November 2021 Minutes
Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ScopwickandKirkbyGreen/
Minutes of the meeting of Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council held on Tuesday 30th November 2021 at 7pm. The meeting was held in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllr Baumber (Chair), Cllr Flett (Vice-Chair), Cllr Banks, Cllr Brackenbury, Cllr Davies, Cllr Money, Cllr Nelson, District Councillor Clarke.
One member of the public attended the public forum
In attendance: Jules Wilkins (Clerk and Proper Officer)
52/21. Chairman’s welcome
Cllr Baumber welcomed all attendees and advised that in light of recent changes in Covid-19 guidance the meeting should be as swift as possible to minimise contact and risk. He then opened the public forum, inviting questions and comments from the public attendees.
Mr Richard Wright asked how the Parish Council is holding Anglian Water to account for the flooding issues in Scopwick. Cllr Baumber responded that he had spoken with Matt Moore of Anglian Water to inform him of the requirement to provide a written update to the Parish Council on this situation. Mr Wright expressed concerns about the lack of response from Anglian Water and questioned their knowledge on village assets. Cllr Clarke agreed to speak with Mr Wright and take up with NKDC Environmental Services. Cllr Baumber confirmed he would call Matt Moore again on 1st December for an update, including from the Scopwick Flooding Task and Finish group.
53/21. Apologies for Absence and Reasons Given
Apologies were received from Cllr Kendrick (out of county) and Cllr Clegg.
54/21. Declarations of Interest
Cllrs Banks, Nelson and Flett declared an interest in agenda item 5(d) due to their own or relatives’ involvement with the Village Hall Committee. Cllr Nelson declared an interest in agenda item 5(e) as Chair of the Playing Field Committee. Cllr Flett also declared an interest in agenda item 6(b) (Small grant application).
55/21. Minutes of previous meetings
Minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on the 28th September 2021 were accepted and it was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record.
56/21. Clerks Report
(a) District and County Councillor(s) Reports
The County Council monthly updates from Cllr Kendrick have been circulated to members and published on the website.
Cllr Clarke provided an update on NKDC activity before leaving the meeting.
(b) Matters Outstanding
(i) Cllr Nelson to provide information about this (Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting) to Cllrs outside the meeting so that a decision can be made at the November meeting.
Cllr Nelson provided an update regarding tree location and type. Cllr Davies proposed the Sweet Gum tree be planted on land in front of Sewell’s Farm and it was unanimously RESOLVED.
(ii) Consideration will be given to a contribution to costs of plants for the village sign planters in 2022/23. Cllr Baumber will discuss with volunteer.
Cllr Baumber informed the meeting that he had spoken with Linda and was planning to speak with her again before Christmas to identify budget requirements.
(c) Neighbourhood Planning Group
A written update was received from Mr Peter Reeds, Chair of the Neighbourhood Planning Group. The report was noted.
(d) Village Hall Committee Report
A written update was received from Cllr Flett, Chair of the Village Hall Committee
Cllr Flett reported concerns regarding the condition of the car park in the Meadow. Cllr Baumber agreed to obtain a quote for laying of aggregate material on the affected area and would circulate to members.
Cllr Flett informed the meeting that the Village Hall Committee would like to install a lockable outside cabinet behind the Hall for storage of equipment. As the land is owned by the Parish Council this would require permission from the members. Cllr Baumber requested that members consider the request.
Cllr Flett reminded the meeting of Covid-19 requirements that still apply for use of the Village Hall. This information is supplied to hirers in the hire agreement but is not always being adhered to which presents a risk to the Parish Council if a Covid outbreak is found to have originated from an event at the Hall.
(e) Playing Field Committee Report
A verbal update was provided by Cllr Nelson, Chair of the Playing Field Committee.
(f) Community Speed Watch Report
The Clerk provided an update on the Community Speed Watch scheme which undertook 8 sessions in November. The Council was asked to consider use of 2021/22 underspend to purchase road safety equipment including additional high visibility jackets, wheelie bin stickers and passive speed signs. Cllr Brackenbury proposed that underspend be used for this and it was unanimously RESOLVED that this request be supported.
(g) Police Report
Lincolnshire Police have ceased to provide specific data for the Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish. A quarterly newsletter is issued and statistical crime data is available from the www.police.uk website. This data relates to the Sleaford Rural North area (which spans from the west side of the A15 across to Kirkstead and Dogdyke). The latest statistical data available is for August 2021 during which 48 crimes were reported. Due to an apparent fault on the police.uk website information relating to offence type was not available at the time of preparing these notes.
The report was noted.
(h) Clerks Items for Noting
Parish Meeting
A parish meeting regarding the proposed development of the Limes site took place on 16th November. The Parish Council administered and chaired the meeting and minutes were taken and have been published on the village noticeboards and parish council website. 75 people attended the meeting which culminated in a vote regarding support of the proposal as presented by the agents at the consultation event on 8th October 2021. Of those present at the time of the vote, 57 did not support the development and 8 people abstained from voting (including those Parish Councillors present). It was agreed that the minutes would be shared with the agents (Grace Machin) and the vote noted in the next Parish Council meeting minutes as a matter of public record.
The meeting noted the outcome of the Parish Meeting.
57/21. Financial Matters
(a) To approve accounts summary and payments
The members noted the budget statement and payments made since the last meeting:
Co-operative Bank current account: £ 4,908.49
Co-operative Bank deposit account: £22,017.88
Total funds: £26,926.37
Receipts and payments from 19th September to 23rd November 2021:
30/09/21 J Wilkins (Expenses Aug-Sep 21) -£ 45.76
30/09/21 J Wilkins (Salary Sep 21) -£ 481.32
04/10/21 M Rear (KG churchyard) -£ 540.00
18/10/21 Village Hall Ctte (NP booking fee) -£ 15.00
25/10/21 Parish Magazine Printing (Newsletter) -£ 71.10
29/10/21 Village Hall Ctte (duplicate payment
to be refunded) -£ 15.00
29/10/21 J Wilkins (Salary Oct 21) -£ 415.08
01/11/21 Planning with People (NP consultant -£1500.00
02/11/21 LOL Contracts Ltd (KG defibrillator) -£2545.20
03/11/21 PA Ingamells (grass cutting Sep 21) -£ 470.00
03/11/21 PA Ingamells (grass cutting Oct 21) -£ 450.00
05/11/21 Heath Farm Energy (grant funding) +£ 756.00
It was RESOLVED to approve the following payments to be made before the next meeting:
30/11/21 J Wilkins (Salary November 21) £415.08
30/11/21 J Wilkins (Expenses Oct-Nov 21) £ 65.26
30/11/21 D Nelson (Christmas tree lights repair) £ 8.99
01/21/21 Doddington Parks (Christmas tree) £132.00
01/12/21 O Davies (Poppy Wreath donation) £ 18.00
01/12/21 Emergency Support Group grant £100.00
10/12/21 CSW equipment £150.00
31/12/21 J Wilkins (Salary December 21) £415.08
(b) Small Grant Application
Cllr Flett applied for a small grant of £100 on behalf of the parish Emergency Support Group to provide Christmas Cheer bags for vulnerable residents. The Village Hall Committee has already raised £100 towards the bags. Cllr Banks proposed that the application be approved, and it was RESOLVED to allocate £100 to the Emergency Support Group, via the Village Hall Committee.
(c) Budget Planning and Precept 2022/23
The budget and precept will be presented at the Budget meeting in January 2022. At the last meeting a mid-year review and budget planning report was presented. Since then, further information on future budget income and expenditure has been received and was noted at the meeting.
(i) LCC Highways grass cutting grant
LCC Highways have confirmed that their contribution for 2022/23 will be no less than £893.99.
(ii) Parochial Church Council grant application
The Parochial Church Council have applied for an increased grant in 2022/23 to cover grass and hedge cutting and fencing maintenance for Vicarage Lane Cemetery (£1100) and maintenance of Kirkby Green Churchyard (£550), as responsibility for the churchyard moved to the PCC in 2021. This will have no material impact on the budget as the Parish Council currently pays directly for the Kirkby Green Churchyard maintenance and the Vicarage Lane Cemetery budget will be unchanged from 2021/22.
The Clerk informed the meeting that the application was receive after the closure date for grant submissions and asked that the Council resolve to accept the late submission. Cllr Money proposed the application be approved. Cllrs Owen and Banks abstained due to their interest in the Parochial Church Council. The remaining Councillors supported the application, and it was RESOLVED that the grant be approved for 2022/23.
(iii) Zoom Subscription
The Clerk informed the meeting that the current Zoom subscription will be continued into 2022/23 and that it is a rolling monthly contract and can be cancelled at any time. The meeting agreed to carry forward this item for consideration at the next meeting.
58/21. Planning Matters
New and updated planning applications received since the last meeting were noted by members – 21/1767/TCA, 21/1669/DISCON, 21/17215/PNMAT, 21/1630/DISCON, 21/1297/HOUS, 21/1454/PNH, 21/1357/TCA, 21/1147/HOUS and 21/1024/LDEXI. All planning applications can be viewed at North Kesteven District Council or online (via https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building/planning/planning-applications/planning-online/).
59/21. Correspondence
The meeting noted correspondence received since the last meeting.
A significant number of emails have been received from residents following The Limes consultation event run by the agents, Grace Machin, on 8th October. These have all been forwarded to the agents for inclusion in their records of community feedback.
60/21. Matters for Resolution
(a) Brookside kerbing
The Clerk provided an update regarding the Brookside works, specifically that LCC had confirmed that there would be an additional payment of £2000 for non-standard kerbing.
Members expressed their concerns regarding the high cost of this and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk write to LCC requesting a breakdown of costs, including the amount to be retained in reserves for future maintenance and confirmation that this reserve would be ringfenced for this purpose. Cllr Baumber asked Cllr Money to research the cost of standard kerbing.
(b) Heath Farm Community Funding bid
Following discussion at the last meeting, Cllr Nelson has proposed a bid for additional picnic tables for the Playing Field and additional benches to be located around the parish. Cllr Nelson proposed siting two picnic tables in the playing field, a recycled plastic bench on Vicarage Lane and sourcing a more natural (carved) bench for Trundle Lane. It was RESOLVED to submit a funding application to support Cllr Nelson’s proposal.
Cllr Flett raised an issue regarding the bench on the Springfield Estate. The bench is in poor condition due to location and would be better re-sited but believe the bench is the property of NKDC. Cllr Baumber allocated an action to the Clerk to write to NKDC regarding the bench ownership, whether it is maintained by NKDC and whether it can be moved.
(c) Defibrillators
The new defibrillator has now been installed in the old telephone box in Kirkby Green and refurbishment of the telephone box is complete.
The Clerk proposed some activity to promote the facilities including publicity about the defibrillator scheme including a launch event for the new facility and first aid training (provided free of charge by Community Heartbeat Trust).
Members supported the proposed activities and Cllr Flett was allocated as the lead Councillor for this. Cllr Baumber allocated an action to the Clerk to write a letter of thanks to Mr Garry Swan for his work on the telephone box.
61/21. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be the Budget Meeting on 11th January 2022. The next full Parish Council meeting is on 25th January 2022.
Minutes submitted by:
Jules Wilkins, Clerk and Proper Officer. Email: clerkscopwick@gmail.com