March 08 Parish Council Minutes
Minutes of Langtoft Parish Council (LPC) Meeting held on 8 March 2022 at 19:00 in the Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs. Andy Halfhide (Chair), Cllr. Andy Hallam (Vice Chair), Debbie Hallam, Yvonne McCulloch, Steve Valentine, Liz Jarman and Lewis Trickey.
In Attendance: Cllrs. Phill Dilks, Rosemary Trollope-Bellew and Kelham Cooke. Martin Lauridsen, 2 members of the public and Sarah Gresty-Parish Clerk.
Public Forum:
- A member of the public suggested that the SKDC £23k s.106 money paid by the Developers of the 35 new housing off Stowe Road, be spent more on the Black Bull Green park as this equipment needs refreshing. Response: The trigger point for the release of these funds is unknown but the Parish Council have already considered this as an option.
- A member of the public wanted to voice concerns over item 21/22-242g below. Reported on a recent meeting with the Planning Officer and the wish for a further extended consultation period. Concerns were regarding new design guidelines policy.
Agenda
21/22-211 Chairman’s welcomed all and opened the meeting.
21/22-212 Apologies: were received from Cllr. Brian Branch.
21/22-213 Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: There were none.
21/22-214 Minutes: To approve the minutes of :
a)22 November 2021 Parish Council meeting were presented as a true and accurate record of events. Proposed acceptance Cllr. Andy Hallam, seconded Cllr. Debbie Hallam and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED.
b)11 January 2022 Parish Council meeting were presented as a true and accurate record of events. Proposed acceptance Cllr. Liz Jarman, seconded Cllr. Steve Valentine and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED.
21/22-215 Co-option an application from Martin Lauridsen had been received for one of the vacant seats for which the Parish Council had received prior to the meeting. Martin has been in village since 2000 and would like to get involved more in the village. A private discussion took place.
Proposal: To accept Martin Lauridsen to the vacant seat. Proposed Cllr. Andy Halfhide, Seconded Cllr. Steve Valentine and unanimous in favour–RESOLVED.
21/22-216 Reports from:
a) County and District Councillors
i) Cllr. Kelham Cooke & Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellow.
Budget – goals to protect the high quality of services. Lincolnshire was not part of the Governments levelling up.
By-Election Results Welcome newest councillors, Richard Dixon-Warren and Ben Green.
Festivals Updates wide range of events starting with Bourne Lights festival, Grantham Folk Festival many events funded by Welcome Back funds.
Stamford Arts Centre changes being made to make more sustainable.
InvestSK creating a more joined up approach to deliver a thriving local economy for residents and business.
Ukraine Crisis work across local authorities has been active with Government and Charitable sectors while also continuing to support 200 refugees of the Afghanistan crisis.
Mallard Pass Solar Farm. second consultation to come out soon.
ii) Cllr. Dilks
Penfield
drop curb removal. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) said this was OK in principle Action: Cllr. Dilks to chase for a formal approval.
Extension of footpath. LCC reply was ‘No’ because of ownership issue.
Defibrillator on posts near lamp posts. Cllr. Andy Halfhide is liaising with a contact given by LCC Cllr. Jack Tyrell to resolve this. Action: Cllr. Andy Halfhide to pursue this to conclusion.
Tree at 88 East End. Has been removed.
Footbridge on permissive path. Cllr. Andy Hallam is pursing this and asked Cllr. Dilks to continue to push this to a resolution.
Gritting Problems. Cllr. Dilks has met with residents and agrees this is clearly a problem as the gritters being used on this narrow road is too large and scatter the grit to widely and killing grass flowers and hedging also the grit is damaging cars. Action: Cllr. Dilks to pursue a solution.
BP garage road works. A local resident had complained about the state of signage and site in general with broken signs etc. After reporting this Lindums (contractors) have taken action and the situation is better. Also, the traffic light timing issue was discussed and a manually controlled lighting system was welcomed.
County Budget. Confirmed a 5% increase on council rates.
LCC Procurement services were discussed. contractors scopes were not yet known.
Action: Cllr. Dilks to arrange a Highways Officer and Parish Councillor walk around the village to discuss issues.
b)Police – police report circulated with agenda and available on website noticeboard. Cllr. Andy Halfhide reported he has made arrangements to meet with the Sargent and Inspector regarding the lack of police presence and the reinstating of the police panel.
21/22-217 Finance & General Purposes : Financial matters presented by the Clerk as follows:
- Financial Report for the period 01 April 2021 to 28 February 2022. Report available on website.
Note Payments as follows:
21/22-218 A Harrison, Screwfix expenses Penfield £19.99
21/22-219 Wave Water to 4/1/22 DD £17.07
21/22-220 N Bright January salary
21/22-221 S Gresty Clerk January salary
21/22-222 N Bright February salary
21/22-223 S Gresty Clerk February salary
21/22-224 S Gresty Clerk expenses Oct – Dec £237.11
21/22-225 ACR new laptop and transfer of data £705
21/22-226 Graytones – Penfield signs £34.56
21/22-227 Deeping Direct invoice 23537 £180.00
21/22-228 N Bright October expenses £64.85
21/22-229 Internal transfer £4,000 to current account
21/22-230 Branch Brothers inv. 092555 Penfield expenses £23.63
21/22-231 A Hallam Councillors expenses £161.99
21/22-232 Kevin Johnson inv. 2595 £600.00
21/22-233 Elderwood Tree Care inv. 634 £1400.00
21-22-234 A Harrison bird food Penfield £51.95
21/22-235 S Boardman repayment error £10
21/22-236 DT Windows inv. 23290 £50
21/22-237 Deeping Direct inv. 24316 £144
21/22-238 N Bright Planter expenses £55.09
21/22-239 A Harrison Penfield expenses £34.31
To note Income
21/22-240 Scholes interment £180.00
All the above financial records were accepted as a true and accurate record of the financial position. Proposal: To accept. Cllr. Lewis Trickey, Seconded, Cllr. Andy Halfhide and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED.
21/22-241 Village skips. Cllr. Halfhide would like to consider reinstating once or twice a year a skip for residents to use in the village. Action: c/f to next meeting Cllr. Halfhide to research costings.
21/22-242 Working Group Reports
a)Penfield
i)Management Committee Report. This was circulated prior to the meeting. Unfortunately, Pete Coles has stood down as chairman, but would stay on the committee and also take forward the development of East End Park (EEP) pond. It was unanimous agreed that we would like to accept his help from Pete and thanked him for all the hard work he has done to bring Penfield to where it is now. Action: Cllr Halfhide to write and thank Pete formally from the LPC.
Cllr. Andy Hallam to temporarily step into the position as chair of Penfield Management Committee, until they decide on a replacement. Next meeting 24th March.
The Parish Council expressed a massive thanks to all the management committee and group of loyal volunteers for the tremendous work they have done so far.
Action: Clerk to put something on website to direct volunteers for information.
Fencing. Firm quote from Bowthorpe Oak farmers price for stock proof fencing the whole site to enable funding to be sources. Action: Andy Hallam to contact farmer.
Ii)Retrospective planning permission required for the container – Action: Cllr. Dilks is pursuing this.
b)Cemetery. Plotting and marking of the last quarter for plots will take place in the better weather. Also to refence around the tree on the boundary where it is pushing the fence. Action: Amenities team to laser map and realign the fencing around tree.
c)Amenities – Cllr. Andy Hallam circulated a report prior to the meeting.
i)Grass Cutting Contract. The group had received 4 quotes for 2022. Amenities Working Group (AWG) recommend to the Parish Council the acceptance of the quotation from BDG Mowing.
Proposal: To accept the quotation from BDG Mowing Contractors for the continuation of their contact at a cost of £110 per cut. Cllr. Andy Hallam, Seconded Cllr. Steve Valentine and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED
ii)Permission footbridge and path. Still ongoing between the land agents and Lincolnshire County Council.
iii)Langtoft Festival donation for basket ball hoop £150 and bike rack £120. AMG recommend acceptance of the bike racks one for each park (location to be decided). Action: Clerk to request from the Festival Committee an extension of time to consider an alternative piece of equipment as opposed to the basket ball hoop.
iv)Village Gate. In February Cllrs. Jarman and A Hallam looked at possible locations for 4 village gates, 2 on Stowe Rd (near the existing 30MPH signs) and 2 on Outgoing Rd in one of 2 places, on the east side of the Penfield Nature reserve (if we could get agreement of Highways to extend the village 30MPH limit by 200m or so) or near the existing 30 MPH signs. All verges are wide enough to accommodate 1m wide signs Cllr. Jarman has quotes for 4 x 1.5M wide signs £3,388 for all 4, supply only. Additional costs of installation and licences to be added before further searches for a funding source. To avoid duplication of work, Cllr. Jarman will share the locations and contact information that she has for highways with the clerk, so that she can continue the permit/licensing requests. It was proposed that additional alternative quote for materials to make up some gates as alternative be researched.
Action: Cllr. Halfhide to pursue fabrication of gates and materials
Action: Clerk to proceed with Permit/licensing requests.
v)New Play equipment quotations. The slide is in need of repair, quotes for replacement equipment that include a slide and climbing frame range up to £40,000 (Wicksteed Epping). Too expensive to consider at the moment. AWG will explore the possibility of refurbishment of the existing equipment. Action: Cllr. A Hallam to refresh the existing repair quotes and look at different roof options such as heavy duty webbing and present the finding for resolution at the next meeting.
vi)Maintenance Issues.
Repairing benches on EEP. Action: to be repaired when weather permits. Action Cllr. Andy Hallam to research recycled plastic materials.
Noticeboards door repair. Action: Amenities Group to action when weather permits
EEP fence slat. Action: Amenities Group to action when weather permits
BBG front hedge to the laid in October. Action: Cllr. Yvonne McCulloch to pursue this action.
d)Events:
i)The Queens Platinum Jubilee 2nd June 2022. A proposal had been circulated prior to the meeting. Activities were discussed and agreed. Action: The Parish Council along with the Fete Committee to pursue agenda and actions.
ii)Confirm village Litter Pick date of Sunday 20 March 2022 10-12 noon. Cllrs. Hallam to organise
g)Planning Issues: To receive planning applications.
i) s22/0375 Land to South of Stowe Road, Langtoft, Erection of 6 dwellings with associated garages and driveways.
Response: Object most strongly to this application in this format as a gated community is not in keeping with the surrounding area and is creating division in the community, and not promoting integration in village life under material planning considerations of neighbouring residents and impact on the neighbourhood. At this point in the village this is a rural open landscape and enclosing would be incongruous to the street scene. Majority voted in Favour – RESOLVED
Action: Cllr. Andy Halfhide to send to planning officer an addendum.
21/22-243 Defibrillators update – Cllr. Andy Halfhide is pursuing this.
21/22-244 Recruitment and councillor surgeries. Nothing further to Cllr. Andy Halfhide resolution for next meeting.
21/22-245 Date of Annual Parish Meeting. Action: All councillors to suggest a date between this meeting at 1st March to hold this to the Clerk to book this date.
21/22-246 To note Correspondence received from last meeting was noted from agenda
- Langtoft WI request for funds – To Resolve a donation request. Proposal: Donation of £50 towards request of covid memories book. Proposed Cllr. Andy Halfhide, seconded Cllr. Andy Hallam. 1 sustained and majority in favour-RESOLVED
- Bumpsto4 use of EEP for easter egg hunt – To resolve permission request to use the park. Unanimously in agreement.
- FOLS - Friends of Langtoft School To resolve request for a donation towards funds needed for the Easter Egg Hunt. Proposal: To contribute a donation toward this of £50 Cllr. Lewis Trickey, seconded Cllr. Steve Valentine. Unanimous in favour-RESOLVED.
Time 21:30 Proposed: Standing orders suspended for 10 minutes to complete the meeting. Proposed Cllr. Lewis Trickey, seconded Cllr. Steve Valentine and unanimous in favour-RESOLVED.
21/22-247 To receive Items for Future Meetings
- May meeting. Standing Orders. To Resolve Amendments to Standing orders following audit to: Page 16 to increase authorise payments to £500, Page 18 to remove para. 12e this refers to Councils below income & expenditure of £25k per year, Page 24 to remove para. 20a this refers to Councils below income & expenditure of £25k per year
EEP dog show. Cllr Jarman to propose resolution.
Grapevine.
Gibbs Close
Date of future meetings: 2022: Annual Parish Meeting (TBC) 18 May (Annual Meeting), 28 June, 23 August, 11 October, 22 November.