March 2025 Minutes
Present
Parish Councillors: N Watts, A Croyle, J Mitchell, R Jarvis, D Croyle, S Chappell, S Hall P Barrett
Clerk: A Harrison
3 members of the public
Chairman’s welcome and Public Forum
There were no questions from the public.
99. Apologies: To approve reasons for absence.
Owen McGuinness – resignation.
The Chair read out Owen’s email of resignation, which was due to relocation away from the Parish.
Apologies also received from District Cllrs B Alcock and J Astill
100. Declarations of Interest: To receive Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Member’s Register of Interests.
NW Dog Walking Park (Planning)
AC advised that he has forwarded an updated list to the Clerk.
101. Minutes: To approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 27th of January 2025.
The Minutes were proposed by RJ and seconded by SH
It was agreed to approve the Minutes and the Chair signed them as a true record.
102. Matters Arising: To discuss items from the Minutes which are not included on this Agenda.
There were none.
103. Clerk’s Report: To receive updates on matters outstanding.
Welcome Gates
It was agreed to put the application to the Wind Farm on hold until further information has been gathered.
ACTION: Clerk to find out whether permission is required of Highways.
Bluebell Pub
SC advised that the premises is being used as a Reception for visitors to the site and toilets for the caravans.
ACTION: Clerk to look into whether there is any planning for the site or a license applied for.
RBL
There has been no further update from Mr Branton.
ACTION: Clerk to contact Phil Dilks Deeping branch of the RBL and Parish Cllr at DSJ for advice. (Refer to AC’s 28th Jan email).
104. Finance Matters: -
a. To receive Bank Reconciliations for January and February and for the Chair to sign them.
The Bank Reconciliations were received and signed by the Chair.
b. To receive the Budget Summary Reports.
The Budget Summary Report was received.
c. To approve the list of Payments (separate sheet).
Payment 102 is being returned to the PC
RJ Proposed & AC Seconded.
All agreed to approve the payments.
105. Highway Grass Cutting: To agree and sign the LCC Highway Grass Cutting Parish Agreement for 2025/26.
LM Proposed and NW Seconded
It was agreed to sign the Agreement.
a. To resolve to accept the quote from SHDC for Highway Grass Cutting 2025/26.
NW Proposed & AC Seconded.
All agreed to accept the quote.
106. Planning Matters: To receive the report of the Planning Committee.
AC added that there had been an amendment to the roofline at Chappell Farm
Home Farm demolition has taken place with barns and buildings taken down and concrete broken up.
a. To discuss the PC’s concerns regarding the Ossian Offshore Windfarm Project.
It was agreed for members to look into this individually and respond as they wish.
107. Land Transfer: To resolve to sign the Calthrops T & C of Business re: the transfer of land at Campain’s Lane.
SC and the Clerk have both completed the information request from Calthrops with regards to their money laundering procedure. SC agreed to assist NW with this.
It was unanimously agreed to sign the TOB’s in order to get this matter resolved.
108. Playing Fields Committee: To receive a report or update from the Committee Chair.
St Nicholas Park is now complete.
Finalising the funding for Hop Pole.
Good write-up in the press.
Notice Board on St Nicholas Way is fading – might need some new baize.
AC proposed that it be replaced with cork tiles.
LM seconded
All agreed.
RJ requested a payment of Circa £550 for planning permission for the MUGA at Littleworth.
LM proposed & AC seconded
All agreed.
109. Tongue End Rewilding Project: To receive an update on the project from the Ward Member.
As NM-C was not present at the meeting, RJ advised that he will be meeting Ric Chapman of the re-wilding group, with NM-C on Friday.
110. Highways & Footpaths Committee: To receive a report from the Committee Chair.
NW No meeting and nothing to report.
A16 closed overnight for resurfacing.
Mud is compacted in the drains so there is nowhere for the water to run off.
JM passed an email received today from Cllr Pepper, which stated that there had been no reports received on LCC’s FixmyStreet relating to the state of the road.
JM had written to ask if an inspection had been carried out prior to the diversion.
An inspection was not undertaken prior to the diversion, however as an A road it is inspected regularly.
Extra funding is being made available for highway repairs but only based on reports on a publicly accessible website.
NW stated that he had cleared about a tonne of mud from the road.
ACTION: Clerk to write to all of the farms in DSN – NW to send the Clerk details.
ACTION: All members to report.
a. CSW: To receive a report from the CSW co-ordinator.
PB advised that nothing has happened due to poor weather and lack of volunteers.
Request received from LRSP asking to give advance warning to state when the CSW teams are going out.
ACTION: P Barrett to forward the email to the Clerk.
RJ stated that he has 5 volunteers and offered to work together with PB.
111. Community Groups: To receive reports and updates and to resolve any requests.
a. Good Neighbour Scheme: To receive an update from the Committee Chair.
Police have stated that it is unsafe to put the bench by the bus stop.
RJ is asking LCC advice.
Sue Ryder is supporting future events.
Thanks to AC for the Book Box on New Road which was made using recycled materials and donations.
Looking for somewhere to store chairs and tables to keep them dry.
Some suggestions were put forward for RJ to look into.
i. Village Fete: To receive an update.
RJ advised that plans were coming along nicely with 10-11 stalls already booked in.
Looking for Tombola donations and additional Committee members.
Next meeting will be held on the 15th of April.
b. Neighbourhood Watch: To receive a report.
RJ spoke to advise of Bogus Police Officers operating in the area.
Email received stating that there will be a meeting on the 1st April to discuss priorities – what would the PC like us to prioritise.
RJ suggested drug use
SC Fly tipping
LM Hare coursing
Speeding
ACTION: R Jarvis will request that she attends the next PC meeting or at least the ACM in May.
Gardening Club
Pathway around the sensory garden will be put in this year.
All new planters are now done and others cleaned and planted with daffodils which are looking lovely.
Thanks to NW expressed.
Permission Request: Next year there are plans to put in another path to run along the perimeter approximately 6 feet from the fence. Will be rubber matting with grass to grow through, which will be externally funded.
LM proposed & AC seconded.
All agreed.
Looking for waterers to look after the planters along the Main Road.
No update on the Railway Building.
112. Dog Fouling: To discuss ways to eliminate dog fouling throughout the village.
St Nicholas Park is disgusting.
Report any issues to SHDC as there is a new PSPO brought in and the dog warden can issue fines.
RJ will contact the Dog Warden.
Reports can also be made via the SHDC website: https://www.sholland.gov.uk/reportdogfouling.
113. Emergency Planning: To receive an update on the development of an emergency plan.
RJ advised that he completed all the online information and sent it to the Officer at LCC and is awaiting her response.
ACTION: R Jarvis to forward this information to the Clerk so that it can be sent to LCC from the PC’s email address.
114. Parish Plan: To receive an update on the Parish Plan Questionnaire.
LM advised that they had received NO responses at all from the advert in the Village News (VN).
LM and AC met and a Timeline has been put together with set points.
Print in May – quote in April.
Print the same size as the VN to make it easier to deliver.
Hope to deliver in August for results back in September.
115. Pest Control: To discuss the issue of an increase in vermin near Banks Drove.
LM stated that there is a significant increase in vermin this year, due to the weather and the crops.
Appears to be an increase everywhere this year with vermin and moles.
ACTION: Clerk to contact Environmental Health.
116. Flower Boxes: To discuss the idea of placing flower boxes on bus shelters.
LM suggested that it would make the village look more attractive.
Gardening Club are struggling to find waterers and these boxes would need to be watered up to 3 times a day during the summertime.
Self-watering planters have electric pumps.
It was agreed that there would need to be a separate team to look after them.
The Chair agreed to put something in the Village News regarding this.
20:35 LM left the meeting.
117. Parish Plan: To receive an update regarding the Parish Plan Questionnaire.
Covered under item 16.
118. VE Day/Remembrance 2025: To discuss VE Day 80-year celebrations for the 8th May including Tommy figures.
2 sets have been made by J. Mitchell Engineering with one set kindly donated to the PC and the other set will be purchased by Cllr Harrison and gifted to the Church.
ACTION: J. Mitchell to send invoice to Cllr Harrison, addressed to SHDC.
Cllr Harrison will also be purchasing a number of poppies to put along the Main Road lampposts concentrating on the centre of the village, and the gardening club are happy to put one on every single planter along the Main Road.
It was discussed and agreed that residents can have parties on the Triangle, St Nicholas Park and Hop Pole playing fields and bring picnics but NO B-B-Qs.
The war memorial needs to be cleaned.
ACTION: Clerk to contact J.G. Cross to find out cost of cleaning the War Memorial
119. Annual Parish Meeting: To discuss the Agenda for the APM to take place on Monday the 7th April 2025.
The school is booked from 6pm to 8pm.
All Councillors are expected to attend, although it is not a formal meeting.
First item will be to give out the Pride Awards.
There will be tables setup for the Community Groups to show residents what is going on.
120. Agenda Items: To suggest items for discussion at the PC’s ACM to be held on Tuesday the 27th of May 2025.
Village News Distribution
FixmyStreet Reports
Dog Fouling Update
War Memorial
Meeting Closed at 20:46