February 2020 Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2020

Present

Cllr Hinton (Chairman), Cllr Harvey (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Candler, Farley, Goodman, Hayward, Mellows, Thomas, Webber.

In attendance

County Cllr B Adams, District Cllr C Benn, 5 members of the public.

1. Declarations of interest

2. Approve minutes 15 January 2020

3. Matters arising

The interior covert CCTV camera has been removed from the village hall main room.

4. Offer of a Youth Club in Castle Bytham

Two residents gave a presentation on the launch of a Youth Club to be held at the Village Hall and on the playing field. The Councillors unanimously agreed to donate £300 to help towards the project and invited them to apply again in June should more funds be necessary; proposed by Cllr Hayward, seconded by Cllr Harvey.

5. County Council matters

County Cllr B Adams said that Network Rail had acknowledged their responsibility for dealing with flooding under railway bridges. A visual safety inspection and map of all trees under PC responsibility was being carried out by the Amenities Committee and details will be sent to County Cllr B Adams. LCC were to undertake a two year programme of footway emergency repair.

6. District Council matters

District Cllr C Benn said the new Local Plan was now posted on SKDC’s website.

7. Risk assessment

Cllr Hinton to look over all risk assessments. This item will be on the agenda at the March meeting. Once reviewed, the risk assessment will be posted on the website.

8. Four Year Plan

The plan will be reviewed at the annual meeting in May.

9. Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group

Cllr Goodman and Cllr Mellows had made a site visit to 26 High Street (10B) and reported that the proposals would bear no impact on the street scene. Cllr Thomas said that the proposals at 2 St Martins (10D) could not be seen from the road.

Cllr Goodman will write an article to appear in Glenside News highlighting the merits of a Neighbourhood Plan (NP); Although the NP is Parish Council led it needs residents to participate in its analysis and drafting. Cllr Goodman will post a message on’ Next Door’ inviting wider public participation. An awareness session will be held in the near future at the village hall. Cllr Hinton had submitted a Neighbourhood Plan grant application of up to £5,700 to support the preparation of the Plan.

10. Planning. A) S20/0057 – Mr Bill Sacker; conversion of agricultural building to dwelling house. Pepperidge Farm,

Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.

B) S20/0067 - A Wilson and A Egan; alterations and rear single storey extension, erection of detached garage and store and alterations to vehicular access. 26 High Street, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.

C) S20/0142 – Mr James Rees; trees in CA – Section 211 Notice; reduce height of yew tree to 4ft. St James’s Church, High Street, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.

D) S20/0200 – Mr Benjamin Shrive; extension of pitched roofed covered storage area. 2 St Martins, Castle Bytham.

The Councillors had no objections to this application.

SKDC granted planning permissions to the following applications:

S19/2170 – Autumn, 8 Water Lane; fell leylandii

S19/2138 – Land off Station Rd; amendment to the rear roof structure of S19/0699

S19/1774 – Land south of Cumberland Gardens; approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (written scheme of archaeological investigation) and 4 9subsurface materials removal) of planning approval S18/1322

11. Amenities Working Group report

The playing field picnic table and benches replacement will be on the agenda at the March meeting; Cllr Candler recommended the PC consider Men in Sheds as a suitable supplier. Tim Smith will repair the end post. Upper green: the two damaged kerb stones at the upper green will be replaced; the removed steps hand rail will be replaced as Michael Wright has confirmed that it does not hinder mowing Cllr Candler said that the Duke of Edinburgh volunteer had been able to borrow the leaf blower from The Spinney to carry out work around the village and offered to lend out the Spinney equipment for community use; an article will appear in Glenside News to offer the opportunity for D of E students to carry out their volunteering in the village. Inspection of trees, annually and in the aftermath of any storms was recommended; tree canopy survey was suggested as a longer term, community project. Cllr Hayward has been reporting potholes to Highways.

12. Cemetery fence repairs – request to agreed expenditure

The Councillors unanimously approve John Turner’s £354 quote for the fence repair.

13. Cemetery paths – quotation for work

The Amenities Committee had obtained one quotation for surfacing the paths with tarmac. Two more quotations were being sought. The Councillors agreed in principle to the re-surfacing of the paths.

14. Cemetery matters

Cllr Farley has confirmed that the cemetery fees were well below those of cemeteries in the area who also double their fees for non-residents; Cllr Farley suggested a 50% increase. This item will be on the agenda at the March meeting.

15. MP Parish Forum meeting

Gareth Davies, MP for Stamford and Grantham has invited Parish Councils’ Chairs to a forum at SKDC Grantham on 20 March at which SKDC’s Leader will also be present. Cllr Hinton will attend and raise queries on local government reorganization, development at the Old Quarry, highways and rural public transport.

16. Pond matters

Cllr Hinton has thanked Richard Kent for his help during heavy rainfalls. Raising the sluice gate at appropriate times had prevented Glen Road becoming flooded. Cllr Hinton to identify possible locations for sand bins.

17. Correspondence

  • District Cllr C Benn – ward member’s grant
  • L Westman – Lincolnshire environmental awards 2020
  • Invest SK
  • Community Lincs news and updates bulletins
  • LALC E-News
  • LCC Engagement – website training session dates for town and parish councils
  • SKDC customer consultation 2020
  • PSE public sector news and analysis
  • Planning Policy – SKDC statement of the adoption of the South Kesteven Local Plan 2011-36
  • LCC Engagement – parish and town councils update newsletter January
  • Rural Services Network
  • Fundraising Officer – Lincolnshire Lowland Search and Rescue
  • Gareth Davies MP - parish forum meeting

18. Accounts

Cheques approved:

Tommy Plummer – tree work at 2 High Street £384.00 [101234]

Youth Club – donation £300.00 [101235]

19. Councillors’ verbal reports

Cllr Hayward asked whether the Parish Council could organise or support an event to mark VE Day.

Cllr Candler said that the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive would attend the April PC meeting.