February 2025 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SUDBROOKE PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2025 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, SUDBROOKE
PRESENT: Councillors Peter Heath (Chairman), Mrs Tracey Bowman (Vice Chair),
Sandra Clayton, Simon Crampton, Paul Fido, Bhikhu Mistry
County Councillor Sue Rawlins
Mrs Christine Myers (Clerk), Mrs Bridget Solly (Treasurer), Three residents
155 – 24/25 PARISHIONERS ITEMS
A request had been made for the provision of a bus shelter for users waiting for the buses on Elm Drive. County Councillor Sue Rawlins agreed to take this matter up with LCC.
A resident on Holme Drive had requested permission for trimming back a tree which was shading solar panels. The Parish Council did not object to this provided that it was undertaken by an Arborist and sympathetically trimmed.
156 – 24/25 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS GIVEN
Councillor Mrs Pauline Loven – reason given accepted.
157 – 24/25 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
None declared.
158 – 24/25 COUNTY COUNCILLOR AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
CC Sue Rawlins reported as follows:-
That the LCC Highways Department had reviewed the survey carried out on the A158 last summer and had agreed that it met the criteria for a Puffin crossing with traffic lights. The speed limit on the A158 through Sudbrooke would also be reassessed. This news was welcomed by all present at the meeting.
That the County Council element of the Council tax would be increasing 4.99%.
That the increase in National Insurance contributions for County Council staff would total £18m.
District Councillor Baptiste Velan had forwarded information of drainage maintenance work taking place in the parish.
159 – 24/25 REPORTS ON MATTERS OUSTANDING
A Resurfacing of footway on Wragby Road – CC Sue Rawlins reported that this was now on a priority list of works at LCC.
Initialled…………………………….Chairman
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B Resurfacing of footway St Edward’s Drive – CC Sue Rawlins reported that this was on a priority list of works at LCC.
C Millennium stone lighting/drainage of the area around the Stone – Site meeting with LCC Highway Officers arranged for 7.2.2025 – Councillors Peter Heath, Simon Crampton, CC Sue Rawlins and the Clerk to attend.
D Church Lane near to Two Corners – nothing further to report.
E Basketball net/hoop – The Clerk was instructed to apply for grant funding for a hoop with the assistance of WLDC Grant Funding Officer.
F Provision of Safer crossing at Wragby Road/Scothern Lane junction - This was covered in CC Sue Rawlins report above.
160 – 24/25 TO DISCUSS THE TRUNCATING OF CHURCH COURT, CHURCH LANE
Three residents of Church Court attended the meeting bringing to its attention that the new owner of the former turkey farm site on Church Court, had erected gates on the unadopted (but publicly accessible) road resulting in the loss of access to the residents as a turning point. The original planning permission for the houses to be built on Church Court required a turning place (inside the turkey farm area), the owners of the houses having a right of way over the road including the right to turn around on it. The gates and new planting was preventing that from happening. Concern was that large vehicles would have to reverse out of Church Court onto Church lane.
County Councillor Sue Rawlins agreed to take this matter up with the LCC Highways Officers.
District Councillor Baptiste Velan would be sent copies of the original plans and information to enable this to be taken up with the Planning Officers of West Lindsey District Council.
161 – 24/25 DRAIN TO REAR OF FOX COVERT/WRAGBY ROAD – RECEIVE AND CONSIDER PRICE FOR WORKS REQUIRED
The required clearance work had been assessed and that this would cost an estimated cost of £4,000. It was noted that it had been brought to the attention of the Parish Council previously that the maintenance of the drain was not the responsibility of the Parish Council but that of riparian owners.
That the Parish Council not release funds for clearance but that works should be a shared cost of the riparian owners unanimously Resolved.
162 – 24/25 RECRUITMENT – TO AGREE JOB DESCRIPTION, PERSON SPECIFICATION AND ADVERT – UPDATE FROM COUNCILLOR MRS TRACEY BOWMAN
• Documents had been issued to all members for perusal.
• That the positions of Clerk and RFO be amalgamated to one post of 15 hours per week, the position be advertised free of charge through LALC and via LCC at a cost of £75.00.
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• The interview panel would consist of the Chairman, the Councillors responsible for HR and the Clerk. The Clerk would not partake in the selection process.
That the above be approved unanimously Resolved.
163 – 24/25 TO CONSIDER REVISING THE LAYOUT OF THE PARISH WEBSITE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY £50.00
That this be carried out by the Webmaster unanimously Resolved.
164 – 24/25 TO CONSIDER REQUEST FROM COMMUNITY KNITTING GROUP FOR A CONTRIBUTION OF £20.00 FOR PURCHASE OF WOOL FOR KNITTING POPPIES FOR A REMEMBRANCE PROJECT
This request was received and welcomed by the Parish Council as a project for the Remembrance Event in the village. That the purchase of wool be made at a cost of £20 unanimously Resolved.
165 – 24/25 MOLE TREATMENT – RATIFICATION OF TREATMENT ON NORTHFIELD PARK AND VILLAGE HALL SITE AND TO CONSIDER QUOTATION FOR TREATMENT OF STUART CURTIS FIELD
Due to the damage by the moles to the areas and to mower blades of the grass cutting contractor ratification for the treatment on Northfield Park and Village Hall sites at a cost of £460.00 was unanimously approved.
A quotation of £390.00 was received for the treatment of the Stuart Curtis Field. That this be approved unanimously Resolved.
Concern was expressed that the Stuart Curtis field was not being used as originally intended as a sports field. A request had been received for it to be used as allotments for the village. The Clerk was instructed to make enquiries to this possibility.
166 – 24/25 SUDBROOKE NEWS – ADVERTISING REVENUE TO DATE AND UPDATE ON PRODUCTION OF THE MAGAZINE
The Treasurer reported that £231.00 had been received in advertising revenue since last meeting.
The Editor had requested revision of the SN Policy and it was agreed that this be discussed at the March meeting of the Parish Council.
Due to delays with current printers an arrangement had been made with Parish Magazine Printing to print the magazine providing the magazine was received by them between day 15 and end of the month.
Initialled……………………..Chairman
Date…………………..
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167 – 24/25 RATIFICATION OF ACCOUNTS PAID/FOR PAYMENT/INCOME/BANK BALANCES
Accounts for payment
Mrs C Myers, Expenses January 2025 - £33.25
Tesco Mobile – PC Mobile Phone bill - £8.09
E.On – Electricity at Millennium stone - £25.00
Cllr P Fido – Purchase of bulb mix - £36.97
Parish Magazine Printing – printing February Sudbrooke News - £312.71
Ian Moore Contracting – Tree removal at junction of Oak Close & St Edwards Drive – net £100.00, VAT £20.00, Gross £120.00
Stop Dead Pest Control – mole eradication, Sudbrooke Village Hall field and Northfield Park - £460.00
Salaries to be paid 28th February 2025 – Total £1,217.30
That the above payments be made unanimously Resolved.
Income
J Haley – Advertising Sudbrooke News £27.00
Sudbrooke Handyman – Advertising Sudbrooke News - £102.00
David Kirkup – Advertising Sudbrooke News - £102.00
Bank Balances Thursday 6th February 2025
Current Account – £4,555.57
Instant Deposit Account (incl. earmarked reserved) – £33,304.37
Fox Covert Account – £2,223.08
Northfield Park Account – £18,140.30
Sportsfield Account – £4,039.55
Total in bank accounts - £78,720.38
168 – 24/25 PLANNING – NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN REVIEW – UPDATE FROM CONSULTANT
The Consultant had stated that he hoped that all amendments would be ready for approval by the March meeting of the Parish Council.
Initialled……………………..Chairman
Date……………………..
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169 – 24/25 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED SINCE LAST MEETING - *Sent to residents email list
10.1.2025 – Notification of Police Teams meeting postponed.
*10.1.2025 - Mobile Library timetable
14.1.2025 - LCC Survey on Highways
*22.1.2025 - West Lindsey Business Brief
22.1.2025 - Police incidents stats during December/January
22.1.2025 - Central Lincolnshire Authority Wide Design Code Update
24.1.2025 – LALC News
29.1.2025 - LCC Town and Parish Council update
170 – 24/25 CLERKS REPORT
The Clerk reported as follows:-
• That the marquee had arrived and was being stored in the Village Hall cupboard.
• That LCC would be contributing £3,742.67 towards the verge cutting for the next cutting season.
• That confirmation had been received from the Parklands developers that the management company would be carrying out maintenance to the Balancing ponds.
• That there would be an increase in the WLDC defibrillator maintenance cost from April 2025 to £110.00 inc VAT.
• Training
o That Councillor Mrs Cathryn Nicoll would be attending training on the National Planning Policy Framework.
o That Councillor Peter Heath would be attending ‘Planning System introduction’.
o That Councillor Paul Fido would like to attend the Procurement training at a cost of £35.00 – members approved this expenditure.
• That further to Minute 96F - 24/25 it was now possible to purchase/order a green bin for the next season from WLDC. That the Clerk order a green bin and the subscription cost be paid from the Gardening Group funds, unanimously Resolved.
171 – 24/25 CHAIRMANS REPORT
The Chairman reported that both he and residents had noted an increase in dog fouling around the village. The Clerk was asked to include an item in Sudbrooke News regarding this.
172 – 24/25 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 6 March 2025, 7.30pm, Bramham Lounge, Sudbrooke Village Hall.
Signed…………………………….Chairman
Date…………………………
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