2023 Meetings

NORTH SCARLE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting held on 11 January 2023 at 7.30pm in North Scarle Village Hall

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7.30pm.

PRESENT

Cllr D Jennings – Chairman                          Cllr S Walsh -Vice Chairwoman

Cllr K Coram                                                 Cllr R Pullen

Cllr D Russell                                                Cllr A Walsh

Cllr K Ward                                                    Mrs H Broderick (Clerk)

0 parishioners attended.

Open Session:

The Chairman had requested an update on the defibrillator located at the White Hart.  EMAS have our details on their installation spreadsheet and will let us know when a date for the replacement work is confirmed.

The Chairman had received an email from a parishioner regarding a letter circulating the village regarding potential planning on Chapel Lane.  This will be discussed by the PC if and when it gets to the planning stage and information is received from NKDC.

536        APOLOGIES

None.

537        TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

538        MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 30 NOVEMBER 2022

It was resolved to adopt the Minutes as a true record and they were signed by the Chairman.

539        PLANNING having already been circulated to Cllrs, were read aloud:

Applications

22/1663/FUL - erection of two storey side extension with new pitched roof to replace flat roof to first floor - Plots Farm, Spalford Road.  All in favour.  It was resolved that there were no objections.

22/1660/FUL - installation of tennis court lighting comprising 4 new floodlight columns and fittings, 4 existing columns with new fittings and associated below ground supply cabling - North Scarle Playing Field, South Scarle Lane.  Tennis Club committee member attended to answer any questions.  Parish Councillors agreed it would be an asset to the village.  All in favour.  It was resolved that there were no objections.

Decision Notices - for information only

22/1468/HOUS – Mill House Farm, Eagle Road. Application approved.

540        NKDC COUNCILLOR PETER OVERTON REPORT

Cllr Overton had received a response from Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board (TVIDB) to the Parish Council's letter of 9 June 2022 which he will send to the Clerk.  They have reported some "bank issues" to the Environment Agency.  They need to do some modelling work to ensure as a result of the connection the likelihood of flooding does not increase in the Torksey catchment. This modelling work is not likely to be undertaken before 2024. Hope to have a further update after the next meeting in February.

NKDC have undertaken a budget review.

NKDC have a financial plan available to help households with home energy upgrades (dependent on tax band, income and benefits). Phone number for more information 03309 126199 or link here Home Energy Upgrade Scheme | North Kesteven District Council (n-kesteven.gov.uk)

They are committed to their plan for zero carbon emissions and plan to work with communities re carbon reduction.  Cllr Overton left the meeting.

541        FINANCES

A schedule of payments made between 1 November and 31 December 2022 was circulated to the Parish Councillors ahead of the meeting.  There were no queries and it was resolved to agree the payments.  Invoices paid via BACS were signed and countersigned.

Individual payments made in the period which exceeded £100:

542        PRECEPT 2023/24

The Clerk had circulated proposed precept figures ahead of the meeting.  These were discussed and it was resolved to set the precept figure at £13,408.

543        DONATION TO SENIOR CITIZENS' CHRISTMAS LUNCH

The donation of £200 (to North Scarle Community Fund) was ratified and resolved.

544        COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY

£413.48 is due from NKDC's CIL.  The Chairman proposed that this money be ringfenced for now and this was resolved.

545        CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED RE HGV'S USING HIGH STREET

Parishioner had contacted the Clerk regarding HGV's using the High Street despite (LCC's official) signs being in place.  Cllrs agree this is a problem. Purchasing extra signs (x2) were discussed but would cost approx. £200 each, would require LCC's permission and probably also be ignored.  LCC Cllr Thompson had contacted the traffic team about the problem and their reply is included in his report below.  He suggested that the parishioner should keep a record of infringements and send them to County Council Enforcement as well as taking up the problem directly with the lorry companies for insurance purposes.  The Chairman proposed that the Parish Council could ask the District Council to include a traffic management proposal alongside future planning applications and the PC could ask for smaller lorries to use a specific route when replying to applications.  Clerk to draft a response to the Parishioner.  All resolved.

546        CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED RE CONDITION OF FOLLY LANE

Parishioner had contacted the Chairman regarding the poor condition of Folly Lane (a BOAT).  Various emails have been received, shared and responded to.  These actions were ratified and resolved.  The Chairman had drafted a further response to the parishioner, setting out that information had been requested from LCC and he should communicate directly with them in future.  This had been shared with the Cllrs ahead of the meeting.  It was resolved that this would be finalised and sent by the Clerk.  See also LCC report below.

547        DOG FOULING

This was discussed.  Cllr S Walsh proposed to ask the school if some of the children would like to design a poster to raise awareness.  The best one would be laminated and used in the village and included in North Scarle Matters.  This was resolved.

548        EMERGENCY PLAN

The Chairman asked for Cllrs thoughts on organising an Emergency Plan for the village.  Cllr Thompson suggested that the best place to start is to contact Lincs Fire & Rescue for information. Clerk to contact them.  Clerk suggested inviting someone to speak on the subject at the Parish Meeting in May. All resolved.

549        CEMETERY AND CHURCH YARD

The Chairman proposed that the remaining old Church hedge needs replacing and the hedge dividing the car park and cemetery needs replenishing.  The charity TCV/I Dig Trees have plants available.  It was proposed that more information is needed - size of the plants, delivery dates, are protective sleaves/stakes included.  The Clerk will find out this information before any decision are made.

550        SILVER JUBILEE WOOD

The Chairman reported that the Jubilee Wood is very overgrown and needs clearing.  Hire of a rough cutter was discussed but Cllr Coram volunteered to do the work at no cost.  She proposed that this was left with her to organise and this was resolved.

551        LCC REPORT

LCC Cllr Thompson reported as follows:

I would like to extend my best wishes for 2023 to Parish Council and all residents.

County Council

At the December full County Council meeting the independent review of members allowances with a recommendation for an increase of 6.4% was discussed. Although this recommendation was noted, it was considered that members should exercise restraint with a proposal that an increase above 4% would not be appropriate. It was voted to accept to accept this proposal.

The County Council budget and council tax consultation was launched on 5th January. It is open for responses until Thursday 26th January 2023.

You can find more information, and the opportunity to participate here: www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/budgetproposal2023-24

Item 10 - HGV issues

Response from Highways 25/11/22 to email enquiry

“Thank you for your email. From a traffic team we can offer to add this location to the assessments lists for you, but it is worth mentioning we are currently not delivering any new Environmental Weight Limits at this time as they are difficult for the police to enforce, so offer very little with quite a significant cost. If you would like this location adding to our list, please let me know.“

Noted that “Unsuitable for HGV” signs which are in place are “official”.

Item 11 Folly Lane

Confirm that LCC Legal are undertaking investigation with response awaited and that Head of Highways has agreed to attend a meeting facilitated by Parish Council when mutually convenient. I note request has been made to residents via PC for specific questions and information to enable response to be prepared prior to meeting and hope to be copied into this in due course. Update with questions 9/01/23 noted and confirm that I have forwarded to LCC Highways for further investigation and response.

Update 11/01/23 - from LCC Head of Highways “I agree that a better communication line would be from the residents direct to LCC, I will therefore arrange for a response to go directly to the parishioner (with yourself and the Parish Council receiving a copy). I will get a holding response to the parishioner before the meeting tonight.

I am waiting on some further research back from our Legal team and I have also arranged a correspondence search for background - the results of which I need to review. 

I am happy to attend a meeting still and will let you know if this is requested through my correspondence with the parishioner.”

552        DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was resolved to agree the date of the next meeting as 8 March 2023 at 7.30pm.

553        CLOSED SESSION

It was resolved to move into closed session.

554        ALLOTMENT TREES

The Clerk presented the Cllrs with 3 quotes.  These were discussed and it was resolved to accept the quote from Springwood Trees for £540.00.  DJ and AW would like to be on site when the work starts.

555        CHURCH YARD GRASS CUTTING

In order to comply with regulations, a new service provider is required to cut the church yard grass.  As we are now employing a handman and we own a lawnmower, it was proposed and resolved that he should take on this work.

556        PARISH COUNCIL LAND

The tenant on 2 parcels of PC land would like to terminate their agreement.  Procedures for tenders and agreements were discussed.  The Clerk had been contacted by someone expressing an interest in the land but it was proposed that the opportunity should be advertised in the Parish so that interested parties had a fair chance to tender, and this was resolved.  The Clerk will chase solicitors to obtain details of current agreements on the land.  Once this information is received, the subject will be revisited.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.45pm.