January 2022 Minutes
DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL
The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, PE6 8HD
E-mail: clerk@dsjpc.co.uk
Tel: 01778 343266
Webpage: //deeping-st-james.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk Facebook: Deeping St James Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Julie Fortnum
The minutes of the meeting of Deeping St James Parish Council held at the Open-Door Church, 5 Spalding Road, Deeping St James, PE6 8NJ on Thursday 27 January 2022 at 7.30pm.
Present: Parish Councillors Bowell, Denman, Dilks (County and District), Fowler, Gilbert, Hall, Halls, Hosking, Little, Olson, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens (District), Thomas (District), the Assistant Clerk and two members of the public.
OPEN FORUM
Jayne Reed, the Chairperson of the Deepings Youth Group who is also currently the Acting Youth Worker, spoke in support of the Deeping Youth Group funding request.
She stated that a number of 11 to 17-year olds attend the Youth Group who probably don’t have the same opportunities as others or just want a safe space to chill; it is very important to a few youngsters who need support and / or guidance and Deeping St James Parish Council and Market Deeping Town Council are the two benefactors. If no funding is provided by the Parish and Town Council’s the Youth Group will be lost. Councillors Thomas and Olson expressed their support for the group and had been touched by Jayne’s passion. Councillor Dilks asked how many Deeping St James youngsters attended the youth group, what the current bank balance was, how much was needed to operate throughout 2022/23 and who the current Treasurer is. The Youth Group Chairperson was unable to confirm the number of DSJ attendees, advised that the bank balance was just over £20,000 with expected overheads of £25,000 for 2022/23 and that the current Treasurer was Paul Hanson. Councillor Stevens (who had declared an interest as she is a Trustee) said that there was money in the bank because the Deepings Youth Group had been the Oddfellows charity of the year for two years in a row but this had now stopped. Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe asked for clarification on previous monies that had been ring-fenced for specific use. Jayne Reed confirmed that this had been spent on purchasing a new sofa and on trips that wouldn’t normally have occurred. Councillor Little asked if the salary costs and number of nights was to change. It was confirmed that the number of nights open would increase from two to three per week which would lead to an increase in salary costs. There are currently two paid members of staff and the time equates to almost one full time position as there is administration to do as well as attending the Youth Group meetings. Jayne concluded by saying the Trustees would attempt to continue to run the Deeping Youth Group even if it was only for a small number of Children as it was so important to them.
Jayne Reed left the meeting.
Jan Fisk spoke in support of the Priory Hall grant application saying that the Hall was being used by more community groups than previously mainly because the Schools were currently not hiring out their facilities; the usage had grown across all ages.
Since the Kitchen was renewed there is bare concrete floor in places where previously there were units. It was acknowledged that this was not only unhygienic it was also a trip hazard. The Kitchen itself is a stainless-steel commercial Kitchen and a sample of the chosen flooring was circulated (luxury vinyl flooring grade 3 non-slip) which comes with a 15-year guarantee for commercial use.
Jan Fisk left the meeting.
22.113 To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
Councillor Robinson was not present.
22.114 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests.
Agenda item 22.118.1 - Councillor Gilbert due to an expense’s payment.
Agenda item 22.118.22 – Councillor Stevens as a Deepings Youth Group Trustee.
Agenda item 118.122.2 – Councillor Thomas as a member of the Rotary group of the Deepings
22.115 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 16 December 2021.
With one amendment, the removal of the final sentence under item 22.108.4 the minutes were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
22.116 To receive the Clerks report and receive an update on matters arising from previous minutes.
The mixed hedge in the new Cemetery and the conifer hedge in the Old Cemetery would be cut during February 2022.
The installation of an electricity supply at Jubilee Park would be completed by March 2022.
The extended height railings around the multi-use games area at Woody Heights recreation ground are to be installed in April 2022.
22.117 To receive reports from the District Councillors and County Councillor.
Councillor Dilks’ District and County Council report -
Councillor Dilks advised that he had attended South Kesteven District Council’s meeting today where his request to include a point in the planning process about the climate change challenge was debated. In 2020/21 the District Council dealt with 2,700 planning applications which equates to 10,800 tonnes of carbon emissions. The motion has been referred to the climate action group for further consideration.
Councillor Dilks also attended South Kesteven District Council’s Companies Committee last week which confirmed that the opening date for the newly refurbished Deepings Leisure Centre would be January 2025. Councillor Stevens added that the consultation will run throughout February 2022 and Leisure Services are working on the project now.
Councillor Dilks continued stating that SKDC have set up several companies over the last 4/5 years but there have been questions about accountability and transparency. The Administration have said that InvestSK is unsustainable and that work will be brought in-house. InvestSK have had 3.3 million and it will cost £35,000 to bring the work back in-house. There are also questions over the performance of EnvironmentSK and Gravitas.
Councillor Dilks advised that SKDC’s joint scrutiny committee had been looking at the budgets and the proposal was a £5 increase on the Band D Council Tax which works out at 3% - the same as what Lincolnshire County Council have proposed. The usual concessions are to be offered plus one for 18 to 24-year-old care leavers who will receive a 100% concession.
Councillor Dilks has also attended Lincolnshire County Council meetings about their budget and advised that the 3% increase will go entirely towards adult care. It is a 550million pound budget and there have had to be many efficiencies whilst attempting to continue to provide the services we all need, want and require. The 12 million not obtained from Central Government which was plugged from reserves in 2021/22 will not happen again in 2022/23. This will have an impact so he is encouraging everyone to support the campaign and join the fight for better roads – www.lincolnshire.go.uk/highwaysfunding
Councillors Dilks and Baxter (County Councillor for Deepings West and Rural) are due to meet the Area Highways Manager on Friday 28 January 2022 to thank them for the recent work on Linchfield Road and also demand action on Church Street.
Councillor Stevens District Council report
Councillor Stevens advised that the fly-tipping on Cross Road (off Towngate East) had been reported to the District Council. This piece of road is a public road and the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council who have in the past tried to obtain agreement to close the road off to stop the continual fly-tipping but not all the private landowners who use the road to access their land agreed to it. This is one of a number of cases of fly-tipping in the Deepings.
Following Councillor Dilks’ comment about InvestSK, Councillor Stevens said that a positive had been that they had disseminated 50 million pounds of central government funding during the Covid lockdown very quickly and had been praised for it.
On a planning matter Councillor Stevens mentioned the Mallard Pass Solar farm development which, if approved by Central Government, would be the biggest of its kind, covering 2,000 acres of agricultural land.
Councillor Stevens confirmed that the Deepings Literary Festival 2022 has been launched with a short story competition in partnership with the St James Deeping Signal Box Group. A brochure is being prepared as well as other publicity. The Arts Review had criticised the Deeping Literary Festival for not being diverse enough in the past so they have tried to address this this year.
As she has been contacted by a concerned resident about the hedge on the bend on Rycroft Avenue, Councillor Stevens has been in contact with the owner and it will be cut.
Councillor Thomas’ District Council report
Councillor Thomas advised that she along with and number of other District Councillors had attended an equality and diversity training session.
Councillor Thomas also advised that she had been contacted by a local elderly resident asking for help in getting assistance with her dustbin.
22.118 Financial matters:
1. To approve the payments for January 2022.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that payments valuing £15,852.34 were paid. Councillor Gilbert abstained from the vote.
2. To note the income received in January 2022.
Noted.
3. To consider a grant application from Deeping St James Priory Hall.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that a grant of £700 should be given.
4. To consider the request from the Deepings Youth Group Trustee group for funding for 2022-23 to enable the Deepings Youth Group to continue to offer the service.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED (with three abstentions – Councillors Bowell, Dilks and Stevens) to include £6,000 in the budget and precept figures for 2022/23.
5. To consider the minutes and any recommendations from the finance and general purposes committee meeting held on Thursday 6 January 2022 including approving the Parish Council’s budget and Parish Precept for the financial year 2022/23. Councillor Bowell introduced the minutes for the meeting from which there were two recommendations.
Minute 22.45 – the committee recommended that the earmarked reserve currently named ‘land acquisition’ be renamed ‘land / premises acquisition’ to cover it’s use for either or both. RESOLVED
Minute 22.47 – The expenditure budget required for 2022/23 is £237,500. Taking account of an estimated income budget for 2022/23 of £10,550 and a projected bank balance of £65,492 remaining as at 31 March 2022, the committee recommended that the precept to be requested from the charging Authority, South Kesteven District Council, for the financial year 2022/23 is £161,458.
This equates to a 0% increase on the Band D charge in comparison to that in 2021/22. RESOLVED
22.119 To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the planning and transport committee meeting held on Tuesday 20 January 2022.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced the minutes of the meeting from which there were two recommendations under minute 79.22.
S21/2454 two storey front extension and enlargement of dormer windows at 150 Eastgate Deeping St James – the planning committee recommended that the Parish Council should object to this application siting the following reasons - overdevelopment of the site and the impact on the street scene, quoting D1 of the local plan which states that there should be no adverse impact on neighbouring properties and Chapter 3 of the SKDC design guidance which asks if the design considers nearby buildings (the plan shows the building to be 16 ft of the current building line which would be detrimental to 152 Eastgate). RESOLVED
S21/2435 removal of protected lime and cherry trees, roots and shrubs at 64 Wade Park Avenue – the planning committee recommended that the Parish Council request the Planning Authority to further investigate this matter as the 2 reports provided were not conclusive in showing that the trees were responsible for the subsidence issues. RESOLVED
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe also asked if the stride and ride initiative to provide safe storage for bicycles near to bus stops to encourage the use of public transport could be included on a future agenda for discussion.
22.120 To consider taking the necessary steps to become official owners of the riverbank between 82 Church Street and High Locks, Bridge Street.
Councillor Bowell had prepared a paper presenting his findings from Land Registry searches, speaking to other organisations and investigating the options. The Land Registry searches only confirmed the fishing rights suggesting that this section of the Riverbank was unregistered land. As the Riverbank is a huge asset to the community and the Parish Council have been cutting the grass for more than 12 years and have also enhanced the area with seating, bins and signage he proposed that the Parish Council pursues claiming ownership of this section of the Riverbank under adverse possession of unregistered land. This would involve some legal expenses which had been allowed for in the 2022/23 budget. It was noted that if the Parish Council agreed to this the maintenance of the trees on the bank would become their responsibility but not the River itself (which would remain the responsibility of the Environment Agency) and that the Parish Council would need to work closely with the Angling Club, the Raft Race Committee and the Lions Duck Race Committee regarding usage. The proposal was seconded and RESOLVED.
22.121 To consider the organisation of the following events -
1. The Annual Parish Meeting and making a difference awards presentation.
The Clerk advised that the Deepings School had not yet recommenced hiring out the conference centre so an alternative location to hold the event would need to be found this year. Councillor Stevens proposed that this year’s event should be held at the Priory Hall on a smaller scale than previous events as some people were still not comfortable about attending events so numbers maybe lower. Councillor Gilbert suggested that the Open-Door Church offered an ideal venue as upstairs (lift access available) could be used for the meeting and presentations and downstairs could be used for refreshments and displays. Councillor Gilbert’s suggestion was supported and so it was agreed that the Clerk should contact the Open-Door Church to confirm availability of the Hall.
2. The Queens Platinum Jubilee Beacon lighting event – The Clerk confirmed that the they had registered Deeping St James Parish Council’s involvement in the Queens Jubilee Beacon lighting at 9.15pm on Thursday 2 June 2022. Councillor Stevens proposed that local folk duo ‘Pennyless’ provides entertainment for 45 minutes prior to the beacon lighting and that the Parish Council also provides refreshments. This was seconded and RESOLVED. It was noted rather than a Carnival the Deepings Lions and Rotary Club would be holding a Jubilee Big Lunch on Sunday 5 June 2022 on the John Eve playing field in Market Deeping.
It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that a maximum budget of up to £500 should be made available for both events.
22.122 To consider the following correspondence received.
1.Our Forest Garden – offering to organise and run a Parish Council funded playscheme for primary school aged children during week commencing Monday 25 July 2022 to Friday 29 July 2022.
It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that this offer should be accepted.
2. Rotary Club of the Deepings – Requesting permission to access Woody Heights recreation area on Sunday 22 May 2022 to hold the charity 10k road race and 3k fun run.
It was agreed that permission should be granted.
3. LIVES – request to consider donating towards the continuous recruiting, training and equipping of a skilled team of emergency responders serving Lincolnshire.
It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to give a donation of £100 under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972
4. A resident – request to add a memorial plaque to a relative’s interment plot in memory of a family member whose ashes are not interred in the Deeping St James Cemetery.
It was agreed that this request should not be permitted and that the matter should be referred to the Cemetery Committee to amend the Cemetery regulations to state that this is not allowed.
22.123 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. Meeting held on Tuesday 11 January 2022 to discuss the Lincolnshire Transport Plan and the local bus service attended by Councillor Kate Shinkins-Hoppe, Councillor David Shelton from Market Deeping Town Council and Anthony Delaine-Smith from Delaines Buses – Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe had provided a report which had been circulated and the contents were noted.
2. Meeting held on Saturday 15 January 2022 at the site of the proposed Welland Footbridge attended by Councillors Denman and Shinkins-Hoppe from Deeping St James and Councillors from Peakirk and Northborough Parish Council – Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe had provided a report which had been circulated and the contents had been noted.
3. Allotments, footpaths and open spaces committee held on Thursday 20 January 2022 – Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced the minutes from this meeting from which there were no recommendations.
4. Zoom meeting held on Friday 21 January 2022 to obtain an update about Leisure Services in DSJ, and the lease arrangements required for the playing field, attended by the SKDC Head of Leisure Services, the DSJPC Parish Clerk, Councillors Steve Gilbert and Kate Shinkins-Hoppe.
22.124 Parish Pump – items for information or inclusion on future agendas.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe requested that whilst meeting the Area Highways Manager County Councillor Dilks asked for an increase in visit from Parking Services Officers to enforce the traffic regulation orders in place in the parish since double yellow lines had been painted on a number of roads.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe asked for the revised committee structure proposal to be added to the next agenda.
Councillor Stevens said that the recent accident involving a lorry on Back Lane had been brought to her attention. The former drying bar was being used to store used plastic food containers prior to recycling. There was a noticeable increase in lorries accessing the road and lots of rubbish and the gates to the barn had been removed. Councillors Stevens and Dilks agreed to speak to the landowner and LCC Highways about this matter.
Councillor Bowell requested that the 5-year plan be added to the next agenda for review.
Councillor Bowell also suggested that the Parish Council should consider getting involved in the National Trust’s Plant life project and leave an area of land to go wild. The Clerk stated that this happened in the Cemetery extension area last year and it could happen again this year.
Councillor Bowell also asked for an item to be added to the next council meeting agenda to consider purchasing Platinum Jubilee coins for children in the Parish.
Councillor Dilks confirmed that he would share all the Highways issues with the Area Highways Manager. He also confirmed at to Councillor Thomas that the appeal in respect of planning application S20/0632 for change of use of land on Back Lane for use for dog exercise obedience and agility keeps being moved forward every month so no decision is available yet.
Meeting finished at 9.55pm