November 10 2021 - Minutes
NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF
LEADENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Wednesday 10 November 2021, 7.30 pm at Leadenham Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr Melanie Nelstrop (Chair), Cllr G McLusky (Vice-Chair),
Cllr S Locking, Cllr Gary Luff, Cllr Tim Sisson and Cllr Karin Willgoose.
Ruth Keillar (Clerk/RFO)
Also present: DCllr Lucille Hagues (part meeting).
3 members of the public present.
Public Questions: No comments or questions had been received.
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS. Chair Cllr M Nelstrop welcomed everyone to the meeting, the first one face-to-face since 10/03/2020.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
None received.
2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Members of the Parish Council are required to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.
None received.
At the Chair’s discretion, agenda item 10 was taken at this point.
At the Chair’s discretion, agenda item 11 was taken at this point.
19:45 DCllr Lucille Hagues arrived at this point
At the Chair’s discretion, agenda item 5.b) was taken at this point.
3. MINUTES
It was proposed by Cllr T Sisson, seconded by Cllr G Luff and it was RESOLVED that Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 4 May 2021 be approved as a true record and signed as Minutes.
4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
a) Applications received:
i. Planning Application Reference: 21/1550/FUL
Proposal: Erection of 6 no. poultry houses for broiler chicken production (300,000 bird capacity), and associated infrastructure including feed rooms/bins, water and gas tanks, generator, plant room, amenity building, drainage attenuation pond and access alterations.
Location: Leadenham Poultry Farm Land North East Of Glebe Farm Sleaford Road Leadenham.
Comments by 26 November 2021.
The application was discussed and several contentious aspects were noted, including odour, traffic, visual impact, tree-screening, animal welfare, size and potential for further expansion in the future.
It was unanimously agreed that the PC will object to this application and submit a detailed comment to NKDC. An extension to the deadline will be requested to allow time for greater awareness of the application to be circulated within the community. It was agreed that a leaflet drop and posters would be arranged.
Action clerk / all Cllrs
DCllr Lucille Hagues offered to speak to NKDC planning department if required.
ii. 21/1719/TCA. George hotel, High Street, Leadenham.
T4-T10 Lime - Remove Basal Shoots, lift crowns to give a clearance over the access to 4.2m; T8 / T9 Lime - clear buildings by 1.5m; Group X - cut back or remove growth to a point not less than 0.5m from the edge of the car parking area, lift the crowns of trees that overhang the service yard to 4.4m above the finished ground level, lift the crowns of trees that overhang the car parks to 2.4m above the finished ground level. Remove any dead wood greater than 25mm diameter from all trees.
Comments by 29 November 2021.
No comments.
b) Decisions received:
i. 21/1213/FUL – approved 9/11/2021.
c) Planning committee: N/A
d) Street numbering: N/A
5. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
To receive reports from the following:
a) Local Police – click here for information. Police Newsletter – click here.
Police annual Precept Report received and posted onto the PC website with a link to respond.
b) District Councillor (DCllr Lucille Hagues, Cllr M Overton). DCllr Lucille Hagues had no further comments to add to her previously received report. DCllr Hagues reports can be found here
c) County Councillor (Cllr M Overton). Newsletters can be found here.
d) Village Hall Committee. Reports received circulated to all. It was agreed that the PC would not select a Cllr to act as a representative at LVHC meetings.
6. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
a) To receive any updates regarding buses and HGVs and to consider any action required.
It was agreed that revised signage had been installed. Buses were still an issue in the High Street and It was agreed that Cllr M Nelstrop would contact Rowan Smith, at LCC Highways, copying in the Clerk, to request that this issue be addressed.
20:35. DCllr Lucille Hagues left the meeting at this point.
b) To receive any updates regarding the footpath adjacent to the railway bridge and to consider any action required.
The issue continues to be of great concern.
It was agreed that the Clerk would include reference to this in her planned email to SWRA Head Student in due course.
7. PARISH CLERK
To consider the Parish Clerk’s Report:
a) WPD will be carrying out works to replace the pole with underground cabling. Location Parish
Council land adjacent to Hill Top Farm, Sleaford Road. A revised wayleave has been received for approval.
It was agreed that a meeting be arranged to meet the WPD representative on site to discuss the details and to clarify any implications for the proposed Leisure area.
b) CLLP – It was noted that that the Clerk had attended a briefing on 16/08/2021and had submitted a response to this on behalf of the PC, on 23/08/2021.
c) LCC Highways offer of FOC salt packs, to be stored at a designated site, has been declined. It was noted that that this will not affect the slat-bin refill scheme.
8. CORRESPONDENCE.
a) Email received from a member of the public requesting confirmation of the PCs comments submitted re planning application 21 0369 FUL. The Clerk confirmed that a reply had been sent, which included a link to the comments on NKDC planning portal. A query relating to Cllrs commenting as private members of the public, as is their right, had been clarified for the correspondent.
9. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations revised 10/11/2021 after receipt of latest bank statements from Cllr K Willgoose:
The RFO reported balances at 10/11/2021:
a) HSBC deposit account balance as £1,686.79
b) HSBC current account balance as £19,775.45
Total £21,462.21
c) War Stock funds £ 148.13 transferred to the bank account
d) Royal Fund £ 331.80 still to be retrieved.
Uncleared cheques:
Payments received, excluded in balances: N/A
Payments received, included in balances:
b) To ratify payments made between 04/05/2021 – 09/11/2021:
c) To consider any payments due at 10/11/2021:
Item 30. The payee has requested that this be increased by £50-£100 at this time. The PC agreed to keep to the budgeted amount for this payment, £500.
It was noted that the budget is due to be considered for submission by mid-January 2022 and any increases to the Precept to increase S137 payments which affect taxpayers will be considered at that time.
PC laptop – It was noted that this has not been purchased as yet and it is proposed that the Clerk goes ahead with this shortly (update to follow).
It was noted that Royal Fund money still has to be retrieved for audit purposes. An update will follow at the next meeting.
BALANCE OF EXPENDITURE AGAINST BUDGET – TO DATE
TOTAL SPENT
BUDGET
BALANCE REMAINING AGAINST BUDGET
|
TOTAL SPENT |
BUDGET |
BALANCE REMAINING AGAINST BUDGET |
|
6,832.00 |
13,358.00 |
5,686.00 |
INCOME/GRANTS FOR NOTE ONLY
CIL April 2021 £1,904.14 for use up to May 2026. report required by 31/12/21
CIL April 2019 £1,523.25 for use up to May 2024
S137 £8.12 x 327 £2,655.24
d) Insurance for Village Hall due 14 November 2021. Current insurer has re-quoted as follows:
AJG (was Came and Co), via Hiscox 1 year £1,558.11. 3-year LTA £1,482.70 p.a.
Agreed to accept the LTA at £1,482.70.
Reclaim of costs:
LAW 19.3% (invoice for 2019/20 and 2020/21, £734.99 submitted and due)
Bowls Club 3.4% (Treasurer D Dorey has queried the requirement to contribute as no payments have been made for last 3-4 years. Copy of last invoice/payment requested. 2019/20+2020/21 =£129.48).
Village Hall 74.9% (I have asked if the VH management usually contribute this and awaiting reply).
It was proposed by Cllr M Nelstrop, seconded by Cllr G McLusky and it was RESOLVED that the financial report and payments be approved.
10. PARISH FIELD/TREE PROJECT.
i. A member of the Project Group gave a verbal update. It was noted that that the previously circulated plans and timescales will be amended as and when further research takes place. At present the planting will probably take place Autumn 2022.
ii. It was noted that that there is a provisional indication that The Woodland Trust may provide grant funding, which the PC will be required to sign off. It was agreed that the PC will liaise with the Project group to carry out any applications and signing off.
iii. It was noted that that Donations and Sponsors will be sought.
iv. It was noted that that the access gate may be re-instated as and when required.
v. It was agreed that the PC will invite the Project Group to showcase the plans to date at a Public Meeting/Event, to be scheduled for January 2022. This event will encompass the Play Area project (see item 11)
11. PLAY AREA (PA).
a) Monthly reports received.
b) RoPSA report received 24/08/2021. Due to the findings of the report some items of equipment were taken out of public use (17/08/2021, following pre-report alert from the inspector)) as a matter of safety. It was noted that investigation into repair or total replacement of the PA was previously agreed, as noted in the Actions taken under the Delegation of Powers to the Clerk September 2021, item 2.
c) To consider options for replacement /repair and any action required.
Members of the LVHC presented a report, including the following points:
i. The play area is beyond economic repair
ii. A survey/questionnaire has been taken within the community and PA users, to gain full understanding of community requirements and level of interest. This has been very informative and illustrates that there is strong support for a new PA within the community.
iii. Three suppliers have been approached for initial layout ideas
iv. Three quotes have been received, indicating costs of around £60k. the quotes include removal of old equipment, installation, landscaping and warranty cover.
v. Grant funding has been investigated, as an initial stage, to cover costs as far as possible.
vi. It was agreed that the PA project be taken forward and that the principle of a new area is approved.
vii. It was agreed that the PC will make any application and the LVHC will support the application by providing relevant information and any breakdowns of costs, to complete the application as fully as possible.
d) It was noted that CIL grant ringfenced grant available may be used towards the project, depending on other funding availability: (report required by 31/12/21).
CIL April 2019 £1,523.25 for use up to May 2024
CIL April 2021 £1,904.14 for use up to May 2026.
12. LITTER PICKING.
a) Litter picking took place on Sunday 8/11/2021. 8 volunteers covered the Sleaford Road area. 14 bags of rubbish were collected with larger items (e.g. tyres/bathroom fixtures) being reported to NKDC for removal.
b) Annual Litter Report has been submitted to NKDC (06/09/2021), with regard to any grant for 2020-2021.
13. SPEEDWATCH SCHEME / SPEEDING ISSUES
Speedwatch Scheme (CSW).
a) It was noted that that the PC signed up to the LCC CSW Nov 2017.
b) Volunteers are required and training will be carried out (by Zoom), pending the back-log. Some Cllrs expressed an interest in volunteering for this.
c) A hand-held Speedgun device was purchased 2nd hand in January 2020 (must be checked for accuracy prior to use).
d) Other equipment required to be checked with CSW co-ordinator.
21:30 at the Chair’s discretion it was agreed unanimously that the meeting proceed past 21:30 for an additional 30 minutes maximum, in order to complete PC business.
SID Cliff Cluster Scheme.
e) It was agreed that the Clerk pursue details of this to establish the whereabouts of the SID, the schedule and any other information, including posters. It was noted that that the PC paid £260 to Bracebridge Heath PC in August 2019.
Speed sign – ringfenced funds held
f) It was noted that that the PC had previously ringfenced £2,500 (budget 2020-2021, included in Precept request)
Speed/Safety at SWRA:
g) It was noted that a letter has been received from Sir William Robertson Academy regarding Speed and Safety issues, with which the school is seeking support from the PC. (27/09/21) Circulated to all. It was agreed that the Clerk follow up again to ask if SWRA had taken their concerns any further and to ask that they include serious concerns regarding the footpath/bridge to their objectives.
h) To consider any actions required.
Clerk to follow up all of the above and report at next meeting.
14. COMMUNITY ASSET – THE GEORGE PUBLIC HOUSE
a) It was noted that the George Hotel Public House has closed for business. It is not known if it will be offered for sale at any stage.
b) It was noted that the process for applying for any Public house to become a Community Asset is not guaranteed to succeed and that there will be a considerable amount of work and costs involved in the project and future running of such a scheme.
c) It was agreed that this would not be good use of PC time or funds.
15. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING. To consider any items for inclusion in the next agenda.
Cllr K Willgoose requested that streetlighting and potholes be added to the next agenda. It was requested that the Bus Stop be added.
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS.
It was agreed that next meeting of the PC will be Monday 13 December 2021.
It was agreed that dates for 2022 be scheduled as the 2nd Wednesday of the month.
There being no further business the Chair ended the meeting at 21:51.
Chair..........M. NELSTROP.........
Date..........13 November 2021