October 2018 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2018
Present
Cllr Dennis (Chairman), Cllrs Candler, Goodman, Martindale, Thomas, Webber.
In attendance
District Cllr Mr M Wilkins, 4 members of the public
Apologies
Cllrs Harvey, Hayward, Hinton; County Cllr Mr B Adams
During the Public Forum three residents expressed their concerns on the revised number 4 bus service.
1. Declarations of interest
None
2. Approve minutes 19 September 2018
The notes of the meeting held on 19 September 2018 were unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Martindale, seconded by Cllr Webber.
3. Matters arising - Insurance claim for two stolen grit bins and one damaged grit bin; waiting area platform next to Station Road bus shelter; SID locations approval
The insurers have agreed to settle the claim for three Glasdon grit bins minus £100 excess - figures will be provided at the next meeting. Work has started on the waiting area platform next to Station Road bus shelter.
LCC Road Safety Partnership were to carry out the survey of SID locations proposed by the PC. A cheque would be signed for the British Legion poppy wreath presented annually by the PC.
4. County Council matters
A letter will be sent to LCC regarding the absence of consultation before the recent amendments to the bus service to Stamford/Grantham and their consequences. The village has effectively been left without a basic service - under the new arrangements Castle Bytham, winstead, Creeton and Swayfield residents have to book a seat in advance of travel- the 0345 number to book a journey and the waiting time to speak to a staff member make these compulsory reservations expensive. This situation has serious implications for those getting to work or seeking work therefore needing to attend interviews, for medical appointments at the Corby Glen surgery branch, for residents without cars/internet needing to shop in town. There are also serious concerns about the safety aspect of the roadside from Little Bytham to Castle Bytham for residents having to walk 2.5 miles to Little Bytham, now the nearest bus stop; the absence of a pedestrian path and lighting along that road has already been brought to LCC’s attention. A copy of the letter will sent to the MP, A letter will be sent to LCC Highways pointing out that work on potholes has not been kept to schedule. Cllr Hayward had already written to County Cllr Mr B Adams highlighting the bad state of repair of Glen Road and Water Lane.The 30mph sign that had been knocked down on Little Bytham Road had been reported to LCC.
5. District Council matters
The Water Lane road sign at the junction with Morkery Lane has been uprooted; the damage was reported to SKDC in September.
6. Planning issues –verbal report from Planning Working Group
None
7. Planning applications to be discussed
A) S18/1625. Mr Jack Pryor – change of use of land to equestrian including the construction of a single storey timber stables and riding arena on an existing prepared site; Old Quarry House, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.
B) S18/1684 – Mr Peter Hinton – change of building design to S17/0446. The new design has the same 12m x 12m footprint as S17/0446 but has a simplified twin pitch roof layout; Land Opposite 39 And 41 Station Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application
C) S18/1673. Mr R Hix – Section 73 application to remove condition 7 (affordable housing) of outline planning permission S17/2137; Pineview, Holywell Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors were concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the village; however, as this site is only 0.47 hectare they understood that Section 73 does not apply to sites below 5 hectare.
D) S18/1534 – Mr and Mrs D Daniels – erection of single storey rear extension; Zetland House, Little Bytham Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.
SKDC had refused application S18/1621 at Pepperidge Farm, Morkery Lane for prior approval relating to the change of use of an agricultural building to a dwelling house.
8. Discuss school transport provision
Cllr Webber reported that although 16 children from the village attended school in Bourne and that Delaine operate a school bus service from Little Bytham to Bourne, when Delaine were approached to extend the service to Castle Bytham they reported that, due to the general state of the road, overhanging trees and lack of turning area in Castle Bytham, their double decker bus could not safely travel to Castle Bytham. A piece will appear in Glenside News asking parents of Bourne school children for their views on the bus transport provision and offer to meet with the Parish Council.
9. Review of polling districts and polling places consultation
The Parish Council was happy with the present arrangements.
10. Discuss quotations for future work on trees at various locations
Further quotations were awaited.
11. Cemetery matters – quotations for work on trees; request for work to make safe two headstones Quotations for work on trees were still awaited. Tim Smith will be asked for a verbal quotation for stabilising the two headstones and agreement for expenditure will be carried out via e-mail. Fence repair would cost £185 - £225 as per J Turner’s quotation;[another quotation of £750 had been received] - however, should the tree overhanging the fence be deemed unsafe it would be dealt with in a first instance. The Amenities Working Group will liaise with T Lee regarding the cemetery ground to find out whether he could provide a free quotation for improvements to all areas including the rough area at the top end. The village will be consulted on future works and associated expenditure. Michael Wright was making use of the purchased top soil to level sunken graves.
12. Request for financial assistance from the PCC for graveyard grass mowing
The Councillors were unanimously in favour of funding 2.5 hours grass cutting every three weeks from Spring 2019 onwards.The cost would be around £300/annum.
13. Amenities Working Party report - discuss purchase of Christmas tree for the upper green; discuss purchase of footpaths finger posts
The playing field was inspected by Cllr Hinton on 24 September. Cllr Hinton had attended a course on three tier inspection. An updated cost estimate for a previous quotation for removal and rebuilding of the two sets of steps at the upper green would be obtained.
Cllr Candler arrived at 21.40. Cllr Goodman gave apologies and left at 21.45.
An expenditure up to £150 for a Christmas tree at the upper green was unanimously agreed. Finger posts purchase was deferred until the next meeting.
14. Report on Castle Bytham Village Hall Committee
Nothing to report in the absence of a meeting.
15. Correspondence – seen
a. Paul Sanders, LCC Passenger Transport Manager - service 4 revised route and timetable
b. BS Lancaster House - winter self help and mutual aid
c. N Allsopp on SID
d. Rural Services Network
e. LALC - local councils networking day presentation
f. East Midlands Community Led Housing - invitation to road show
g. Public Sector Executive Online
h. Women in Local Government
i. Community Lincs - news and updates
16. Accounts
The following cheques were approved:
- Fenland Leisure - playing field annual safety inspection £120.00 [101161]
- JRB Enterprise Ltd - dog waste bag dispensers x3, fixings, waste bags £375.66 [101162]
- LALC - local councils networking day £10.00 [101163]
- S Robinson - British Legion Wreath £20.00 [101164]
17. Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr Candler asked for the following item for the next agenda: Commemorative Battle of Bytham 2021 [800th anniversary]
Cllr Dennis had written to the estate agents dealing with the sale of 51 Glen Road to point out the unkempt state of the garden; the solicitors dealing with the estate wrote to say that they would instruct someone to perform remedial works on the garden once they had received the main beneficiary’s authority.