November 2019 Minutes
Deeping St James Parish Council
The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8HD
E-mail: clerk.dsjpc@btconnect.com
Tel: 01778 343266
//parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/deepingstjames
Parish Clerk: Julie Fortnum
The minutes of the meeting of Deeping St James Parish Council held on Thursday 28 November 2019 at 7.30 pm at The Institute.
Present - Parish Councillors Blessett, Bowell, Dilks (District), Gilbert, Green, Hall, Halls, Hardy, Hosking, Kornfeld, Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens (District), Thomas (District) and County Councillor Dobson.
The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk
Open Forum
Two representatives from The Rotary Club of The Deepings spoke in support of the grant application then they left the meeting.
County Councillor Dobson advised that Linchfield Road was to be closed between 2 and 6 December 2019 for pothole repairs. District Councillor Stevens mentioned that local residents had hoped the closure was to open up the entrance to the new Springfield development off Linchfield Road as the mud on Campions Drive and Burchnall Road from the development was causing problems and the contractors had been approached and road sweepers were now being used daily. Councillor Dilks advised that he had checked the planning conditions and noted that nothing had been included about maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding area or the hours of work. This highlighted the need that a wash/wipe condition should be standard in all applications for developments of this size and kind. County Councillor Dobson said that LCC Highways planning approvals were dealt with by a separate department within LCC and he was meeting with the Senior Officer of this department with a hope to change the mind-set. Councillor Dobson then advised that there had been no appeal received to date regarding the planning application (S18/2263 & 2264) for a service Station on the A15/A1175 roundabout and that he was waiting for a meeting date with one of the Managing Directors of Lindum Developments. He also advised that he had recently visited China as part of the Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership. Councillor Dobson then left the meeting.
District Councillor Stevens informed the Members that the recent Bourne CiCLE Festival had been a success and although over budget it will happen again with better budget control and sponsorship being sought. All the festivals held in South Kesteven were well received and brought visitors to the area and it was hoped these visitors could be increased with advertising across the Country. The Deepings Literary Festival was the Festival with the lowest budget but which had greater community and trade involvement.
District Councillor Dilks had distributed a report to all members from which he mentioned the following two items:
Feasibility studies were currently taking place at the preferred location for the new Leisure Centre and it was hoped there would be a full consultation in early 2020. It was also hoped that the special expense each taxpayer in The Deepings pays towards the maintenance of the sports field and the charges imposed by the current leisure centre contractor would be considered in the new year when the District Council sets its budget for 2020/21.
He also mentioned the that an alternative location was being considered for a Service Station in Market Deeping after planning application S18/2263 (for the site to the North of A15/A1175 roundabout) had been refused.
82.20 To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors Boreham and Fox
83.20 To receive notifications of interest and consider requests for dispensations, if any.
Councillor Thomas - Member of the Deepings Rotary Club and Deepings Library Trustee
Councillor Stevens – Deepings Library Trustee and Deepings Youth Group Trustee
84.20 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 31 October 2019
Agreed and signed.
85.20 Clerks Report
The date the Community Payback team visit the parish has changed from a Tuesday to a Monday and this has increased the numbers attending – there have been teams of 4 and 5 plus one Supervisor attending on 4 and 18 November 2019. They have worked in the Cemetery breaking up and disposing of the concrete posts and cuttings accumulated by the Maintenance Worker plus preparing the ground for the hedge and tree planting event on 30 November 2019.
South Kesteven District Council have confirmed the extension to the deadline for the precept figure from 17 January 2020 to 31 January 2020
The project to install an electricity supply at Woody Heights is moving forward – a date for the installation of the concrete base has been agreed and the manufacturer of the meter cubicle will fit it once this is completed, payment has been made to the installation company, and an electricity supplier has been chosen. The Installation company are contacting LCC Highways to obtain permission to close the highway and set a date for the works.
86.20 Financial matters:
1. To approve accounts for payment
It was proposed and seconded that payments valuing £16119.67 should be paid. Resolved
2. To receive the minutes and consider recommendations from the finance and general purposes committee meeting held on Thursday 21 November 2019
Councillor Bowell introduced the minutes from this meeting from which there were three recommendations.
It was recommended that the full council meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday 19 December 2019 should be cancelled. Resolved
It was recommended to include the following grants should be included within the precept for 2020/21 under Local Government Act 1972 s137
- £7500.00 Deepings Youth Group
- £3000.00 Deeping Community Library
- £5200.00 Deeping St James Community Skip
- £10000.00 Welland Footbridge Project
It was agreed that these amounts would be included in the 2020/21 precept. They would only be reviewed if other outstanding budget calculations had a major impact on the increase in the precept.
It was recommended that the delegated powers of the finance and general purposes committee should be amended from May 2020 to include responsibility for the following:
Inventory of land and assets including buildings and office equipment, Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insured risks and, Council’s and/or staff subscriptions to other bodies.
These changes to delegated powers would be adopted from May 2020 when the council next reviewed Standing Orders. Resolved
3. To consider the grant application from The Rotary Club of The Deepings
It was proposed and seconded that a total of £500 should be granted. Resolved
87.20 Planning matters:
1. To receive the minutes and consider recommendations from the planning committee meeting held on Thursday 21 November 2019 – Councillor Blessett introduced the minutes advising that the proposed traffic regulations orders along Spalding Road and on the junctions near The Deepings School would be considered at the Planning and Transport meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday 12 December 2019. Individual Councillors had been requested to send their comments to the Assistant Clerk prior to this meeting. As it had been agreed not to hold a full Council meeting on Thursday 19 December 2019 it was Resolved that the planning and transport committee should be given delegated powers to agree and issue a response.
Councillor Blessett advised that under agenda item 48.20 the committee recommended that a budget of £200 should be included in the 2020/21 budget requirements to purchase cycle lights to be distributed to youngsters encouraging them to be seen at night. Consideration was given as to how these would be allocated to youngsters ie connected to the Primary School’s Bikeability courses, or at community events during the Summer. As the need was now not in the Summer and Councillor Dilks said sets could be purchased relatively cheaply the recommendation was amended, seconded and it was Resolved that the Clerk would try to source 30 sets (at a reasonable price) to be distributed to those who needed them at the Carols in the Park event. If the need was greater than this consideration could be given to purchasing more.
2. To consider the Arborist report (commissioned by the Priory Hall Trust) in respect of the Prince of Wales Oak in the Priory Hall Car Park and agree any further action.
After lengthy discussion including consideration of the contents of the Arboriculturist’s report that the applicant had forwarded to SKDC with their planning application and noting the previous work that had been done in the past to the tree it was proposed seconded and Resolved that due to the significance of the tree to the Community -
a) District Councillor Dilks would request that the planning application was called in for the Development Control Committee to make the decision rather than an individual Officer doing so.
b) The Parish Council should commission an independent Arboriculturist report by contacting the Woodland Trust who would provide a list of recommendations.
3. To consider the Parish Council’s response to the draft neighbourhood plan – Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe as the Parish Councillor Representative on this group encouraged all Councillors to respond to the consultation by 2 December 2019 and advised that there had been over 100 responses (all positive). She also advised that the group were aware that the draft plan still required a few alterations prior to being forwarded to District Council. It was agreed that the Parish Council should send the following comment –
‘Deeping St James Parish Council appreciate the amount of time and effort that the volunteers have put into drafting the neighbourhood plan and look forward to it being adopted’.
88.20 To receive and agree the Council’s response to correspondence received since the last meeting.
A local Resident
Requesting details of who to contact in an emergency including flood are added to the Parish Council’s webpage.
It was agreed that the contact details of those individuals named in the emergency plan would be added to the Parish Council’s webpage and when the Emergency Plan had been transferred onto the new template by the County Council’s resilience team that would also be uploaded onto the webpage
A local Resident
Enquiring as to whether any work is to be done to improve the tarmac path damaged by the roots of the protected London Plane tree as the area is now hazardous.
The Clerk was asked to contact Lincolnshire County Council for advice as the tarmac path was a public right of way (7 & 8)
A local Resident
Raising concerns about the working hours and the condition of the highway in respect of the Springfield development off Linchfield Road
Councillor Stevens advised that she had been in direct contact with local residents and with the contractors which had led to an increase in the roads being cleaned in the area. The Clerk was asked to reply to the resident advising that this was not something the Parish Council were involved with or responsible for and that they should contact the planning Authority, South Kesteven District Council, the Developers, Linden Homes and the Contractors, M V Kelly.
A Relative of deceased
Further communication from the relative of the late Edith Wass requesting the parish council
It was agreed that the Clerk should respond to the relative reiterating what had been previously said and adding that as a gesture of good will the Parish Council would arrange the removal of the two tree limbs that were growing within the grave but no further work would be done after this had been completed.
A local Resident
A request to consider a 20 MPH speed limit along Bridge Street following the recent incident where a Swan was injured after being hit by a car and incidences of damage to stationary cars by moving vehicles.
It was agreed that this request should be forwarded to County Councillor Barry Dobson for his consideration. It was also agreed that an item should be added to a future Planning and Transport committee agenda to consider if it was possible to place more ‘Beware Ducks’ signage on the Riverbank
Deepings Community Library
Application for funding of £3000 for 202/21 and invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting at 5pm on Friday 20 December 2019
The Clerk was asked to confirm with The Deepings Library that this amount had been included in the budget calculations for 2020/21
Lincolnshire CVS
Invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting at 2pm on Wednesday 4 December 2019 at The Municipal Buildings West Street Boston PE21 8QR
No-one wishing to attend
89.20 To receive and consider minutes and recommendations of committees, reports from advisory committees, members reports from external bodies, members reports of meetings, seminars, training and events attended on the Council’s behalf:
1. Opening of the Garden of Remembrance held on Sunday 3 November 2019 – Noted
2. Remembrance parade and service in Market Deeping and St Guthlacs Church held on Sunday 10 November 2019 – Councillor Bowell and Shinkins-Hoppe attended this.
3. Remembrance Parade and Church Service in Deeping St James and Priory Church held on Sunday 3 November 2019 – This was the first time a parade had been organised by the Parish Council and it had been very well attended and would be organised again next year.
4. Closing of the Garden of Remembrance held on Sunday 17 November 2019 – Noted
5. LALC/SLCC Clerks Networking Day held at Cranwell Village Hall on Wednesday 27 November 2019 – The Clerk and Assistant Clerk had attended this event along with the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the neighbouring Town Council and the event had covered topics such as well-being and mental health at work, training and continual professional development and the website Accessibility Regulations.
90.20 To consider a location for the installation of a flag pole prior to seeking to obtain permission from appropriate Authorities –
Councillor Hardy introduced this item advising that as it had been agreed previously by the Parish Council that a flagpole should be erected within the Parish what was needed next was to agree the preferred location before prior to permission being sought from the relevant Authorities. Four alternative locations were considered one of which, the garden on Church Street (maintained by DSJ United Charities) had been ruled out due to lack of space. It was proposed seconded and Resolved that the Environment Agency should be contacted to see if permission could granted to erect a flagpole on the spur of land at High Locks. If this was not possible Lincolnshire County Council should be contacted to see if it was possible to erect a flagpole on the Green at Churchgate. Finally if the first two options were not available South Kesteven District Council should be contacted to see if a flagpole could be erected on Jubilee Park off Thackers Way.
91.20 To consider and agree:
1. the office opening times over Christmas and New Year – It was agreed that the office would close at 1pm on Friday 20 December 2019 and re-open on Tuesday 2 January 2020.
Emails, phone messages and Post would be checked during the break and emergency contact details would be available on the Facebook page and the Webpage
2. Whether to hold a council meeting on 19 December 2019 – It was proposed seconded and Resolved that the meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday 19 January 2019 should be cancelled.
92.20 Parish pump – items for information or inclusion on future agendas.
Councillor Stevens reminded everyone about the Carols in the Park taking place from 7pm on Friday 20 December 2019 at Jubilee Park off Thackers Way Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe confirmed that she will purchase 4 trees to be planted along with the thirty hedge plants from the Woodland Trust at the Cemetery at 10am on Saturday 30 November 2019.
Councillor Dilks thanked the Parish Council for supporting the British Legion events throughout the year.
Councillor Dilks advised that he had attended the funeral of a former Councillor, Mike Watkins, whose service to this community should be acknowledged - his legacy being the installation of the lights on Church Walk
Councillor Hosking reminded everyone of the Coffee morning and Christmas Fayre to be held at the Exotic Pet Refuge at 10am on Saturday 7 December 2019
Councillor Gilbert invited everyone to attend the Christmas at Kingsgate event over the weekend of the 14 and 15 December 2019
The meeting closed at 9.45pm
Signed Dated