October 6th 2022
SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL NORTHORPE ROAD DN21 3RB
THURSDAY 6th OCTOBER 2022 AT 6.00PM
Present: Councillors R. Walker (Chairman), S. Walker, Dr. M Johnson, and R. Littlewood
In attendance: Leticia Cooper (Clerk & RFO)
Item 095/10/22 Chairman’s welcoming remarks
The chairman opened the meeting with the public forum. There were four members of the public. Thanks were given to all members of the public for speaking, points were noted and deferred for discussion, as they appeared on the agenda. There were no reports from District or County Councillors.
Item 096/10/22 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
There were none.
Item 097/10/22 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensation
There were none.
Item 098/10/22 To receive and approve the notes of the meeting on 1st September 2022
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the notes of 1st September 2022 as a correct record and signed as Minutes.
Item 099/10/22 Clerk’s Report
- There had been no applications for the vacant Councillor seats.
- West Lindsey District Council advised the new road at the self-build development at Eastgate would be named ‘Little Eastgate.’
Item 100/10/22 Finance
a) It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the following expenses for October:-
- Clerk’s salary for October
- Clerk’s mileage for meeting in July - £19.35
- HP Instant Ink, printing costs £4.99
- Postage - £2.04
- Apples and Orchards - £61.00 (replacement trees and guards)
Overbudget by £11 from the allocated budget of £50. The additional cost was due to rising inflation. - Reimbursement to Cllr. R. Walker for purchase of Book of Condolence - £22.99
- J. C. Holland (Northern Ltd) Decorative & Industrial Painting Contractors - £240.00 (repainting of book kiosk)
- Lexis Nexis Purchase of Arnold Baker Local Council Administration - £131.99 (Approved but payment pending until goods and invoice received)
The grass contractor had not submitted a monthly invoice for work. The clerk would follow this up.
b) The budget against spending report and monthly breakdown figures were noted. All invoices and bank statements were available for scrutiny.
Item 101/10/22 To discuss preliminary budget for 2023-24
All expenses were discussed in turn, it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to:-
- Increase the clerk’s working hours from 4.5 per week to 6 per week
- Increase the printing budget
- Keep the external grant allocation at £2,500
- Transfer underspend of precept to emergency funds (unless required)
Costs for replacement of the plaque near the Jubilee Tree of £1,075 could be removed from next year’s budget as work should be completed in this financial year.
The Council did not wish to increase the precept.
The council were reminded that the budget could be revised and amended as needed.
The preliminary budget would be updated and returned for discussion in November.
Item 102/10/22 To approve meeting dates for 2023
It was agreed to hold the meeting for April on Friday 14th April.
A provisional date of May 5th was proposed as May 11th was unavailable.
Item 103/10/22 Village Amenities
a) To hear any updates about the Community Orchard
i) Cllr. R. Walker advised that two replacement trees and guards had been ordered from East of England for delivery in winter. It had been possible to purchase a rare variety of Isaac Newton apple tree, dating from 1750. However, prices had risen with inflation and the total cost would be £61.00. This was discussed and approved during discussion of expenses.
ii) It was noted that the brambles could be cut back which would allow easier access to the site. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to ask the current contractor to cut back the brambles and an additional 5 hours were approved for this work. Additionally, the rides and paths would need mowing to make the site easier to access for walkers. To be returned for discussion in November.
b) Recreation Wood
Cllr. R. Walker had investigated the costs for two new information signs into the wood and had received quotes of £600.00 per sign. This was far higher than expected. The matter would be considered further but for the time being plans to install signs were deferred.
c) Refurbishment of Book Kiosk – to hear any updates
- The kiosk had been repainted.
- A large donation of books had been offered. Cllr. R. Walker offered to check existing stock and refresh the current stock. Any items not returned to the kiosk would be sent to recycling or offered to charity if in a good enough condition.
d) Field Allotments – To hear any updates
Allotment invoices and tenancy agreements had been sent to all allotment holders, prior to the meeting. The Council were made aware of the following concerns, during the public session, to the additional rules incorporated into the 2022-23 Tenancy agreement: -
It was argued that section 5.9 part II of the Agriculture Act 1947 could conflict with section 8.1 banning the shooting of wildlife by preventing the management of pests and vermin.
The Council were concerned that allotment holders could be disadvantaged if pests and vermin were not managed on allotment land. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to reconsider that part of the agreement with this in mind, and to seek legal advice, if necessary, to ensure that wildlife was protected in law and allotment holders were able to inform and manage and/or instruct the Council, as the landowners, to manage pests and vermin appropriately.
Item 104/10/22 Jubilee Tree - Replacement of the plaque
a) Cllr. S. Walker reported there had been no entrants for the competition to date, but the competition would not close until 31st October, so there was still time. However, if there were no entries by the end of October, the Council were keen to continue with the project, as the project had support from residents.
Item 105/10/22 Road Safety
a) The volunteer SID co-ordinator had submitted stats for the summer period, these were discussed. A member of the public had enquired if the SID sign could be turned to face vehicles leaving the village, however, the SID co-ordinator had advised the attaching mechanisms would make this very difficult and the sign could not be moved from its position on Scotter Road, as the Road Safety Partnership had advised of position and location in agreement with Lincolnshire County Council.
b) The Council discussed the possibility of engaging in the ‘Speed Watch Initiative’. A resident had volunteered to take part in the scheme and attended the meeting to discuss their experiences of speeding near their home in the village. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to advertise the Council’s interest in taking part in the scheme and ask for more volunteers, as it would require up to six volunteers.
Item 106/10/22 To hear any reports from the Village Hall Management Committee (VHMC)
- Painting of the interior and exterior of the building were in progress
- 50/50 match funding had been obtained for purchase of new play equipment
- RoSPA had made an annual inspection and recommended the removal of one piece of equipment
- The Hall would be installing a smart meter
- Rental fees could be increased due to inflation. There was consideration being given to introducing a summer and winter tariff. This would be discussed at the next VHMC meeting on 11th November.
- The VHMC would be producing a calendar for 2023 to raise funds.
Item 107/10/22 Planning applications
a) Decisions pending
- 144232 Land south of Eastgate DN21 3QR
Properly scaled drawings still did not appear to have been received and the application continued to remain open. - 145495 – Land at Bleak Farm Northorpe Road Scotton DN21 3QR
Following discussion it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to object to the application.
Planning applications may be viewed on the West Lindsey District Council Planning portal at:-
Planning | West Lindsey District Council (west-lindsey.gov.uk)
Item 108/10/22 Parish Councillors’ Report – Information only
There were none.
Item 109/10/22 Date of next meeting
3rd November 2022 at 6pm
There being no further business the meeting ended at 7.10pm.