September 2018 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2018
Present
Cllr Dennis (Chairman), Cllrs Candler, Goodman, Hinton, Martindale, Thomas, Webber.
In attendance
District Cllr Mr M Wilkins; 2 members of the public.
Apologies
Cllr Harvey, Cllr Hayward, County Cllr Mr B Adams.
1. Declarations of interest
None.
2. Approve minutes 15 August 2018
The notes of the meeting held on 15 August 18 were approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Goodman, seconded by Cllr Thomas, all in favour.
3. Matters arising
The straw bales have been removed from Church Lane.
4. County Council matters
Some potholes were still waiting to be filled.
5. District Council matters
District Cllr Mr M Wilkins said that the Gravity Fields Festival was to start on 26 September.
SKDC was to launch a lottery, the proceeds of which were to benefit local causes.
6. Planning issues –verbal report from Planning Working Group
It was agreed that application S18/1673 would be discussed at the 17 October meeting as it had been received too late to appear on the agenda.
S17/1315, Priory Farmyard - Richardson Chartered Surveyors had replied to the 15 August letter from the PC, acknowledging a misunderstanding between both parties. SKDC have not yet received an amended application or any communication from the Agents.
7. Planning applications to be discussed
A) S18/1594 – JW and S Cooper; erection of agricultural building, Willow Quarry, Little Bytham Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application with the condition that the building and site would be used for agricultural use only; as the site was a dormant quarry, the Councillors wished to know whether a change of use application would be required.
B) S18/1621 – Mr W Sacker; prior approval relating to the change of use of an agricultural building to a dwelling house; Pepperidge Farm, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.
SKDC has granted planning permission to application S18/1300 for a two-storey over basement dwelling with approval sought for access on land adjacent to 37 Station Road.
District Cllr Mr M Wilkins said that planning decision results will continue to be forwarded to parish councils – there had been a movement to stop notifying PCs.
8. Discuss school transport provision
Cllr Webber said that it was too early in the school term for exact pupil figures but reported that The Bythams School in Little Bytham, Charles Read in Corby Glen, Stamford Welland Academy, Casterton, Stamford College and Grantham schools were served by various bus companies; Stamford Endowed Schools benefited from their own private service. Bourne schools were the only ones whose bus service did not pick up from Castle Bytham although it did from Little Bytham. This item will be back on the agenda in October – Cllr Webber will find out the number of children attending Bourne schools and whether Delaine could have an additional pick up point from Castle Bytham .
9. Discuss budget for future work on trees at various locations
It was agreed that three quotations would be obtained for work on trees at the cemetery and upper green. Michael Wright will be asked to remove ivy from the ash tree at the river bank.
10. Cemetery matters – memorial application; discuss quotations for work on trees.
An application to replace a memorial was unanimously approved; there would be no charge as a fee had already been paid for the memorial currently in situ. A quotation of £280 was received for a report on a fir tree deemed dangerous -Cllr Hinton will have the public footpath closed as a precaution; the Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the expenditure for the report and three quotations for any work to be carried out would be sought. Additional quotations will also be obtained for work on trees likely to cause damage to roofs in Cumberland Gardens.
11. Discuss quotation for construction waiting area next to Station Road bus shelter
A quotation of £1,700 was received and unanimously accepted for a 3mx2m concrete slab and roll top child friendly fencing with strong post to be installed next to the bus shelter.
12. Insurance claim for two stolen grit bins and one damaged grit bin
The Cumberland Gardens and Water Lane grit bins were stolen and a grit bin at the side of the village hall was damaged late August. The police were informed and an insurance claim is being processed. It was agreed to replace the three bins with Glasdon bins together with fixing kits to prevent theft. Michael Wright will be asked to transfer the spilled sand from the village hall damaged bin into another bin.
13. Amenities Working Party report
Cllr Hinton presented his report – the monthly playing field inspection was carried out on 10 September, with nothing to report. Cllr Hinton will attend the LALC Playground Inspection training on 25 September. A coat of Sandolin has been applied to the bench at the Morkery Lane/Water Lane junction; Cllr Hinton made a temporary repair to a broken stile at that location and reported to LCC who allocated it as category 3 repair(when resources are available). The Councillors agreed to purchase three dog waste bag dispensers at a cost of £79 each +VAT and a case of 800 bags at a cost of £26 +VAT; the dispensers will be located next to the waste bins at the playing field, pond and High Street bus shelter. Lincs Road Safety Partnership require another £40 to carry out a survey for SID locations – the initial £40 was merely a joining fee for the scheme; clerk to send cheque and copy of the PC’s insurance policy. Options for Upper Green step replacement/renovation will be revisited - Cllr Dennis reiterated the urgency of the situation. A Recreation field Development Plan was being prepared for initial consideration by the AWP. Replacement footpaths signs were under consideration – Castle Bytham finials could be fitted to the top of existing posts and new finger signposts would display the approved walking man symbol, destination and distance for each footpath, which has been calculated by Cllr Hinton; cost would be around £220 +VAT/post; the signs inside the village boundary would be replaced first. Cllr Dennis said that the expense would be considered for the next precept. The uneven slabs on the public footpath could be replaced by hardcore along the rear of The Old School; paint would be purchased for the fence and the fence repair quotation from John Turner accepted; this work will not be carried out until a decision is reached regarding the state of the Fir tree causing the damage. Seasonal advice hot/cold/wet will appear on the website. Maintenance logs of any work, inspections carried out will from now on be kept. Clerk to ask Michael Wright to clear Church Lane pavement.
14. Report on Castle Bytham Village Hall Committee
Cllr Dennis reported that flooring and cubicles for the new toilets were installed; doors and plumbing to be completed. The main hall had been redecorated. All the work had been done within budget. A final invoice of £2830.60, the balance of the £5000 parish council grant was approved by the Councillors. A wine and nibbles event to which all villagers would be invited was planned for the 8 November. The AGM will take place on 14 November. The village hall will need to raise £3000/annum in order to break even.
15. Correspondence – seen
a. Letter from the PCC asking the PC to take over the cost of mowing of the graveyard. This was discussed and approved in principle but will be ratified at the October meeting when insurance provision for Michael Wright who currently carried out the mowing every three weeks for 2.5 hours would also be discussed.
b. LALC News – 166 Edition
c. Resilient Lincs
d. Fenland Leisure – operational inspection playing field to be carried out in September
16. Accounts
The followings were approved and signed:
- Rick Webster – playing field mowing £153.60 [101155]
- M Wright – cemetery, upper green St James’s Lane £84.00 [101156]
- M Cooke – salary 26 weeks £1035.01 [101157]
- HMRC – clerk’s PAYE £258.75 [101158]
- Lincs Road Safety Partnership – survey for SID £40.00 [101159]
- Village Hall Committee – final invoice towards grant for new toilets £2830.60 [101160]
17. Councillors’ verbal reports
None.