2023 Meetings

NORTH SCARLE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting held on 17 May 2023 at 7.30pm in North Scarle Village Hall

Cllr David Jennings welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7.30pm.

PRESENT

Cllr D Jennings                                                 Cllr S Walsh

Cllr K Coram                                                                   Cllr R Pullen

Cllr A Walsh                                                                    Cllr K Ward

Mrs H Broderick (Clerk)

1 parishioner attended.

575        APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Following the recent elections, it was proposed and resolved that Cllr Jennings would be our Chairman and Cllr S Walsh would be our Vice-Chairwoman.  The Councillors and Clerk signed the Declarations of Acceptance of Office and the Councillors confirm that their Declaration of Interest forms were unchanged and the Clerk will submit these on their behalf.

The Chairman suspended the Parish Council meeting for the public session to take place.

Open Session:

Parishioner thanked Laura Edlington for attending the Annual Parish Meeting and for making clear that the emergency plan is voluntary but to be aware of responsibilities.  No other comments.

The Chairman re-opened the Parish Council meeting.

576        APOLOGIES

None.

577        TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

578        MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8 MARCH 2023

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

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

Applications - comments submitted to NKDC after collation of email responses due to timescale and in accordance with Standing Orders

23/0356/FUL - proposed replacement dwelling, Sueander Farm, Eagle Road.  No objections (6 in favour, 1 abstention) with a request that vehicles used in the development don't use High Street, Church Lane or School Lane.

Applications - resolution required

23/0505/LBC - renovation and alterations including reinstatement of lime plaster, treatment of timbers, replacement brickwork., replacement of existing concrete floor, wall and ceiling insulation, installation of lintels and frames, installation of rooflight to the west and window to the north elevation - Glebe Farm House, 44 High Street.  There were no objections - all in favour.

Decision Notices - for information only

23/0143/HOUS - Fir Tree Farm, Spalford Lane.  Application approved.

23/0101/FUL - Grove Pet Foods, Lodge Farm, Wigsley Road.  Application approved.

580        NKDC COUNCILLORS

New NKDC Councillor Richard Johnston had sent his apologies and a report (see below).  New NKDC Councillor Chris Goldson attended and had sent a report (see below).  He said he may not be able to attend or send report to all meetings, but is available anytime, not just for meetings. Would like to meet Councillors for background on any issues.  Happy to attend coffee mornings etc.

Chairman proposed that we should send letters of thanks to Mike Thompson, Cllr Peter Overton and David Russell and this was resolved.

581        FINANCES

A schedule of payments made between 1 March 2023 and 20 April 2023 was circulated to the Parish Councillors ahead of the meeting.  Invoices paid via BACS were signed and countersigned. The Chairman is still working on the situation re the Water Plus payment and is waiting for them to get back to him, will hopefully result in a refund.  There were no other queries.

Individual payments made in the period which exceeded £100:

582        2022/23 ANNUAL GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN (AGAR), BALANCE SHEET, PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT, BANK RECONCILIATION AND SCHEDULE OF MATERIAL VARIANCES

These had been circulated to the Councillors ahead of the meeting. Clerk pointed out that we have to submit Form 3 this year because our expenditure was higher.  There were no queries and the Parish Councillors resolved to agree:

AGAR Annual Governance Statement (page 4).  This was signed as appropriate.

AGAR Accounting Statements (page 5).  This was signed as appropriate.

Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account

Bank Reconciliation.

Schedule of Material Variances.

583        BANK MANDATE

A new signatory is required on the bank mandate in due course.  Cllr Ward volunteered and this was resolved.

584        VILLAGE NOTICEBOARD

After discussion it was proposed and resolved that the new board would be placed on the grassed area between the bridge and the conker tree at the top of South Scarle Lane.

585        SIGNS WHEN ENTERING THE VILLAGE

Correspondence had been received from a parishioner complaining about the condition of the signs at the entrances to the village compared to others in Nottinghamshire and questioning what the Witham Valley Country Park was.  The Chairman had done some research of the WVCP which had been shared with Councillors prior to the meeting.  The Clerk had drafted a response to the parishioner.  The Councillors were happy with this and it was resolved that it should be sent.

586        GAPS IN FOOTPATHS NEAR CEMETERY

Correspondence had been received regarding this requesting information on who owns the land that the gaps are on. The land belongs to the Parish Council and it was resolved that the Clerk should reply with this information.

587        AGRICULTURAL LAND

The Chairman proposed that the land be sprayed soon to keep it in good condition whilst the tenancy agreement is sorted.  The Chairman will get details of cost and forward to other Parish Councillors for their agreement to be ratified at the next meeting. The Agreement will be looked at again when the Chairman and Clerk return from their upcoming holidays.

588        CEMETERY

The possible placement of reclaimed slabs in the area of the pedestrian gate was discussed and it was resolved that this should be done.

The possibility of creating an area to leave excess soil was discussed.  It was proposed that a small tractor and loader would be required to achieve this and it was resolved that this should be arranged in due course.

589        LCC REPORT

New LCC Cllr Alan Briggs attended. He is responsible for a vast area, is also a Lincoln City Councillor and deputy Mayor for Lincoln City, but will try his best for us, he is always available, passionate about speeding, dog fouling, litter picking and potholes.

590        DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was resolved to agree the date of the next meeting as 12 July 2023 at 7.30pm.

591        CLOSED SESSION

It was resolved to move into closed session.

592        INSURANCE RENEWAL

Clerk had three quotations for insurance renewal which had been forwarded to Councillors ahead of the meeting.  These were discussed and it was resolved to opt for Zurich again at a cost of £363.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.28pm.

Item 580 reports

From Cllr Richard Johnston

Thank you!  I should like to thank all the residents who voted for me in the Election.

To my existing Skellingthorpe residents for their support over the past 5 years and for re-electing me. ALSO those new residents in Eagle & Swinethorpe, North Scarle, Doddington & Whisby who placed their faith in me for the next 4 years as their new Councillor.

I commend you all for a significant voter turnout of 31.18%.

As in my election leaflet, I, with my fellow Independent Councillor, am focussed on what our residents want and need. To seek every opportunity to understand your needs and represent them in the North Kesteven District Council.

I hope to develop closer ties with our respective Parish Councils and be able to support them whenever and wherever I can in the interest of all residents.

I look forward to meeting many more residents in the coming months.

Thank you again

For information and assistance  - please contact:

Cllr_Richard_Johnston@n-kesteven.gov.uk  mob. 07847 235 285

Cllr_Chris_Goldson@n-kesteven.gov.uk  tel No:  01522 689302

From Cllr Chris Goldson

Polling day on May 4th 2023 marked the end of what had been a hectic six-week North Kesteven District Council election campaign covering what is a large new Skellingthorpe and Eagle Ward.

Now that “the dust has settled” I have had the chance to absorb the result, which was absolutely fantastic and could not have been achieved without the tremendous help and encouragement I received. After thirty-two years as a Member of the District Council I am really appreciative that residents have extended their trust in me for a further four years.

May I extend my heartfelt thanks to all for both the messages of support during the election and at the ballot box, for which I am truly most grateful.

I look forward to working with residents and the Parish Councils and helping and assisting in any way I can, although I very firmly hold the view that Parish Councils must always be allowed to operate, without outside influence, as a Local Authority in their own right.

I cannot and will not promise I can attend every PC meeting or send in monthly reports. What I can say is I am happy to meet to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest to the Parishes and District Council at any time.

I am sure the next four years will present its challenges and difficulties, but all of these can be overcome by working and meeting together face to face in a spirit of goodwill and understanding.

Finally, may I make the same two promises that I have made before. Firstly, I will do my best. Secondly, I will uphold the right to be independent in everything I do at NKDC.

Once again, a massive thank you to you all.

Best wishes

Chris

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