December 2023 Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 12th December 2023 @ 7.30pm
MINUTES
No. of Residents present 8 Official attendees read Y for attending, N for non-attendance
Chairman Councillor Mrs Lesley Reeson Y ELDC Councillor Mr Terry Taylor Y
Vice Chairman Councillor Mr John Howlett Y Lincs C C Councillor Mrs W Bowkett Y
Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood Y Parish Clerk Mrs Nicki George Y
Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant Y
Councillor vacancy
Councillor vacancy
Councillor vacancy
1. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
2. Apologies for absence – None
3. There were no declaration of interest
4. Residents’ issues:
1) Advice was sought by a resident about submitting a planning request to change a property that currently is a holiday let to become a permanent dwelling for an elderly resident. Cllr Taylor and Cllr Bowkett gave the necessary advice.
2) A resident brought to the attention of the Parish Council an uneven area in the Community Centre car park that needs attention and is creating a puddle. The Clerk will report it on ‘Fix my Street’ and Cllr Bryant will bring it to the attention of the Community Centre Committee.
3) A resident commented on the bad state that some of the verges have been left in following the recent roadworks on Fen Road and the Cul de Sac. Cllr Bowkett will speak with Highways.
4) A resident thanked the Parish Council, especially the Chairman and Cllr Bowkett for their help and support during the recent flood. Cllr Bowkett spoke of the grants that are available to any resident that has their home damaged by flood.
5. ELDC Report
1) Home and Energy Advice – nearest venue is Skegness
2) Bin Collections – there will be some changes to collections over the Xmas period. Please check ELDC website for details. Some of the grey bins along the Cul De Sac were not collected last week when the roadworks were taking place. Can clear bags be issued by ELDC? Cllr Taylor will investigate. If not, it is suggested that the black bins be used.
3) Grants are available up to £25k for local businesses to improve digital and employability skills.
6. LCC Report
1) You will probably have read in the news that Lincolnshire County council have signed with the greater Lincolnshire County councils to take forward devolution for Lincolnshire. This in the first instance would bring an extra 24 million for 30 years which will be part of the mayoral investment fund. This would bring the total funding to 720 million for the county. There would be a one-off capital investment of 28.4 million and a 1 million skills fund. This is just the beginning and this should open up the opportunity to bid for extra funding in all areas. I encourage you all to take the time to fill in the consultation at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution also there will be events held for you to go along and talk to officers and read how this can really benefit our local communities by allowing decisions to be made in Lincolnshire.
The following dates for your diary:
The storehouse, Skegness 19/1 11 - 2, Boston Utd Stadium, Boston 11/1 3 till 7pm and Louth Meridian Centre, Louth 17/1 11-2 pm
2) We continue to pursue the section 19s after the flooding across the county, 663 properties have been affected so far with many more having gardens and outbuildings affected.
The applications for the £5000 has now opened. Apply at propertyfloodresilience@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Applications will only be accepted from residence or businesses that have been affected with the latest storm Babet.
3) Fen Road is now completed and just filling in the roadsides, it's made a huge difference and the staff have had some lovely comments from residents as well as being fed with bacon butties and coffee.
4) The section of the Fodderdyke at Friskney has been completed and is major improvement also the section from Hob Hole Bridge to the Duke of Wellington has reopened and has finally got rid of the huge dips it will make a big difference to residents.
5) There has been another bank slip next to the new road and this will be dealt with in due course along with the one best to the crossroads.
6) May I take this opportunity of wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year, and thank you for your continued support. Wendy
7. Lincolnshire Police Report
The first 6 monthly zoom meeting/forum took place on 5th December 2023. The Clerk listened in for the duration of the 2 hour forum. A copy of the presentation has been made available to all clerks who has emailed it to the Parish Councillors. All contact details of the local PSCO etc. can be found on the Lincolnshire Police website.
8. Approval of Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 12/9/2023 and the Extra Ordinary meeting held on 9/10/2023
Proposed: Cllr Howlett
Seconded: Cllr Bryant
9. Matters Arising from previous meetings
None, other than items already being discussed on the agenda.
The Planning that was discussed at the Extra Ordinary meeting on 9/10/23 is ongoing – see Planning Section 13.
10. Finance Report
a) Authority for Payment:
1) £875.00 - Clerks quarterly salary, October to December 2023
2) £40.00 - Flowers for War Memorial (Mr G. Steele)
3) £25.00 - Poppy wreath (1) Royal British Legion
4) £25.00 - Poppy Wreath (2) (Cllr Bryant)
5) £10.00 - donation to Royal British Legion
6) £42.00 - Abbey Payroll Services
7) £91.20 - Turnbulls – sand for flood sand bags (Cllr Reeson)
8) £60.00 - Community Centre rent (12.9.23, 21.11.23, 12.12.23)
All payments Proposed by Cllr Kingswood and Seconded by Cllr Howlett
The previously agreed cheque for £400 was issued to Grandmas Pudding on 12.11.23 for the buffet on the celebration day of the 100-year anniversary of the War Memorial Clock & Remembrance Day.
a) Budget Report update: a copy was issued to each Councillor and all areas look ok at this point in the year.
b) A Refund has been received of £378.00 from PSPSL – fee for External Audit.
c) Precept 2024-25 – a copy was issued to each Councillor. The Chairman read aloud each item. Further discussion to be held at the next meeting on 9th January 2023 before it is agreed and submitted to ELDC.
d) £44.70 remains in the Jubilee/Coronation fund after the Remembrance Day buffet has been paid for. This will be ringfenced for another village event. All remaining tea/coffee etc will be donated to the Community Centre kitchen for any of the clubs to use.
b) Bank balances:
Current account £9173.98, Savings account £8,151.26.
Ring fenced in the current account is the outstanding balance for the new bus shelters and noticeboard of £2520.42 to be paid on completion of installation, due December 2023.
11. Flood Action Plan (Stickford Parish Resilience Plan)
£850 ELDC Community Grant has been applied for to cover 4 x 500 litre plastic bins to hold sand, plus 2 tonne of sand. £800 has been approved by Cllr Taylor out of his Grant fund. Empty sandbags have been requested from LCC. It is proposed that these bins will be sited at the end of Church Road where the recycling bins used to be. Further discussion at the next meeting on 9th January 2024 as to best site and any further suggestions.
The dykes around the village do need to be cleaned out. Cllr Bowkett will make contact with the Environmental Agency and Witham Fourth to clarify who is responsible for the different dykes and drains.
12. Update on Replacement of assets ie. Noticeboard and 4 bus shelters
The Noticeboard has been installed. It is noted that condensation is accumulating on the inside of the screen during the wet weather we have had recently and that the screen is plastic and not glass. A moisture retention product will be placed inside to see if it helps. The bus shelters will be installed during December and then the total outstanding balance of £2520.42 is to be paid upon installation and completion of the job. To be approved for payment at the next meeting on 9th January 2024.
13. Planning – discuss planning applications.
Shenzi.
Councillor Howlett said that a further planning application has been submitted for Shenzi, Fen Road for extensions to the previously approved extensions to the granary and double garage. Plans and drawings were inspected prior to the meeting. ELDC have requested comments by 15th December. A request has been made to extend this to 15th January due to Christmas and New Year and to enable the application to be discussed at the meeting on 9th January to include it as an agenda item and get as many residents as possible to attend and to ask them to put comments on the planning portal. The planning officer was only able to give an extension to 2nd January as she needs to make a decision by 11th January. It was decided that a post would be put on the village Facebook site to make residents aware of the application and requesting them to comment on the portal with the reasons for objection density, appearance, parking/ obstruction issues on Fen Road and noise. It was decided that in addition to the Parish Council making its formal comments we would all make individual comments.
The Cul de Sac.
Councillor Howlett reported that he had obtained an update on the application from the planning officer on the morning of the meeting. ELDC are not in a position yet to make a formal decision although the planning officer’s recommendation is for refusal.
14. Correspondence received for this meeting – not covered on the agenda
1) A copy of the LCC Devolution Proposal
15. Other Business – matters for next Agenda
1. Community Centre – Constitution & add to Asset List
2. Stickford Village Resilience Plan - update
3. Noticeboard & Bus Shelters update – payment
4. Co-option of a new Councillor
16. Date and time of next meeting: 9th January 2024 at 7.30pm
Meeting closed at 9.05pm