January 2024 Minutes
Minutes of a Meeting of Deeping St Nicholas Parish Council, held on Monday the 22nd of January 2024, commencing at 7pm in the Primary School on Main Road, Deeping St Nicholas.
Present: D Croyle (Vice Chair), A Croyle, R Jarvis, N Watts, P Barrett, O McGuinness
Clerk/RFO: Mrs A Harrison
In the Chair: D Croyle
11 Public Members
88. Chairman’s welcome and Public Forum.
There were no public speakers as they wished to wait until the agenda item.
89. To receive and approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were approved for Members D Strudwick, L McGuinness and S Levitt, District Councillor J Astill and County Councillors E Sneath and N Pepper
90. To receive Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
RJ declared an interest in a quote submitted by his nephew for the playground repairs at St Nicholas Park.
91. To approve the Minutes of the previous Parish Council meeting.
Moved: RJ
Seconded: AC
It was resolved to approve the Minutes of the last meeting and the Chair signed them as a true record.
92. Matters arising from the Minutes, (not included within this Agenda).
Item 6 Defibrillator – It was agreed that New Road would be the better location and RJ requested that this goes on the next Finance Committee Agenda regarding funding.
93. To receive the Clerk’s report on matters outstanding.
The report had been distributed prior to the meeting with updates highlighted in yellow.
The report was received.
94. Accounts: To receive the Bank Reconciliation and Scribe reports from the RFO and to approve Invoices for Payment.
Reports were received and the Chair signed the Bank Reconciliation and Clerk’s Expenses form.
Payments were proposed by RJ
Seconded by AC
It was resolved to approve payments totalling £4561.70 Net.
One of the payments was for Highways Grass Cutting and residents asked whether the pieces of land where the Police carry out their speed watch, were included as they have not been cut.
Action: Clerk to find out the ownership of the two pieces of land, one near Stonehouse Farm and the other near Poplar Farm, which have not been cut.
95. Finance Committee: To receive the Notes of the recent Finance Committee working party meeting and to resolve whether to approve their recommendations.
The Notes had been distributed prior to the meeting.
Item 4 Matters arising
It was resolved to carry out the recommendation of the FC that the PC applies to the Windfarm for the funding of 6 gates.
Action: Clerk
Resurfacing of the toddler play area in St Nicholas Park
It was resolved to wait for a breakdown of the quotes and to request 50% of the cost through the Wind Farm and fund the surplus from reserves.
Action: Clerk to chase up outstanding breakdown of quotes.
Play Area Upgrades
Looking to obtain £200,000 of funding towards the 4 parks.
RJ proposed.
AC seconded.
It was resolved that the PC pays £1,900 in 3 instalments, (first payment up-front, second payment for on-site visits and final payment upon completion).
Action: Clerk to obtain details from RJ.
Village News Advertising
It was resolved to amend the Terms of Payment regarding Village News invoicing, to add 14 days at the end of the invoice, giving 28 days in total from the advert submission.
Action: Clerk
96. Playing Fields and Bus Shelters Committee: to receive the report of the PF&BS Committee and to resolve whether to approve their recommendations.
A copy of the report had been circulated prior to the meeting.
• Ball wall is free through National Lottery funding provided 20 likes on Facebook (1 for each park)
• Awaiting surveyor’s report regarding the plinth and bus shelter at Littleworth.
• Play area signage estimate £50 for 6 signs, 2 in each park.
It was resolved to go forward with this, with the PC’s email address and the Chairman of the Committee’s phone number.
Action: PF & BS Committee
• Bus shelters in desperate need of cleaning, (leaves and being used as toilets).
It was resolved to go to the press with the plans for the PC’s play areas and AC offered to assist with a press release.
Action: RJ and AC
It was also resolved to invite the gentleman who is getting the funding to attend the Annual Parish Meeting, with large posters of the proposals, along with the local press.
Action: RJ (once a date has been confirmed).
97. Planning Matters: to receive the report of the Planning Committee.
A report was circulated prior to the meeting.
AC added that since compiling his report, application H03-0880-23 has now been approved.
98. Highways Matters: to receive an update regarding a speed reduction in Hop Pole, Footpaths and Community Speed Watch.
Results from the RSP have been received and were circulated prior to the meeting.
• 2 x Archer Strips 8th to the 14th of December
• 41,450 vehicles towards New Road, (Spalding)
• 52,873 vehicles towards Hop Pole, (Market Deeping)
• Only 0.2% of these vehicles were travelling 10-19mph over the 50mph limit.
Their conclusion is that Hop Pole does not meet the criteria for a speed reduction.
PC requested another survey in Easter, but response states ‘no further surveys within the next 3 years, unless the road layout changes or there is an increase in collisions, which LRSP will continue to monitor.’
• PB stated that the figures are roughly in-line with CSW findings.
• Solar panelled road signs – received one quote of £2,250 (ElanCity) per sign, (includes the pole and installation). Awaiting at least one other quote.
o The signs have solar power or can be wired to the electric.
o They will collate data and can be calibrated to project smiley face, thank you, slow down, etc.
o Bluetooth to download data and bi-directional from 300 meters away.
o AC suggested that there should be two interactive signs, one facing each way, and spaced sufficiently far apart that we could use the data gathered at both points to assess any increase/decrease in average speed on that stretch of road.
It was agreed that any more information will be passed on to the Hop Pole residents, via RJ.
PB proposed that the PC write to Lincolnshire Police to get a camera vehicle in Hop Pole.
Action: Clerk
99. Funding: to include existing Defibrillators.
RJ proposed that the PC investigate funding for the defibrillator to go on New Road.
Moved by OM
Seconded by AC
Action: RJ & Clerk
• VHF shop and Hop Pole defibrillators are currently maintained by a gentleman who raises funding for them, but he is struggling.
It was resolved that the PC take over the maintenance of the existing Defibrillators.
• A resident suggested that the PC could ask local businesses to sponsor the defibrillators, and that as a businessman, he would sponsor one.
Action: RJ to investigate the costings.
100. Bus Shelter Cleaners
In the absence of LM, there was no information for this item.
101. To receive an update from the Good Neighbour Scheme.
• Successful Christmas Carols on the Triangle.
o Excess of £100 collected in donations at the Carol Service.
• Chatter Natter at VHF made £36 in donations.
• Will be holding a Coconut Shy at the Village Fete in June to raise more funds.
102. To receive an update from the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
One crime reported: an attempted break in on a car with CCTV footage.
The scheme is still very successful in the areas where it is rolled out.
103. To receive an update from the Gardening Club.
• AGM last week.
o Financially OK
• Will continue with East Midlands in Bloom, to gain the £1,300 funding to cover the cost of plants.
• Aim to keep on top of the Triangle and to develop the top of Harrow Road.
Action: Clerk to ask Parks & Recreation at SHDC for permission to plant Harrow Road.
104. To receive an update from the Friends of Littleworth Station.
A report was read out by the Chair, on behalf of LM. Key points were as follows: -
• Site meeting for Donington station postponed due to interest in the preferred site, Littleworth station.
• Initial meeting with Peterborough for Connectivity funding has taken place.
o Attended by Cllr Sneath – awaiting report.
• The Right Honourable Sir John Hayes is contacting Greater Lincolnshire Local Partnership for a site meeting and funding for Littleworth.
FOLS
• Constitution now in place in readiness to setup a bank account.
o All positions are in place, i.e., Secretary, Treasurer, etc.
• All trustees to progress with funding applications for a structural survey.
• Date of next meeting is early February.
• Sir JH has agreed to be honorary member for the group and is in support of the project.
• Littleworth mentioned in the GLLP 2016 rail study and funding of £8M mentioned.
• Sir JH will also be calling a site meeting with Network Rail for their support.
105. Correspondence.
It was resolved to approve the request from the CTC to use the Triangle for the Village Fete.
It was resolved to sign up to the LALC training scheme for 2024/25 at a cost of £180 for the year.
Moved by NW
Seconded by DC
Action: Clerk
It was resolved to sign the agreement with SHDC for Highways Grass Cutting 2024/25 at £2,429.07 Moved by NW
Seconded by RJ
Action: Clerk
It was resolved not to purchase a lamp for the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Commemorations at a cost of £55, but to look at other options.
Action: Clerk to investigate the requirements for a Beacon.
106. Agenda items for the next Council meeting, set for Monday the 25th of March 2024.
Beacon for D-Day (and other events)
St Nicholas Park resurfacing
Defibrillator Maintenance Funding
HR Committee: Policy Updates
Highways: Hop Pole interactive speed signs
Community Speed Watch
Date for the Annual Parish Meeting
Bus Shelter Cleaning
In Committee: North Sea Camp
There being no report for the final Agenda item, this will be carried over to the next meeting and is included in the list above.
Meeting ended at 20:39