May
ASTLE BYTHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2024
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Dugmore, Goode, Hayward
In attendance
County Cllr C Vernon, District Cllr P Robins
Apologies
Cllr Lee
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Approve minutes 17 April 2024
The record of the meeting held on 17 April 2024 was approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Dugmore, seconded by Cllr Goode, all in favour.
3.Matters arising
All matters arising were on the agenda.
4.County Council matters
County Cllr C Vernon said Rutland and Stamford will become a new constituency. The current MP for Rutland, Alicia Kearns had raised the issue of the A1 as an unsafe road in Parliament - any upgrade to the road will need to be centrally funded; there had been 426 deaths on Lincolnshire roads in 2023. Operation Snap has been introduced, whereby people can take a photograph of card being driven dangerously and send it on; drivers would receive a warning letter. Cllr Vernon will have more LCC updates to present at the next meeting.
5.District Council matters
District Cllr P Robins presented her report: from Monday 13th May, SKDC website operatives will begin a round of tag and collect. The tag has been redesigned to be gentler and easier to understand, as well as being more consistent in its application. These ‘oops’ tags will be placed on bins containing contamination, with the waste still collected. Data will be recorded to allow more targeted approach to households with significant contamination, to help with education ahead of the next mixed dry recycles round, starting June 10th. Any residents that leave wheelie bins blocking pathways need to make sure these are moved, this will be monitored and action will be taken if these continue to be left blocking pathways.
The local plan consultation has now closed. With over a thousand representatives received. They will be collated and reviewed by the planning team.
On Tuesday 7th May 2024 a consultation on the Councils draft economic development strategy was launched. People can visit the home page of the SKDC website and have their say.
Work has started on a major transformation of Grantham Market Place into an accessible, public open space fit for the 21st Century. The improvements will drive footfall in Grantham town centre and the market area – and create a multi-use, social space for local people and visitors in the heart of Grantham. This is expected to last around 22 weeks.
Regarding the issue of dog fouling in the village, SKDC understand the significant impact it has on the community. Although signage can sometimes serve as a deterrent, experience has shown that it often has little to no effect on persistent offenders SKDC street scene operatives responsible for the area have been made aware of the situation and efforts will be undertaken to combat dog waste in the community. Additionally, SKDC will involve the neighbourhoods team to explore further strategies to manage this anti-social behaviour. The officers have visited Castle Bytham and erected signage strategically in the village; however they are limited in the number that they can put out as these are used for all the villages.
6.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group
Cllr McLaughlin said that King West had been reminded again of the urgency to reinstate the gate to close the entrance to The Old Quarry on Station Road. A third appeal had been made by the applicant for a dwelling on land at Hollywell Road, S23/1942; the site had now been cleared up.
SKDC has granted planning permission to the following applications: S23/2349 -Zetland House, Little Bytham Road; S24/0241 - Stables and Equestrian Land Angel Wells Farm, Morkery Lane; S24/0403 - Land East Of Park Farm Access Road, Morkery Lane.
7.Internal audit 2023/24
The internal audit was carried out on 25 April by Dhruv Pandya from Aims Accountants. The Councillors unanimously approved the AGAR form which was signed by the Chairman and the Clerk; proposed by Cllr McLaughlin, seconded by Cllr Hayward, all in favour. The AGAR, explanation of variances, detailed variance report, bank reconciliation forms will be sent to external auditors PKF Littlejohn.
8.LCC – Castle Bytham Little Bytham Road; proposed extension to speed limit
The Councillors supported the proposed 30mph speed limit extension on Little Bytham Road and will reply to LCC.
9.Amenities Working Group report – pond matters
Some residents had remarked that the upper green daffodils had been mown too soon; Cllr Hayward said that feedback had been forwarded to the contractors. Cllr Brooman had met up at the cemetery with a gentleman who had complained about the state of the ground. Cllr Hayward had obtained ‘Do not climb’ signage for the ISO container on the playing field. A date will be arranged to install the new handrail at the upper green steps.The sand bins at the back of the village hall will need to be moved before more work takes place at the village hall. Cllr McLaughlin was applying for a grant from the Pond Restoration Fund. LCC repair to the bridge onto Castle Mound should take place early June.
10.Volunteers working parties
Cllr McLaughlin had compiled a list of jobs for volunteer working parties: finish painting cemetery fence; refresh white paint on railings on upper green; sandolin the crossroads bus stop; cleaning of play and gym equipment at the playing field; cleaning of village gateways and signs; painting of white village sign on high street/castle gate junction; light trimming around village gateways of grass. The Councillors approved the list.
11.Burial Committee matters
None
12.Correspondence
Rural Services Network bulletins
LALC fortnightly e-news
LCC Towns and Parish Councils newsletter
Resident - Station Road old Quarry; need to close access gates
Tesco grants for community groups
Member of the public - state of cemetery ground
Local Policing - Parish Councils engagement session 25 June 24
Resident - grass boundary at a property on Water Lane
Resident - daffodils mowing on the upper green; speeding on Castlegate
SKDC - pre election guidance. 2 May elections
South Kesteven Economic Development Strategy 2024/28 consultation
LCC - survey Lincolnshire roads
13.Accounts; clerk’s salary
Cllr Brooman said that the Parish Council was on target for mowing expenditure; there were still funds for dog waste bags purchase; the internal audit cost had been slightly lower than last year’s; further requests for donations were anticipated.
The following payments were approved:
Castle Bytham Village Hall - rent £120.00
BDG Mowing - playing field £300.00
MCS Ground Care - mowing £450.00
Aims Accountants - internal audit £840.00
The Councillors approved a 5% increase to the clerk’s salary; proposed by Cllr Brooman, seconded by Cllr McLaughlin, all in favour.
14.Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr McLaughlin asked for ‘Recruitment to the Parish Council’ to be an agenda item at the June meeting in order to agree on a strategy.
Cllr Goode said that the Robin Hood Cross website made mention of Castle Bytham Community Shop; Cllr Brooman will place a link on the the Castle Bytham Parish Council website.
Cllr Brooman asked the clerk to send links to Councillors who had experienced difficulty setting up their new .gov e-mail accounts.