November 2024 Minutes
Minutes of Witham St Hughs Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 7pm at the village hall.
https://witham-st-hughs.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
Present Cllr Danny Bell – Chair, Cllr Colin Cook, Cllr Mark Gascoigne & Cllr Charlie Strickland
Rachel Popplewell – Clerk
District Councillors Mitch Elliott & Peter Overton.
Cllr Overton & Cllr Elliott made comment that North Kesteven District Council had not changed its opinion of the Fosse Green Solar complex – they are still against the proposal. The sub-station at Navenby was classed as a separate planning application, even though it will be indirectly linked to the Fosse Green Solar application.
The mayoral combined authority will begin take shape as of January 2025. The North Hykeham relief road funding has not yet been agreed.
Agenda Items
1. Welcome and Apologies.
Cllr Bell welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies were received from Cllr Harrison; it was Resolved to accept the reason for absence and the apology – All agreed, show of hands.
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.
Nothing received.
3. Health & Safety brief.
The Clerk made comment that the Health & Safety audit had been carried out, with no risks identified.
Thanks were passed onto the Clerk.
4. Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 16th October 2024 to be approved as minutes.
It was Resolved to approve the notes as minutes – all agreed by a show of hands, signed by the Chair.
5. Notes of the Extra-ordinary Parish Council meeting held on Monday 28th October 2024 to be approved as minutes
It was Resolved to approve the notes as minutes – all agreed by a show of hands, signed by the Chair.
6. Clerks Update & Correspondence - to Resolve to approve any subsequent actions.
The Clerk made comment that the new salary scales for the Clerk had been received from NALC, backdated to 01.04.2024.
2 bins have been removed from the village hall by NKDC and installed on Warren Lane – phase 3.
£26 was collected at the Remembrance Day Service, along with a donation of £50 from the Parish Council.
The Clerk made comment that the VEC will be lighting up the Christmas tree at the hall on Friday 29th November, the parish council offered to pay for the electricity.
Cuckoo Walk has now been cleaned & re-sanded.
Lost Village had been in contact to say they would like to fund a project in the village, Councillors were asked for ideas. Action All Councillors
The clerk made comment that Cllr Harrison had reviewed the finances and internal controls at the parish office.
The clerk reminded the Councillors about the Fosse Green Energy consultation being held at the village hall on Saturday 23rd November 2024 Action All Councillors
The Clerk made comment that the Village Events Committee had forgotten to order a skip for the fireworks event, and filled all the bins at the village hall, leaving no room for the VH waste.
7. 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.
The Clerk made comment that the repairs to Cuckoo Park had been carried out w/c 28.10.2024, but they weren’t up to standard. Councillors Resolved to withhold payment, until the roundabout was fixed.
b. To receive the Bank Reconciliation as at 31.10.2024
The bank reconciliation as at the 31.10.2024 was presented to council, showing a £20 discrepancy due to an over payment, to be rectified next month – signed Cllr Cook.
c. To consider the quotes to clean the wet pour surfaces at the play parks
Deferred to the next meeting
d. To consider an alternative savings account for the Nationwide Building Society
The Clerk made comment that the interest rate on the savings account was going down, alternative options were considered for the funds at Nationwide Building Society. After discussions it was Resolved to move the money to a 6 Month Saver Account, all agreed – show of hands. Action Clerk.
e. Precept considerations
The Clerk reminded Councillors the budget for next year needs to be considered, with any planned projects to be included. Action All Councillors.
8. To appoint additional members to the Allotment Committee.
After discussions it was Resolved to appoint Cllr Gascoigne to the Allotment Committee, all agreed – show of hands.
9. To review the wording for Registered Charities discount, on the village hall booking form.
Councillors considered the wording for the Registered Charities discount, after discussions it was Resolved to amend the wording to read
“A Registered Charity may hire the facilities at the rates stated above and will be offered a 50% discount of the hall hire fee or charged a minimum of £12.50 whichever is the higher amount, if in the opinion of the Parish Council the event is directly organised to raise funds for the purposes of the Registered Charity. This concession may be restricted to one occasion per calendar month at the sole discretion of the Parish Council.”
All agreed – show of hands.
10. To consider and resolve to agree to sign the land transfer documents, for the land allocated for the Scouts.
The land transfer documents were presented to Councillors, after consideration it was Resolved to sign the documents – All agreed, show of hands.
11. To review the following policies
a. Pay Policy
b. Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy
c. Social Media Policy
d. Public Participation at Parish Council Meetings
e. Terms of Reference for the Allotment Committee.
After discussions no amendments were required for the Public Participation at Parish Council meeting & Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policies. Revised wording for the Pay Policy, social media Policy & the Terms of Reference for the Allotment Committee were considered. It was Resolved to approve the amendments. All agreed, show of hands
12. Update on the Emergency Plan
Cllr Strickland made comment that most of the plan was complete, once the remaining names & numbers have been input, the plan can be sent to Lincolnshire Resilience Forum & Emergency Planning.
13. Play Parks update to include
a. To approve the renewal of the play parks inspections for 2025.
The Clerk made comment that the renewal for the play park inspections was due to be diarised for next year. It was Resolved to approve the renewal – all agreed, show of hands.
b. To approve the quote for the play park repairs at Warren Lane Park, for the Kompan equipment.
After discussions it was Resolved to approve the quote of £1193.70, for the repairs to the Kompan equipment. All agreed – show of hands.
c. To approve the quote to replace the baby swing seats at Hedge Lane Park.
After discussions it was Resolved to approve the quote of £770.00, to replace the baby swings at Hedge Lane Park. All agreed – show of hands.
d. To approve the quotes to remove the ivy from around the outside of the play parks.
The clerk presented the quotes for consideration, after discussions it was Resolved to approve the quote of £300 to remove the ivy from the parks. All agreed, show of hands.
14. To consider the following planning application.
a. Proposed 2 storey & Single Storey rear extension.
72 Warren Lane, Witham St Hughs, Lincoln.
Ref 24/1257/HOUS
After consideration it was Resolved to submit ‘no comment’ for the building, planning officers are asked to clarify ownership of the tree mentioned in the application. All agreed, show of hands.
12 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING.
Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 18th December 2024 at 7pm
Meeting closed 9.10pm
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