August 2020 Minutes (19th)
Minutes of the meeting held on 19 August 2020
Present
Cllr Hinton (Chairman), Cllr Harvey (Vice Chairman), Cllrs Brooman, Farley, Haywood, McLaughlin, Thomas, Webber
In attendance
County Cllr B Adams
Apologies
Cllr Goodman
1. Declarations of interest
Cllr Farley declared a pecuniary interest with regard to agenda items 8A and 8B
2. Approve minutes 15 July 2020
The notes of the 15 July meeting were approved as minutes and will be signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Thomas, seconded by Cllr Hayward, all in favour.
3. Matters arising
County Cllr B Adams was still investigating information on the application for a biodigester at Angel Wells.
4. County Council matters
County Cllr B Adams said that all LCC meetings were still virtual. Emergency executive powers were still in power. LCC had received government funds to cover Covid-19. Bus services for school children would cost up to £2M in order to comply with social distancing. Cllr Adams will take up the issue of potholes highlighted by Cllr Hayward with Highways Manager.
5. District Council matters
County Cllr Adams was informally covering for the District Councillor following District Cllr C Benn’s resignation; no election can take place until 2021. County Cllr Adams advised SKDC was managing well financially at present. A government white paper on future planning processes had been published and SKDC would give its response within ten weeks.
6. Committees memberships - Amenities Working Group and Planning Working Group
Cllr Harvey proposed to elect Cllr Farley onto the Amenities Working Group - seconded by Cllr Webber, all in favour.
Cllr Thomas proposed to elect Cllr McLaughlin and Cllr Brooman onto the Planning Working Group - seconded by Cllr Farley, all in favour. Cllr Goodman has resigned from the Planning Working Group. Patrick Candler will continue his involvement with the Amenities Working Group as a co-opted member.
7. Planning issues - verbal report submitted by the Cllr Thomas on behalf of the Planning Working Group; approval for Castle Bytham PC to respond to Little Bytham PC to propose liaison on planning applications in proximity to parish boundaries, and vice versa. Cllr Brooman proposed to liaise with surrounding Parish Councils and SKDC with regard to planning applications which may impact several villages. All in favour.
8. Planning.
A) S20/1136 - Mr Will Stanton. Proposed change of use of ancillary barn to create two bedroom B&B guest accommodation, 9-11 The Castle Inn, High Street, Castle Bytham. The Councillors voted in favour of this application by a majority - proposed by Cllr Hayward, seconded by Cllr Thomas; Cllr Farley abstained from the vote. The Councillors voted in favour of this application by a majority - proposed by Cllr Hayward, seconded by Cllr Thomas; Cllr Farley abstained from the vote.
B) S20/1137 - Mr Will Stanton.Proposed change of use of ancillary barn (listed building) to create two bedroom B&B guest accommodation, 9-11 The Castle Inn, High Street, Castle Bytham. The Councillors voted in favour of this application by a majority - proposed by Cllr Hayward, seconded by Cllr Thomas; Cllr Farley abstained from the vote.
C) S20/1251 - Mr and Mrs W Sacker. Removal of condition 2 (agricultural occupancy tie) of SK19/1463/87/2569, Pepperidge Farm, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors voted unanimously in favour of this application - proposed by Cllr Farley, seconded by Cllr Harvey.
D) S20/1317 - Tracey Featherstone. Crown reduce beech tree; Ridgecrest, 38 Cumberland Gardens, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objections to this application.
E) S20/1293 - Mike Wade. Erection of car port; 15 Glen Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors voted unanimously in favour of this application - proposed by Cllr Thomas, seconded by Cllr Harvey.
SKDC has granted permission for tree work at Rectory Farm, 26 Glen Road - S20/1132
SKDC has refused prior notification details for the conversion of an agricultural barn to two dwellings at Angel Wells Farm - S20/0852
9. Amenities Working Group report
Playing field - Cllr Harvey had carried out a visual inspection on 17 August. The smashed picnic bench’s debris was yet to be removed; Cllr Farley offered help with its clearing. Cllr Hayward said that any replacement benches should be secured on a hard surface to avoid them being moved for grass cutting. Cllr Webber said that any future projects for the playing field should be overseen by a project manager. The pond sluice gate annual review of its operation - Richard Kent carried out an inspection some weeks ago and confirmed it is operating satisfactorily. He has also provided a spare key for the sluice to the PC. Openreach had re-routed phone cables around the trees in Swayfield Road as overgrown trees were in danger of pulling down the lines; debris branches had been left on verges and looked unsightly - Cllr Hinton will write to the landowner to ask for assistance in removing the debris. Cemetery - Tommy Plummer will plant the replacement Austrian pine at the cemetery in October; a site visit will be arranged to ensure that the location for planting chosen by the parish council was workable. Two quotations for the installation of walkways at the cemetery had been received and a third expected soon. A budget will be calculated for future work on trees, problem areas and potential costs from contractors as some of the ground work identified was beyond the scope of Michael Wright, disposal of debris being one example. The medium/long term plan needed to be costed before any work is done to implement the new cemetery paths; any work requiring plant on site would be undertaken before the new path is laid to avoid damage. The cast iron fence repair will be done after the harvest, by John Turner. Upper Green - the kerb on the corners of the Upper Green were hard to see and drivers had damaged their cars trying to negotiate them; the Councillors agreed to paint the kerbs yellow - the cost of paint is within the emergency purchase budget. The perimeter post and scaffold fencing were looking shabby, with some wooden posts rotting or damaged; Cllr Hinton suggested repainting as a short term improvement but replacement fencing would be costed. Upper Green Land Registry application in order for the Parish Council to take legal possession of the entire Upper Green would be undertaken with Cllr McLaughlin’s assistance. Various options were considered for the new location of the sand bin that had gone missing from behind the village hall and found in Counthorpe Lane. Wheelie bin 30mph stickers - the scheme will be extended to Holywell Road, Clipsham Road with current stock of stickers. An application to SKDC to extend the scheme to other parts of the village by Cllr Hinton.
10. Replacement picnic benches at the playing field
The Councillors agreed to place an order for a replacement benches with ‘Men in Sheds’. Cllr Thomas will provide contact details for the company.
11. Free Activity Holiday Club for Children scheme
The Councillors unanimously agreed to join the Free Activity Club for Children scheme for 2021, with Cllr Goodman in charge of liaising with Jack Hubbard from Finding Fitness. An article will appear in Glenside News to promote the scheme.
12. Installation of a BMX track
Cllr Hinton said that the quotation for the smallest BMX track from Wicksteed was £20,000; the Councillors agreed that the cost was prohibitive and that a track would take up too large an area of the playing field. Cllr McLaughlin pointed out that parents could get together and take their children to the Market Deeping BMX track. Cllr Hinton said that, alternatively, Morkery Woods and public rights of way bridle paths and restricted byways can legally be used for BMX riding.
13. Location for additional dog waste bag dispenser at the south end of the village and approve cost purchase dispenser
The Councillors unanimously approved the purchase of a dog waste bag dispenser at a cost of £79 to be located next to the grit bin at Bytham Heights. The purchase of a post at a cost of £16 was also approved - proposed by Cllr Webber, seconded by Cllr McLaughlin. A utility service record check will be carried out prior to installing the post. The purchase of a litter bin for the south end of the village will be discussed at the September meeting.
Discuss installation of village gateways
Cllr Hinton said that village gateways helped traffic calming and reinforced the fact for drivers that they were transiting from a main road into a village road. This item will be back on the agenda at a future date.
14. Flower displays at village entrances
Cllr Farley proposed the installation of flower displays at the entrances to the village and will provide costs etc for the September meeting; this initiative would provide pride in the village for residents who could get involved by sponsoring a flower trough and helping with their upkeep. Cllr Thomas suggest publishing an article in Glenside News outlining the proposals. Cllr Hinton said that the PC had also received a proposal for “gateways” at the village entrances some months ago. The two options are mutually linked as they both improve the appearance of the approaches into the village and have the effect of reducing traffic speeds at those points. Highways approval will be required for the location of the troughs and gateways. However, a similar project had been proposed in 2012 and approved by LCC Highways. Cllr Hinton will update and circulate the brief on the subject to the PC before the September meeting.
15. Burial Committee matters. Ratify grant of right for plot 3/21, two memorial requests and an additional inscription request.
The Councillors unanimously ratified grant of right for plot 3/21, two memorial requests and a request for additional memorial inscription.
16. Annual report
Cllr Hinton had circulated a draft annual report which will be published on the new website. Cllr McLaughlin offered help with the Upper Green Land Registration.
17. Correspondence - seen
- SKDC Democracy Services - public speaking at planning committee on 2 September for applications S19/0180, S20/0286, S19/2208, S19/2142 at The Old Quarry, Station Road
- Nigel Allsopp - advice on estimation of cost for village entrance gateways
- Barry Payne - report of blocked gulley at St James’s Passage
- LALC- training for new Councillors 8 September
- SKDC - new Principal Conservation Officer
- Public sector executive
- YMCA Community Lincs news and updates
- SKDC - parish news update
- LALC e-news
- PSE online
- Rural services network
- Lincolnshire local resilience forum
- LALC - remote meeting legislation update
- Lindsey Westman - planning and/or neighbourhood plan training
- Invest SK
- LCC town and parish council newsletter
- Amy Bestwick - Covid community support
- LCC - warning of business posing as council highways for tarmacking
Accounts
Credited:
HMRC - VAT refund £2,082.87 [BACS]
A Woodhouse - grant of right balance £63.00
H.J.M Memorials - memorial £95
Cheques approved:
M Wright - mowing £196.00 [101259]
Streetwise Environmental - playing field mowing £62.40 [101260]
Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr Hayward reported dog noise at night and will try to establish who the dog belongs to. The vegetation near the bench at The Old Smithy needed tidying up.
Cllr Brooman said that the Big Clean carried out by SKDC had left debris that was only cleared the next day and that it would be useful in future to be informed in advance of Big Clean operation.
Cllr Harvey asked for a Parish Council Zoom meeting with regard to public speaking on 2 September at SKDC Planning Committee during which four applications relating to The Old Quarry, Station Road will be discussed. An extraordinary meeting of the PC will be arranged for 26 August at 19.30.
Cllr Hinton said that he had registered to speak at SKDC’s Skype Planning Meeting on 2nd September and would prepare a written submission for each of the four applications; Councillors will send any comments to Cllr Hinton prior to the
Extraordinary PC 26 August meeting to discuss the 4 Applications for the Quarry development.