2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

 

Present: Parish Councillors Bowell, Dilks (County and District), Fowler, Gilbert, Hosking, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith, Stevens, Townsin and 4 members of the public (two of whom were Co-option candidates 

The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk  

 

Open Forum 

A representative working with Deep In Kindness spoke in support of the grant application (agenda item 25.85.5). They wish to offer a pantomime to those who wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to attend. It will be held between 10am and noon on Saturday 21 December 2024 at Market Deeping Community Primary School. The Hall will seat 250, insurance in place and all staff DBS and safeguarding trained however parents will be staying with children.

The representative left the meeting 

Two members of public addressed the Parish Council bringing their concerns about speeding motorists on Thackers Way to their attention. They are aware that there is a speed sign at the Godsey Lane end of Thackers Way but not at the Linchfield Road end. The members of the public were advised that Deeping St James Parish Council did have three speed indicator signs which were rotated around the Parish but no bracket had been installed at the Linchfield Road end of Thackers Way to hang one; that the Parish Council has no speed enforcement powers and that speeding needs to be reported to Lincolnshire Police; and that there were options for volunteers to set up a community speed watch scheme.

The two members of the public left the meeting  

 

25.79 To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Halls and were accepted by the Parish Council.

Councillor Dilks had advised the Clerk that he would be late.

 

25.80 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011.

Councillor Dilks declared an interest in agenda item 25.85.6 as he is the Chairman of the Langtoft The Deepings and District Branch of The Royal British Legion

 

25.81 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 15 October 2024. 

Approved and signed. 

 

25.82 To consider the Parish Councillor Co-option applications. 

The two application forms had been shared with the members of the Parish Council and it was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that both applicants should be co-opted. Sue Leader and Phil Neville signed acceptance of office forms in the presence of the Parish Clerk and joined the meeting.   

 

25.83 To receive the Clerks report and receive an update on matters arising from previous minutes A header panel with Deeping St James Parish Council engraved on it has been ordered and arrived and is awaiting fitting. 

The application for Community Orchard grant funding was forwarded to South Kesteven District Council on 23 October 2024 and further information was requested and supplied on 5 November 2024 

The application for biodiversity grant funding for the Cemetery was forwarded to South Kesteven District Council on 28 October 2024 and confirmation was received on 5 November 2024 that the award panel wish to support the project following further information being provided. Councillor Stevens provided the required information 

Following a request from Market Deeping Councillor Byrd acting on behalf of the Deepings Neighbourhood Plan group the Parish Clerk issued an email asking for confirmation that Deeping St James Parish Council were agreeable to delegating the Deepings Green Walk post and bench locations project management responsibility to DNP on its behalf. Seven positive responses were received by email and this was confirmed with Councillor Byrd  

As requested the contact details for the IT Technician were shared with all Parish Councillors on 17 October 2024 

Following an email to the office from a member of the public expressing concern about a tree growing out of the wall (and causing damage to it) near high locks, on 23 October 2024 the Environment Agency advised that it would be removed. 

Several areas of the Parish suffered graffiti attacks during October 2024 and these were cleaned by the Parish Council maintenance team and in one instance a member of the public and also reported to the neighbourhood’s team at South Kesteven District Council 

The Clerk has contacted South Kesteven District Council to enquire when the Parish Council tax base and precept calculator will be received as it was received on 31 October last year. It is hoped the information will be issued by week ending 22 November 2024 

Following communication between Councillor Smith and a South Kesteven District Council Planning Enforcement Officer the play area on the Springfield development off Linchfield Road has now been opened and a management Company (details not yet known) will be responsible for its upkeep which all residents will be informed about.  

Following contact from National Grid about installing cabling across Jubilee Park off Thackers Way a meeting has been arranged for Councillors Gilbert Shinkins-Hoppe and Smith to meet with representatives from National Grid at 10am on Monday 25 November 2024 

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund Board at SKDC met on Wednesday, 30 October 2024 where a bid for funding towards 4 table tennis tables (one being offered to DSJPC to be installed on Jubilee Park) was NOT supported.

Posters and banners have been designed to promote the Carols in the Marquee at the Waterton Arms on Friday 13 December 2024, the Salvation Army band and Choir will be in attendance and any donations received will be divided between the Salvation Army and The Friends of Jubilee Park

The Priory Church will once again be holding a Christmas Tree Festival and Councillor Townsin has volunteered to dress a tree on behalf of the Parish Council. Tree Festival Week will take place from 9 to 15 December with lunches and teas available to the public who attend.  

 

25.84 To receive reports from the District/County Councillors and consider if this is the appropriate place to receive future reports. 

 

25.85 Financial matters: 

1.To approve the expenditure for November 2024.

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to pay expenditure totalling £14,935.54 

2.To note the income for November 2024.

Income of £5,658.32 was noted 

3.To agree the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils Internal Audit Service Requirements – Terms of Engagement. 

The Clerk advised that this service had been used for the past two years and it was very thorough. It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to continue to agree to the terms of engagement.

4. To consider the update and request for grant funding for 2025/26 received from Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire 

Councillor Stevens questioned the impact these weekly sessions on a Wednesday were having on the fortnightly sessions on a Thursday offered by Deeping St James United Charities suggesting that these needed to be taken into account before a decision can be made. 

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to obtained clarification from the DSJ United Charities Clerk of the impact the community Centre sessions were having on the ones offered by them. Once obtained the item would be considered again.  

5. To consider the grant request received from Deep In Kindness.

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to provide a grant of £500 

6. To agree a donation to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2024.

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to make a donation of £250 

Councillor Dilks who had joined the meeting abstained from the vote. 

7. To consider making a donation to the Deepings Scouts, Guides and Cadets to acknowledge their attendance at the Deeping St James Remembrance Parade on the afternoon of Sunday 10 November 2024. 

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe advised that the Priory Church Service was a lovely service and well attended with over 200 people in the Church including representatives from the Scouts, Guides and Cadets many of whom had also attended the service at St Guthlacs Church in Market Deeping.

Councillor Dilks agreed adding that he was pleased a better balance between the two parades had achieved. 

Councillor Stevens added that neither St Guthlacs or the Priory Church were large enough to accommodate all who wished to attend 

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe proposed that a donation of £50 should be made to each organisation to acknowledge their attendance and good behaviour. 

Councillor Bowell made a counter proposal of £100 there was no seconder for this 

The original proposal of £50 was seconded and RESOLVED 

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to make contact with each organisation to arrange the donations.

8. To consider and agree the payments to made to the highway verge grass cutting contractor for 2024/25.

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that if payment was requested at a higher rate from July onwards than what had originally been quoted and accepted then payment would be considered otherwise the Parish Council would continue to pay the agreed amount.  

 

25.86 Planning matters: 

1. To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the Planning and Transport committee meeting held on Tuesday 12 November 2024. 

2. To note the decision to delegate authority to the Deepings Neighbourhood Plan Group to progress to completion the benches and way marker project for which a grant has been obtain via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 

3. To consider the following planning appeal  

S24/014 Erection of dwellings to the rear of existing house (all matters reserved with the exception of access) (Re-submission following S23/0617) at 21 Eastgate Deeping St James. 

Deadline for amended comments or new ones is 11 December 2024  

 

25.87 To consider the following correspondence.

1. Biffa – Information about the Simpler Recycling regulations being introduced by the UK Government 

myBiffa | Simpler recycling

2. National Association of Local Councils – encouraging local councils to complete the governments consultation on changes to the standards regime including removing the requirement for councillors' home addresses to be published and introducing sanctions and allowing councils to use virtual attendance at council meetings. Consultation deadline 19 December 2024 

3. Lincolnshire Police – invitation to attend the North and South Kesteven Parish Council engagement session to be held via teams on 21 January 2025  

4. Deeping St James United Charities – Rent review triggered by a clause within the lease which states this should take place on 6 September 2024 

5. South Kesteven District Council - Make Space for Nature, funding for biodiversity projects. Following an application already made for a project in the Cemetery, and completed for a project on Jubilee Park, correspondence has been received suggesting potential funding for the area to the east of the Priory Church entrance if the Parish Council were to submit the application and oversee the work on behalf of the Church. 

6. Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Crime and Policing Survey with a closing date of 15 December 2024 

7. Probation Service Community Payback East/West Lincolnshire – Confirmation that they can recommence the worthwhile partnership with Deeping St James Parish Council that was in place prior to Covid lockdown and that they are able to commence in January/February 2025. 

8. Deeping Heritage – Advising of the V.E. Day Exhibition: The Deepings in World War Two which will be held from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 11 May 2025 at the Deepings Community Centre. Any information contacts or help would be appreciated. 

 

25.88 To receive reports and minutes from committees, advisory committees, meetings, seminars, training and events or meetings of external bodies attended on the Council’s behalf and consider any recommendations from them: 

1. Community emergency and flooding working party meetings.

2. Meeting with prospective grass cutting contractor to consider the requirements for 2025/26 and obtain quotations, held on 30 October 2024 and attended by Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe (DSJPC) and Wey (MDTC) plus the DSJPC Parish Clerk. 

3. Scribe accounting’s forecasting budgeting and precept setting training held virtually on 16 October 2024 and attended by the Parish Clerk. 

4. To receive an update regarding the Deepings Leisure Centre following a briefing from a representative of the CIC give at the Deepings Neighbourhood plan group meeting on Monday 4 November 2024 

5. The Deepings Practice Patient Participation Group AGM on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

6. The recreation and open space committee meeting on Tuesday 12 November 2024. 

7.Remembrance events in the Deepings held on 3 November, 10 November and 17 November 2024.

 

25.89 To consider closing the office for the Christmas period with phone calls being diverted plus emails and Facebook messages being checked intermittently by a designated person. 

 

If required, to RESOLVE to move into closed session in accordance with The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the following matter.

 

25.90 To consider the request received from the owner of a grant of exclusive right of burial in Deeping St James Cemetery for an internal review to be undertaken of the decision to issue a refusal notice following the receipt of a freedom of information request from them. 

 

25.91 Parish Pump - items for information or inclusion on future agendas.

 

Dates for the diary

Tuesday 26 November 2024 10am to 4pm – LALC Clerks networking day and SLCC Lincolnshire branch AGM at Welbourn Village Hall 

Wednesday 27 November 2024 5.30pm to 8pm - SKDC Design Code Parish Council, Neighbourhood Plan Group and Local Stakeholders Workshop at Bourne Corn Exchange 

Tuesday 10 December 2024 7pm – Planning and transport committee meeting at the Institute 

Tuesday 10 December 2024 8pm – Finance policy and personnel committee meeting at the Institute 

Friday 13 December 2024 – Carols in the Marquee at The Waterton Arms Church Street Deeping St James. The Salvation Army and Choir will perform from 7pm 

Tuesday 17 December 2024 7.30pm – Council meeting at the Institute