2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

May 2019 Minutes

Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ScopwickandKirkbyGreen/

Parish Council Meeting Minutes: 28th May 2019, Scopwick Village Hall

31/2019 Public Forum

Four members of the public attended the meeting.

One resident asked what steps the Parish Council were going to take to address the issue of poor mobile phone coverage raised at the Annual Parish Meeting.

A member of the group Friends of Scopwick Royal Oak expressed concern that no opening date had yet been given for pub and was advised to contact the owner directly.

32/2019 Opening

Welcome by Chair of Parish Council Philip Baumber.

Attending:

Cllr Philip Baumber (Chair), Cllr Janet Flett, Cllr Tim Banks, Cllr David Nelson, Cllr John Money, District Cllr Steve Clegg, District Cllr Jim Clarke and County Cllr Rob Kendrick.

Cllr Owen Davies arrived during the reports section of the meeting.

Apologies received from: Cllr Alistair Brackenbury

Officer: Jill Moran (Parish Clerk).

33/2019 County and District Council Reports

Cllr Clegg said that following the Annual Parish Meeting he had identified mobile phone coverage, traffic calming and flooding and drainage as issues the District Councillors can assist with. He will discuss poor mobile phone coverage with Economic Development at NKDC and report back to the Parish Council.

Cllr Clarke is currently undergoing training and will work with Cllr Clegg to support the Parish.

Cllr Kendrick has arranged a meeting with a manager at LCC Highways which will take place in the Parish in early July. He has received notice that work is scheduled to take place to repair the bridge on the B1188.

He is also arranging a meeting for the public to ask questions of Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Details will be placed on the Parish Council website.

34/2019 Declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations

Cllr Banks declared an interest in the Village Meadow.

Cllr Banks and Cllr Davies in Scopwick Parochial Church Council.

35/2019 Minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 26th March 2019 and the Annual Parish Council

Meeting held on the 14th May 2019 were approved and signed by the Chair as the Minutes.

36/2019 Reports

(a) Clerk’s Report

1. Highways. Permission has been given for the planters by the village signs.

Any outstanding highways issues will be raised with the Highways Officer when he meets the Parish Councillors in July.

2. Anglian Water. The bridge next to the pumping station is yet to be repaired. The Anglian Water Customer Liaison Manager Dale Smith has been asked to chase this.

3. Playing Field and Village Meadow. Areas have been reseeded with additional topsoil added to the meadow. The Playing Field Committee have removed the stile into the field which had rotted through.

4. Parish Council Accounts 2018/19. The accounts have been approved by the internal auditor and as expenditure last year exceeded £25,000, a return must be submitted to an external auditor.

The public will be able to inspect the accounts by prior arrangement with the Clerk from the 17th June to the 26th July 2019.

5. Police Report. Highlighted the theft of lead from churches in the area as being of particular concern.

6. Planning applications received/decided since last meeting:

Demolition of storage shed and erection of 2no. detached dwellings. - Land Adjacent To Main Street And Church Lane Kirkby Green Lincoln Lincolnshire LN4 3PF Ref. No: 18/1115/FUL | Received date: Fri 10 Aug 2018 | Status: Approved

Demolition of rear extension and erection of replacement extension and alterations to existing dwelling. - WestWing Scopwick House Lincoln Road Scopwick Lincoln Lincolnshire LN4 3JA Ref. No: 19/0233/HOUS | Received date: Tue 19 Feb 2019 | Status: Approved

T0D9G Fraxinus excelsior - fell and treat stump; T0D9H Fraxinus excelsior - fell and treat stump; T0D9P Jugians - prune to clear street furniture (BT line by 1m) and clear highway (clear to 1m from edge of road and 4m in height); T1 Prunus - fell and treat stump - 16 Brookside Scopwick Lincoln Lincolnshire LN4 3PA Ref. No: 19/0393/TCA | Received date: Tue 19 Mar 2019 | Status: No TPO made | Case Type: Planning Application. (Application by parish council following tree survey by NKDC)

A Victoria Plum - reduce height and spread by 3m, crown thining 20%; C Hawthorn - reduce height 3.5m, crown thining 20%; D Walnut - fell; E Flowering Cherry - reduce height 5m, spread 4m, crown thining 30%; F Silver Birch - reduce height 5m, spread 4m, crown thining 20%; G 3 x Apple - reduce height 3m spread 1m, remove branches overhanging boundary; H Pine - reduce by 3m; J Ornamental tree - crown lift 2.5m, reduce height 4.5m, spread 3.5m, crown thining 10%; K Cut Leaf Crab Apple - crown lift 2.5m, reduce height 4.5m, spread 4m, crown thining 30%, L Alder - fell; M Ginkgo Biloba - prune no more than 1.5m; N Hawthorn - crown lift 2m, reduce height 3.5m, spread 4m, crown thining 10%; P Amelanchier - crown thining 10% and remove dead branches; R Quince - reduce spread by 3.5m, crown thining 10%, remove branches overhanging boundary - 12 Farriers Court Scopwick Lincoln Lincolnshire LN4 3PL Ref. No: 19/0579/TCA | Received date: Thu 25 Apr 2019 | Status: No TPO made | Case Type: Planning Application

Application for a non-material amendment (change of window postions,conversion of garage into bedroom and extending rear elevation by 562.5mm) following a grant of planning permission 17/1735/FUL- Erection of 1no. bungalow. - Springfield Estate Scopwick Lincoln Lincolnshire Ref. No: 19/0620/PNMAT | Received date: Fri 03 May 2019 | Status: Prior Approval Not Required | Case Type: Planning Application

(b) Playing Field Committee Report

Minutes of the meeting held on the 20th May had been circulated and placed on the website.

Cllr Nelson reported that two new members would be assisting the Committee. At the last meeting concerns had been raised with the grass cutting on the site leaving large clumps of grass and weed spraying which has been extensive and has damaged trees planted in front of the hedge by the Committee. The Committee asked the Parish Council to replace the stile into the field.

The next fundraising event will be an ice cream stall at the Village Show on the 3rd August.

The next Committee meeting is scheduled for the 12th August 2019.

Minutes of the last meeting of the Committee had been circulated.

Cllr Flett as Chair of the Committee gave a report as follows:

The Village Hall Committee have been successful in their application to be Co-op community champions. From September for a couple of months donations will go towards the village hall. The Committee requested that the Parish Council support their application for the Biogas grant which they wish to put towards the purchase of cinema equipment for the hall.

It was agreed that the Committee should apply for this grant and that the cinema equipment would benefit the community and extend the range of activities in the village hall.

(d) Neighbourhood Planning Group (NPG)

Cllr Money as a member of the Group reported that following the parish questionnaire, NKDC were completing an evaluation which would be published on both the NPG website and the Parish Council website in June. The NPG are meeting as a working group on the 14th June to consider the appointment of a specialist consultant to complete the next stage in the process. Three consultants have been interviewed, following the meeting on the 14th June the NPG will meet with the Parish Council to discuss their findings.

36/Correspondence

A correspondence log was circulated by the Clerk and general correspondence noted.

37/2019 Matters considered

(a) Village Meadow Carpark

The Clerk had circulated specifications for signs for the parking area including a disclaimer notice. It was considered important to install a sign warning pedestrians coming out of the side door of the hall and also warning cars to go slowly and beware of pedestrians. It was decided not to purchase a disclaimer notice as they are widely considered unenforceable and therefore unnecessary.

Although the carpark area is now ready for use, it was decided to have an ‘official’ opening on the 22nd June in conjunction with a coffee morning taking place in the hall.

The owner of a neighbouring property had requested that some sort of barrier be installed in front of his wall to prevent cars getting too close to it. The Clerk was instructed to look at options.

(b) Issues raised at Annual Parish Meeting.

Traffic issues with speed of vehicles and safety at the junction of the B1188 and Main Street Scopwick being of particular concern. These along with outstanding maintenance issues will be raised at the meeting with a representative from Highways in July.
The mobile telephone signal in the parish was reported to be poor and the Parish Council were asked to take action to improve the situation. Both the District Councillors and the County Councillor agreed to look into this issue which is a concern in many areas of the County.
The poor state of repair of the bus shelter on Heath Road. Cllr Baumber agreed to inspect the shelter and make recommendations to the Parish Council.
The future of the Limes Care Home, in spite of regular enquiries by the Clerk, the owner of the site has yet to confirm the future use. It was noted that the site was still in use as accommodation.

Tree works. Three quotes had been received for works stated as necessary in the NKDC tree report. These included the felling and stump treatment of two diseased ash trees and the pruning back from the roadside of the walnut tree on Brookside Scopwick. The Councillors considered the quotes and decided to use a local contractor as he had worked for the Council in the past and his quote was slightly cheaper than the other two.
The Clerk had approached Paul Scholey to replace the stile into the playing field. He had estimated a total cost of approximately £100, £50 for materials and paint to match the gate, and £50 for labour. This was considered reasonable and it was agreed that he should go ahead as soon as possible.
Kirkby Green Churchyard. A KG resident continues to pursue the Church authorities over the neglect of the churchyard. The Archdeacon, in response to the assertion that the Church are failing in their legal duty to maintain the site, has passed the matter to the diocesan Registrar for a ruling.

The Clerk raised the issue of the wall with LCC Highways who wrote to the Church requiring them to maintain.

Cllr Baumber agreed to contact the grass cutting contractor to ensure that the work was completed in accordance with the contract.

38/2019 Finance

(a) Accounts summary as at 24/5/19:

Co-operative Bank current account: £6,512.16
Co-operative Bank deposit account: £21,873.99
Total available funds: £28,386.08

(b) Payments made since last meeting:

J Moran – Clerks expenses Feb/Mar 2019 £140.62 (postage £1.34; other – Ink, plastic bags (NPG), Survey Monkey (NPG) £96.28; administrative - £10; travel £33)
J Moran Salary March 2019 £ 410.94
Westgate printers inv 5584 NPG £ 83.17
Westgate printers inv 5585 NPG £ 220.07
Protect signs – csw sign and stand £ 96.84
Community Lincs – fee data imput NPG £ 79.92
SKGVHC NPG Hall Hire inv 70 £ 30.00
SKGVHC NPG Hall Hire inv 1 NPG £ 30.00
SKGVHC NPG Hall Hire inv 2 NPG £ 15.00
LALC – annual subscription £ 223.39
LALC – membership training scheme £ 108.00
SKGVHC – donation for 2019/20 £1000.00
P Scholey – grass seed for village meadow £ 90.00
P Scholey – topsoil for village meadow £ 45.00
J Wood – internal audit 2018/19 £ 50.00
P Ingamells – inv no 515 £ 465.00
J Kennard reimburse re website fee £ 29.95
CPRE – annual subscription £ 36.00
J Moran salary April 2019 £ 428.76

Approved for payment before next meeting:

J Moran – Clerks expenses Apr/May 2019 £ 106.02 (Other – Paper and other stationary, Instant Ink, Survey Monkey(NPG), refreshments APM £96.02; administrative £10)
J Moran salary May 2019 £ 428.76
Calico Internet Ltd – annual fee for domain name for parish website £ 24.00
Zurich annual insurance premium £ 566.24
Scopwick Parochial Church Council – donation for grasscutting £ 654.24
J Moran salary June 2019 £ 428.76

Councillors discussed a request for donation received from the Citizens Advice Bureau. It was decided not to make a donation as the organisation already receives local government funding. Councillors felt that any donations made by the Parish Council should directly benefit the local community.

The Accounting Statements contained in the Annual Governance and Accountability Return were approved.

39/2019 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 30th July 2019 – Parish Council meeting at 7pm in Scopwick Village Hall.

Minutes submitted by:
Jill Moran, Parish Clerk. Dorset House, Vicarage Lane, Scopwick. Tel: 07512 234965.
Email: clerkscopwick@gmail.com