2025 Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the meeting for Scotter Parish Council held on 17 February 2025, held at Scotter Village Hall.

Parish Councillors Present: Cllr Paul Boulton (Vice Chair), Cllr Dave Ward, Cllr David Green, Cllr Karen Ward, Cllr Rachel Hunter, Cllr John Fardell, 

Parish Councillors Absent: 1

Vacant Seats: 3

Quorum: 4

In attendance:  K Mathieson – Clerk,  6 Members of Public

Public Participation

Summer Fayre date confirmed as 12th July

Cllr Boulton (Vice Chair) opened the meeting at 7.01pm

2502/1 Apologies for Absence.

Cllr Watson 

Noted

2502/2  To receive dispensations or declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011.

None

2502/3 To approve as a true record the Full Parish Council Meeting minutes held on 20 January 2025 and sign accordingly.

RESOLVED to accept the minutes as a true record and sign accordingly.

2502/4 To consider any co-option of new councillors.

Three application received.  RESOLVED to co-opt Brian Gilchrist and Michaela Woods to the position of councillor.  The 3rd Applicant was not in attendance at the meeting.  Clerk to invite the 3rd applicant to attend next months meeting for consideration for co-option.

Cllr Gilchrist and Cllr Woods joined the meeting.

2502/5 Clerks Report and update on matters from the last meeting.

Maintenance contract is looking in to replacing the facias on the garage at the cemetery.

2502/6 Correspondence Items for noting.

RESOLVED to note the items.

2502/7 Correspondence for discussion and or action.

2502/8 Flooding matters for discussion

No updates at this time.

2502/9 To review and consider responses to the following planning applications and any applications 

that may have been received following the agenda being set.

a) Planning Application WL/2025/00069

LAND EAST OF NORTH MOOR ROAD SCOTTER GAINSBOROUGH DN21 3HT

Application for approval of reserved matters for 42no. dwellings considering appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission 143478 granted 4 February 2022.

RESOLVED to comment, one of the drainage schemes proposed involves requiring use of parish council land.  No permission will be given for this scheme without the developer entering into negotiations for permission.

Parish Council request that WLDC planning department review and consider the other development taking place on North Moor Road when making planning decisions especially in respect of foul water drainage and highways.  Concerns raised that the capacity of the existing sewerage pipes has not been fully considered in respect of the 2 new developments in the same area.

b) Planning Application WL/2025/00118

109 HIGH STREET SCOTTER GAINSBOROUGH DN21 3RY

Planning application for dropped kerb, timber gate, and area of hardstanding.

RESOLVED to submit no comment.

c) Planning Application WL/2025/00127

MAPLE LODGE 19 ROOKLANDS SCOTTER GAINSBOROUGH DN21 3TT

Planning application for single storey rear extension and erect new garage block, including demolition of existing garages.

RESOLVED to submit no comment.

2502/10 To receive confirmation from Scotter Village Hall Committee and Scotter Pre-School that all third party funding is in place and approve transfer of the grant funding.

Meeting closed at 7.30pm and reopened at 8.05 to allow members of the public to join the discussion.

Clerk advised that £80,000 of the funding has been accounted for because the pre-school committee have advised that following seeking advise the project can be zero rated for VAT purposes.  Clerk advised that advice had been sort from the local council association via their VAT specialist accountants.  This advice conflicts with the advice pre-school committee have presented and questions if the construction project meets the criteria set out on the government website.

RESOLVED for clerk to ensure a full list of all other third party funders is received from the village hall & Pre-school committees.  Clerk to approach LALC and The Parkinson Partnership for clarity on the VAT.

2502/11 To review the options for installing the new benches and approve any expenditure.

RESOLVED to meet at The Green at 11.30 on Wednesday 19th February to consider he option for securing the bins and benches.  Delegated powers given to the clerk to proceed with this project and spend in accordance with financial regulations.

2502/12 To receive an update from Councillor Green on recent community engagement.

Cllr Green ran through the out comes of the community engagement survey and suggested that a more focused survey on projects and events needs to be considered.  He will work on this and bring it to a future meeting.

2502/13 To consider dates and plans for the Annual Parish Meeting.

Meeting closed at 8.22pm and re-opened at 8.24pm to allow members of the public to join discussion.

RESOLVED for members to consider the options discussed and bring ideas to the next meeting.  Clerk to investigate weekday availability for the village hall in May.

2502/14 To review the outcomes of the Scotterthorpe Allotment meeting.  Discuss and approve any appropriate actions.

Clerk gave an overview of the meeting and confirmed that Woodland Trust have approve an application for 480 mixed hedging whips.  The whips will be delivered in November and will be used as infill for the existing hedging.  Clerk to be more proactive at dealing with unkept allotments.  Wats app group has been set up for Scotterthorpe allotments tenants. 

2502/15 To agree the internal auditor for the financial year 2024/25.

RESOLVED to appoint Brian Brooks.

2502/16 Finance update and payments.

a.) Approve Parish Council Current Account payment schedule/bank reconciliation for the period of 01/01/2025 – 31/01/2025

Receipts

Start Balance £39,359.87 

Receipts £   1054.01     

Payments £   3301.80    

End Balance £37,112.08 

b.) Confirm Bank Balance and Statements as at 31/01/2025

Co-operative Bank Account  - Current – balance £37,112.08

Co-operative Bank Account  - Ear Marked Reserve – balance £188,431.98 

Co-operative Bank Account  - General Reserve – balance £15,224.72

c.) Payment for approval

David Ogilvie, memorial bench - £1643.00+£328.60 VAT Total £1971.60

RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation, agreed bank balances and statements as seen by council.  Approved payments. 

2502/17 Urgent Highways or Maintenance Matters.

Clerk reminded the meeting to report issues via Fix My Street.  

2502/18 Agenda next meeting – to take any items for members.

Co-option. Annual Meeting. Village Hall/Pre-school update. 

2502/19 To review the date for April meeting and confirm date of next meeting – 17 March 2025.

Noted

RESOLVED to move into closed session. Members of the public left the meeting.

2502/20 To receive an update on the purchase of Parson Field and approve payment of the purchase price and associated costs.

Solicitors have advised that they expect the purchase to complete by the end of the month.

RESOLVED to approve payment of the purchase price and any associated costs.  Clerk to ensure that the area is added to land registry.

Meeting closed 9.00pm.