January 2022 Minutes
Present: Chairman Cllr P Sagar, Vice Chairman Cllr J Smith (arrived after start of Meeting), Cllr’s Brocklebank, Hassall, Mackenzie, Parish Clerk W Gray, SKDC Cllr R Trollope-bellew, County Cllr A Baxter, 5 members of the public were also present.
Minutes
1. Public Forum
2. Opening of Meeting.
3. Apologies for Absence. Cllrs Gash, Otter and SKDC Cllr K Cooke.
4. Declaration of Interest. None
5. To agree minutes of Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting of 6th December 2021 – Cllr Hassall proposed, seconded Cllr Brocklebank, all in agreement. Cllr Mackenzie abstained as not at meeting.
6. Matters arising from the above minutes. None.
7. Anglian Water/LCC – No update from either party, we were told that the £70k had to be spent by end of March 2022.
Last meeting advised reorganisation of NR likely?– further update at March meeting.
8. Finance
Authorisation of payments:
PKF Littlejohn (external Audit) £360.00. Parish Clerk Salary and Expenses (2 months) £462.57. Emptying Dog Bins (2 months) £201.96. Payments approved by Cllrs Present.
Parish Precept 2022-2023 – Cllr Sagar had circulated document prior to meeting via email for consideration. Cllr Sagar proposed we go for Option C, seconded Cllr Brocklebank, all Cllrs present in agreement - Increase Precept from £7501 to £7,800 (plus £299) a % increase on a Band D property of 0.6% at £22.45.
9. Planning
S21/2529 – Conversion of a Garage, Workshop and Storage Building to provide a dwelling at Moorelake, Barholm Road – No objections raised.
S21/2284 – The Hayloft, 6 Searson Close – replacement of windows and external doors - Consent Granted.
S21/1907 – Tallington Lakes Leisure Park (alterations to entrance etc). Planning Permission Granted. No objections from LCC Highways so no grounds for refusal.
10. LCC & Footpath No. 4 – Further to agreement at 6th December 2021 meeting that TPC are happy for LCC to adopt the proposed section of MG path in old canal basin of the Millennium green as rerouted footpath No 4 and that the Parish council as owners of the Millennium green are willing to dedicate the required sections of the path to LCC as Public footpath. LCC have visited site taken measurements and are now in process of obtaining quotes for repairs.
LCC Grass cutting & other paths – The offer for TPC to take over responsibility from LCC for 3 cuts a year of potentially 4,955 m2 of grass verge was simply not viable and the meeting agreed it should be refused. Parish Clerk to send response thanking LCC for information provided. It is hoped that unlike the last few years Tallington will in future actually receive 3 cuts a year from LCC contractors and all footpaths be better maintained than has been the case over the last 2 years? Footpath near Village hall now cleared. The meeting felt confident that things will improve now we have direct contact with Richard Fenwick at LCC and we will keep a close eye on this i.e. number of cuts and when done. All Cllrs present in agreement.
11. Trees – at last meeting we agreed to remove dying Chestnut Tree, David Palmer (Market Deeping) will do the work. To cut and remove all wood from site - Cost £810 + VAT, we are able to reclaim the VAT. Stump Grinding £350 + VAT. If any parishioners want any wood then separate arrangement with tree surgeon and resident.
Free Trees – offer received from eforests of small saplings, minimum of 150 trees (can be flexible on amount) – should consider accepting offer – but where to plant. Cllr Mackenzie suggested planting the whole of the Millennium green. The majority of councillors felt this would not be appropriate. Discussions on where they could be planted. Cllr Smith advised set up of a working party to plant any trees as there would be a lot of work involved. Trees would probably need staking with guards (both at cost to TPC). Consideration also needed on type of tree – hard wood trees preferable. Cllr Sagar proposed continue to discuss and consider where we plant –But Planting on edges around the green (East End/West End) proposed seconded Cllr Brocklebank, 4 Cllrs in agreement, 1 abstention Cllr Mackenzie. Cllr Brocklebank advised Red House Paddock and residents alongside should be asked for views about it and what they would like to see! Trees also should be offered to any residents.
Path Clearing (Excluding new route of footpath no 4 in old canal basin) – one quote received– Cllr Sagar proposed that we obtain another quote and make the decision at our March meeting, all Cllrs present in agreement.
12. Environment Agency – two ongoing issues – flaps on the river plus rabbits dealt with 17th & 18th Jan with ferrets. EA flaps done 24th January (4) one on each side of the river bridge – still not functioning completely. Drains down stream of the river bridge on each side of the river (cracked framework) any work (pointing) not done last winter will be reinstated. EA expect all work to be complete by end of January.
13. Church Lane Green Area – we now have ok from LCC that we are going to get a licence for 4 wooden planters as agreed 6th Dec 2021. Chairman confirmed ordered. Will be delivered to J Allen’s house as nearest to site.
14. Community Cleaner – Job Description Circulated – AF still emptying dog bins (intermittent?). Charlie Franklin (DOE Gold Award scheme) will continue with litter – Agreed we want to include other side of crossing. Grant from SKDC 926.64 per year – this figure will not increase. TPC could agreed to subsidise if more jobs require doing.
15. Village Litter Issues – Layby going out of village discussed.
16. Reports from Councillors.
District Cllr K Cooke: Welcome Back Fund. We as a Council have been working hard to maximise the full £250,000 awarded to us through the Government’s Welcome Back Fund, which is helping us provide improvements and promotional campaigns for boosting footfall on our high streets. Over the festive season, you will have seen the promotional banners and street performances, including the Bubble Elf stilt walker in Stamford, welcoming visitors and residents back to the high street for their local Christmas shopping. We have much more lined up for the next few months, including events and local improvements, which we will be announcing very shortly and we are working closely with our local businesses to ensure that this money really does benefit them. Of course, there is still much uncertainty regarding Omicron and the Government guidelines for staying safe in our communities, so we are continuing to work closely with the various government agencies to ensure we are promoting activities which support our local economy whilst also protecting our residents from the virus. Council Tax Consultation Ahead of the new financial year, SKDC are offering residents and businesses the chance to have their say on council tax proposals for 2022/23, with a two-week-long consultation commencing on Friday 14th January. The consultation asks for views on a proposal to increase the SKDC share of Council Tax by £5 for properties in Band D for the 2022/23 financial year. The increase for households in Bands A, B, and C would be less than £5, while those in Bands E, F, G, and H would see an average increase between £5- 10. The consultation will outline how SKDC funds its services and it will provide an update on our existing projects in priority areas, such as growth and the economy, housing, healthy and strong communities, the environment, and performance. In a challenging time for local authorities, we are naturally focused on safeguarding the quality of our services, while at the same time delivering on our ambitions for the future, and this involves utilising what we have, streamlining costs where possible, and attracting funding from other sources. Through increasing council tax for Band D properties by £5 alone, we will be able to generate around £250,000 of additional income in the next financial year. Of course, the majority of council tax receipts go to Lincolnshire County Council, as well as contributions to Lincolnshire Police, Fire and Rescue Service, and our local parishes. A decision will be made in early March on our element of Council Tax for 2022/23. Deepings Leisure Consultation Another upcoming consultation will be on the proposed refurbishment of the Deepings Leisure Centre, which we hope to reopen as soon as possible whilst ensuring that the facility meets the needs of an active community. SKDC recently approved plans for a comprehensive £10.7m refurbishment of the leisure centre, preferring this option over more minor modifications to the centre. Our plan is to embark on a full remodelling, which will include reconfiguring the swimming pool, sports hall, and squash courts, as well as expanding gym capacity and delivering new studios and changing facilities. The upcoming consultation will allow residents from across the south of the District to feed into the proposals, ensuring that the revamped facility is shaped around the needs of its users and that our residents have a modern space to engage in sports and social activities. Many sports groups rely on the Deepings Leisure Centre for their regular classes and it is important that these vital community groups are listened to before changes get underway. The date of this consultation will be announced in the coming months. Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant SKDC is set to receive £1.3m in funding from the Government to support businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors impacted by the Omicron variant. Businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and cinemas will be able to apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises following a difficult Christmas period for the industry amidst understandable concern over Omicron. We will also be receiving a top-up of over £250,000 to the COVID support grants distributed by our partners InvestSK, to help businesses who continue to be impacted by the pandemic. InvestSK has helped distribute over £51m in support grants to over 3,000 businesses since the start of the pandemic, and they will continue to help businesses access the grants available to them.
D.Cllr R Trollope-Bellew - Casewick Ward:
- A new access for Tallington Lakes onto the A1175 was approved by the planning committee just before Christmas despite the concerns expressed about highways safety.
- Tallington Lakes v SKDC - have been advised that the Tribunal found in the Council’s favour in that they have determined that the outstanding fees must be paid. As such, the decision means that the Tribunal consider that Tallington Lakes is a Relevant Protected Site as fees are only payable on sites with this status. The status also means that the site owner will need to apply to the local authority for a relevant person to be included on the register of’ fit and proper persons’.
The respondent had 28 days from the date of notification of the decision to lodge an appeal with the Tribunal, (that expired on 17 January 2022) the applicant has made an application to the Tribunal for permission to appeal the decision made on 17th December.
- InvestSK has been busy during this financial year distributing grants relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, has included the Business Support Grant, Welcome Back Fund and lately the Hospitality and Leisure fund. This will take the form of a one-off grant up to £6,000 depending on the businesses rateable value.
The district will also benefit from the Welcome Back Fund with a folk festival at Grantham Market Place and Bourne Light Nights, both taking place on 19th March, everyone welcome.
- Plans to fully re-model and refurbish Deepings Leisure Centre were approved just before Christmas, the next stage will be a community consultation, information to be sent out shortly to residents in the Deepings and surrounding areas.
- Walk-in jab centres held at Stamford Arts Centre end of December and two dates in January, all very well attended.
- Councillors & Officers at SKDC were given the opportunity to have a presentation on the proposed Mallard Pass Solar Farm, which falls partly in south of the county and Rutland. I also attended the Mallard Pass Action Group meeting held at Greatford Village Hall with my fellow district councillor Kelham Cooke. This application will not be decided by either the District or County Council.
Other schemes are coming forward in the district, one on land at Thurlby, north-west of Wood Lane, a proposed site approximately 51 hectares.
Cllr Baxter – Casewick Lane/Taylor Woodrow – handover i.e. minimal aount of money to take over the land – information to Richard Fenwick.
17. SKDC (Sandbags Container) – LCC Salt Bags – Sandbags / Salt Bags -being delivered on Friday 21st Jan.
18. Field in Trust Dedication (Millennium Green) – further information to be provided, Cllr Sagar now has file.
19. The Queens Platinum Jubilee celebration
Thinking what to do – possibly use Playing Field – put ideas forward to Village Hall Committee.
20. Village Hall and Playing Field reports
Blockage in drains under dishwasher cleared. Nothing further to report, no events as yet. Thank you to John Allen for clearing car park of leaves (47 bags) & trip to the tip.
21. Lock Gate – to be carried over to March meeting.
22. Public Forum. Replacing tree knocked down?
23. Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th March 2022 at 7.30 p.m