2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

DRAFT Minutes of the Langtoft Parish Council (LPC) Meeting via Zoom link on

Wednesday 25 November 2020 at 19:00

Present:  Cllr. Andy Halfhide (Chair), Cllr. Andy Hallam (Vice Chair) and Cllrs. Debbie Hallam, Angela Brogan, Yvonne McCulloch, Steve Valentine, Brian Branch and John Swift , Sarah Gresty Parish Clerk

County and District Councillors:  Barry Dobson, Rosemary Trollope-Bellew and Kelham Cooke

Members of the public : 9   

Public Forum:   

1. A member of the public reported fly tipping on Stowe Road leading to Barholm on the grass verge there are an orange bucket and vehicle tyres and other items. Response:  Cllr. Andy Halfhide had reported fly tipping in the layby to SKDC.  Action: Clerk to report and photo remaining fly tipping.Queried the fencing around 36 Aquila Way.  The clerk confirmed this conforms with the permitted development height.The new replaced street lamp on Stowe Road does not display its LCC ID.   Action: Cllr. Cooke to follow this up.  There are still cars parking on the verge in West End by the village hall.   Action: This verge is the responsibility of   

LCC Highways. Queried the costs of the goal posts on Black Bull Green (BBG).   Cllr. Halfhide informed the member of the public that these costs were for 2 sets of goal posts, one for BBG and one East End Park (EEP), and were the most competitive quote received.Queried items on the agenda , payments already made.   Clerk explained that these were budgeted items and approved by full council. Queried the need to list correspondence. Clerk explained that this was a transparency issue and enabled all residents to see what correspondence the Parish Council had received.

2.  A member of the public spoke on behalf of the tenant of 46 West End and the overgrown area used by this household to enable off-street parking.    The member of the public had approached SKDC on several occasions to see if this strip of land could be purchased with negative results.   Thought that SKDC should be more supportive as this property had no parking facilities.  Action:  Member of the public to send details to Cllrs.  Rosemary Trollope-Bellew and Kelham Cooke.  

3. A member of the public also wanted to speak on behalf of the tenant of 46 West End for assistance from SKDC to help flatten and clear the garden as this was unmanageable at present.   There had been lots of rubbish left by a previous clearance and the gate was broken.   Action:  as above details to Cllrs.  Rosemary Trollope-Bellew and Kelham Cooke.  

4. A member of the public asked for an update on Penfield.  Cllr. Halfhide had chased this with          Chris Nicoll last Friday. However, nothing was forthcoming.   All very frustrating as the German end of the signing process is the hold up.  Questioned why the £10k SKDC grant was taken up after first being refused earlier by LPC.    Cllr. Halfhide explained that these funds were being held at present and would be used for a Covid related project, something for the village for residents wellbeing, such as Penfield or the play area.

5.  A member of the public dialled in for an update from Cllr. Dobson.   Action:  Cllr. Dobson to send a link for reporting nuisance parking direct.   Cllr. Dobson is seeking  permission to raise  a Traffic Regulation Order with LCC Highways regarding HGV access into the village and additional double yellow lines at the crossroads.   This is being pursued.

Public Session closed 19:36

Agenda

20/21-243            Chairman’s welcome and remarks.  Cllr. Andy Halfhide formally opened the meeting.

20/21-244            Apologies: There were none.

20/21-245            Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: There were none. 

Minutes: To approve the minutes of

20/21-246            Parish Council meeting held on 13 October 2020.  Proposed as a true and accurate record of events  by Cllr. Andy Hallam, Seconded: Cllr. Andy Halfhide and unanimously RESOLVED

20/21-247            To receive reports from County and District Councillors and the Police

1. Cllr. Barry Dobson Report

1. Road Safety – 'No Need to Speed'

A message from Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership: Last week was Road Safety Week: Drivers can be seen regularly speeding through towns and villages only to end up losing what they’ve gained, waiting at the next junction. It’s that time of year again, especially after Lockdown2, when people urgently need to get somewhere. In a crash, 1mph can mean the difference between life and death. With someone injured on a UK road every four minutes the main message, not only at this time of year, is that there's No Need to Speed. Slower traffic is safer, makes places more welcoming and can encourage people to walk or cycle more often.

2. New Foot- and Cycleways  The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced funding

allocations for the second round of  their active travel fund – with £799,900 on its way to Lincolnshire. The funding is to be used to give people more opportunities to choose walking and cycling for their day-to-day journeys, to boost active travel and reduce traffic congestion.

This can apparently be used to stop rat-runs as well as improving pedestrian environments, walking and cycling routes. Cllr Richard Davies, executive councillor for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said that we are looking at an extra £900K to make walking and cycling easier in Lincolnshire.

We’re hoping, of course, that this will encourage greater use of public transport and non-polluting modes of travel, such as walking and cycling where convenient, possible and, above all else, safe.

You can submit your ideas for pavement widening, new cycleways or road closures online

                              at www.widenmypath.com.

The second round of funding comes as data from fitness app Strava has revealed over 16,000 more cyclists took to Lincolnshire's roads in 2020, compared with 2019. The data also showed that more people are choosing to commute on their bikes in Lincolnshire, with around 2,000 more regular commutes logged through the app each month compared to last year.

Lincolnshire County Council will be publishing information about the schemes that form part of this second round of funding soon, including details how communities can get involved in shaping those plans.

3. BP Service Station  Well, despite all the efforts, this has been approved. I would like to see us

now putting in a request to consider making the roundabout that marks part of the border between Langtoft and The Deepings into a Dutch roundabout. This is successful in assisting pedestrians and cyclists over busy junctions in Holland and there is even one in Cambridge.

4. A15/East/West End Intersection.  We have discussed this, and it is my intention after the last

Langtoft PC meeting to renew our efforts to alleviate the issues at this junction. It is going to be a long haul. The first and easiest thing is to apply for a TRO, which Cllr Richard Davies has told me he would support, to restrict large vehicles passing through the village from King Street and also restrict the parking in front of the shops.

This is now even more important with the potential new extraction site at the junction of King Street and

Greatford Road.

We’ve said in the past that this needs to be policed. So, there is now a new app: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/nuisanceparking which will register the situation and instigate action. It’s yet to receive any praise or criticism, but it’s worth a try.    

5. Counter Fraud and Investigations turns 10!  Lincolnshire County Council's Counter Fraud and

Investigations Team (CFIT)  has achieved a lot in 10 years – saving £7.7m of taxpayers' money being lost due to fraud. Fraudsters excite your interest in an email that make you want to reply immediate: ‘free tickets to Strictly Come Dancing’ was a recent one.  Remember if the offer is too good to be true, it probably is.  Report suspicious email to the Service Desk on 01522 555555.

6. Food Support for Children and Others.  LCC will not leave vulnerable children or anyone else to

go hungry over holiday periods.The government has made substantial additional financial support to low income families in these difficult times. Lincolnshire County Council also received £835k from the government for additional support for vulnerable people, which have already allocated as follows:

•       almost £400,000 to the Lincolnshire Food Partnership to ensure new and emerging local food banks will have grants and support in place to help them to thrive. To find details of your local food bank go to www.lincolnfoodpartnership.org/.

•       a further £215,000 to the Community Lincs Programme run by the YMCA which support Good Neighbour schemes and food kitchens for communities in Lincolnshire.  You can find schemes here: www.maphub.net/LincsGNS/lincs-gns

•       during the Covid 19 pandemic provided the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) with £217,000 to bulk purchase food stock to support our most venerable residents."

The team at LCC will respond to requests for support positively especially if there are children in need. If people need help then they can contact LCC on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/childrenshealth  or 01522 782030 and they will direct you to further support.

                              https://www.widenmypath.com/

I end my report by wishing everyone a merry and safe Christmas and hope to see every healthy in the

New Year.

2. Cllr. Rosemary Trollope-Bellew Report

1. The SK community fund is again open for applications to provide financial assistance for:-

Small grants – groups can apply for between £500-£2000

Community Events-groups can apply for between £500-£5000

Community Projects- groups can apply for between £500-£5000

Projects that tackle loneliness, social/rural isolation, mental heath & wellbeing; outdoor facilities, work to community buildings & social enterprises that support communities in the district.

Application-small grants scheme can request up to 100% of projected costs.

Groups wishing to apply for assistance with a community event or project with a value in excess of £2000 can request up to a maximum of 80% of total, the other 20% must be contributed from elsewhere of which 10% can be from in-kind volunteering or materials.

Closing date 4th December and 26th February 2021.

For more information email – communityfund@southkesteven.gov.uk

I still have some money from my SK Ward councillors grant.

2. At the INVESTSK we had a business meeting and had 120 businesses register to hear about the government grants available. 
3. Deerpark Drive – problem parking the issue has continued and is being progressed further. 
4. You can report any flytipping to sk and include a photo.
5. BP/Marks & Spencer-SKDC refused planning permission at Langtoft/Market Deeping roundabout  A15/A1175 has been overturned at appeal.  It was felt that there was not sufficient evidence to show that the location and access would not be safe.
6. SKDC are both looking at budgets for next financial year.  Balancing the books is going to be difficult and some hard decisions will have to be made but will protect essential services. 

3. Cllr. Kelham Cooke Report.
   1. BP filling station obviously lost appeal SKDC had a good legal team who put forward valied reasons, but these proved not to be strong enough.  Luckily fees are not payable by SKDC.
   2. Next InvestSK business meeting  December 8th
   3. Covid Tier system.  Fighting for SKDC not be be included with North Lincolnshire in tier system as Boston and East Lindsey cases are high.   Result to be announced by government tomorrow (26 Nov)
   4. There will be a vaccination site within district location TBC hoped to be up and running in December.
   5. Business Grant scheme had given £500k to business’  still taking enquiries and advice.
   6. Full Council meeting tomorrow with all 56 Councillors
   7. LCC taking back control of leisure facilities by forming LeisureSK

Police Report Nov 2020   PCSO Rowena Everitt         -     07976947146  Marketdeeping&uffington@lincs.pnn.police.uk

OUR PRIORITIES THIS QUARTER

Every three months, we listen to your concerns and look at recent crime statistics to shape the things we will concentrate on for the next three months. Based on this, our priorities for the next quarter are:

1.   Groups of youths causing a nuisance If you think there is an issue we should be focusing on, please get in touch at one of our public engagement events or contact us by email or social media.

2. Hare Coursing There has been a recent rise in reports of hare coursing in the area.  Lincolnshire police continue to work with local   farmers to try to combat this via the Op Galileo team and local officers.

3. Series of Thefts from vehicles

There was a series of break ins to Vehicles in the Langtoft     area overnight on 11th October 2020. The investigations are still ongoing with some potential leads being followed up.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?   Vehicle ASB Northfields industrial estate

Our previous priority was to target the individuals who used the area of Northfields Industrial Estate in Market Deeping as a racetrack and for unauthorised car meets.  A night of action was carried out on 19th September, which included members of the Safer Roads Team, Special Constables ad the Local Neighbourhood Policing team. This night was not as successful as hoped, as the usual offenders did not arrive. However, there were several vehicles in the area that were seized for having no insurance.

Whilst on a routine patrol on 3rd October 2020 officers found a number of vehicles on the industrial estate and the drivers admitted that they had the intention of causing ASB with heir vehicles. Although no offences had been committed the vehicles were moved on and a number of the drivers had vehicle defect notices issued to them. Each of those in attendance received Anti-social behaviour warning notices

and there has been no reported incidents since this date

Financial matters

20/21-248            a) Finance and General Purposes group – Report by Cllr. Andy Hallam.  The meeting was held on 2nd November by zoom call, there were 4 people in attendance, 3 Councillors and the clerk.  The news is all positive, the bank statements and accounts are all in order and the internal audit has been successfully completed. 

As the auditor had not submitted an invoice due to being in hospital it was unanimously agreed to pay the usual £50 fee and to send her some flowers.  Action : Clerk to action.   RESOLVED

Not surprisingly the PC has not spent as much as was originally budgeted, due to the C-19 Lockdown, however the unspent amounts should be ring fenced as post lockdown they may well be needed for projects such as Penfield, EEP pond and new play equipment.  The PC has received the £10,000 grant rebate from SKDC and this is being held for the moment, until a suitable project is found (potentially a disabled viewing gallery at Penfield)  Budget estimate requests were sent to all working groups for their 21/22 forecasted cash requirements.

20/21-249            b) Financial Report for the period 01 April 2020 to 31 October 2020 was presented by the Clerk. 

Quotes are being sort  for the reinstallation of 2 dog waste bins one at BBG and one on Hyde Gardens.   The prices obtained so far by the clerk were not suitable services.   In the meantime, Cllr. Halfhide had contacted SKDC which had agreed to install another black litter bin, enabling dog waste to be disposed of free of charge.   Action:  Clllr. Halfhide to pursue. This item to be added to the next agenda.

The additional signature mandate to add Cllr Steve Valentine as a signatory to Unity Bank had been resent due to the bank losing the first mandate.  It was hoped that Cllr. Valentine would soon receive the login details.

20/21-250            c) Budget and precept calculation for 2021/22.    Councillors were asked to look at the spreadsheet circulated by the clerk and an Extra Ordinary meeting would be called by the Chair to resolve this item on  15th December 2020 via a zoom link at 19:00.

                              d) To Approve Payments as follows:

20/21-251                           BDG August mowing £200 – already paid

20/21-252                           LALC annual review £17.50 – already paid

20/21-253                           HMRC Qtr. 2 Tax and NIC £575.40 – already paid

20/21-254                           Anglian Water cemetery to 4/10/20 £43.63 – already paid

20/21-255                           Savills – allotment to 10/10/20 £85.00 – already paid

20/21-256                           N. Bright October salary – already paid

20/21-257                           S. Gresty October salary – already paid  

acceptance of payments Proposed Cllr. Andy Halfhide, Seconded Cllr Andy Hallam and unanimously in favour RESOLVED

                              To note Income received:

20/21-258                           Bank interest to 30/6/20 £25.53

20/21-259                           J Reedman interment for VC £90

20/21-260                           SKDC precept £12.250

20/21-261                           Scholes interment - Parr £180

20/21-262                           SKDC com clean 20/21 £453.44            All payments noted

21/20-263            Governance – Consideration for adoption of the following documents:

a) Complaints Procedure

                              b) Policy Grievance

                              c) Policy Disciplinary

                              d) Policy Equality and Diversification          

Action:  Cllrs. Andy Halfhide and Hallam to review these policies and tailor to LPC for presentation at the

February LPC meeting.

20/21-264            Cemetery group

1. Naylor plot – free of charge plot in the memorial garden.  The clerk proposed that a deed of grant be issued free of charge for plot number 48 in the memorial garden.

Allow issue of deed of grant free of charge:  Proposed Brian Branch, Seconded Angela Brogan and unanimously RESOLVED

21/20-265            Consideration of Co-option of Liz Jarman to the Parish Council   A private interview took place between the LPC and Liz Jarman.  Liz then left the meeting for LPC to consider her co-option.    

                              A closed vote took place and Liz Jarman was co-opted to LPC.

20/21-266            Planning: Appeal Ref APP/E2530/W/20/3249826 Land adjacent to the A15/A1175 Roundabout, Peterborough Road, Market Deeping BP filling station application.   As mentioned in the Councillors, planning permission was granted on appeal. Now the plan is to meet with Market Deeping TC to prepare to take up BP’s offer to meet prior to construction.    This is an opportunity to improve safety for residents, improve and lengthen the footpath, and possibly receive some s106 money towards traffic lights at crossroads with the support of District Councillors.    

                              S20/1893 Planning application.   This has been received after the agenda was issued.   Parish Councillors had viewed the application and did not want to make any comments regarding this application.  Action: Clerk to notify Case Officer.

20/21-267            Amenities Group – Cllr Andy Hallam reported on the amenities meeting held on 3rd November by zoom call. 5 councilors, including the chair, were present. There were 7 items on the agenda, ranging from the recent inspection report at BBG park to new play equipment items for EEP, EEP pond, the Christmas tree at the crossroads and budgets for the coming 21/22 year. 13 action points were allocated within the group at the meeting, including:  replacement benches in EEP, assisting the events group with their Christmas reindeers, actions for the clerk and action for the village gardener to paint some of the metal work on the play equipment).

The next meeting will be in the new year prior to the January council meeting.

James Knott has been approached to quote for the removal of the trees on EEP pond

Pete Coles had been approached regarding the management of EEP pond within the Penfield group and would be happy to take this on.  He suggested contacting English Nature or a knowledgeable body to source further guidance.   Cllr. Brian Branch had some useful plans of the pond.

Action:   Cllr. A Hallam to contact Amanda Jenkins and Clerk to contact Patricia Craggs conservation officer at SKDC.

Gate repairs at BBG approx. £30  

Table tennis table for EEP costs £1332.50+VAT     Action:  Cllr Andy Halfhide to contact Andy Richman to chase alternative price.

                              £293 plus vat for wood to repair benches on EEP.  Action:  Cllr. Brian Branch to order.

20/21-268            Events Group – Cllr. Yvonne McCulloch reported :

Christmas Card – all in hand, the clerk has the labels ready (107) for when the cards come back from the

printers

Christmas @ Crossroads – The tags/baubles are ready and will placed at the crossroads on 5th, 12th and 19th Dec for everyone to hang on the tree.

Reindeer – all in hand, it is hoped these will be ready by the end of the week. They then need to painted before they are placed around the village.  Everyone will be encouraged to look for the Reindeer and post a picture on FB with them.  Approx. cost of paint approx £90

• Rudolph opposite the shop
• West End near the seat opposite Manor Way
• Ash Close/Back Lane - Byway sign
• Black Bull Green near planter on the corner Westfield Way or in the park
• Manor Close
• Church
• East End Park
• East End grass verge
• Deerpark Rd We will advertise these events on FB and posters around the village.

Action:  Cllr. Andy Hallam to source stakes for reindeer.

20/21-269            Website  formal Adoption of Accessibility Statement for compliance and update of new site.  Proposed  Cllr. Andy Halfhide, Seconded John Swift unanimously RESOLVED.  

22:00 Suspend standings for 10 minutes to finish the meeting Proposed Cllr A Halfhide Seconded Cllr. S Valentine.

20/21-270            Communications:- eComms  Cllr Steve Valentine had circulated recommendations.  Everyone was in agreement that communications could be improved.

                            Action:  Cllr. Steve Valentine to do a presentation giving more information at the Extra Ordinary PC

meeting on 15 December.

20/21-271            Grapevine – Action:  Clerk to contact Jeannette Pearson for an update on the December edition.  

20/21-272            Village Hall

1. Management committee.     Cllr. Andy Halfhide had researched further and recommended that LPC sign The Charity Commission documentation.
2. Action:  Clerk to inform Jeannette Pearson that LPC would like an invite to future meetings to have a closer working partnership

20/21-273            Correspondence were noted from agenda. 

20/21-274            To receive Items for Future Meetings

1. LPC meeting on 5th January will be cancelled and replaced with an extra ordinary pc meeting on 15 December.
2. Langtoft Annual Awards Ceremony

20/21-275            Date of future meetings:  2021: 16 Feb, 30 Mar, 11 May-Annual Parish Meeting, 18 May-Annual Parish Council meeting, 29 Jun, 24 Aug, 12 Oct 23 Nov Venues TBC

Meeting closed at 22:08