2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

 

Present: Parish Councillors Bowell, Fowler, Gilbert, Halls, Leader, Neville, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith, Stevens, Townsin, District Councillor Ley and one member of the public.

 

Open Forum 

No public participation. 

 

25.92 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 an were accepted from Councillor Hosking. 

Councillor Dilks was not present. 

 

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

Councillor Stevens declared a non-registerable interest in agenda item 25.97.5 a) being the Chairperson for the Friends of Deeping Library 

 

25.94 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 19 November 2024. 

Agreed and signed. 

 

25.95 To receive the Clerks report and receive an update on matters arising from previous minutes.

-Following the decision to plant a seasonal tree on the green at Churchgate a letter was issued to the nine dwellings in close proximity to the green and three response were received – one agreeing to the proposal and the other two not, although on to these was not against a potted tree being placed on the green over the festive period. Due to time and cost constraints this will not be pursued this year.  

-Following Councillor Townsin’s attendance at the Deepings Practice Patient Participation Groups Annual General Meeting on 12 November 2024 the Clerk has contacted Market Deeping Town Council requesting a meeting to consider how to approach the Deepings Practice to obtain answers to the publics concerns. 

-Councillors Leader and Neville have completed the declaration of pecuniary interest forms which have been sent to South Kesteven District Council. They have also been issued with the new Councillors pack and spent some time with the Clerk who has provided a brief introduction to DSJ Parish Council. The next available Councillor training offered by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils is between 6pm and 9pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025  

 

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

 

South Kesteven District Council

Councillor Ley advised of the following: 

South Kesteven District Council were currently budget setting for 2025/26 prior to announcing the precept.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund Board met on Monday 17 December 2024 and it was noted that there was still funds available to be allocated. She also advised the Clerk to contact the UKSPF Management team to obtain clarification as to when money needed to be spent from grants that had already been awarded. The UKSPF would continue in 2025/26 with 1.4 million being made available however following the elections in May 2025 it was likely to be administered by the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral group not SKDC. No independents would form part of this group and SKDC was run by independents. 

Councillor Ley advised that following the issues with refuse bin/bag use on Churchfield Close representatives from the SKDC team had met with residents to work with them on recycling. Along with Cabinet member for environment and waste Councillor Rhys Baker, Councillor Ley would be attending Churchfield Close on Thursday 19th December and Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe was invited to join them. 

Finally, Councillor Ley advised that there had been several incidences of fly-tipping and bins not being emptied but these had all been rectified and overall, the service was good with SKDC recently receiving a national award for its waste collection services, being named the most improved performer.

 

District Councillor Ley left the meeting.

 

As Councillor Dilks was not present no further District or County Council report was received.

 

25.97 Financial matters: 

1. To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the finance policy and personnel committee meeting held on 10 December 2024 and the personnel sub- committee meeting held on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

Councillor Gilbert introduced the minutes from both of these meetings from which there were the following points of note and recommendations:

 

- The bullying and harassment policy had been reviewed following changes to in employment law and it had been circulated to all staff and councillors to read and all had been requested to sign to confirm they had read it and would comply with it.

- The National Joint Council pay award for 2024/25 had been agreed for the Clerk and Assistant Clerk and this had been backdated to 1 April 2024 

- It was recommended that from 1 April 2025 the hourly rates of pay for the maintenance staff should increase by the equivalent percentage (6.7%) as the national living wage for individuals 21 and over. Seconded and RESOLVED 

- It was recommended that the maintenance and office hours should increase by 20 hours and 5 hours respectively. Seconded and RESOLVED 

- Machinery should be purchased to allow the maintenance team to complete the increasing grounds maintenance requirements and reduce contractual use. 

2.To approve the expenditure for December 2024.

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to make payments totalling £18791.06

3.To note the income for December 2024.

The receipt of income totalling £4200.49 was noted 

4. To consider the grant application received from the Priory Hall Trust. 

The Clerk was requested to respond stating that this grant application could not be considered at this time as to do so would be contravention of the current grant policy which stated that “each group may only make one application per financial year”; a grant having been awarded to them in June 2024. They should be invited to apply again in the next financial year (from 1 April 2025)  

5. To re-consider the grant funding requests for 2025-26 which have been received from 

a) The Deepings Community Library 

Councillor Stevens as Chairperson of the Friends of Deeping Library explained that the Library was likely to run at £9k deficit in 2025/26 and along with this the increases to the national living wage had led to a letter being issued to both the Town and Parish Council requesting additional funding for 2025/26 (from £7000 to £8500). Councillor Stevens advised that historically the Town Council had not always forwarded the allocated funding to the Library meaning the contributions from the two councils had not always been the same so this increase could be waivered for Deeping St James Parish Council. 

Councillor Gilbert stated that he was sure no-one wished the Library to fail and proposed that the increased figure £8,500 should made available. This proposal was seconded and RESOLVED. Councillor Stevens abstained from the vote. 

b) The Deeping Youth Group 

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to provide a grant under the Local Government Act 1972 section 137, totalling £7,000 for the financial year 2025/26 

c) Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire 

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to provide a grant under the Local Government Act 1972 section 137, totalling £4,750 for the financial year 2025/26. 

 

25.98 To consider the budget and precept requirements for 2025/26 taking into account the recommendations from the finance policy and personnel committee held in 10 December 2024

Councillor Gilbert introduced the budget and precept papers that had been finalised at the finance policy and personnel committee meeting on 10 December 2024 which included £5,000 to build a reserve to purchase a replacement truck at some point in the future, £15,000 to cover the HP purchase and other associated costs of ground maintenance machinery and also a storage container for safekeeping along with the removal of funding to the Deeping Neighbourhood Plan group and a reduction in the waste disposal budget. 

Councillor Gilbert also advised that the highway verge grass cutting budget had been set at £4000 (a figure which was based on the current years costs as next year’s contract had not as yet been agreed (only one quotation had been received to date) 

Following the decision (minute 25.97.5 a)) to increase the funding to the Deepings Community Library to £8500 Councillor Gilbert proposed that 

- An expenditure budget of £320,893.52 

- An income budget of £12,350.00

- A precept of £248,324.39 which equates to a 16.6% (£13.41) per annum increase in the Band D council tax charge 

This was seconded and RESOLVED. Councillor Stevens abstained from the vote. 

 

25.99 To consider the following planning applications

1. S24/2046 - Mr Paul Collins The Barns 84 Hereward Way Deeping St James PE6 8QB

Notice regarding removal of 2.no Pine Trees to rear of the property and in the Conservation Area - Section 211 Notice 

Councillor Smith introduced this application advising that the trees do not have a protection order on them however they are just within the conservation area. A tree preservation order could be applied for however there is a very small window of time to do so (by 3 January 2025). Councillor Smith proposes that the Parish Council object to the  removal of these two trees as this would be severely harmful to the amenity of the area and the street scene and that they request that the trees are made the subject of a Tree Preservation Order as a matter of urgency. Seconded and RESOLVED. 

 2. S24/2094 - Mr Gibb 3 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HF

To pollard a Willow Tree in the Conservation Area  - Section 211 Notice 

Councillor Smith introduced this application proposing that no objections should be made to this work being completed. Seconded and RESOLVED. 

 

25.100 To consider the following correspondence.

1. Clear Councils Insurance – advising of their partnership with Ecclesiastical 

Noted. 

2. Lincolnshire Road Policing Unit  - report following the speed awareness and drink/drug driving campaign day on 7 December 2024 

The report advised that 37 vehicles had been stopped in Morton, Deeping St James, Market Deeping, Corby Glen and Bourne with 17 speeding tickets and 14 tickets for differing offences being issued, 17 negative breath tests being recorded and a drug driving/possession of a class B drug arrest taking place. Further operations will be planned in the future. 

 

25.101 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. Society of Local Council Clerks Annual General Meeting followed by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils Clerks networking day at Welbourn Village Hall on Tuesday 26 November 2024. 

The Clerk advised that  this was a good networking event and that the slides about writing engaging strategies and community engagement and consultation had already been shared with all Councillors. 

2. The SKDC Design Code Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan Group and Local Stakeholders workshop at Bourne Corn Exchange on Wednesday 27 November 2024. 

Councillor Smith who had attended this along with the Assistant Clerk and Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens said this was a useful briefing building on the work already being done by the Neighbourhood Plan group and the District Council.  

3. Carols with the Salvation Army Band and Choir in the Marquee at the Waterton Arms on Friday 13 December 2024. 

Councillor Stevens advised that a large number of people had attended this event which had been well received. A similar event on Friday 12 December 2025 would be considered by the recreation areas, open spaces and events committee on Tuesday 7 January 2025. 

4. The Priory Church Christmas Tree Festival – 9th to 15 December 2024 

Councillor Townsin said this was a great event with over 30 trees and there had also been music, soup, tea and cake available. 

 

25.102 To consider the National Grid wayleave agreement and plan in respect of electricity cables on under Jubilee Park Thackers Way

Councillor Smith, who along with Councillors Gilbert and Shinkins-Hoppe, had met with representatives from National Grid on 25 November 2024, advised that this document could not yet be signed because: 

(a)  part of the land is of unknown ownership (a slim wedge that prevents continuity for their pipeline - see attached plan ).  The Parish Council currently have a possessory title application in the Land Registry for this area but it is unknown when this will be processed.  

(b) the agreement refers to underground and overground equipment, yet the drawing states underground only. This needed clarification and a redraft to exclude overground cables as that would unacceptably constrain future community development given a 6.6m stand off

 

Councillor Smith proposed that the Parish Council agree in principle to cable installation but only underground and to seek advice to clarify ownership issue. Seconded and RESOLVED 

 

25.103 To receive further information and re-consider the rent review for the office space at the Institute received from Deeping St James United Charities 

Councillor Gilbert said that following advice from a trusted agent he proposed that the rent review being suggested (an increase of £3.29 per square foot resulting in an increase of £595.08 per annum) should be accepted. Seconded and RESOLVED 

 

25.104 To consider providing an information board at the Deepings Lakes advising visitors of other places of interest, amenities and facilities in the Deepings  

Councillor Bowell advised that following advice that funding may be available for an information board via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund he had been advised by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust that they are tenants of the car park and the land owner would not allow anymore signage to be installed on the land. Councillor Bowell intends to investigate this further. Councillor Smith advised that if a way forward can be found for this funding may already be available via the waymarking and benches grant that has been obtained from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund  

 

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

Councillor Gilbert advised that on behalf of Kingsgate Community Church he had distributed 37 hampers within the Deepings and he had several throws to offer to those that would benefit from one. Please forward individuals details to him so he can arrange delivery

After seeing one of the maintenance team at work, Councillor Bowell suggested that the Parish Council purchase a post digging shovel. Councillor Gilbert advised that if one was needed he had several spare. 

Councillor Bowell advised those that are interested that a steam engine was passing through Deeping St James at 9.35am on Wednesday 18 December 2024

Meeting finished at 8.50pm 

 

 

Signed 

 

 

 

Dated