2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the Full meeting of Scotter Parish Council held on 25 April 2022, held at Scotter Village Hall.

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

County Cllrs Present: Cllr Mandy Snee

District Cllrs Present: None

In attendance:  K Mathieson – Clerk, 8 members of public

Public Participation

3 Members of the public spoke to the Parish Council and expressed their concern over the plans to remove items other than flowers from graves in the cemetery.

Cllr Harper opened the meeting at 7.19pm

2204/1 Acceptance Of Apologies for Absence

None

2204/2  Dispensations Council is asked to discuss any written dispensation the clerk may have received from councillors

None received

2204/3 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)

Before Item 15 was discussed Cllr Wotherspoon declared an interest and left the room during the discussion and resolution of this item

2204/4 To approve as a true record the Full Parish Council Meeting minutes held on 21 February 2022 and 22 March 2022 and the Personnel Committee Meeting minutes held on 21st January 2022 and sign accordingly

Resolved to approve all the minutes noted above and signed accordingly

2204/5  District Councillors & County Councillors Report

No report submitted from County Councillor

A full District Councillor report was given by Cllr Rollings, Cllr Snee and Cllr Clews at the Annual Parish Meeting which preceded this meeting

2204/6  Chairs Report

A full Chair report was given by Cllr Harper at the Annual Parish Meeting which preceded this meeting

2204/7  Clerks Report, update on matters from the last 

Concerns have been raised regarding the war memorial, Clerk is looking into this and will provided more information at the next meeting.  Dog Poo bins have been requested for Clay Lane, awaiting a meeting with WLDC to decide upon their location.  Cllr Wood will attend the meeting with the Clerk.  A community group have arranged an event on the green for The Queens Jubilee.  They are planning a family friendly event with activities and entertainment and will advertise the event as soon as the plans are confirmed. The Parish Council’s grant application has been revised to include funding for this event and the Clerk will be responsible for the allocating the funds.

2204/8 Sub Groups, Community Clubs and Associations Items for Update or Discussion

a) Scotter Forward  - None

b) Village Hall Committee – Update given at the Annual Parish Meeting

c) Speed Watch 

Chair closed the meeting at 7.24pm and re-opened at 7.34pm to allow Brian Gilchrist to speak

Progress has been made on investigating the best options for consideration of new SID signs. All activity needs to stay within the 40mph limit as Lincolnshire Road Safety partnership have no authority outside this area.  Elan City are the preferred choice, Brian has spoke to other PC’s that have used them and their feedback is very positive.  Full information to be provided ready for the next meeting.

d) Sports Clubs – Bowls Club gave an update at the Annual Parish Meeting

e) Eau Centre and Scotter Library - None

f) Playing Fields Committee – Update given at the Annual Parish Meeting

Cllr Johns advised he is unable to attend the AGM meeting for the Playing Fields Committee on 27th April

No other Cllr was available to attend

Resolved for the Clerk to attend and represent the Parish Council

Proposed Cllr Harper, 2nd Cllr Boulton – All agreed

2204/9 Correspondence or Items for noting

LALC News – Circulated 23/03/2022

Reply from David Coleman at LCC, complaint regarding County Councillor has been referred to Democratic Services – Circulated 23/03/2022

WLDC Notices of Meetings – Circulated 24/03/2022

LALC News – Circulated 30/03/2022

WLDC Parish News – Circulated 28/03/2022

Email from resident copying the Parish Council in on communications with WLDC regarding North Moor Road developments – Circulated 03/04/2022

Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, latest press release – circulated 04/04/2022

WLDC survey, are you prepared for emergencies – circulated 05/04/2022

LALC News – Circulated 06/04/2022

Resolved that all the above items of correspondence have been noted

2204/10  Correspondence or Items for action / discussion

Email from resident requesting a bench at Clay Lane – Circulated 23/03/2022

Resolved to investigate with the landowner as permission will be required

Proposed Cllr Wood, 2nd Cllr Boulton – All agreed

Letter from Janet Cooper, invite for council to attend a civic service held to commemorate the Queens Jubilee – Circulated 28/03/2022

Parish Councillors noted the invitation and Cllr Wotherspoon agreed to attend if his work commitments allowed.

Email from Steve Eason-Harris, LCC Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Officer, confirming he will be attending Parish Council meeting on 20th June 2022 to give a presentation on emergency planning – Circulated 04/04/2022

All Councillors made aware of the presentation and that Junes meeting will start early to allow time for the presentation.

2204/11  Flooding Update

Cllr Wood advised that the EA have stopped engaging so nothing to report.  Hopefully the work that WLDC are doing will start making headway soon.

2204/12  Planning for consideration and comment

a) Planning application 144592 – 1 Sands Lane, Scotter, DN21 3TX

Planning application for ground floor rear extension and internal alterations        

No comment

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Wotherspoon – All agreed

2204/13 Update on Gainsborough Road Zebra Crossing

Cllr Harper commented the Lincolnshire Live article seemed well received.  County Councillor Perraton-Williams has not replied yet with dates for a meeting at the crossing, Clerk will continue to chase and press for the meeting

2204/14 To consider adopting the WLDC Code of Conduct as per email received and circulated on 03/02/2022

Resolved to adopt, all Councillors signed the Receipt of the Code of Conduct for Elected/Co-opted Parish Councillors.

Proposed Cllr Harper, 2nd Cllr Ward – All agreed

2204/15 To consider the offer made by the owner of The Green to gift it to the Parish Council for the village

Clerk advised the only stipulation is that the Parish Council provide a plaque on the green noting The Green was donated by the resident once all the formal legalities have been delt with.

Resolved to accept the gift of The Green to the Parish Council and supply a plaque.  Clerk to start the proceedings.

Proposed Cllr Watson, 2nd Cllr Harper – All agreed

2204/16 To receive an update on Parson’s Field

a) DDM quote for valuation

Resolved to investigate a quote with Paul Fox but if no progress is made go ahead with the quote from DDM for £250+VAT for a valuation of the area

Proposed Cllr Hunter, 2nd Cllr Wotherspoon – All agreed

b) Information from WLDC regarding protecting open spaces

Clerk advised that the area is noted as protected open space in Scotter Neighbourhood Plan and Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.  This means no development would be granted unless in extreme circumstances.  There are currently no public rights of way registered for the area and if sold the public access could be withdrawn as it was initially allowed at the discretion of the landlord.  LCC advised if any further investigation was need the Parish Council would be best speaking to a solicitor who specialises in PROW law

c) Meeting arranged with Steve Vessey to review and advise on maintenance costs.

Clerk invited all councillors to attend the meeting at 9.30 on 27th April where she will be walking through the area with Steve Vessey.

2204/17 To consider renewing the MUGA lights and sharing the cost of the fitting with Tennis Club

It was discussed that it was a good idea to share the cost, however investigation should be done into the cost of changing to LED lighting.

Resolved for the clerk to get quotes for LED lighting and liaise with the tennis club about timings

Proposed Cllr Boulton, 2nd Cllr Harper – All agreed

2204/18 To review the Cemetery Policy – circulated 28/03/2022

Following the concerns raised by residents regarding personal items on graves council discussed the matter and understand that this is a very sensitive emotive matter.  The clerks gave information regarding glass/breakables being a hazard, complaints from the maintenance contractor and the general knock on effect it has for the whole cemetery when not monitored.  Council was advised of the rules other local cemeteries apply and how they do not allow personal items. 

Resolved to defer this item to allow all councillor to visit the cemetery, Clerk to arrange a time for a meeting in the cemetery

2204/19 Finance update and payments

a.) Approve Parish Council Current Account payment schedule/bank reconciliation for the period of 01/03/2022 – 31/03/2022

Account Start Balance £27,216.46 

Payments £3,662.15 

Receipts £10.00 

End Balance £23,564.31 

a.) Confirm Bank Balance and Statements as at 31/03/2022

Co-operative Bank Account No 61038985 – balance £23,564.31

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

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

b.) Payments for approval

Lincoln Diocesan Trust – Parson Rental 1 year owing £11.00

Unipart Dorman, Service of SID - £319.87

Resolved to approve bank balances, statements and payments

Proposed Cllr Harper, 2nd Cllr Wotherspoon – All agreed

2204/20 To review and agree annual accounts for the financial year 2021/22 and asset register 

Following investigation by the clerk, council were advised that the MUGA was a joint project with Scotter Forward but the funding bid was in the Parish Council’s name and therefore would be considered the Parish Councils responsibility and asset.

Resolved to agree responsibility for the MUGA and include it on the asset register and approve the end of year account for the financial year of 2021/22 and asset register

Proposed Cllr Harper, 2nd Cllr Boulton – All agreed

2204/21 Urgent Highways or Maintenance Matters 

Clerk to visit Susworth and meet with Cllr Armstrong to discuss road issues.

Council comment what a good job had been made of the new road surfacing at The Green.

Resolved to write to County Councillor Perraton-Williams to thank her for support with having this re-laid and she if she would be able to help with the turn off for Laughton, Hobbs Lane and Northmoor Road.

Proposed Cllr Harper, 2nd Cllr Wotherspoon – All agreed

2204/22 Agenda next meeting – to take any items for members 

Gainsborough Road Zebra Crossing

2204/23 To Confirm Date of Next Meeting – 16 May 2022 and decide the date of the Annual Parish Council

Meeting

Resolved to have the annual meeting and the monthly meeting on the same night 16 May 2022 but start earlier at 6.30pm

Proposed Cllr Ward, 2nd Cllr Harper – All agreed

Meeting closed 8.37pm