February 2020 Minutes
Langtoft Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 18th February 2020,
at Langtoft Village Hall
Present: Cllrs Andy Halfhide (Chairman), Brian Branch, Angela Brogan, Yvonne McCulloch, Lewis Trickey, Steve Valentine.
In Attendance: Julian Tatam (Parish Clerk), Pete Coles (Penfield Management Group), County Councillor Barry Dobson, District Councillors Rosemary Trollope-Bellew and Kelham Cooke, and one member of the public.
89 /19-20 Open Forum
Questions were asked about:
Faulty Street Light on Stowe Road. A member of the public had reported a faulty street light to LCC via Fix My Street but it has still not been repaired. The complaint should have been forwarded to SKDC and will be taken up by C Cllr Dobson. The Clerk will obtain a copy of the maps of LCC and SKDC lights and put in on the website.
Parking near the shop. The request for a time limit is progressing and C Cllr Dobson is chasing.
Weight Limit on Stowe Road. It was noted that lorries carrying large concrete items are using Stowe Road and West End when they should be using the main road. A TRO to introduce a weight limit on West End /Stowe Road is still being pursued.
The open forum closed at 7.20pm.
90/ 19-20 Chairman’s welcome and remarks
91 /19-20 Apologies for absence
Valid apologies were received from Cllrs Fraser, A Hallam and D Hallam.
92 /19-20 Declarations of Interest
The Chairman declared a potential interest in the discussion of the agenda item on SKDC planning.
93 /19-20 To approve the minutes of previous meetings
The approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 7th January 2020 was proposed by Cllr Trickey, seconded by Cllr Valentine; all in favour.
94 /19-20 Report from County and District Councillors and Police
D Cllr Cooke reported that a new CEO for SKDC has been appointed, to start on 2 March, the Local Plan has been adopted, the 2020 21 budget being considered with the hope of further reducing the SEA for Langtoft and plans are being drawn up to redevelop the former Cummins site in Stamford.
C Cllr Dobson reported that LCC also has a new CEO. He has not as yet been able to progress our request to be included in the winter gritting route, but is pushing the TRO weight limit request. There is to be a new footbridge over the River Welland at the far end of Deeping St James to link in with other footpaths.
PCSO R Everitt submitted a written report: Langtoft has been relatively quiet over the past two months. The priorities for the Neighbourhood Policing Team are unchanged.
95 /19-20 Clerks Report
The Clerk’s report on actions since the last meeting had already been provided to the Councillors, including a log of communications.
A tree in Back Lane, understood to be subject to a Tree Preservation Order has been heavily pruned without planning consent. The Council is encouraging SKDC to consider prosecution.
96 /19-20 Finance
Year to date accounts.
The accounts to 13 February 2020 had been circulated to all Councillors.
The actual balances at that date totalled £29,203, with £20,192 of this sitting in the deposit account.
Internal Audit
The written internal audit report to 30 September has now been received, confirming the verbal report that the internal control systems are adequate and that the accounts and papers are all in order.
97/19-20 Working Groups
Reports were presented for the groups; of note are:
Events:
The Parish Walk will take place on the evening of 3 June.
Amenities and Highways:
No meeting held.
Cemetery:
The group had recently viewed the cemetery. Actions required include getting a quote to re-lay parts of the uneven path (limited to £1500), move the shrubs, remove the rotten wooden surround to a grave, power wash the cross path, clear the brambles close to the ditch, report the rats in the ditch to the neighbouring farmer.
98 /19-20 Other Matters
SKDC Planning
There is disappointment that some of the Council’s comments on planning applications have been ignored. The Chairman and Clerk will draft a letter to the new CEO of SKDC to express that dissatisfaction.
Potential Community Centre
A further meeting of stakeholders is to take place on 19 March.
Penfield Nature Reserve
The legal contract has been held up on the requirement to indemnify Hansons regarding potential unspecified encumbrances regarding part of the site. After a discussion of the matter, a resolution that LPC accept the contract, subject to Hansons confirming that they have no knowledge of any encumbrances, was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Trickey; all in favour.
The transfer has to be formally approved at a monthly board meeting of Hansons.
Standing Orders were suspended to allow Peter Coles, Chairman of the management group to speak on the topic of allowing dogs into Penfield.
A decision to exclude dogs was made in February 2019 against the recommendation of the management group. Cllr Trickey asked it to be reconsidered and there was a lengthy discussion on the topic.
A proposal that dogs on a short leash within a fenced area, broadly delineated by a black line of a plan dated 18 February 2020 was proposed by Cllr Trickey, seconded by the Chairman; agreed on a majority.
This will provide an area for dogs to be walked and also a large area where they are excluded for the benefit of the community and nature. The exact line of the fence will be considered once the Council has full access to the site.
Standing Orders restored.
Grants
There needs to be a survey of residents to get support prior to applying for a grant for equipment for the playing fields. Cllr Brogan will progress this.
Emergency Plan
Cllr Brogan reported on this topic and it was agreed that a representative of the LCC Emergency Planning group will be invited to address the next meeting of the Council on 31 March.
Tree Preservation Orders
Further to the recent problem with a tree being felled in contravention of a TPO, a planning adviser and tree adviser from SKDC will visit the village to assess trees and update the plans.
V E Day Celebrations
Currently there are no plans to celebrate V E day in the village. It will be considered by the events group who will report back at the next meeting. Given that the Langtoft Festival is taking place in July, there may not be an appetite to run a separate event in May. Cllr Trickey offered to write a suitable article on the topic for The Grapevine.
Correspondence
A request to make a donation to Lincolnshire Lowland Search and Rescue has been received. While the Council acknowledges the work of the group it is not at present minded to make a donation. A free page in The Grapevine will be offered where they can publicise their fundraising.
98 /19-20 Staffing
The public were asked to leave the meeting.
Five candidates had been interviewed for the post of Clerk. The interview panel’s notes on the candidates were discussed and the recommendation of the panel was accepted.
A resolution to offer the appointment of Clerk/RFO to Mrs Sarah Gresty, subject to references, was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Brogan; all in favour.
99 /19-20 Date of future meetings
Next Full Council meeting: 31 March 2020 at the Langtoft Village Hall at 7.00pm
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.45pm.