March 2022 Minutes

WSH PC crest

Witham St Hughs Parish Council

Minutes of Witham St Hughs Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at 7.00pm at the village hall.
https://witham-st-hughs.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

Present Cllr Karen Harrison - Chairman, Cllr Spencer Hall & Cllr Danny Bell.

Apologies were received from Cllr Sally Appleby & Cllr P Overton

Agenda Items

1.   Welcome & Apologies.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Snape & Cllr Houghton, due to work commitments & Rachel Popplewell due to illness. 

It was Resolved to accept the reason for absence and the apology.

2.   TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 AND OUTLINED IN THE COUNCILS CODE OF CONDUCT – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interest and any written requests for dispensations.

None received.

3.   Health & Safety brief.

Nothing

4.   Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 16th February 2022 to be approved as minutes.

It was Resolved to approve the notes as minutes – All Agreed by a show of hands, signed by the Chairman.

5.   Clerks Update.

S106 money application has been approved for £120k

FOI has been received regarding a hall booking policy – we do not have a policy in place, a new policy will be considered.

Action Clerk.

Job advert has been put out – no applicants yet, discussions around alternatives took place for re-consideration after the closing date.

Tree number 35 on the field has been taken out of the ground – Open Spaces contractor is aware.

Bus stop on hedge lane has been vandalised, the clerk was asked to investigate getting them repaired.

Action Clerk. 

Trees on Oak Tree Park have got wind damage – will need to be removed as the roots are now unstable. Replacement trees are still to be planted.

Date of the Annual Parish Meeting – to be confirmed.

Bins on the patio need to be fixed or replaced.

Clerk to Action.

Non-domestic rates bill has been received - zero value.

6.   Finance.

a.   To Authorise the signing of orders for payment, list previously circulated. 

It was Resolved to approve the list of payments – All agreed, show of hands.

b.   To receive the Bank Reconciliation as at 28.02.2022

The bank reconciliation as at 28.02.2022 was presented to the council, showing the accounts didn’t balance by 40p, due to an overpayment – signed by Cllr Bell.

7.   To review the following policies.

After discussions it was Resolved to review & adopt the following policies

a.   Abusive, Persistent or Vexatious complaints policy

b.   Community Engagement policy

c.   Communications Policy

d.   Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

e.   Records Retention Policy

f.   Data Map

After discussions it was Resolved to adopt the policies.

8.   To consider the following planning applications

a.   Reserved matters for the erection of 155 dwellings (Cell 6) with outline, scale, appearance, landscaping & access to be considered pursuant to outline planning application 15/1347/OUT – Erection of up to 1100 dwellings and 150 care/retirement units (C2/C3), the formation of a roundabout to Camp Road, A46 junction improvement works, public open spaces and associated service infrastructure (outline with means of access) (Resubmission of 20/1659/RESM)
Cell 6, Witham St Hughs Phase 3 of East of Camp Road, Witham St Hughs & North of Hannah Crescent. Ref 22/0174/RESM 

After discussions it was Resolved to submit the following comments:-

“We are disappointed to see that the house style has changed and that the open aesthetics of the cell has now been compromised, with the increased numbers of dwellings on the revised application. Submitted plans as previously requested do not show boundary ownership, and still awaiting landscaping plans. 

Query if increase of housing will result in additional on street parking, which looks to be limited, Consideration for this needs to be investigated. “

b.   T1 Poplar – 2m clearance from streetlight; T2 Poplar – 2-meter clearance from streetlight; T3 Maple – 2m clearance from streetlight; T4 Unknown species – dead tree remove.
St Modwen Park, Witham St Hughs
Ref 22/0282/TPO

After discussions it was Resolved to submit ‘no comment’ to the application.

9.   To consider the request to award a grant to Norton Disney ‘Big Community Dig’.

Further information was required before a decision could be made, a possible donation of £500 was considered.

Action Clerk.

10.   To discuss options for the Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

After discussions it was Resolved to offer the field and portable toilets, should the request arise.

11.   Village Hall Extension discussions.

Cllr Hall offered to contact an architect regarding plans for the village hall extension.

Action Cllr Hall.

12.   DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.

Wednesday 20th April 2022 at 7pm

Meeting Closed at 7.45pm.