2023 Parish Council Minutes

SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL NORTHORPE ROAD DN21 3RB
THURSDAY 7th DECEMBER 2023 AT 6.00PM

Present: Councillors R. Walker (Chairman), S. Walker (Minute taker), Dr. Johnson, Alexander and Huddleston

Item 161/12/23 Chairman’s welcome
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Item 162/12/23 Public session
There were no members of the public present.
Item 163/12/23 To hear reports from County or District Councillors
There were no County or District Councillors present.
Item 164/12/23 To hear apologies and receive reasons for absence
Apologies were received from the clerk and reason for absence accepted.
Item 165/12/23 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensation
Interest was declared by Councillor’s Sue and Ron Walker on item 171/12/23. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to award dispensation to Cllr. R. Walker to chair the meeting but not to vote, to allow Cllr. S. Walker to remain in the meeting to hear the discussion, answer any informative questions but not to vote.
Item 166/12/23 To receive and approve notes of meeting held 2nd November 2023
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the notes of 2nd November 2023 as a correct record and signed as Minutes.
Item 167/12/23 Finance
a. The financial report, including incoming funds were noted:-

• Donation of £60.00 for purchase of tree and memorial plaque. Cheque received 02.11.23. Paid into bank.
• Cllr. R. Walker purchase of surplus soil £43.74. Bacs payment to account.

b. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the payments and expenses for December:-

• Clerk’s salary - December 2023
• Printing -  November £4.49

The grass contractor had not submitted an invoice at the time of the meeting.
Additional cutting was required on verges.
Action: Cllr. R. Walker to liaise with the contractor to arrange for this to be done later in the month.
Item 168/12/23 Banking
Deferred until the next meeting.
Item 169/12/23 Preliminary Budget 2024-25
An updated preliminary budget was circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting.
Following discussion it was agreed in principle to establish a Bonus scheme of £100.00 for the clerk, dependent on appraisal criteria. Policy details to be discussed by the Employment committee and brought to Full Council later next year.
Item 170/12/23 Precept 2024-25
The clerk returned the precept estimate of £12,000 to WLDC.
Item 171/12/23 To consider grant applications received for 2024-25
Following discussion it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to award the following grants:-

• Scotton Parochial Church Council £1,000 for grass cutting
• Scotton Village Hall between £1,600 - £2,000 for grass cutting costs at the playground. The council agreed that no part of the grant would be awarded for purchase of or maintenance of equipment.

Item 172/12/23 Community Orchard
a. Awaiting delivery of replacement tree for the orchard. The deadline for planting would be April 2024.
b. Awaiting delivery of the apple tree purchased from donation received.
c. Cllr. Alexander is planning a site visit, once weather allows, to do a sketch of the proposed trees and copse cover.  Trees will be obtained hopefully from the Woodland Trust.
Item 173/12/ Allotment matters
a. The Council discussed the tenant’s request to reduce rent due to water saturation on part of the field allotment rented. The land had been subject to flooding, incidences which had increased over the last two to three years.  It was voted upon and unanimously resolved to grant a reduction in rent of one acre. Clerk to reissue invoice to tenant.
The Council were agreed that a discussion needed to be had on the future of the allotments at the next meeting.
b. The wardens had been asked to take an audit of the trees at allotment land adjoining the PROW. There was nothing to report. Deferred to the next meeting.
Item 174/12/23 To hear any updates about removal of hedging at the Pinfold, at the junction of Crapple Lane
The contractor had removed the hedging.
Item 175/12/23 To discuss suggestions to prevent further degradation of grass at the pinfold and consider any actions
Damage to verges on the site was discussed. To ask LCC if logs or barriers could be placed on the verge perimeter to prevent this.  Bulb infilling on the site will take place once the spring display has been assessed. Planting of suitable plants to take place in the spring to help cover the existing brick structure.
Item 176/11/23 Emergency Planning Project
Cllr. Johnson was continuing to work on the Emergency Plan and was considering the Teletree option for emergency cascade alerts.  The following three sites were suggested as possible areas for residents to congregate in the event of a major incident, these were – the Village hall, the local church and Holly Tree Lodge nursing home.
 It was voted upon and unanimously resolved to allow Cllr. S Walker to put a notice on Scotton Village’s Facebook page asking for volunteers to go on the emergency contact list.
Item 177/12/23 To discuss arrangements for the combined District & Parish Council Surgery and consider any actions
Deferred due to the absence of Cllr. Carless.
Item 178/12/23 To hear any reports from the Village Hall Management Committee (Cllr. S. Walker)

• Planning permission for the MUGA was still awaited.
• Former Scampton airfield accepted for refugees and asylum seekers.

Item 179/12/23 To review Planning Applications and agree any actions
a. Decisions pending

• 147102 - 19 Westfield, Scotton, Gainsborough, DN21 3LX

Application for a lawful development certificate to create infill extension between two single storey rear extensions, removal of roofs to rear extensions and new roof over the single storey rear projections, with alterations to the existing fenestration.

• 147343 - 44 Westgate, Scotton, Gainsborough DN21 3QY

Application to add a first floor, two storey front extension and part single/part two storey rear extension, including balcony to rear – being variation of condition 2 of planning permission 143606 granted 11 October 2021 – removal of front extension, revised roof layout, rear balcony incorporated into bedroom, window changes and revised floor layouts.
The Council had no comment.

• 147443 Westgate Farm, Eastgate, Scotton Gainsborough DN21 3QP
  Application to demolish lean to building
  The Council had no objections.

• Modification order PROW Beck Lane to East Ferry, Scotton 4/1

Nothing to report.

b. Determined
Nothing to report
Item 180/12/23 Training

a. Future training
Managing Performance 17th January 2024 (Zoom) – Cllr’s. S. Walker & Johnson
Clerk - VAT for non- registered Councils – 12th December 2023 (Zoom)
Clerk was unable to attend due to illness.
b. Training Completed
Cllr. Y. Huddleston attended New Councillor evening training via Zoom on 28th November.

Item 181/12/23 Parish Councillors Reports – Information Only
There were none.
Item 182/12/23 Date of next meeting
Thursday 4th January 2023 – 6pm Full Parish meeting