2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the Full meeting of Scotter Parish Council held on 21 March 2022, held at Scotter Village Hall.

Parish Councillors Present: Cllr Margaret Armstrong – Vice Chair, Cllr Paul Wood, Cllr Kevin Watson, Cllr Alex Johns, Cllr Paul Boulton, Cllr Dave Ward, Cllr Rachel Hunter and Cllr Bali Kaila

County Cllrs Present: None

District Cllrs Present: None

In attendance:  K Mathieson – Clerk, 2 members of public

Public Participation

2 members of the public raised concerns with the Parish Council regarding maintenance of the lane that runs down the side of The Manor and the trees belonging to The Manor which overhang the lane.

Cllr Armstrong opened the meeting at 7.13pm

2203/1 Acceptance Of Apologies for Absence

Apologies received from Cllr Harper and Cllr Wotherspoon

Apologies accept following a vote of 4 in favour, 3 against and 1 abstain.

2203/2  Dispensations Council is asked to discuss any written dispensation the clerk may have received from councillors

None received

2203/3 Declarations of interest Members to declare any interest they may have sin agenda items that accord with the requirements of the relevant authorities. (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulation 2012 (SI 2012/1464) (NB this does not preclude any later declarations)

Cllr Johns declared a personal interest in agenda item 12d

Cllr Hunter declared a personal interest in agenda item 12b

2203/4 To Approve as a true record the Full Parish Council Meeting minutes held on 21 February 2022 and sign accordingly

Deferred chair of the meeting was not available to sign.

2203/5  District Councillors & County Councillors Report

No report received

2203/6  Chairs Report

No report, Chair unavailable

2203/7  Clerks Report, update on matters from the last 

Pot Hole at Hobbs Lane has been repaired.  Funding for Queens Jubilee has been applied for.  Parish Plan has been investigated further.  Dog Poo bins for Clay Lane have been requested from WLDC.  Clerk has completed Data Protection Training. Advised that the local policing team attend a coffee morning on Fridays at the Eau Community Centre.

Polite notices have gone up in the Cemetery for the removal of non-permitted items.  As expected this has been controversial and 2 email complaints have been received.  

Resolved to reply to the complaints giving further explanation of why the matter needs policing and invite them to attend a Parish Council meeting if they would like to speak to council directly.  Clerk to delay removal of items until after the next Parish Council meeting.

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Kalia – All agreed

2203/8 Sub Groups, Community Clubs and Associations Items for Update or Discussion

a) Scotter Forward  - Cllr Ward advised there has been a meeting held but he was not made aware or he would have attended.

b) Speed Watch – March Update read out.

Resolved the purchase of 100 bin stickers, to be funded by the Parish Council as a trial to gauge interest. Brian Gilchrist to co-ordinate the distribution on A159 and North Moor Road.

Proposed Cllr Kaila, 2nd Cllr Ward – All agreed 

c) Sports Clubs - None

d) Eau Centre and Scotter Library - None

e) Playing Fields Committee and Village Hall Committee

An informal joint meeting of the Village Hall Committee, Playing Fields and Parish Council was held on 16 March 2022 to discuss the future of the committees and the areas going forward.  The individual committees will discuss the options at their AGM’s and update.

2203/9 Correspondence or Items for noting

Lalc News - circulated by email 28/02/2022

Lalc News - circulated by email 09/03/2022

Lalc News – circulated by email 16/03/2022

WLDC Meeting Agenda – circulated by email 07/03/2022

WLDC Parish News – Circulated by email 02/03/2022

NALC National Salary Award for 2021/22 – circulated by email 07/03/2022

Resolved that all the above items of correspondence have been noted

2203/10  Correspondence or Items for action / discussion

LCC renewal of Parish Agreement Scheme for Grass Cutting - circulated 08/03/2022

Resolved to renew

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Wood – All agreed

2203/11  Flooding Update

Cllr Wood advised not much to update at this time.  Requested that the Clerk get clarification on phase 1 of the screen being taken out and electric installed, do the EA have the permissions for the electric?

Resolved for the Clerk to contact, Ady Selby at WLDC, Louise Cresswell at EA and County Councillor Clio Perraton-Williams and Sir Edward Leigh MP requesting support.

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Johns – All agreed

2203/12  Planning for consideration and comment

a) Planning Application 144385 – Scotterfield Farm, Kirton Road, Scotter, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 3JA

Planning application for replacement roofing, installation of external insulation with rendering, creation of garden room to rear elevation, and erection of detached double garage.

No comment

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Wood – All agreed

b) Planning Application 144434 - Cote House Bungalow, Susworth Road, Susworth, Gainsborough, DN17 3AT 

Planning application for roof lift to create rooms within the loft space including extensions and other alterations.

No comment

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Armstrong – All agreed

c) Planning Application 144482 - 10, High Street, Scotter, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 3TW

Planning application for timber fence to part of northern boundary

No comment

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Hunter – All agreed

d) Planning Application 144454 - The Old Mill, Gainsborough Road, Scotter, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 3RS

Listed building consent for replacement windows

No comment

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Wood – All agreed

2203/13 Update on Gainsborough Road Zebra Crossing

Email received on 22/02/22 from Sir Edward Leigh received advising he had written to County Councillor Perraton-Willams and she will be in touch directly.

Email received on 28/02/22 from County Councillor Perraton-Williams circulated 28/02/2022

Email received 15/03/2022 from County Councillor Perraton-Williams circulated 15/03/2022

All Correspondence noted.  Cllr Johns congratulated on the article for Lincolnshire Live.  The Parish Council questioned the times that LCC are carrying out their surveys as they are not a true indication if they are always conducted at off peak times during the day.

Resolved for the Clerk to ask County Councillor Clio Perraton-Williams to visit the crossing with members of the Parish Council.  Ask Speedwatch to monitor any incidents whilst in the area.

Proposed Cllr Kaila, 2nd Cllr Johns – All agreed

2203/14 To consider adopting the WLDC Code of Conduct as per email received and circulated on 03/02/2022

Resolved to defer to next meeting to allow council more time for consideration.

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Armstrong – All agreed

2203/15 To review details from the land registry search of The Green and road leading to the church to the side of The Manor

The land registry search for the lane down the side of The Manor showed it is not registered

Resolved to investigate further with WLDC and LCC

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Boulton – All agreed

The land registry search for The Green shows it is privately owned.

Resolved to write to the owner noted, for confirmation of public liability insurance and discuss maintenance.

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Wood – All agreed

2203/16 To receive an update on Parson’s Field

Discussed advise given by Mathew Davey, Environment and Community Projects Officer for LCC.  Discussed pro’s and con’s of being riparian owners of the River Eau along Parsons.

Resolved to get advice regarding the purchase value of the land.  Investigate with WLDC & LCC public rights of way and open green spaces. 

Proposed Cllr Kaila, 2nd Cllr Hunter – All agreed

2203/17 To review applicants for the Village Grounds Person Contract.

The existing contractor was the only applicant.

Resolved to appoint the existing contractor for a period of 12 months with the option to extend by +6 months, +6 months.

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Ward – All agreed

2203/18 Finance update and payments

a.) Approve Parish Council Current Account payment schedule/bank reconciliation for the period of 01/02/2022 – 28/02/2022

Account Start Balance £28,899.65 

Payments £3,263.19 

Receipts £1,580.00 

End Balance £27,216.46 

b.) Confirm Bank Balance and Statements seen by council as at 28/02/2022

Co-operative Bank Account No 61038985 – balance £27,216.46

Co-operative Bank Account No 61797792 – balance £128,196.94 - Earmarked

Co-operative Bank Account No 61797404 – balance £7,492.14 – Contingency & CIL

c.) Payments for approval

None

Resolved to approve bank balances, statements and payments

Proposed Cllr Watson, 2nd Cllr Armstrong – All agreed

2203/19 Urgent Highways or Maintenance Matters 

None

2203/20 Agenda next meeting – to take any items for members 

Gainsborough Road Zebra Crossing

Code of Conduct

2203/21 To Confirm Date of Next Meeting – 28th April 2022

Confirmed 

Confidential Matters

2203/22 To agree and approve the Employer Discretions Policies for the Local Government Pension Fund

Resolved to approve

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Armstrong – All agreed

2203/23 To consider the increase in national pay scale (NJC) for the financial year 2021/22 and approve back pay.

Resolved to approve

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Armstrong – All agreed

Meeting closed 8.54pm