boards, website, FaceBook page and Parish Magazine.
Thanks
In closing this report, I should like to offer my thanks to County Councillor Sue Rawlins, District Councillor Bob Waller who will be standing down this year and especially all Parish Councillors for their support and efforts throughout the year to make Scothern a good place to live.
Cathryn J Nicoll (Mrs)
Chair - Scothern Parish Council
8 March 2023