March 2023 Minutes
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting on 9 March 2023 held at Westborough Village Hall at 7.30 pm
Present Cllrs A Durham (Chair), T Arnold, V Birnage, J Forman, H Martell, S Woodward, District Cllr P Wood and County Cllr A Maughan, the clerk W McCallin and four members of the public.
Public Forum Comments received included the importance of registering the ‘Poors’ Land’ with the Land Registry, progressing with the winter fencing of Dry Doddington Green, The closure of the Wheatsheaf and social media reactions to this.
12/23 Apologies were received from Cllr B Lett.
13/23 Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest
Cllr S Woodward declared a pecuniary interest in The Wheatsheaf Inn.
14/23 Minutes of the meeting on 5 January 2023 were confirmed by council and signed by the Chair.
15/23 Community Benefit Fund (CBF)
a) Council unanimously approved an increased grant of up to £10,000 for Westborough Village hall toilets upgrade so work can start this spring. It will be a joint project with the Parish Council.
b) Design of the verge protection posts on Dry Doddington Church green was agreed, budget £150.
c) Westborough hard standing project is planned to go ahead this year to dovetail with adjacent ground works. Budget increased very slightly to £3,500 + VAT. Confirmed that planning permission is not required from SKDC. LCC encourage the work as it is part of the Viking Way. Council agreed to look at registering Westborough Church Village Green with the land registry so LCC could adopt the path.
d) Voluntary registration of the Poors’ Charity land to be progressed by the clerk.
16/23 Community Cleaner Grant
a) Agreed to repaint the Westborough bus shelter barge boards when weather permits, budget £100 with work to be carried out by volunteers.
b) Agreed to use a recommended lorry sweeper for unkerbed roads in Westborough at a cost of £150 per visit. Possibly in Spring after the rooks have nested or Autumn.
17/23 Parish Newsletter
Council unanimously resolved to grant £225 as a contribution to the parish newsletter.
18/23 The Wheatsheaf Inn
Cllr Woodward left the room for this one item.
Council received an update that the pub closed on 3 February. The owner has withdrawn the planning application of 4 January 2023. SKDC notified the Parish Council of an application to make The Wheatsheaf an ‘Asset of Community Value’ on 16 February. Councillors expressed their heartfelt sadness that the pub has closed as it is such a valued part of village and community life.
19/23 Future Meeting dates
Council resolved future dates as:
11 or 25 May – Dry Doddington, 6 July – Westborough, 5 October – Dry Doddington,
4 January 2024 – Westborough, 7 March 2024 – Dry Doddington. Meetings to start at 7.30pm.
20/23 Annual Village Meetings
Westborough will hold their Annual Village meeting before the Village Hall AGM. Dry Doddington will hold theirs before the May Parish Council meeting.
21/23 Finance
a) Council received a financial update and approved payments for Westborough Village Hall room hire £75, Dry Doddington hall £50, Clerk half year payment including expenses £600, LALC subscription £145.15, litter pickers £72.06, parish newsletter £225.
Payments already made for litter picking equipment for £117.87
22/23 Model Code of Conduct
Council resolved to adopt LGA Model Code of Conduct 2020
23/23 County Councillor’s report
Cllr Maughan reported on the budget, the Development Fund, completion of Grantham bypass Phase 2, the proposed reduction in Lincs Police PCSO’s from 91 to 50 and A1 safety measures.
District Councillor’s report
Cllr Wood informed the meeting of the SKDC budget shortfall, the proposal for a Grantham Town Council, litter picking on the A1 verges and the revision of the SKDC Local Plan.
24/23 Clerk’s report / Matters arising
a) A Jubilee plaque will be ordered for Westborough Tree Seat, size 8” x 3”.
b) The parish mowing contract has remained with EnvironSK who will do 15 cuts from mid-March to the end of October.
c) The election timetable for forthcoming Parish and District Council elections was outlined with applications invited from any eligible resident.
25/23 Matters for Urgent Discussion
The damaged grit bin on Westborough Hill, Dry Doddington will be reported.
26/23 Date of next meeting confirmed as – Thursday 11 May if the Parish Council election is uncontested and Thursday 25 May if the election is contested, 7.30pm at Dry Doddington Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8.30 pm
SIGNED DATE