December 13 2022 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF
LEADENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Tuesday 13 December 2022, 7.15 pm at Leadenham Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr Melanie Nelstrop (Chair), Cllr G McLusky (Vice-Chair), Cllr N Johnson, Cllr G Luff, Cllr K Willgoose.
Ruth Keillar (Clerk/RFO)
Also present: 0
0 members of the public present.
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS. Chair Cllr M Nelstrop welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Apologies had been received from Cllr S Locking and Cllr T Sisson, reasons accepted.
2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
Cllr K Willgoose declared an interest in agenda item 5 b) iii/iv.
3. PUBLIC FORUM. No members of the public were present.
4. MINUTES
a) It was proposed by Cllr M Nelstrop, seconded by Cllr G Luff and it was RESOLVED that Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11 October 2022 be approved as a true record and signed as Minutes.
b) It was proposed by Cllr G McLusky, seconded by Cllr K Willgoose and it was RESOLVED that Notes of the Extra-Ordinary Meeting held on 25 November 2022 be approved as a true record and signed as Minutes.
5. PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
a) Applications received for November meeting – for information only, due to November meeting being cancelled:
i. 22/1520/FUL. Proposal: Erection of five dwellings and garages
Location: Field House Farm Sleaford Road Brant Broughton.
Comments by 25 November 2022.
ii. 22/1332/TCA. Description of works: T1 Acacia - remove dead branches, remove lower branches to height of 4m above ground level, remove ivy growth; T2 Conifer - remove branches on east side to height of 4m above ground level overhanging garden of no:47a; T3 Ash - remove lower branch on south side overhanging garage on Newark Road
Location:The Gables, 53 High Street, Leadenham.
Comments by 24 November.
b) Applications received for December meeting:
Cllr K Willgoose left the meeting at this point.
iii. 22/1304/HOUS. Proposal: Erection of new detached double garage, formation of parking area to front, new vehicular access and erection of new gates
Location: 51 High Street Leadenham Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 0PN.
Comments by 18 December 2022.
iv. 22/1305/LBC. Proposal: Erection of new detached double garage, formation of parking area to front, new vehicular access & erection of new gates.
Location: 51 High Street Leadenham Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 0PN
Comments by 18 December 2022.
It was agreed to submit a comment with no objection to the application, pending any concerns which might be raised by the Tree Officer and to the land height issue.
Cllr K Willgoose returned to the meeting at this point.
v. 22/1673/VARCON. Proposal: Application to vary condition 17 (approved plans list) of planning permission. 19/1084/FUL (erection of 7 no. dwellings, including relocation of pub car parking area,
conversion of pig sty building into bin store and formation of pedestrian access) to
enable the erection of a carport to Plot 7
Location: Land To The Rear Of The George Hotel Main Road Leadenham LN5 0PN.
Comments by 30/12/2022.
No comment.
vi. 22/1724/TCA
Description of works: T001 Sycamore - Reduce to a totem circa 5m high and retain as a
wildlife habitat. Location: The Gables, 53 High Street, Leadenham.
Comments by 28/12/2022.
No comment.
iii. To consider any comments to be submitted to NKDC regarding the ‘King’s Meadow’ site and arrangements for the footpath. (note that no revised application has been received).
c) Decisions received:
22/1386/HOUS 3 Post Office Yard Leadenham – approved 29/11/2022.
d) To consider the adoption of POS land within the development of ‘King’s Meadow’ properties off Main Street.
It was agreed that the PC will not adopt this POS land.
6. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
To receive reports from the following:
a) Local Police – click here for information. Police Newsletter – click here.
b) District Councillor (DCllr Lucille Hagues, Cllr M Overton). District news – click here.
c) County Councillor (Cllr M Overton). Newsletters can be found here.
d) Village Hall Committee. No updates to report.
7. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
a) Reports re Buses and HGVs – new reports from a member of the public are regularly received, with thanks. It was agreed to keep this item on the agenda.
b) Footpath adjacent to the railway bridge. No updates were available.
It was reported by Cllr M Nelstrop that farm owners adjacent to the bridge had been requested by LCC Highways to cut back growth. It was agreed that LCC Highways be contacted to ask for action in cutting back and clearing the footpath.
8. PARISH CLERK
To consider the Parish Clerk’s Report:
a) Police Quarterly Priorities questionnaire received and circulated to all (04/11/2022). Response drafted by Clerk and returned.
Priority 1 – Some Visible Neighbourhood Policing
Priority 2 – Active and meaningful presence at Parish Council Meetings, ideally once per six months (one of which should be at the Annual Parish Meeting)
Priority 3 – Assistance with parking issues, specifically attendance at the primary and traffic issues in the High Street.
b) LIVES, defib pads – update: first responder has been out to check your defib today and has noted the pads are due to expire in December (picture submitted).New adult electrodes (pads) are £49.40 plus VAT plus £3.95 plus VAT for postage. Due to be installed in December.
c) To note that a copy of the Church grounds maintenance costs has been provided by the Organiser, in support of the donation of £525 (chq 101526, 11/10/2022).
d) NKDC litter picking vehicle got stuck and caused some damage to the Playing field, around 24/11/2022. NKDC has apologised and committed to make good the damage, proposing to fork/lift the ruts and to lift/reseed the section where the van got stuck.
e) PC elections, taking place in May 2023. LALC are holding a training course in February, date tbc. Cllrs are reminded that their membership ceases on 9 May 2023. Deadline for applications is 4 April 2023. Cllrs are able to obtain packs online and by post (which may attract a charge) and all applications must be submitted in person to NKDC.
f) LALC Clerk’s Networking day attended 07/12/2022. It was noted that new model contracts are in work, to bring the document up to date and will be available in due course. Civility and Respect Pledge – all PCs are asked to consider adopting this and it will be added to the next agenda.
g) Website analytics are now available to view on the website.
9. CORRESPONDENCE.
a) Email received from a member of the public regarding the vegetation growth adjacent to and owned by the school, blocking light from the streetlight located there. (12/12/22). Circulated to all. The Clerk has supplied an additional Tree surgeon contact to the school as they have stated that they are struggling to get the issue attended to.
b) Email received from DCllr Lucille Hagues (12/12/22), expressing confusion as to why the previous meeting (08/11/22) did not take place. The Clerk would like to record that cancellation was emailed to all Cllrs and DCllrs at 18:36 on 07/11/22, stating that the meeting was cancelled due to ill health. DCllr Lucille Hagues emailed the Clerk that evening expressing clear annoyance at this, and the Clerk reminded her that the cancellation had been circulated over 24 hours in advance.
10. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations as at 04/11/2022.
The RFO reported balances as at 04/11/2022:
i. HSBC deposit account balance as £23,300.04
ii. HSBC current account balance as £3,713.45
iii. Royal Fund £331.80.
Payments received, included in balances
NKDC Litter Grant. £91.14
LAW contribution £286.16
Bank charges: Maintaining the account £8.00, plus £1 per cheque.
b) To ratify payments made between 12/10/2022 – 10/12/2022:
c) To consider any payments due at 13/12/2022:
*n.b. see item g) below.
Balance of expenditure against budget to date:
INCOME/GRANTS for note only
CIL April 2019 £1,523.25 for use up to May 2024. report required by 31/12/21.
£1,499.01 is now ring-fenced to use as a third-party contribution for the FCC grant application 5093. This leaves a balance of £24.24 to use up to May 2024.
CIL April 2021 £1,904.14 for use up to May 2026. report required by 31/12/21.
CIL October 2022 £2,503.82 for use up to May 2027. report required by 31/12/21
Ringfenced for SID £2,500.00
Ringfenced for election costs £1,500
S137 £8.12 x 327 £2,655.24
d) Insurance. Leadenham Village Hall Insurance, from Hiscox Insurance Company Limited for the period from the 14th November 2022 to the 13th November 2023.
A 3 year LTA was agreed last year, expiring 13 November 2024.
Last years premium was £1,482.69.
This years premium is £1,554.32. The increase of £71.63 is explained as being index-linked.
To note that the payment was made by the LVH on behalf of the PC and that this will be refunded, £1,554.32.
e) Grass-cutting Scheme – update. From April 2023 this will become a rolling agreement, with no need to re-sign annually.
It was agreed to adopt the rolling agreement.
f) To note that the Precept request for 2023-24 is due for consideration at the next meeting and final submission in /January 2023 (date tbc).
g) To note that NALC payscales for 2022-23 has been released. Increases will be backdated to 1 April 2022.
h) To note that the External Auditor for 2022-23 has been appointed and remains as PKF Littlejohn. To note that the PC is likely to fall into the higher level, incurring costs, in due course.
i) To note that Mrs H Reeve has requested that the PC consider an increase in the donation to the Church Grounds maintenance, which was increased last year by 5% to £525. The total cost is estimated to rise to £1,700. This year was budgeted as £1,500, actual cost £1,335.
j) To note that Mrs H Reeve has requested that the PC consider a donation to the upkeep of the clock. No estimate of the proposed costs is available.
k) Precept info received 12/12/22.
It was proposed by Cllr G Luff, seconded by Cllr M Nelstrop and it was RESOLVED that the statement of accounts, payment made and to be made and the increased rate/backpay for the Clerk be approved.
11. PARISH FIELD/TREE PROJECT
An update had been received from the Project Leader; confirmation has been received that the application to the Woodland Trust ref the Parish Field has been successful and that the woodland Trust would like to use the PC scheme as a case study.
Reports have been received that horses are being led diagonally across the field; confirmation has been sought from NKDC and LCC regarding any right of way on this area and the official map shows the recognised right of was as along the side boundary (see map). Further action will be considered once 100% definitive response has been received from LCC.
Right of way
Route used by horse
owners
12. PLAY AREA.
a) Monthly reports received.
b) It was noted that the picnic benches require painting and the legs sealing to prevent them rotting. The Village Keeper has been requested to attend to this.
c) It was noted that the proposed new Play Area details have been finalised and that the application for a grant, FCC application 5093, is ready to be submitted by the Working Group.
13. LITTER PICKING.
a) Litter picking is ongoing.
b) It was noted that NKDC Litter Picking Grant has been received £91.14.
c) It was agreed that the PC to record a vote of thanks to the Team Leader, Mr M Everett, for his commitment through the year to keeping Leadenham clean and tidy and largely free from rubbish.
14. VILLAGE HALL/LAW/BOWLS CLUB
It was agreed that a meeting be set up by the PC, to include the LVH management Committee, the Bowls Club and any other key users, to review all aspects of users access to facilities, utilities, and costs and to establish up to date SLAs.
It was noted that currently the PC funds a lot of costs on behalf of the LVH and some users, and that this arrangement requires an overhaul.
15. PARKING NEAR THE PRIMARY SCHOOL.
a) It was noted that additional poles have been purchased, to extend the area currently holding poles and will be deployed shortly.
16. MEMORIALS
It was agreed that this be kept on the agenda and addressed at a future meeting.
17. GENERAL POLICY – FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
To consider adopting the Financial Regulations, which was deferred from the last meeting to allow further consideration. It was agreed to defer this item to the next meeting to allow further time to consider the detail. The document was re-circulated to all.
18. EQUIPMENT STORAGE.
Cllr G McLusky declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item and did not take part in the decision.
It was agreed to approval the request for a storage facility to be sited at the VH for a VH user to store equipment securely. It was noted that no costs will be incurred and the adequate insurance for the unit will be the sole responsibility of the user.
19. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING.
It was agreed that item 17 above be resolved at the next meeting.
20. DATE OF NEXT MEETING.
It was noted that the next meeting will be 10 January 2023, 19:15pm.
There being no further business the Chair ended the meeting at 20:53
Chair.........................M. NELSTROP..............................................
Date........................10 January 2023....................................