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 1st JUNE 2023 AT 6.15PM
 

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

In attendance: Cllr. K. Carless (District Councillor) and Leticia Cooper (Clerk & RFO)  

Item 34/06/23 Chairman’s welcoming remarks
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Item 35/06/23  Public session
There were no members of the public.
Item 36/06/23 To hear reports from County or District Councillors
There were none.
Item 37/06/23 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept apologies and reason for absence from Cllr. R. Littlewood.
Item 38/06/23 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensation
There were none.
Item 39/06/23 To receive and approve the notes of the meeting on 18th May 2023
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the notes of 18th May 2023 as a correct record and signed as Minutes.
Item 40/06/23 Finance
Monthly and overview budget reports received and noted. All invoices and bank statements were available for scrutiny. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the payments and expenses for June:-

• Clerk’s salary for June
• Clerk’s mileage £40.50
  Additional trips were made to the Notice boards to put up account information and Notice of Public Excise
• HP Instant Ink - printing costs April £4.49
• Zurich Insurance – annual Council insurance £300.00
• Grass cutting - May £260.00
  The contractor was asked to work 4 additional hours due to rapid growth of grass.
• Postage £1.10
• Community Orchard:-
  - J. Parker’s Crab apple collection Pack of 2
  - Outdoor Value Mesh & tree guards

Item 41/06/23 Community Orchard
a. To hear any updates
- Cllr. R. Walker had purchased the anti-weed suppressant materials, and these had been put down around the bench. Five bags of stone substrate had been purchased to finish the project.  The surviving fruit trees were beginning to flourish.
Action: Cllr. R. Walker & Cllr. H. Alexander to arrange date to transport stone substrate to the Orchard and lay around the bench.
b. To discuss ideas about how to develop the Community Orchard
-The idea to provide raised beds for residents to cultivate was raised. It was also suggested that local schools could be encouraged to take part in the development of the Orchard.
Action: Cllr. R. Walker to publicise idea of raised beds to gauge interest from residents.
c. To discuss applying for grants to develop the site further and consider any actions
- There could be grants available for Community and Environmental projects and this could be investigated further depending on what projects the Council were pursuing.
Item 42/06/23 To discuss grass cutting needs over the summer and consider any actions
The improvement in the weather resulted in fast growth of grasses on the verges. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to allocate an additional 4 hours per month to the contractor from June until September. The contractor would be asked to maintain good visibility into and out of the village; and to mow at the Community Orchard as soon as possible.
Item 43/06/23 To consider reports of overgrown vegetation / hedging in the village
No immediate actions required. However, visibility at road junctions should be monitored.
Item 44/06/23 To hear any updates about the Planter project on Crapple Lane/Eastgate
The planter had been purchased and Cllr. R. Walker was awaiting delivery. Wording for the replacement plaque had been agreed.
Item 45/06/23 To hear any reports from the Village Hall Management Committee (Cllr. S. Walker)

• Village fete to take place 24th June from 1pm-4pm. Everyone was cordially invited to attend.
• The Committee were investigating sources of funding for the MUGA
• More people were needed on the Village Hall Management Committee

Item 46/06/23 To review planning applications and agree any actions
a. Decisions pending
146715 Plot 1 Land south of Eastgate DN21 3QR
Application for Boundary wall and gate

Following discussion, it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to object to the application on the following grounds:-

• The road for this development did not appear to have approval and the inlet to the drive for Plot 1 did not appear to be shown on the original drawing

• The drawing provided was not to scale. The distance of the gate to the road was not provided. Vehicle lengths could vary – this could be more precise. If the gate was closed would the vehicle be situated off the main highway or block the road until the gate was opened?
• Safe entry and exit from the site were a concern. Reversing into the narrow road from the property should be avoided – was there room for a vehicle to turn around once in the property?
• Had the proposed hedging, to be planted in front of the brick wall, on what appeared to be an adopted verge been given approval by Lincolnshire County Council Highways dept.?

b. Determined - None
c. Modification order to public right of way - Beck Lane to East Ferry Scotton 4/1
Nothing further to report
Item 47/06/23 Training
Cllr. R & S Walker and Cllr. Alexander agreed to attend the Councillor Induction and Refresher training on 14th June in Gainsborough.
Action: Clerk to book course with LALC.
Item 48/06/23 Parish Councillors reports
There were none.
Item 49/06/23 Clerk’s Report
The annual external audit review had been completed and published along with the Notice of Public Excise. All audit papers had been added to both noticeboards.
Item 50/06/23 Date of next meeting
July 6th at 6pm in the Village Hall.
Item 51/06/23 To resolve whether to move into closed session and exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, due to the sensitive nature of the business to be discussed
It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to move into closed session.
Accumulation of rubbish and fly tipping on the ACIS car park was discussed. ACIS were aware of the matter.

Following the end of discussion on the last item the chairman closed the meeting at 6.58pm.