2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL
The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, PE6 8HD
E-mail: clerk@deepingstjames-pc.gov.uk
Tel: 01778 343266
Webpage: //deeping-st-james.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Facebook: Deeping St James Parish Council

 

Parish Clerk: Julie Fortnum

 

 

Present: Parish Councillors Gilbert, Halls, Hosking, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens and Townsin.

The minutes were taken by Julie Fortnum, Parish Clerk 

 

Open Forum 

No members of the public were present

 

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

Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors Bowell, Fowler and Smith. 

 

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

None declared.

 

25.45 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 16 July 2024. 

These were agreed and signed. 

 

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

Prior to the completion of the transfer of Jubilee Park, South Kesteven District Council have repaired a trip hazard within the play area but informed the Clerk that they will not be repairing the closers on the gates 

The ROSPA play equipment inspections were completed on Monday 12 August 2024 and when the reports are received, they will be reviewed by the Recreation and open spaces committee when they meet on 3 September 2024.

On 25 July 2025 a representative from the Rotary/Inner Wheel Club of the Deepings visited the office following  a meeting with a representative from Milton Estates at Scout Island During the meeting it had been agreed that the Rotary/Inner Wheel would voluntarily complete work to make the south side (towards Peakirk Road) of Scout Island accessible leaving the north side (facing Eastgate) alone 

An advert to encourage new Councillors to join Deeping St James has been agreed and will be promoted in the next issue of the I’d rather be in Deeping magazine 

The abandoned allotment plot at the Hall Meadow Road site was cleared on 4 August 2024  and has been allocated to a new tenant. 

The Clerk has priced some magnetic style name badges and these can be sourced relatively cheaply if that is the resolution of the Council  

The newly acquired replacement noticeboard for the front of the Institute has been received and installed with photos being forwarded to the company to use for publicity purposes.

The two goalposts to be erected at Woody Heights Recreation Area have arrived and are currently being stored as due to the School holidays and Council staff annual leave installation has been delayed.

Two serious incidences of fly tipping (on Stowgate Road and Cranmore Drove) have been reported to the Parish Council office. As ‘FixMyStreet’ no longer allows you to report them District Councillor Bridget Ley advised that there is a direct email – flytipping@southkesteve.gov.uk  

The Parish Council Gazebo has been/will be used by representatives from Sustrans at the Deepings Raft Race on Sunday 4 August and the Deepings Duck Race on Sunday 1 September as part of the consultation for the local cycling and walking initiative plan

Regular updates are received regarding the lithium-ion battery campaign which Deeping St James Parish council agreed to support at previous meeting. If any Councillors are interested in receiving these regular updates, please let the Clerk know, otherwise the Clerk will inform you of any significant issues relating to this campaign   

Enquiries about grass cutting continue to be received relating to both the contracted-out highway verge cuts and but also the areas that District Council are responsible for

It was noted that an item should have been included on this agenda to consider the purchase of name badges for Parish Councillors. It was agreed that this would be added to the September agenda. 

 

25.47 To receive reports from the District Councillors and County Councillor.

 

25.48 Financial matters: 

1. To approve the expenditure for August 2024. 

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to approve payments totalling £14,688.33

2. To note the income for August 2024.

Income totalling £660.68 was noted. 

3. To consider the grant application from the Deepings Lions Club for the Deepings Duck Race 2024 to be held on Sunday 12 September 2024. 

The grant for funding to cover the cost of toilets, litter collection and First Aid cover was considered and it was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that a grant of £428.60 should be made. 

 

25.49 Planning matters: 

1. To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the Planning and Transport committee meeting held on Tuesday 13 August 2024. 

In the absence of Councillor Smith , Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced the minutes of this meeting from which there were no recommendations. 

25.50 To consider the following correspondence.

1. Deepings Leisure Centre Group CIC – Response to the message that the Parish Council agreed to send at the July Council meeting. 

The Parish Council felt that there were still a number of issues to address and questions to be answered before the group will need the funding. The groups suggestion of using reserves and recouping this from the precept over a period of years would be considered when the budget and precept was being set for 2025/26 and if it was required a representative from the group would be invited to provide an update.  

2. South Kesteven District Council – Public Spaces Protection Order Consultation – The Spinney Market Deeping. 

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to respond to this consultation positively.  

3. South Kesteven District Council – following DSJPC’s request for an application form for the Community Orchard grant an invitation to attend events organised by  Stamford Community Orchard Group has been received.

Noted. 

4. Neighbourhood Policing team – link to the latest quarterly newsletter 

South Kesteven Neighbourhood Policing - quarterly update July to September (cloud.microsoft)

Noted. 

5. Deepings Practice Patient Participation Group invitation for two representatives to attend a meeting at the Deepings Practice at 12.30pm on Wednesday 4 September 2024.

Councillor Townsin advised that she had attended an informal meeting on 19 August with two other representatives who were currently acting as joint Chair of this group. At the meeting on it was discovered that whilst it is a legal requirement for a GP Practice to have a PPG they are not required to work with them plus, members of the PPG are required to sign a form to say they will not share information gleamed from any meetings. Taking into account this information it is DSJ Parish Councils opinion that having a representative on the PPG holds limited value, so a direct meeting with representatives of the Practice should be sought. 

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to contact Market Deeping Town Council to initially arrange a meeting with them prior to contacting the Deepings Practice. 

It was agreed that the question that would be asked by DSJ Parish Council at the Patient Participation meeting to be held at 12.30pm on Wednesday 4 September 2024 was as follows: 

“We know you have been turned down for a walk-in centre, why, and can you apply again with the backing of all the Councils?”

A back-up question was also agreed in case the first was asked by one of the other 18 Councils who had been invited. 

“How do the practice expect vulnerable people in the community to deal with the current system – those with no online access, transport, close family, etc?” 

6. Invitation to the Community Policing panel meeting at 7pm on 26 September 2024 at the Deepings Community Centre, also a report on Andrew Bowell and Christine Halls’ meeting with Chief Inspector Jon Shield on 19 July 2024, and a request for funding to cover the meeting room hire. 

It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED that DSJ Parish Council will cover the payment of £38.75 for the hire of the hall on 26 September 2024 

ACTION: As meetings would hopefully continue to be held on a quarterly basis the Clerk was asked to contact Market Deeping Parish Council to ask if they would contribute 50% of the costs. 

7. Priory Hall Committee – A thank you for the grant funding towards the testing of the Oak Tree in the car park and confirmation that the tree is in good health and does not require any work 

Noted.

8. Deepings Youth Group – Interim Report and accounts from 1 April 2024 to 13 July 2024 

Noted. 

9. South Kesteven District Council - Invitation to attend drop-in sessions with the Leader of SKDC and representatives of the Corporate Management Team as part of a Parish/Town Council Forum at 4 venues across the district one of them being the Open-Door Church at 18.45pm on Tuesday 8 October 2024. 

To open up the opportunity for as many DSJ Parish Councillors as possible to attend this meeting Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe requested that the meeting dates of the planning and transport committee and finance policy and personnel committee were changed to Tuesday 1 October 2024. Seconded and RESOLVED  

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to inform all Parish Councillors of this date change and collate the names of those who would be attending the SKDC meeting so that she could send an RSVP 

 

25.51 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. Deepings Fun day Sunday working party held in Market Deeping Town Hall on Thursday 18 July 2024 

This was a mop-up meeting following the event on 18 July 2024 where it was agreed that future meetings would be planned to work towards a similar event next year.

2.Open afternoon at the Sensory Garden, Deepings Community Centre held on Saturday 20 July 2024. 

Attended by Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Halls who said it was a nice event and congratulated the Lions on a job well done. 

3. Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils Summer Conference and AGM held at the Belton Woods Hotel on Wednesday 24 July 2024 

Councillors Bowell and Halls attended this event which was very good and offered a lot of useful information especially about flood issues, the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and emergency plans 

4. Joint Councils highway verge grass cutting meeting at Market Deeping Town Hall on Wednesday 31 July 2024 

This meeting attended by MD Councillors Byrd and Wey, DSJ Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens and the DSJPC Clerk led to an email being sent to the Managing Director of the contractors by the Mayor and Chair advising of the decision to withhold payment and requesting a meeting to resolve the issues. To date there has been no response. It was also agreed that the contracts needed to be re-written (Councillor Wey as long with Councillor Rose have volunteered to do this). 

ACTION: The Parish Clerk was asked to see if a response had been received by Councillor Byrd or MD Town Council, if not to attempt to make contact directly herself and also look for what other contractors are available. 

It was also suggested that the idea of withdrawing from the Parish Agreement currently in place with LCC highways was put forward reverting back to receiving 3 cuts completed by them.  

5. Funded activities for primary school children run by Our Forest Garden, Artivity Studio and Madcaps Out of School Club between Monday 22 July and Friday 9 August 2024.

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe attended all three which were all very good this had been supported by feedback on Facebook pages. The Clerk confirmed that all the providers had been thanked for organising and running the sessions and were all on board to do the same again next year. 

6. Attendance at SKDC UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund Board meeting at 10am on Monday 1 August 2024 and the meeting of the Jubilee Park improvements working party held on Thursday 8 August 2024

Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Smith attended this meeting and are pleased to confirm that funding of £23425 was approved. The Jubilee Park improvement working party met to consider contractors where it was proposed that from the 3 tenders obtained, Groundwork East, should be the chosen contractor. This was considered and agreed by finance policy and personnel on Tuesday 13 August 2024. 

7. Deepings Raft Race held on Sunday 4 August 2024 

This was attended by several Councillors who all agreed it was a great local event. 

8. The Deeping St James Allotments show and BBQ held on Sunday 11 August 2024

Councillor Bowell attended this event and a report had been circulated.  

9. Legend on a bench reveal in the Rectory Paddock Church Street Market Deeping on Wednesday 14 August 2024   Legend on the Bench - Home (https//legend-on-the-bench.co.uk) 

Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens attended this event and acknowledged that it was a positive initiative and a very nice bench. It was noted that the charity intended to approach DSJ Parish Council to ask them to consider a location so some thought needed to be given to this. Councillor Gilbert suggested that rather than a bench notices near railway lines and waterways could be considered but felt that it was an issues that needed a separate agenda item outside of this meeting. 

 

25.52 To agree who is to lead the footpaths walks on 5th, 12th, 22nd September 2024 and advise members about the refreshments afterwards.  

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe agreed to lead the first walk from Frognall on Tuesday 5 September with refreshments at The Walnut Tree. Refreshments following the Linchfield walk on 12 September would be at the Waterton Arms and after the Station Road/Lakes walk on 22 September would be at the Exotic Pet Refuge. 

 

25.53 To receive an update about the Coronation Community Orchard grant application and taking account of additional information that has been obtained. 

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe advised that the deadline has now been extended to 31 October 2024 however she has completed the application form and has obtained two quotes for fruit trees. One of the requirements of the application is that the applicant takes responsibility for the trees for 30 years – taking this into account do Deeping St James Parish council wish to continue to pursue this?

ACTION: Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe to contact SKDC to obtain a better understanding of the maintenance requirements and the Clerk to contact the insurance providers to obtain advice regarding the insurance cover of the Parish Councils current tree stock and any future planting. 

  

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

Working party (Councillors Gilbert, Halls, Hosking, Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens) to consider maintenance staff requirements will meet at 2pm on Tuesday 24 September 2024 

Add the Dog Show to the Recreation and Open spaces Committee agenda for the meeting on Tuesday 3 September 2024 

 

Meeting finished at 9.35pm