August
Minutes of the meeting held on 27 August 2025
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Dugmore, Goode, Hayward, Morrow, Sismey-Durrant
In attendance
District Cllr P Robins, 4 members of the public
Apologies
Cllr Lee, County Cllr C Vernon
During the public forum residents thanked the Parish Council for their support regarding the removal the heap of soil at 14A Station Road; a reduction of the heap should be carried out soon. Dr Candler spoke about the ROSPA report at the Spinney and the need for repair work.
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Approve minutes 16 July 2025
The record of the meeting held on 16 July 2025 was approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman. Proposed by Cllr Goode, seconded by Cllr Dugmore, all in favour.
3.Matters arising
None
4.County Council matters
Deferred
5.District Council matters
District Cllr P Robins presented her report: the Community re-paint scheme launches its newest location at Bourne household Waste Recycling centre after a successful rollout across Lincolnshire.
SKDC approves £240,00 refurbishment of Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. SKDC has 4 new electric vehicle charging points at Stamford Cattle Market Car Park at the cost of £42,687. Stamford bridge is now open after a short spell after works have been carried out.Good communication has been sent out with bin stickers and press announcements; it may be of interest if the Parish Council keeps a record of which parts of the village are collected on what days to help residents with the transition. If residents are unaware of the dates (residents should have received a letter from SKDC by now) then it can be found on line at SKDC or contact them on 01476 406080. The junction box at the upper green has been damaged; SKDC will reimburse the repair cost. District Cllr Robins will arrange for the litter bin to be installed at the corner of Clipsham Road and Bytham Heights to be added to SKDC’s refuse collection schedule.
6.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group. Tree cut down on Water Lane. Update on outstanding applications
Cllr McLaughlin said that SKDC had refused prior notification details for conversion of agricultural building to 6 dwellings - application S25/1096, Angel Wells Farm, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. SKDC permission was granted for application S25/0863, The Bungalow, Clipsham Road, Castle Bytham - demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling.
7.Planning. A) S25/1486 - Mrs Wendy Lovell. Section 211 Notice to crown raise and remove branches from Beech tree (T1) and Cedar tree (T2), lower crown height of Birch tree (T3) and crown raise lower crown. Willow Rise, Water Lane, Castle Bytham. The Parish Council had no comments on this application. B) S25/1477 - Featherstone. Section 211 Notice to carry out a 2m reduction to a small Hawthorn tree (indicated by green dot). 1m reduction and shape to a Magnolia tree (indicated by yellow dot). 1m reduction of Beech tree (indicated by red dot). Ridgecrest, 38 Cumberland Gardens, Castle Bytham. The Parish Council had no comments on this application. C) S25/1467 - Mr Stephen Purvis. Section 211 Notice to remove a large Fir tree. Old Bramley, 16 Water Lane, Castle Bytham.The Parish Council had the following comments to return to SKDC: with applications to remove trees, the Parish Council encourage the planting of a suitable replacement tree, and the PC hopes that the works preserve the area around the historic Bramley Apple tree in the garden. D) S25/1532 - Gibson. Section 211 Notice to remove Ash tree (red dot), reduce and crown-raise other Ash tree (yellow dot), pollard Goat Willow tree, crown raise a row of mature mixed species trees (red line) and pollard other Goat Willow tree (purple dot). 9 Pinfold Road, Castle Bytham. Castle Bytham Parish Council object to this application.The application refers the removal of an ash tree that is broken and as a result of a site visit, there is no evidence that this tree is broken and therefore does not require removal.The Parish Council are aware of an application for a TPO to protect certain trees within this application site and we await that outcome.We don't believe that the trees are being managed for the reasons stated within the application , and the removal of the Ash Tree will make way for a new access in the future. For this reason, we do not consider this application to be transparent in its content. Overall, the dripfeed of 6 applications relating to this site in recent weeks, makes it very challenging as a PC to comment on the wider context of all the development o one area. A summary masterplan should be requested from the application, so we are able to comment on the cumulative affect of all 6 applications. E) S15/1432 - Mrs P Gibson. Replacement lean-to structures to detached stone barn. 9 Pinfold Road, Castle Bytham. The Parish Council had the following comments to return: the Parish Council object to this application. We consider this application to be retrospective as the foundations have already been laid for the replacement of the lean to. From the application the barn is clearly destined to be a second house, for which there is no planning permission. We are concerned about the affect of this dwelling on the adjacent public right of way and its affect on the immediate neighbours, who were living in proximity to a store, but this application now suggests that the store will be a dwelling.
8.Amenities Working Group report. Lower green sign quotes for repair work.Water Lane stream debris. Water Lane stream growth. 2026 mowing schedule. Cutting of overhanging trees in cemetery. Cutting of overhanging trees in recreation ground
Cllr McLaughlin will obtain a quote will be sought for like for like repair to the village sign on the lower green. Cllr Hayward reported that part of a tree was wedged under the stream bridge. Overgrown trees are overhanging the watercourse and will need to be trimmed before winter to avoid flooding; landowners will be contacted and LCC informed of the situation - County Cllr C Vernon will be copied into the emails. The mowing contract for the cemetery, upper green, lower green and other small areas around the village will go out to tender in the autumn. The issue of the overhanging tree at the cemetery was deferred. Cllr Morrow has obtained a quote from Euan McLaren for work on the overhanging tree at the playing field; the Councillors were unanimously in favour of the £375.00 + VAT quote. Cllr Hayward said that Castlegate and Church Lane signs will be reported on FixMyStreet for repair. The manufacturers of the playing field fitness equipment will be contacted for the purchase of a replacement finial .
9.High Street parking and recent accidents
Deferred
10.Active right of way issues
Deferred
11.Burial Committee matters
None
12.Correspondence
RSN weekly news
MP Alicia Kearns - flooding work progress request
Town and parish council newsletter
Greater Lincolnshire for All - local government reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire
LALC e-news
Environment Agency - scheduled work maintenance
Email from resident - offer to renovate the finger post road signs
LCC -how to report a flood poster
SKDC - £1m energy saving LED upgrade to street lights
13.Request for financial assistance for The Spinney, Little Bytham
The Councillors unanimously voted in favour of a £352.00 donation to The Bythams Woodland Trust for repair work at The Spinney - this sum will cover the shortfall from the £828.00 quote for repair work and donations already pledged. Proposed by Cllr Brooman, seconded by Cllr Hayward, all in favour.
14.Accounts
Cllr Brooman said that donation requests for village groups were awaited. The Parish Council was aiming to put 1/3 of the precept into savings. Cllr McLaughlin said that the bus shelter at the crossroads needed a new coat of Sandolin.
The following payments were approved:
- RBL - playing field maintenance £897.00
- Glasdon - litter bin £376.06
- M Cooke - reimbursement defibrillator battery £243.79
- BDG contracors - playing field mowing £180.00
15.Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr Morrow has spoken to the owners of Albemarle Cottage regarding trimming the hedge.Cllr Dugmore suggested the Chairman contact the owners to request additional trimming.
Cllr Brooman attended the Flood Forum organised by MP Alicia Kearns last year. A test of the village action plan will be executed before winter.
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