2023 Parish Council Minutes

 SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL NORTHORPE ROAD DN21 3RB

THURSDAY 2ND MARCH 2023 AT 6.00PM

Present: Councillors R. Walker (Chairman), S. Walker, Dr. M Johnson, H. Alexander, and R. Littlewood

In attendance: Leticia Cooper (Clerk & RFO)  

The start of the meeting was delayed until 6.15pm.

Item 175/3/23 Chairman’s welcoming remarks
There were no members of the public or representations for co-option.
Item 176/3/23 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
There were none.
Item 177/3/23 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensation
Cllr. S. Walker declared an interest in item 187a/3/23 – planning application for Scotton Village Hall. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to award dispensation and allow Cllr. S. Walker to remain in the meeting to hear the discussion but not to comment or vote.
Cllr. R. Walker declared an interest as spouse to Cllr. S. Walker. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to award dispensation to Cllr. R. Walker to remain in the meeting to chair the item but not to speak or vote on the matter.
Item 178/3/23 To receive and approve the notes of the meeting on 2nd February 2023
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the notes of 2nd February 2023 as a correct record and signed as Minutes.
Item 179/3/23 Finance
a. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the payments and expenses for March:-

• Clerk’s salary for March
• Clerk’s mileage for meeting in February £19.80 & March - £20.25
• HP Instant Ink, printing costs February £2.99 & March - £2.99
• Community Orchard:-
• purchase of weed control membrane pegs & fabric £13.99
• Woven sheet weed control fabric £12.99
• Ground pegs, peg stakes, staples, fabric membrane £23.98
• Grant payment Scotton Village Hall:
• Electrical work to install additional heating £820.00

b. The budget reports were received and noted. All invoices and bank statements were available for scrutiny.
Item 180/3/23 To hear any updates about amendments to the banking mandate (Cllr. Dr. Johnson)
There were none.
Item 181/3/23 Grass cutting review
a. The grass cutting schedule was discussed and it was agreed to continue with the current schedule but allow for an additional two hours, if required, to maintain visibility at junctions and keep the area tidy. Any Councillor may request urgent work to a junction by contacting the Chairman or Clerk who will pass it on to the contractor.
b. The current budget was adequate and additional hours would not exceed the budget set.
Item 182/3/23 To appoint Mrs C. Sylvester as internal auditor for the current year
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to appoint Mrs C. Sylvester for the annual internal audit review.
Item 183/3/23 Village Amenities
a. To hear any updates about the Community Orchard
i. Cllrs. Alexander and R. Walker planted the two replacement trees in the Orchard. Some of the matting was put down and work would continue, weather allowing, later this month. Daffodil bulbs were beginning to bloom.
ii. The weed suppressant matting had been purchased and was in the process of being laid down. Cllr. R. Walker suggested an alternative to using chemical treatments to keep weeds down as a more long-term solution.
Actions: Cllr. R. Walker to measure site and return to Council with costs and further details about non-chemical weed treatment suggested.
b. Any further allotment matters
Areas of the Community Orchard were overgrown but the contractor had maintained a good path through the site. Cllr. R. Walker asked if additional trees might be planted at the site and noted that the Woodland Trust had several schemes offering free bundles of trees. The issue of getting water to the site was raised. Cllr. Alexander commented that Crab Apple trees which were attractive to wildlife would make a good addition to the site, and raised the suggestion that a small pond could be created to capture water to irrigate the trees.
Actions: Cllr. R. Walker to obtain further information about schemes offered by the Woodland Trust.
Cllr. H. Alexander to consider further the creation of a pond at the Orchard site and obtain costs for Crab Apple trees.
Item 184/3/23 To start planning for the Annual Parish Meeting or ‘Assembly’
Following discussion it was agreed to invite local groups to talk about their activities. District, County councillors and a representative of the local policing team would be asked to attend.
Item 185/3/23 To discuss ideas to mark the Coronation of HRH King Charles III and consider any actions
There was discussion about installing planters in the village. Information about self-watering planters was circulated during the meeting. It was suggested that a planter could be placed at the old Pinfold near to the Jubilee tree. The plaque on the brick plinth near the tree was breaking down and could be removed entirely, and another plaque set onto a planter. Permission would be sought from Highways to site any planters, when the possibilities had been fully considered.
Actions: All Councillors to visit the old Pinfold to view brick plinth and consider alternatives for the siting of a planter and information board.
Cllr. R. Walker had investigated the costs to provide each resident with a mug to mark the occasion, but the costs were prohibitive, and the Council agreed that longer lasting alternatives would be better.
Item 186/3/23 To hear any reports from the Village Hall Management Committee -VHC (Cllr. S. Walker)

• The basin in the ladies’ toilets had been replaced.
• New heaters had been installed.
• The VHC were looking at the constitution to consider what would happen if there were too few members to form a committee.
• Takings were continuing to increase.

Item 187/3/23 To review Planning Applications and agree any actions
a. Decisions pending

• 145788 Land adjacent to 16 Westgate Scotton DN21 3QX
  The application was still open. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to write to LCC Highways to enquire if a site visit had been made to speak to adjacent landowners about the proposed access on disputed land.
• 146007 Plot 2 Land south of Eastgate Scotton DN21 3QR

The application was noted.

• 146131 Scotton Village Hall Northorpe Road Scotton DN21 3RB
  There were no objections.

b. Decisions pending – there were none.
c. To consider the modification order to public footpath Scotton4/1 Beck Lane to East Ferriby
Following discussion it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to object to the modification order. Clerk to send letter to Definitive Map officer, Linc. County Council.
Full details of planning applications may be viewed on the West Lindsey District Council Planning portal at:-
Planning | West Lindsey District Council (west-lindsey.gov.uk)

Item 188/3/23 Parish Councillors reports

• The road from Northorpe to Scotton was in a poor state, especially along the verges. Councillors were encouraged to report it via Fix My Street. Clerk to write to Cllr. C. Perraton-Williams raising the matter.
• Missing and broken street signs have been replaced in the village.
• Cllr. R. Walker suggested buying a printer with greater printing capacity and a larger toner cartridge to replace the current HP printer and contract. Clerk to research matter further.
  Item 189/3/23 Date of next meeting
  Friday 14th April 2023 - 6pm

There being no further business the meeting ended at 7.15pm