February 14 2023 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF
LEADENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Tuesday 14 February 2023, 7.15 pm at Leadenham Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr Melanie Nelstrop (Chair), Cllr G McLusky (Vice-Chair), Cllr N Johnson, Cllr S Locking, Cllr T Sisson, Cllr K Willgoose.
Ruth Keillar (Clerk/RFO)
0 members of the public present.
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS. Chair Cllr M Nelstrop welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Cllr G Luff was not present, and no apologies had been 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.
3. PUBLIC FORUM. No members of the public were present.
4. MINUTES
a) It was proposed by Cllr T Sisson, seconded by Cllr G McLusky and it was RESOLVED that Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 10 January 2023 be approved as a true record and signed as Minutes.
5. PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
a) Applications received:
i. 23/0104/TCA - Description of works: T1 Horse Chestnut - reduce crown by 3m in height and 2m radius; T2 Sycamore - reduce crown by 3m in height and 2m radius
Location: 20 Back Lane, Leadenham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 0PW
Comments by 17/02/2023. No comments.
b) Decisions received: None
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. Cllr T Sisson reported on behalf of the VHCommittee:
i. Bowls Club – ref agenda item below.
i. meeting held with R Brooke and J McLelland. Cllr T Sisson to re-work the ‘memorandum understanding’ originally drafted in 2018.
ii. Utilities to be charged (water, electricity, toilet access).
iii. A Query regarding insurance – It was noted that the PC pay the VH insurance and this does not cover the Bowls Club site.
ii. Occupation Agreement between VH and PC. Still tbc.
iii. Motorhomes – see item below.
iv. Platinum Jubilee Grant – VH were looking at making an application however this has not been submitted. It was noted that the VH had considered applying in the name of the PC, however the PC had not been consulted nor agreed to this; any submission would require an official PC agenda item and resolution, with details of how the application would be progressed and by whom.
7. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
a) Reports re Buses and HGVs – No new updates were available. It was agreed to keep this item on the agenda.
b) Footpath adjacent to the railway bridge. No new updates were available.
8. PARISH CLERK
To consider the Parish Clerk’s Report:
a) M Everett met with P Mitchell re the Village play area pic-nic tables on 14/01/23. P Mitchell is to go ahead with the works required.
b) Leadenham Landfill site meeting attended by Cllr M Nelstrop and the clerk, 07/02/23.
Report attached below.
c) A member of the Play Area Working Group has forwarded correspondence regarding a special offer on play equipment to the WG Leader (M.E.) suggesting a purchase may be considered. Any application would require formal consideration and resolution by the PC prior to any action being taken. Any contribution from the PC would need to consider the financial situation before a decision is made. It was noted in the correspondence that many funding grants are believed to be available.
d) Elections update: Training sessions available. Clerk is attending 22 February at North Hykeham, Election packs can be ordered for collection, at a cost of £3.30 each. Election information has been posted onto the PC website. It was agreed that x7 election Packs be ordered.
e) Solar Farm – information regarding Initial Consultation received. (14/02/23) circulated to all. It was agreed that no action was required at this time.
f) Website analytics are now available to view on the website.
9. CORRESPONDENCE.
a) Email received from Leadenham Primary School, 13 January 2023, confirming that the proposed Balloon Release, planned for Monday 9 January, did not take place, following in-house discussion and consideration.
b) A member of the public has reported a leaking horse trough the footpath that goes across the old railway line, up into the horse field, leading into the playing field. The water tank for the horses appears to be leaking and the footpath is waterlogged making it virtually un-usable.(14/02/23) circulated to all. Email forwarded to the owners.
10. FINANCIAL MATTERS
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations.
Bank statements were not available prior to the meeting and were supplied by Cllr K Willgoose at the meeting to be recorded in minutes.
The RFO reported balances as at 04/02/2022:
i. HSBC deposit account balance as £23,346.08
ii. HSBC current account balance as £2,788.65
iii. Royal Fund £331.80.
Payments due, included in balances £7.50
Fenton and Torksey Lock PC - Half share of training costs to LALC networking day 07/12/2022.
NKDC – CIL payment for 2022/23A £2,503.82
LCC – Highways, grass-cutting grant £420.19
Bank charges: Maintaining the account £8.00, plus £1 per cheque.
b) To ratify payments made between meetings:
Item 62 was confirmed following receipt of payroll.
c) To consider any payments due at 14/02/2022:
Balance of expenditure against budget to date, including payments approved at 14/02/23:
INCOME/GRANTS for note only
CIL April 2019 £1,523.25 for use up to May 2024. report submitted 31/12/22.
£1,499.01 is now ring-fenced to use as a third-party contribution for the FCC grant application 5093. Parish Field Plaque £24.24 (part of £52.99)
CIL April 2021 £1,904.14 for use up to May 2026.
Parish Field Plaque £28.75 (part of £52.99)
Balance £1,875.39
CIL October 2022 £2,503.82 for use up to May 2027.
Ringfenced for SID £2,500.00
Ringfenced for election costs £1,500
S137 2023-24 is £9.93 per elector. x310 = £3,078.30 (2022-23 was £2,655.24).
d) Precept request for 2023-24 submitted to NKDC 20/01/2023
e) LALC Subscription fee 2023-24 (inv 13158) £147.77 (budgeted at £154).
f) Glendale countryside Grass-cutting schedule for 2023/24 received and to be returned with the same requirements as last financial year. The cost has increased by £200.30 to £2425.20, however this may vary depending on weather. 2023/24 budgeted as £2600. (2022/23 quote £2224.90, budgeted £2695, estimated at year end £1,805).
It was proposed by Cllr M Nelstrop, seconded by Cllr G McLusky and it was RESOLVED that the statement of accounts, payments made and to be made be accepted and approved.
11. PARISH FIELD/TREE PROJECT
Plaque ordered.
12. PLAY AREA.
a) Monthly reports received.
b) It was noted that Mr P Mitchell is now overseeing the repair work for the picnic benches.
c) There was no update available regarding the application for a grant, FCC application 5093.
13. LITTER PICKING.
a) Litter picking is ongoing.
14. VILLAGE HALL/LAW/BOWLS CLUB
a) To note report in item 6.d) i. above.
b) To agree arrangements for the drafting of Service Level Agreements (SLA) for the above groups
c) To consider the appointment of a Working Group to progress this. It was agreed to leave this on the agenda.
15. PARKING NEAR THE PRIMARY SCHOOL.
a) It was noted that additional poles purchased by Cllr M Nelstrop has yet to be deployed. It was noted that an item had been drafted for publication in the village magazine
16. MEMORIALS
Cllr T Sisson reported that the RAF plaque was the property of NKDC and that NKDC had agreed to the plaque being refurbished and displayed as appropriate. It was noted that the weight is a consideration when deciding on siting the plaque.
17. MOTORHOME STOPOVER PLANNING EXEMPTION.
To note that a member of the LVH management committee has applied for and been granted a certificate, via "MotorhomeFun" who are an "exempted organisation" with power to issue exemptions from planning under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
This will allow parking pitches for up to five motorhomes in the Village Hall car park.
The expected revenue is suggested as £5 per night without providing any facilities.
The PC is the owner of the VH, however no correspondence or requests regarding this project had been made to the PC prior to the certificate being issued as a fait accompli.
It was agreed that in principle the Pc has no objections, however there are several issues which need to be clearly agreed:
Insurance (clerk to investigate)
Appointed person(s) to oversee, arrange bookings/payments
Rules and regulations regarding bookers (timespan. Rubbish, noise, number of persons etc)
Who benefits from the proceeds.
Other issues may be raised, and all Cllrs were asked to contribute to this.
18. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING.
Item 17 above.
19. DATE OF NEXT MEETING. To note that the next meeting of the Parish Council as Tuesday 14 March 2023.
To note that the AMPC date is changed to Tuesday 16 May 2023, due to election dates.
20. TO RESOLVE WHETHER TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC AND PRESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS.
Should this resolution be passed, members of the public and press will be required to leave the meeting at this stage.
It was proposed by Cllr G McLusky, seconded by Cllr M Nelstrop and it was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press for consideration of the following confidential matters.
a) Staffing matter.
It was reported that the current Play Area inspector, who carries out these duties FOC, has reported that he is no longer able to carry out this duty on behalf of the PC. A member of the community has indicated an interest in this role.
It was proposed by Cllr G McLusky, seconded by Cllr M Nelstrop and it was RESOLVED that the following be actioned:
The interested person be offered the role, on a paid, self-employed basis,
Agreed hourly rate to be offered,
Training to be undertaken prior to taking on the role (Play area Inspection training £65.00)
The individual be mentored by the current inspector initially.
There being no further business the Chair ended the meeting at 20:14
Chair.....................M. NELSTROP.......................Date.............14/03/2023...........................