October
CASTLE BYTHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2024
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Dugmore, Goode, Sismey-Durrant
In attendance
County Cllr C Vernon, District Cllr P Robins, one member of St James’s PCC
Apologies
Cllr Hayward, Cllr Lee
- Declarations of interest
None
- Approve minutes 18 September 2024
The record of the meeting held on 18 September 2024 was approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Goode, seconded by Cllr McLaughlin, all in favour.
- Co-option of a candidate
The Councillors voted unanimously in favour of co-opting Dr Helen Sismey-Durrant onto the Parish Council
- Signing of Acceptance of Office form
Cllr Sismey-Durrant and the Clerk signed the Acceptance of Office form.
- Matters arising
All matters arising were on the agenda.
- County Council matters
County Cllr C Vernon presented her report - the Winter Fuel Allowance can be claimed by pensioners in receipt of pension credit; friends and family can apply online on behalf of pensioners if need be. Posters to be widely displayed to inform residents. Lincolnshire Police has launched a dementia campaign; a yellow wristband can be worn by people living with dementia; whenever a person appears lost or confused the wristband can be scanned to display all details necessary for help.Posters will be available to advertise this initiative. Street lights will take a few days to adjust after the clocks go back at the end of October. Villages could work together to deliver the Community Speedwatch Campaign. Creeton quarry lorries had been travelling through Castle Bytham in great numbers during road closures at Creeton/Swinstead and the problem carried on for a while even after roads were re-opened.Vehicles driving with overweight loads or down roads not agreed for use in a quarry’s operational contract can be reported to ‘Lorry Watch’. Cllr McLaughlin had researched the planning application for Creeton Quarry - a planning restraint was in place and enforceable unless the road is closed up to Counthorpe Bridge. Parking in the High Street near Castle Inn - LCC will come and discuss options.
- District Council matters
District Cllr Penny Robins presented her report - The leader of the Council has written to Rachel Reeves in support of retaining a more workable Winter Fuel Allowance. M.P Alicia Kearns is treating this as a hot topic and is fully on board with this. Cllr Robins will update when necessary. Alicia Kearns has launched a Pension Credit campaign to make sure all those who are eligible in our community are signed up ahead of the winter months. The final deadline to apply for Pension Credit in order to receive the Winter Fuel payment is the 21st December. It is currently taking approximately 6/8 weeks for the DWP to process claims. A major voids contract has been awarded for 2 years in the hope that some unused properties can be returned to SKDC stock. South Kesteven District Council is pleased to present its Tree Planting Guide, designed to provide advice to town and parish councils and guide community groups on how they can best ensure the success of local tree planting initiatives. Cllr Robins would like to take this opportunity to remind the Parish Council of the 100% funded, Make Space for Nature Biodiversity Projects Scheme, which also includes tree planting. Following a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Green Space Improvement, South Kesteven District Council is looking to support town and parish-led rewilding initiatives that will provide biodiversity and social amenity value across the district. The first application window will shortly close on Monday 28th October 2024. This will be followed by a second deadline of Monday 16th December 2024. Cllr Robins had no updates on future construction work at The Old Quarry, Station Road.
- Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group
Cllr McLaughlin said that application S24/1643 was a straightforward application which did not necessitate any comments from the Parish Council. Cllr McLaughlin has updated the planning spreadsheet with all applications and decisions. Comments will be sent to SKDC regarding the developer’s application for changes to Section 106 for The Old Quarry, Station Road development.
- Planning. S24/1643 - Mr Richard Goodman. Section 211 notice for works to pollard or fell two mature ash trees; 34 Water Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no comments on this application.
- Amenities Working Group report
Deferred.
The cemetery rough grass at the north corner will be cut back two or three times a year.
- Purchase Christmas tree
The Councillors agreed to purchase a Christmas tree for the Upper Green from Snowbird. Clerk to place the order.
- Burial Committee matters
None
- Correspondence
- RBL - Remembrance bench
- SKDC - weekly planning lists
- Parish Online
- A Kearns, MP - pension credit campaign
- Greater Lincolnshire Devolution
- Query from resident - Heathcote Road forthcoming works
- Bythams Community Sop -annual shareholders meeting
- RSN - rural funding deposit
- Town and Parish Councils newsletter
- Accounts
Cllr Brooman said that the accounts were in a good position.
The following payments were approved:
- Fenland Leisure - playing field annual safety inspection £93.60
- Castle Bytham Children’s Activities; Christmas Party Section 137 donation £300.00
- MCS Ground Care - mowing £450.00
- BDG Mowing - playing field £360.00
- Unity Trust Bank - service charge £18.00
- JRB Enterprise - dog waste bags £76.98
- Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr Brooman attended the Flooding Summit organised by MP Alicia Kearns on 4 October in Careby. Riparian owners have a legal duty to maintain and keep all areas of land adjacent to a watercourse/pond clear of debris. Castle Bytham’s Emergency Plan was good and an article will appear in Glenside News regarding the formation of an Emergency Response Team in order to recruit people in the community who have the skills/equipment; a WhatsApp group will be set up - an article will appear in Gleside News.
Cllr Dugmore attended the Parish and Town Councils Forum on 8 October in Market Deeping; the forum was chaired by Cllr Ashley Baxter. The magazine SK Today needed to be promoted and made available in hard copy as well as online.