July 2024 Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 9 July 2024 @ 7.30pm
THE MINUTES
No. of Residents present 11 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 N Lincs C C Councillor Mrs Wendy Bowkett N
Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood Y Parish Clerk Mrs Nicki George Y
Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant Y
Councillor Mr Tony French Y
Councillor vacancy
Councillor vacancy
1. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
2. Apologies for absence – Vice Chairman Councillor John Howlett & LCC Councillor Wendy Bowkett – reasons accepted
3. There were no declaration of interest
4. Residents’ issues:
a) A resident asked who is responsible for cutting the grass along the footpath from Back Lane to Hagnaby Lane? as it is getting long. LCC or Farmer? The clerk will investigate.
b) A resident asked for an update on the possibility of having play equipment at the back of the Community Centre? The Community Centre Committee will follow this up.
c) A resident raised that the pathway at the end of Church Road up onto the A16 is getting very overgrown. The clerk will raise it on Fix My Street for LCC to attend to.
d) A resident raised that the road sign for the village along the A16 coming south from Keal Cotes is obscured by branches and trees. The clerk will raise it on Fix My Street for LCC to attend to.
5. ELDC Report
Due to the recent General Election not a lot of information has come through to ELDC from the Government. More information will be available by the next Parish Council meeting due in September.
The previous government were submitting a White Paper for local drainage boards to come to an agreement re residents being taxed for drainage on the Council tax. A letter has been sent to the new Secretary of State to confirm if this is to continue?
6. LCC Report
The bank off the Cul de Sac : Highways have assessed the access to the bridge and would not do anything at the moment they will monitor it.
Road safety partnership are at Stickney at 7pm on Thursday for any residents wanting to listen to what they are saying re speeding etc. in Stickney particular, but the A16 will be raised with them again by Councillor Bowkett.
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF ROAD IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME: HAGNABY LANE - KEAL COTES
It will be necessary to close the public highway to vehicular traffic.
1. Description of works: - Carriageway Reconstruction
2. Reason for works: - Replace the existing carriageway with new material to maintain the road network
3. Main Contractor: - Kiely’s on behalf of Lincolnshire Council County Highways Alliance.
4. Commencement date: - Works will commence Tuesday 30th July 2024 and will conclude on Monday 05th August 2024.
7. Lincolnshire Police Report – The Clerk listened to a Zoom meeting on 27/6/24. The Slide Show including Reports & Minutes of the meeting are available on request. Nothing to effect Stickford.
8. Approval of Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 21/05/2024
Proposed : Cllr Tony French Seconded : Cllr Pam Bryant
9. Matters Arising from previous meeting
a) Allotments – see Section 12
b) Grass cutting – Parish Council have supplied machinery and are covering the cost of petrol
c) Bench by War Memorial Garden – Permission has been gained from LCC to site it outside of the garden on the pavement.
d) Cul De Sac footpath – see Section 6
e) A16 Speed Survey – the clerk to make contact with LCC to request another survey
f) Curb lowering on Church Road – the clerk will ask for an update from Cllr Bowkett.
g) Play equipment – see Section 4
h) Catchwater Bank – Environment Agency have confirmed by email that they are working towards repairs.
10. Finance Report
a) Authority for Payment:
1) £937.50 Clerks Salary (April to June 2024)
2) £ 80.00 Community Centre hire – 14/5/24, 21/5/24, 6/6/24, 9/7/24
3) £ 9.75 Richard Richmond – petrol for lawnmower (grass cutting in the church yard)
4) £ 40.50 Garry Steele – Flowers agreed in Precept for War Memorial Garden
All payment approved by all Councillors.
Bank Balances to end of June are : Current account £10,501.33 (after all cheques to date have been cashed)
Savings account £8240.93 (including quarterly interest of £30.70)
11. Clerks Report including update of policies and website
a) Internal Auditor – the clerk will seek quotes from LALC and local Auditors, plus put an advert on to the website and noticeboard. It was agreed by all councillors and the clerk that only one annual audit is required next year. (i.e. no interim)
b) Policies to be updated : i) Data Protection Policy 2021 ii) Privacy iii) Accessability
All councillors were issued a copy of each of these policies to read ahead of the meeting. All agreed to update with no amendments.
c) Footpaths update for website – The last report was completed in 2016. The clerk has asked Mr Ken Richard if he is willing and in a position to update the report. He agreed to do it.
d) Bench is ready to be sited on the footpath outside the War Memorial Garden. LCC have approved this siting. A concrete base will be needed – a quote needs to be obtained. Councillor Howlett has already obtained a quote and the clerk will ask for a copy to bring to the next meeting.
e) Councillor Clive Kingswood signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office for being a Councillor for the next 12 months, as he was absent from the Annual Parish Council meeting.
12. Allotment Rents
After consulting with a professional land agent, all Councillors have now approved a new Agreement for the Agricultural Allotments along with increased rent and advisory letter to send out in September, for the half year rent that is due on October 1st, to all current tenants.
13. Stickford Village Resilience Plan
All spare keys for the sand bins are currently with the clerk. The clerk is to make enquiries with LCC re Emergency Plan.
14. Planning – discuss planning applications.
The Croft Back Lane, application to site two static caravans for holiday let's. ELDC refused, the applicant has appealed, appeal has been validated and appeals process still ongoing. We have not been contacted yet by the planning inspector about the appeal as an original objector.
Homeleigh Fen Road, outline application for two dwellings consultation period closed, comments posted and still ongoing application.
Bridge House Fen Road, application for change of use of holiday accommodation to residential this has been decided and approved.
Shenzi Fen Road, application for further extensions. This has now been decided and approved. Again a condition imposed restricting development between 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday and 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, no work allowed on Sundays and public bank holidays.
Land at the Cul de Sac, outline application for seven dwellings. This will be considered by the planning committee on 11th July. Councillor Pam Bryant to attend and speak to put forward the Parish Councils objections. A formal request has been made to ELDC to not make a decision until the Section 19 flood reports from last winter's storms are available but this has been ignored. The recommendation to the committee is for the application to be refused. If this is the decision will the applicant appeal?
Land at Poplar Farm Main Road Keal Cotes, application for a free range egg production unit, application ongoing and consultation period closed, comments posted on the planning portal.
Park Farm Hagnaby Lock, application for extensions and alterations, application ongoing and consultation period closed, comments posted on the planning portal.
Harbors Retreat 5 Cole Lane, application to create a new vehicular access, application ongoing and consultation period closed, comments posted on the planning portal in support although some concerns and specific attention drawn to other consultees comments.
The Grange Cole Lane, new application for single storey side extensions and balcony over. Documents on the planning portal. Consultation period open to 24th July.
15. Correspondence received for this meeting – not covered on the agenda
a) A thank you letter has been received from the Community Centre thanking the Parish Council for the grant monies for the suspended ceiling.
b) Re: Parcel Pick-Up Points : The South & East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network (SELCAN) are currently working on a proposal which seeks to reduce courier deliveries by siting parcel pick-up points in locations across South & East Lincolnshire. Our intention is that the chosen locations will either be sites that people are already travelling to or are within walking distance from residents’ homes. We are therefore reaching out to ask whether you would be interested in having a pick-up point sited at your Town or Village Hall, and we would love to hear from you if this is something that you would be keen to explore. Equally if you have a suggestion for a different pick-up location in your area which may be better suited, we’d be happy to give consideration to alternative opportunities. - the clerk will make contact to ask if lockers could be an option.
16. Other Business – matters for next Agenda
1. Allotment Rents
2. Speed Control along Cul De Sac
3. Update of 2/3 more policies
4. Query re repair of dyke along the Cul de Sac
Date and time of next meeting: 10th September 2024 at 7.30pm
Meeting closed at 20.25pm