Arnold

Birnage (Chair)

Broomham

Ford

Forman

Lett

Durham

Arnold

Birnage (Chair)

Broomham

Ford

Forman

Lett

Durham

Public Forum: to receive questions and comments from residents of the village on any matter relating to items on this agenda. (15 minutes maximum)

There were no questions raised by members of the public.

25-21

To note apologies for absence.

The council noted and approved Cllr Durham’s apologies for absence.

25-22

To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and consider any dispensation requests received by the Clerk.

There were none.

25-23

To receive the minutes of the previous Full Council Meeting and resolve to sign these as a true record of the meeting(s).

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting on 30 January 2025

The council resolved to approve and sign the Minutes of Parish Council Meeting on 30 January 2025 as a true record of that meeting.

25-24

Financial Matters:

1. To receive  and note the council’s receipts and payments over budget report to 28 February 2025

The council noted the council’s receipts and payments over budget report to 28 February 2025.

2. To receive and note the council’s bank reconciliation to 28 February 2025.

The council noted the council’s bank reconciliation to 28 February 2025.

3. To authorise the following known upcoming payments:

4. To receive a verbal update on the bank mandate for Nat West Bank.

The clerk updated members that that NatWest had informed her that the mandate changes were now being processed.

5. To consider opening an additional deposit  account to maximise interest income.

The council resolved to look into opening an additional deposit account in order to maximise interest received. The clerk would bring appropriate proposals to the next meeting.

6. To appoint an internal auditor for the 2024-25 financial year.

The clerk reported that she had contacted the internal auditor of previous years and he had confirmed that he would be available to carry out the 2024-25 internal audit. The clerk had supplied him with a copy of the 2024 JPAG Practitioner’s Guide.

The council resolved to appoint Mr Nick Poulson as the council’s internal Auditor for the 2024-25 Financial Year.

25-25

To consider inviting Lincolnshire County Council Highways to a meeting to look at the poor state of the roads and verges in the two villages.

The Council resolved to invite LCC Highways officers to investigate the parishes verges at a walkabout. Cllr John Forman would pursue this with the County Councillor and relevant officers.

25-26

To consider what to do with a council owned strimmer currently located at a member of the public’s personal address.

Cllr Forman reported that the problem had been solved and that he would arrange for the strimmer, which comes complete with a harness, to be serviced. This had not been done for some years and some parts would need replacing to make this brush cutter safe to use.

The council authorised the expenditure for the servicing of the servicing of the brush cutter.

25-27

To receive feedback from the recent litter picks and consider purchasing litter picking hoops.

Cllrs Broomham and Forman gave a brief report on the litter pick. Apart from numerous bags of litter, the volunteers also collected larger items such as mattresses and a fridge freezer. Some of these were still awaiting collection by SKDC.

Cllr Broomham had noted that collecting litter just holding the bag could be challenging, particularly in windy conditions. She proposed the purchase of a dozen litter picking hoops per village from the Copley Solar Fund. The council resolved to approve the expenditure for purchasing the litter picking hoops.

25-28

To consider planning applications for comment.

• S25/0173 | Erection of permanent agricultural workers dwelling and associated works. | J And J Alpacas Meadow Farm Clensey Lane Dry Doddington Lincolnshire NG23 5HT 

It was noted that that no members of the public had raised objections either in correspondence to the clerk or in person. The council has no material objections to the application.

The council resolved to support the application.

25-29

To note planning decisions made since the last meeting.

• Proposed relocation of existing tower at Ease Land, Westborough. 

Street Record Ease Lane Westborough Lincolnshire

Ref. No: S24/2165 | Received: Thu 12 Dec 2024 | Validated: Thu 12 Dec 2024 | No Objections

• Proposed relocation of existing tower at Ease Land, Westborough. 

Street Record Ease Lane Westborough Lincolnshire

Ref. No: S24/2232 | Received: Thu 12 Dec 2024 | Validated: Thu 12 Dec 2024 |  No Objections

• The installation and operation of a mini battery storage unit, along with ancillary infrastructure (PowerPod) 

Land South of Bennington Lane, Opposite The Electricity Substation, Westborough NG23 5HG

Ref. No: S24/1512 | Received: Mon 02 Sep 2024 | Validated: Thu 24 Oct 2024 |  Permitted

The council noted the planning decisions above.

25-30

To consider purchasing Aqua sacs or sandbags through the joint buying scheme of SKDC.

The council discussed this item at length. It was noted that the council did not own any land or buildings in either village that would be suitable to store a flood defence kit. Cllr Forman would talk to local residents asking if a suitable shed could be housed on their land to contain any aqua sacs purchased and to store the existing sandbags. He would bring his findings back to the council for approval if appropriate.

25-31

To consider declaring that the conditions for the General Power of Competence have been met.

The council reviewed whether the conditions for the General Power of Competence were being met by the council.

The council resolved that it met the conditions of eligibility namely:

(a)the number of members of the council that have been declared to be elected(3), whether at ordinary elections or at a by-election, is equal to or greater than two-thirds of the total number of members of the council.

(b)the clerk to the parish council holds an equivalent in the Certificate of Higher Education: Community Governance: Local Council Management.

25-32

To receive the County and District Councillor’s reports.

County Cllr Maugham had sent his apologies and sent an email with his report that was circulated to all members.

Cllr Wood reported on the council tax increases for the 2025-26 financial year.

National Highways were working with SKDC to clean up the verges along the A1. This program should commence in the coming weeks.

He stated that the new mayoral authority to be elected in May would receive a 1.2 million share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It was not yet known when applications would become open.

25-33

To receive and note the Clerk’s report.

Members received and noted the Clerk’s report.

She reported that she had registered the council as an employer with HMRC and the Pensions Regulator.

She had followed up on an enquiry about an application for an asset of community value and was informed that the applicant had been written to some months ago with a request for additional information.

25-34

To adjourn the meeting to allow for comments/observations by members of the public at the discretion of the chair.

There were none.

25-35

Items for notification to be included in a future agenda. For information only.

• Sandbags/Aqua sacs
• A1 gaps closures
• Publication Requirements

25-36

To note the date and time of the next Full Council meeting.

The council noted the date and time of the next scheduled meeting as 08 May 2025 at 19.30 at Dry Doddington Village Hall.

It was noted that the date was the 80th Anniversary of VE Day and that there may be the need to adjust the start time of the meeting.