March
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Goode, Hayward, Lee
In attendance
Two members of St James’s PCC, two MCS Groundcare contractors, one member of the public
Apologies
Cllr Dugmore, Cllr Morritt, County Cllr C Vernon, District Cllr P Robins
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Approve minutes 21 February 2024
The record of the 21 February meeting was approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman; proposed by Cllr Goode, seconded by Cllr Hayward, all in favour.
3.Matters arising
All matters arising were on the agenda.
4.County Council matters
Deferred.
5.District Council matters
District Cllr P Robins had sent in her report: SKDC Update – March 2024. The administration passed a Labour Party motion on Ethical Investments; the Coalition voted against, warning that this would lower income for the council and increase council tax. In February the council tax motion locking in a 2.99% increase for SKDC was passed; members voted against arguing for a lower increase in council tax paid for with savings. SK Coalition won a vote to allocate £60,000 as a reserve to collect litter on the A1; Newark and Sherwood District Council have proved this can be done and this is the responsibility of SKDC. 7000 silver recycling bins were not collected in SKDC in one week in late February; the cost and impact of these events was awaited - they made regional and national headlines. As from the beginning of this week (18.3.24) the policing of the bins will commence. There be an increase in the number of bins being rejected for the wrong items. The budget for the new waste depot is £8 million which has now been increased by 10% due to increase in project costs. To date nothing has been started on the new site (Turnpike close) the old site has out grown its use and it is difficult for the wagons to get in and out of the current site. A Stamford Town Councillor ran a petition in Stamford against car parking charges – 2500 signatures were against the idea of doing this. Cllr Richard Cleaver (Deputy Leader) supported the increase. Starting next year, Lincolnshire will receive more than ten times as much funding £37.5 million a year – to invest in its local transport. In total £262 million has been allocated for our local authority to spend between 2025 and 2032, which compares to a £3.3 million allocation for this year and under the existing funding mechanism.
6.SKDC Local Plan Review – Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan Consultation
Cllr McLaughlin had studied the Plan in detail and reported that there were no changes affecting the Parish; Cllr McLaughlin will e-mail the response to SKDC.
7.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group
Cllr McLaughlin said that the Parish Council had already responded to application S23/1881 because the deadline for comments could not be extended beyond 18 March - there were no comments on the application. Application S24/0258 related to structural problems with the existing buildings - a prefab bungalow’s foundations were not sufficient for the new home; the Planning Working Group had no comments to add to those returned for the primary application. There were no comments for application S24/0344 apart from the usual recommendations regarding the parking of works vehicles, hours of work. Cllr Brooman said that application S23/1942 for a dwelling on Holywell Road had gone to appeal. Cllr McLaughlin had attended the presentation on the proposed Coronation Wood, which will lie 2/3 in Rutland and 1/3 in Lincolnshire and will look like Stretton’s Millenium Woodland. Cllr McLaughlin had concerns about the construction ground work period prior to tree planting during which low loading JCBs and other vehicles will have to drive through Castle Bytham because of Clipsham’s weight limit for vehicles; two new car parks would be created. Cllr McLaughlin will circulate draft comments to the Councillors. SKDC has granted planning permission to the following applications: S23/2178 - 1-3 The Old Wheatsheaf, Castlegate; S23/2179 - 1-3 The Old Wheatsheaf, Castlegate; S23/2298 – Stoneybrook Cottage, 12 Water Lane; S24/0274 – 5 Day Notice, removal od dead Rowan Tree, 11 Glen Road; S23/2073 – The Old Vicarage, Little Bytham Road.
SKDC had granted planning permission to the following applications:
8.Planning. A) S23/1881 – Mr Jamie Sopp. Conversion of agricultural building to dwellinghouse. Revised scheme following approval of S20/0057; Caravan At Owls Lodge, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had returned no comments on this application on 18 March. B) S24/0258 – Mr and Mrs Hollingsworth. Demolish existing dwelling and replace with new dwelling; Stonehaven, Kennels, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no comments on this application. C) S24/0344 - Mr Shearing. Proposed single storey extension to the rear; 8 Castlegate, Castle Bytham. The Councillors had no comments on this application apart from the recommendations for hours of work, parking of works vehicles, clearing up of mud on the road.
9.Risk assessment
Deferred until the April meeting. Cllr Dugmore had suggested adding a new risk item: extreme weather - damage to infrastructure (bus shelters), trees and flooding.
10.Amenities Working Group report - playing field mowing contract; mowing contract all other areas
The 2024 playing field maintenance contract was renewed with BDG Mowing contractors; the contract for all other areas to be mown was awarded to MCS Groundcare & Garden Services who will also maintain St James’s churchyard. Churchyard. Cllr Hayward will give the upper green steps handrail another coat of wood preservative before fitting it. Laminated FixMyStreet posters with details of the App will be displayed.
11.Change of e-mail addresses to.gov.uk
The e-mail addresses for the Councillors are being set up. The new address for the Parish Council is: clerk@castlebythampc.gov.uk
12.Burial Committee matters - sale grant of right for plot 4/4
The paperwork for the sale grant of right for plot 4/4 was signed by the Chairman.
13.Correspondence
SKDC – notice of election; Police and Crime Commissioner 2 May
SKDC – Community Resilience Plan
Rural Services Network bulletins
PKH Littlejohn – external audit, deadline 2 July
SKDC - Consultation Draft Local Plan
SKDC weekly planning mail lists
LCC – section 19 flood investigation
LCC Towns & Parishes jobsite – advertising prices 2024-25
Lincolnshire PCC – Lincolnshire Police engagement session
LCC Towns & Parish Councils update
Parish Online
LALC E-news
SKDC – more time allocated for recycling changes
Mallard Pass solar farm update
LCC – notification of temporary traffic restriction; public Right of Way closure order, PROW 8 between Glen Road and a point 450m East from 21.3.24.until 27.6.24
14.Accounts
Cllr Brooman said that the accounts looked healthy but that caution should be applied in the next
financial year because the 6% inflation meant that reserves will be used to cover expenses. A grant
will be applied for to cover the village pump’s repair cost.
The following payments were credited:
- A Woodhouse - grant of right, burial £382.00
- Barclays Bank - interest savings account 1 £0.18
- Barclays Bank - interest savings account 2 £0.01
The following payments were approved:
- Cloud Next - .gov.uk Domain £12.00
- Cloud Next - home hosting £59.98
- Anglian Water - cemetery £17.51
- M Cooke - salary, 26 Weeks £1138.50
- HMRC - clerk’s PAYE £284.63
- Unity Trust Bank - service charge £18.00
The internal auditor, Mr Dhruv Pandya will carry out the internal audit on 25 April.
15.Councillors’ verbal reports
-Cllr McLaughlin will draw up a list of jobs for quarterly volunteer work parties – on agenda at the April meeting.
-Cllr Hayward said that the wire fences at The Old Quarry on Station Road had been moved; Cllr Brooman said that King West agents will be contacted about this issue; Network Rail have completed their work on the bridge.
The meeting ended at 20.50