2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

SUDBROOKE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUDBROOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 2 MARCH 2023 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, SUDBROOKE

PRESENT:  Dave Scott (Chairman until 7.45pm), Peter Heath (Chairman from 7.45pm)

Sandra Clayton, Andy Cottam, Simon Crampton, Paul Fido, Bhikhu Mistry

County Councillor Sue Rawlins

Clerk Christine Myers, Treasurer Bridget Solly

1 resident

161 – 2022/23  PARISHIONERS ITEMS

•   The Leader of the local Beavers attended the meeting and requested that he, along with the Beavers, create a Butterfly garden(s) within Sudbrooke.  He asked for suggestions of area(s) that could be used.  Members felt that this should be encouraged and this would be an agenda item for the next meeting of the Council.

•   A resident had expressed her concern that dog walkers were allowing their dogs to run freely in the woods and these were frequently jumping up at other walkers.  

Advice had been sought by the Parish Council from the local Community Police Inspector who had replied that there is the Dangerous Dogs Act for dogs out of control which covers jumping up at people either injuring them or making them fear they will be injured and he was making his Sargent responsible for the area aware of the issues.

Members felt that in the first instance an article in Sudbrooke News be published outlining the problem and requesting that dog walkers keep their dogs on a lead if they do not respond to recall.

•   It was noted that that the memorial wreaths placed at the Millennium Stone had become unfastened and had been blowing about.  There appeared to be little information as to how long the wreaths should be left in situ, this being a Council decision.  The Clerk was asked to formulate a Policy for consideration at the next meeting of the Parish Council.

•   WLDC had forwarded an anonymous letter to the Chairman of the Parish Council regarding speeding along Scothern Lane.  The Chair had replied that it was not policy for the Parish Council to respond to anonymous correspondence but that the contents of the letter would be noted.

•   A resident had also emailed the Parish Council with regard to concern for speeding on Scothern Lane.  It was agreed that Councillor Dave Scott approach the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and request that a speed survey be taken along Scothern Lane.  The resident had also raised concern about traffic on West Drive exceeding the 5mph sign displayed.  It had been pointed out that West Drive was still a Public Footpath and that the 5mph sign had been displayed by the Parklands developers for the guidance of the contractors’ traffic. It was hoped that parishioners and delivery drivers would observe this, but it was not a legal requirement.

162 – 2022/23  TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS GIVEN

Councillor Mrs Tracey Bowman and District Councillor Bob Waller.  That the reasons given be accepted unanimously Resolved.

163 – 2022/23  TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

None declared.

164 – 2022/23  NOTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 2 FEBRUARY 2023 TO BE APPROVED AND SIGNED AS MINUTES

That the notes be signed as minutes unanimously Resolved.

165 – 2022/23  COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT   

•   CC Sue Rawlins reported that the County had the lowest rate of council tax increase for the country.

•   That she was arranging a site meeting with Highways Officers regarding the pathway and cutting back of hedge on the A158 beyond 91 Wragby Road towards Langworth.  

It was requested that the resident reporting the matter be invited to attend this meeting.

•   That the County Council were putting together a list of all items highlighted by County Councillors in order to keep these under review.

166 – 2022/23  REPORTS ON MATTERS OUTSTANDING

A     Burial space/new cemetery – Another possibility for an area of land for a cemetery had been raised and further information on this would be pursued.

The Chairman would contact Rev Penny Green with regard to any issues in the churchyard.

B     Request for lowering speed limit on Wragby Road to 40mph – County Councillor Sue Rawlins would continue to pursue this and she suggested that it be withdrawn from the agenda for a short period of time.

C     Overgrown hedge/grass encroachment/upgrading of path to cycleway – As reported in County Councillors Report CC Sue Rawlins was arranging a site meeting with Highways Officers to discuss this matter.

D  Grit Bins – impacted salt and grit – reply from LCC – All bins in Sudbrooke had been inspected by LCC and the grit found to be usable if knocked about with a spade.

The bin on Scothern Lane, opposite Manor Drive, would be removed due to it being on a route that is gritted.

The bin at the junction of Holme Drive/Scothern Lane was broken and would be replaced.

167 – 2022/23  POLICE MATTERS

Councillor Bhikhu Mistry and the Clerk had attended a Police Cluster meeting with representatives of other local Parish Councils and the new Inspector responsible for Communities, at Scothern on 20 February.

The Inspector stressed he wanted to have more contact with Parish Councils and will send crime figures monthly to Clerks.  He would also like to hold twice yearly Cluster meetings.

He stressed that there are currently 90 PCSO’s in Lincolnshire and it is planned to reduce these to 50 in the near future.  

He would like to meet Activity Groups in the area in order to have a contact to notify organisers of related crimes such as Rogue Trading.

Since the meeting Inspector Head had forwarded the crime figures for January and February, there being in Sudbrooke two occasions of Harassment, one Malicious Communications and one Public Order Offence.

168 – 2022/23  SPORTS EVENT 2023 - TO ARRANGE A DATE AND FORM A WORKING GROUP TO ORGANISE THE EVENT 

Councillor Mrs Sandra Clayton offered to join a Working Group, however it was felt that residents needed to be involved also.  The Treasurer would put an item on Facebook and the Clerk would circulate to the Residents email list requesting assistance.  It was agreed that the event be held on the Sunday of the Coronation weekend, the 7th May.  There would be no charge from the Village Hall Committee for the hire of the hall.

Funds available for the event were £150 from the Precept, £90 surplus from the cancelled Sports Event 2022 and £200 from the District Councillors Initiative Fund.

169 – 2022/23  SUDBROOKE NEWS

i  To agree new Distribution Manager following resignation of Councillor Andy Cottam – Councillor Mrs Sandra Clayton offered to take over this role.

ii  To consider, due to late publication of February issue, to offer either a refund or additional advertising to event(s) already held prior to distribution of the magazine -  This was agreed for those paying advertisers.

It was also agreed to ask the Editor to bring forward the copy deadline date to 10th of the month in order to enable publication prior to the end of the month.

170 – 2022/23  TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FOOTWAY RESURFACING IN VILLAGE

Notification received as follows.  That a request be made to residents to trim back any overhanging shrubs or plants prior to works commencing unanimously Resolved.

TO RECEIVE REQUEST BY ASTCO LTD TO SITE A CLOTHES BANK IN THE VILLAGE

This request was considered but as previously discussed the Village Hall was not a suitable place for a clothes bank due to the likelihood of it attracting vandalism and also taking up valuable car parking space.  

That a Clothes Bank be not sited in the village unanimously Resolved.

171 – 2022/23  FINANCE

i   Accounts for payment

ii  To consider quotations for painting of play equipment, prior to applying for grant to works.

The Clerk reported that only two quotations had been received as follows:-

Two quotations received (a) £5,500.00 (b)  £1900.00

That quotation (b) be accepted in the sum of £1900.00 from Dave Lenton.

The Clerk would apply for a grant donation from IGas Community Fund for part of the amount, the remainder of £526.00 being paid from Cils funds currently held.

172 – 2022/23  ELECTIONS FOR PARISH AND DISTRICT COUNCILLRS 4 MAY 2023 – DETAILS FOR NOMINATIONS

The elections for Parish and District Elections would take place on 4 May 2023.  Nomination forms available from West Lindsey District Council.

173 – 2022/23  PLANNING

A    Sudbrooke Neighbourhood Plan Review – update from Working Group following report from LAB Planning Services - The report had been received and identified a number of changes required to update the plan in respect to Renewable Energy, Climate Change and the Central Lincolnshire Plan (amongst others).  The report contains a number of suggestions, with potential new policy wording.
 
The report has been shared with the Neighbourhood Planning Officer at West Lindsey District Council who has confirmed that he wants to be involved with discussions and the review of documents.
 
A meeting would be arranged to discuss the initial review document and agree the process for communicating any suggested changes to all stakeholders.

B     Application 146219 – 54 St Edward’s Drive - ground floor rear extension, first floor extension to create habitable space including replacement roof and dormer windows - That there be no objections or comments to this application unanimously Resolved.

C    Application 146151 - Application seeking to vary condition 13 (for the developer to accord with the proposed scheme to prevent vehicles from accessing the private drive that connects in a southerly direction with the A158) of planning permission 133284 (granted on appeal for the erection of up to 130 dwellings and a new building to provide up to 25 apartments for retirement living, associated hard and soft landscaping, together with the change of use of land to provide a new area of open space, including the provision of new footpaths and sustainable drainage infrastructure, and to provide new community allotment facilities) - Land adjacent Sudbrooke Park, Off West Drive – That the comments below be submitted to WLDC Planning Department and that a Councillor representative attend the Planning meeting to endorse those comments unanimously Resolved.

‘Sudbrooke Parish Council wish to object to planning application 146151 on the grounds that the proposal completely negates the intention of condition 13 of the appeal decision.

Main Drive is a narrow private road maintained by the residents who have a right of way written into the deeds of their properties. It has Footpath 160 running along its length. At its junction with the A158 it has an entrance bordered by Grade II listed gateway comprising two former estate houses and ornate iron gates.  It also has a listed grade II stone parapet bridge spanning the beck to the north of the gates. (Historic England UID 1166024 and 1391395 respectively)

Since the initial application to build the Parklands estate was made, Sudbrooke PC has expressed concern over access through Main Drive for vehicular traffic. We have held many discussions with representatives of the developers to seek a solution. Ideas put forward have ranged from lifting barriers, lockable gates, and rising bollards. Non have been adopted by the developers, indeed we have been told by the developer on multiple occasions that such a restriction would be illegal because of footpath 160. The Parish Council find it difficult to believe that Her Majesties Inspector should place a condition of appeal that would be illegal

Currently there are signs at either end of Main Drive stating that it is a private road and that construction traffic are not to use it. The visual deterrent to entry that these signs offer is ineffective.  Google maps shows Main Drive as an accessible road and is the most direct route to the Parklands development from the A158. As such it is an easy route for delivery drivers from the Supermarkets and online firms. It is also now being used as a rat run by current village residents to circumvent traffic problems at the junction of Scothern Lane and the A158. 

Sudbrooke PC believe that the historic listed gates and bridge on Main Drive are in danger of being damaged by increased use of Main Drive if the “deter’ amendment is accepted to replace “prevent”.  The additional use by unauthorised vehicles is damaging the road surface and causing confrontation by Main Drive residents with said drivers.

The only way to prevent further use and reduce tensions is to complete condition 13 of the appeal which should have been done before commencement of the development. Sudbrooke PC ask the planning committee to reject this application.’

174 – 2022/23  CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING

*Sent to Residents email list

30.1.2023 – LALC Weekly E News
1.2.2023 – LALC Website maintenance monthly report
1.2.2023 -  WYPF Pension Matters
2.2.2023 -  WYPF – Notice of Annual meeting
6.2.2023 -  LALC Weekly E News
7.2.2023 -  Data Shred - Certificate of destruction for filing 
*10.2.2023 -  WLDC Business brief
9.2.2022 -  CC S Rawlins - Notification of footpath surface dressing works 
13.2.2022 – LALC Weekly News

175 – 2022/23  CLERKS REPORT

The Clerk reported as follows:-

•   That a Volunteer group from the East Mercia Rivers Trust had attended on 15th February to remove the tree guards and tidy up around the trees planted in the Stuart Curtis field in 2019.

•   That Scothern Parish Council were pursuing a meeting re public transport in their village and have this on the agenda of its Parish Meeting on Wednesday 8th March.  Representation from Sudbrooke was invited.  

Councillor Simon Crampton agreed to attend.

•   Confirmation received from LCC that it will pay £1719.09 towards grass cutting in the village for the next season.

•   Notification received of the LALC Extra General Meeting on 16th March by Zoom.

176 – 2022/23  CHAIRMANS REPORT

Nothing further to report.

177 – 2022/23  TO AGREE TO CHANGE OF DATE FOR ANNUAL PARISH MEETING TO TUESDAY 4 APRIL 2023 (7.30pm) AND PROVISION OF REFRESHMENTS

That the date be changed and £30 be allocated for refreshments unanimously Resolved.

178 – 2022/23  DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

7.30pm Thursday 6 April 2023, Bramham Lounge of the Village Hall.