September 2021 Minutes
Present
Cllr Hinton (Chairman), Cllr Brooman (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Harvey, Hayward, McLaughlin, Webber.
In attendance
District Cllr P Robbins, one member of the public
Apologies
Cllr Farley, County Cllr B Adams
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Resignation of Councillor Goodman
Cllr Goodman tendered her resignation on 8 September. A vacancy notice will be displayed on 16 September.
3.Approve minutes 18 August 2021
The notes of the meeting held on 18 August 2021 were approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Harvey, seconded by Cllr Brooman, all in favour.
4.Matters arising - co-option to fill the vacancy following the resignation of Councillor Thomas
No candidates have come forward for co-option.
5.County Council matters
Deferred in County Cllr B Adams’s absence; Cllr Hayward said that Cllr Adams was copied into all e-mails to Highways.
6.District Council matters
District Cllr Robbins said that SKDC were at present providing support to 24 families; this figure was slightly higher than the country’s average. A self-guided walking tour of Historic Grantham had been launched. A reminder had been given on the importance of data protection. SKDC were keeping watch on a couple of planning applications. Cllr Robbins had spoken to Martin Hill with regard to bus services and asked for a review of the tendering process for bus routes. The officer dealing with street lighting was away and nobody else at SKDC able to answer the Parish Council’s queries regarding Station Road.
7.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group
Cllrs Brooman and McLaughlin Thomas had carried out site visits together with former Cllr Sue Thomas who was now a co-opted a member of the Planning Working Group. Cllr Brooman presented the report - S21/1630: a new application will be submitted to change the gable end to stone. The PWG would like the proposed dwelling to be situated further back in order to align with those to be built on that stretch of road. Mr Hodge said that the gable end would be changed to stone and that the garage would be moved further back at the request of neighbours; the house would be in line with the garage of the next plot to the north. S21/1598: the proposed dwelling was over 20 metres away from 42A Station Road; the PWG had no objection to the application - the relevant conditions should be carried forward from previous applications at the site.
8.Planning Applications
A)S21/1598 – Mr Jonathan Wattam. Erection of dwelling Rear Of, 36 Station Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no objection to this application - the relevant conditions should be carried forward from previous applications. B) S21/1630 – Mr and Mrs Hodge. Erection of single dwelling and associated garage with car port. Land West of Station Road, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no comments on this application. C) S21/1794 - Ms Judith Chant. Ornamental Cherry (T1) - Fell.19-21 Pinfold Road, Castle Bytham, The Councillors had no comments on this application.
SKDC has granted planning permission to application S21/1456. Pepperidge Farm, Morkery Lane.
Western Power had started on the Station Road development for Mr Morris. Cllr McLaughlin will put in a request to Western Power for new lighting on Holywell Road following a request from a resident; Cllr Hinton will write to the resident. The PWG had witnessed a lot of clearing already done on the site for S21/1630 during their site visit and had learnt of a reptile mitigation and management clause from a previous application for the site; SKDC will be made aware of these two facts. Cllr Hinton said that Mr Morris’s development of six houses on Station Road had been deducted from the quarry housing total, leading to the loss of 2 affordable homes and £4,000 in S106 funding; District Cllr P Robbins will take the matter back to SKDC. Cllr McLaughlin said that the PWG would like a quarry development sub-group to liaise with developers on a weekly or twice weekly basis.
9.South Kesteven Village Services and Facilities Survey 2021
Cllr Hinton had sent the completed survey back.
10.Request for financial assistance from the Children’s Christmas Party group
The clerk will e-mail the Children’s Christmas Party group who will need to fill in the grant application form available on the website; this item will be back on the agenda at the October meeting.
11.Village Hall Committee 8 October Community Groups event – discuss donation and participation
It was proposed by Cllr McLaughlin, seconded by Cllr Harvey to donate £50 to the Village Hall Committee, all in favour. The Parish Council will provide a display to present some of the Parish Council’s work and projects: planning on Station Road and at the quarry, defibrillator, Community Speed Watch, broadband, playing field development, traffic management plan.
12.Fibre Broadband project
Cllr Brooman had had a meeting with Wendy Sycamore from BT Open Reach. 65 applications had been submitted for this community project. It was proposed by Cllr McLaughlin, seconded by Cllr Harvey to spend up to £50 on leaflet printing to promote broadband; all in favour. Cllr Brooman will also provide an article for Glenside News, update all those who had signed up and organise road champions to explain the process door to door. Two options were possible: 1) should 374 houses sign up in the Castle Bytham surrounding area, the cost would be £326,000 or £872 per house. 2) should 205 houses sign up in Castle Bytham, the cost would be £184,000 or £900. Every house would get a £1500 gigabit voucher. A 30% buffer over the 205 houses would mean no contract would be required; without the buffer a contract would be needed with a legal financial obligation to pay the difference.
13.Projects for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022
Deferred
14.LCC Treescapes fund
Cllr Webber said that types of trees and positioning had been researched. Only one farmer had taken up the offer.
15.Amenities Working Group report
An Amenities Working Group meeting was held on Monday 13th September 2021 with Councillors Harvey, Hayward, Webber
Apologies were received from Councillors Farley and Hinton
Review of August PC notes and matters arising. Cllr Hayward was waiting for responses from 6 companies who have been approached to quote for the upper green railings. It was suggested that we ask Tim Smith to quote for installing and Nigel Allsopp asked if he could supply the posts. Station Road bus shelter has been painted – thank you to Cllr McLaughlin and Ben for carrying out this project. Article for Glenside ref members of the public tidying greenery overhanging footpaths still outstanding. Cllr Hinton to provide wording. Councillor Hayward to ask Tim Smith to quote for village sign stonework repairs. Cllr Hinton to lead on tree survey, to include both greens, recreation ground and all cemetery trees- quotes will be sought for work on the field maple next to a Cumberland Gardens property. The later having been raised as a concern by a member of the public attending to their family grave. Recreation Ground - Cllr Harvey will carry out an inspection with Councillor Hinton and address items highlighted in the ROSPA annual report. The items highlighted are all low risk. LCC Treescape project - The Councillors present had concerns regarding the number and locations of trees suggested in Councillor Hinton’s report regarding the LCC Treescape project. Councillor Harvey and Sheena to research and report on the suggestions. Cemetery - fence painting still to be completed. Only £2,080 for paths, £1848 for tree work and £185 for markers (total 4113) has been spent of the £10,000 Covid Business Grant as all other works carried out on the cemetery is work that had previously been agreed, before grant was received. Suggested that the remaining money be used for the ground improvements and possibly making a digital record of the cemetery records including the identification of the unmarked children’s graves. Mowing - work is still needed on Michael Wright’s mowing schedule as some areas are still being missed; this will need to be clarified further before the start of next season. Cobbles in High Street needed weeding. Pavement by pond needed cleaning. Alan Harvey carried out a Recreation Field Inspection on 15 September 2021 and found the area generally in good condition. Picnic Benches - the old broken bench has now been removed by Michael Wright. All new benches are in position: one securing bracket needs re-tightening, as noted in the ROSPA report. Swings and See-saw - the new swing seats have been fitted – a couple of the securing bolts needed tightening, but were adequately secure. The ROSPA report noted a missing cap on one of the see-saw foot rests. The bolt was recessed and presented no risk to users. Trees - Michael Wright was monitoring the area around the newly planted trees and mowing when appropriate. The large tree between the slide mound and multi-function structure is in a bad state. We have had one informal report suggesting that the whole tree should be removed: a formal recommendation should be part of the general appraisal of trees under the responsibility of the PC in October/November by the appointed surveyor. Castle Mound and slide - barrier posts and fencing were all secure. One post allowed very slight movement if pushed, but remained perfectly safe. Swing gate to footpath beyond “castle” mound remained in good repair. The latch on the main pedestrian gate from Glen Road has now been replaced and the gate is secure. Goal posts remained secure and offer no risk. The ROSPA report refers to one “loose” post, but a substantial and malignant effort would be required to remove it. Covid 19 mitigation warning signs present at both entrances. Basketball structure bolt caps still needed to be replaced. Cllr Hinton had fixed a “No Climbing” sign on the basketball hoop structure (as recommended by ROSPA), but this was removed by persons unknown, and found on Glen Road near the Field entrance. This will be re-fitted with tamper-proof bolts.
16.Recreation Field development – adoption of the Development Plan
Deferred
17.Traffic Management Plan:
a.Adoption of draft Plan - it was proposed by Cllr Harvey, seconded by Cllr McLaughlin to adopt the Traffic Management Plan as a programme of action, all in favour. The Plan will be uploaded to the website.
b.CBPC installation of gateways - Cllr Hinton will submit the location sites to LCC again since the last agreement dated from 2009. The Councillors voted in favour of purchasing white gateways from Glasdon showing the village name and speed limit at a total cost of £5,500; proposed by Cllr McLaughlin, seconded by Cllr Harvey. The gateways will be placed on Clipsham Road, Holywell Road, Morkery Lane and should be installed by the end of November.
c.Community Speed Watch report - Cllr McLaughlin presented her report, which had been circulated to the Councillors prior to the meeting.8 volunteers had come forward, which was enough to get the project up and running. 5 volunteers undertook the formal training on 6th September and completed the indemnity paperwork. 3 more volunteers will undertake training on 4th October. Equipment Required: Radar Gun; £255excl VAT - Cllr McLaughlin is arranging collaboration with Colsterworth to share usage of theirs. CSW Hi Viz long sleeved Jackets, £9.85 each excl VAT; the Councillors voted in favour of spending up to £60 to purchase Hi Viz jackets - proposed by Cllr Hayward, seconded by Cllr Brooman, all in favour. CSW Advisory Signs, £63.29 each excl VAT, two are required. Colsterworth already have them, looking to borrow. Cllr McLaughlin has purchased a Click Counter. Locations: 1) locations for passive signs. LRSP have no record of being notified about these but this is not a great problem and in essence the criteria are that they must be on lamp posts, they must not obstruct the view (particularly at junctions) and the bottom must be at a height that it is no danger to pedestrians if over a pavement / verge. 2) Location for SIDs. We have to have authority from Lincs County Council for the siting of these. LRSP have managed to locate some information. This indicates that sites were selected (although there were some issues with unauthorised mounting plates being erected). 3) Approved locations for roadside checks. This is obviously the new part of CSW and Castle Bytham does not yet have any sites approved and entered onto the Eros system. Actions: Cllr McLaughlin to get items 1,2 and 3 above in locations all approved by LRSP and the CSW locations on the Eros system. Cllr McLaughlin to arrange training for remaining volunteers. Cllr McLaughlin to arrange loan of signs and radar gun from Colsterworth, and check if payment required.
18.Burial Committee matters
None.
19.Correspondence
oLALC News
oRural Services Network bulletin
oDistrict Cllr P Robbins – street lighting
oCastle Bytham Party Girls – senior citizens’ Christmas lunch; donation request
oResident – new Station Road lighting columns
oResident – street lighting on Holywell Road
oRBL shop – preparations for Remembrance 2021
oResident – school bus service to Bourne
oVillage Hall Committee – community event 8 October
oResident – Church Lane road surface
oDan Clayton – Treescapes tree offer
oLCC Parish Council Community newsletter
oStreetlighting – new installation on Station Road
oUnity Trust Bank – account opening acknowledgement
oParish Online newsletter
oROSPA – inspection reports
oChildren’ Christmas Party - Christmas Party donation request
oCounty Cllr B Adams – CCG AGM
oSKDC – vacancy notice
oResident – planning application on Station Road
oYMCA Community Lincs update bulletin August
20.Accounts - audit; Unity Trust Bank
PKF Littlejohn LLP has sent the Notice of Closure for the Audit which will be displayed on the notice boards and the website. Documents will be displayed at the Pinfold Road notice boards and on the website. The switch from Barclays to Unity Trust Bank started on 13 September and will be completed on 21 September. Payments will be made electronically where possible. Cllrs Hinton and Brooman signed a cheque for £258.75 for HMRC, Clerk’s PAYE [300001]
21.Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr McLaughlin led the thanks to Cllr Goodman for her services to the Parish Council.
Cllr Haywardsaid the Parish Council should look at London Hearts defibrillator offer.