April 4th 2024 Minutes
SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL NORTHORPE ROAD DN21 3RB
THURSDAY 4th APRIL 2024 AT 6.00PM
Present: Councillors R. Walker - Chair, S. Walker, Dr. M. Johnson, H. Alexander, and Y. Huddleston
In attendance: Leticia Cooper - Clerk & RFO, Cllr. K. Carless, District Cllr., and one member of the public
Item 1/4/24 Chairman’s welcome
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Item 2/4/24 Public session
Nothing was raised.
Item 3/4/24 To hear reports from County or District Councillors
Cllr. Carless gave a general update.
[Agenda item 14 was discussed at this point of the meeting but to avoid confusion in
theses minutes the discussion is reported at the point where it would have been
discussed on the agenda]
Item 4/4/24 To hear apologies and accept reasons for absence
There were none.
Item 5/4/24 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 7b (ii) Cllr. R. Walker declared interest in item 7b (ii) as spouse to Cllr. S. Walker
Item 6/4/24 To receive and approve notes of meeting held 7th March 2024
The council voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the notes of 7th March 2024 as a correct record and signed as Minutes.
Item 7/4/24 Finance
a. The financial report was noted. Precept funding of £12,000 had been received.
b. To consider and approve payments and expenses including grant allocations.
The Council voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve payments and
expenses for April: -
• Clerk’s salary - April 2024 £397.80
• Clerk’s mileage – April £19.80
• Printing - £5.49 (HP will raise final invoice by 8th April 2024)
• Grass cutting – Mr. C. Williams £120.00
• SLCC subscription - £120.00 -LALC membership £240,04 -LALC ATS £110.00
• GRANTS SPCC £1000 Village Hall £1600
• HP Printer £149
Grant award: Scotton Parochial Church Council - SPCC
The Council voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the
grant of £1,000 to SPCC.
[6.10pm Cllr. S. Walker left the meeting]
Grant award: Scotton Village Hall Committee - VHC
Following discussion it was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to
award £1,600 to the VHC for grass cutting costs.
[6.15pm Cllr. S. Walker rejoined the meeting]
Item 8/4/24 To note budget adjustments and consider any actions
a. To consider how the Council wishes to provide printing, scanning and photocopying technology to facilitate Council administration and end of year audit demands within its cost cutting objectives.
Following discussion it was RESOLVED to purchase a replacement printer with a larger ink tank. The two models approved for purchase were the Epsom Eco tank - £180 or the HP Smart all in one - £150.00. The Council voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to; purchase a HP Smart all in one printer but if this was out of stock to purchase the Epsom Eco tank instead and to delegate responsibility for purchase of the printer to the clerk b. The purchase of a replacement Council laptop left a balance of £20.01 in the printer fund. It was voted upon and unanimously RESOLVED to; close this budget heading and vire the funds to the printing budget to offset costs of the new printer.
Item 9/4/24 Banking The bank had updated the signatory mandate to include Cllr. Huddleston but was now experiencing difficulties registering for Business internet banking.
Item 10/4/24 Community Orchard Cllr. R. Walker reported that the area was still heavily saturated with water.
Item 11/4//24 Any other allotment matters There were none.
Item 12/4/24 To receive any updates about the Pinfold (Cllr. Alexander)
Cllr. Alexander commented that the area was too wet to start working on the Pinfold
and all agreed any actions should wait until the weather was drier.
Item 13/4/24 Emergency Planning Project
a. Cllr. Dr. Johnson invited comments about the final draft and initiated discussion.
The following points were raised: - • To what extent should the plan consider snow clearing measures, which members of the farming community could be called upon to clear snow and what would be proportionate intervention. • Andy Ramsay stored remaining stocks of grit and topped up grit bins as requested.
• What could be done should the Village become cut off. It was noted that the road to Scotter was generally passable in challenging weather conditions, but vulnerable residents could be left isolated. • Cllrs. S. & R. Walker offered to use their property as a safe house.
• Telephone numbers were needed for main key holders, Village Hall, and
Church.
• Cllr. Dr. Johnson to contact the Three Horseshoes about becoming a ‘safe
house.’
• All volunteers must sign forms to be covered by LCC’s liability insurance.
• The maintenance and costs of the Emergency box were discussed. Cllr. Dr.
Johnson will discuss this with Steve Eason-Harris.
b. Cllr. Dr. Johnson booked to attend ‘Emergency Planning’ day at Fire & Rescue
HQ, Southpark, Lincoln – 16th April 2024 10am-4pm. Any councillors still interested
in attending should contact the clerk asap.
Item 14/4/24 To hear any further updates about the combined District & Parish
Council Surgery and consider any actions Following discussion it was tentatively agreed to arrange the combined District & Parish Council surgery for a date in June in the afternoon, between 3pm– 5pm. Cllr. S. Walker offered to book the hall once the date was set. The hall fees would be invoiced to the parish council.
Item 15/4/24 To hear any reports from the Village Hall Management Committee
• Cllr. S. Walker had been appointed chair of the VHC and would retain the role
of Booking Secretary. The electricity bill for March was just short of £600. Different providers were being considered.
• Hire rates for the hall would be increasing in April 2024.
• The VHC would be submitting a grant request of between £5,000-6,000 to the
Parish Council to enable it to meet its financial obligations. The clerk
requested a detailed project proposal.
Item 16/4/24 Planning matters
• Information only
Application 147921extensions and external alterations
3 Crapple Lane, Scotton DN21 3QT
Objection to application sent to WLDC following last month’s meeting.
• Information only
Application 145041- Granted permission 27.06.22
Description: Planning application for change, the use of part of an arable field
into a wildlife and private fishing pond.
Location: Land off, Scotter Road, Scotton, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire,
DN21 3QU
Planning Enforcement had been contacted to ask if the application had
breached planning permission. Letter formulated by Council forwarded to
Planning dept.
An investigation is underway.
• Application 140545 – Plot 9, south of Eastgate Scotton DN21 3QR
Approval of reserved matters for the erection of 1no. dwelling and detached
garage with annex accommodation, considering appearance, landscaping,
layout, and scale – following outline permission 139520 granted 16.01.20.
• To discuss if planning permission had been breached and to consider any
actions.
Following discussion the clerk was asked to report a breach of planning
permission, as it was alleged part of the property was being advertised as a
holiday let.
• The clerk to contact Planning enforcement to enquire if landscaping
requirements at the developments at Eastgate were being complied with.
All planning applications may be viewed on the WLDC website at: -
Planning | West Lindsey District Council (west-lindsey.gov.uk)
Decisions reached on listed applications, following the issue of the agenda may be
discussed during the meeting.
Item 17 Parish Councillors Reports – Information Only
Cllr. Huddleston requested if the contractor could avoid strimming emerging flower
bulbs. Cllr. R. Walker would speak to the contractor to advise.
Cllr. R. Walker would try and remove the redundant Neighbourhood Watch sign.
Cllr. Alexander would look to having dirty directional signs cleaned.
Item 18/4/24 Date of next meeting
The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council would take place on Friday 3rd May 2024 at 6.00pm. The clerk reminded councillors that the Police Crime commissioner electors would take place on Thursday 2nd May.
The meeting closed at 7.10pm