RAOS January 2024 Minutes

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

The minutes of the recreation & opens spaces committee meeting held at 8.00pm on Tuesday 9 January 2024 in the meeting room at the Institute 38 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HD.

Present: Councillors Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith, Stevens and Townsin.

The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk 

24.49 To receive apologies of absence.

Apologies had been received and were accepted from Councillors Halls and Hosking. 

24.50 To receive declarations of interest.

None received. 

24.51 To agree the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14 November 2023. 

Agreed and signed. 

24.52 To receive the Clerk’s report and any update on matters arising from the previous minutes. 

Several incidences of graffiti on the concrete ramps at the skatepark have been reported and cleaned by the maintenance team.

A local resident concerned as they felt that they had witnessed a drug deal at Jubilee Park asked the Clerk to view the CCTV footage and report to the Police. This was done on 20 December 2023; other than an acknowledgement no further response has been received. 

The transfer of Jubilee Park from South Kesteven District Council to Deeping St James Parish Council was further considered during a meeting between the Clerk and Councillors  Shinkins-Hoppe and Smith on the morning of Tuesday 9 January 2024 where the Parish Clerk had been asked to arrange a meeting with SKDC’s Acting Asset Manager to discuss the restrictive clauses within the TP1 document to see if there was any leeway.

A re-conditioned Amplifier has been purchased as it was confirmed that the previous one was past repair. 

As Lincolnshire County Council had advised that the Riverbank formed part of the highway verge when a limb fell from one of the trees, they were contacted to request that some remedial work was carried out on all the trees. The Arboriculturist visited the parish on 15 December 2023 and later confirmed by email that LCC would pollard the willow opposite 20 Bridge Street, the Willow opposite the entrance to Hereward way will be felled and the stump poisoned, no action is proposed currently to the Ash tree near pedestrian footbridge. It was also confirmed that as the land where the informal parking area is located is not highways land and likely to be privately owned LCC would not carry out any work on the trees there. No timescale for the completion of the work was given although it is not likely to happen until Autumn/Winter 2024. 

24.53 To agree when and where to hold the 2024 Annual Parish Meeting 

It was agreed that, if possible, this should be held in the conference centre at the Deepings School ideally on Thursday 18 April 2024. The Clerk was asked to approach the School to see if this was acceptable and if not ask for alternative dates. 

24.54 To receive an update and agree how to promote the Beacon lighting at 9.15pm on Thursday 6 June 2023  D-DAY 80 BEACONS 

It was agreed that the International Tribute would be read by the Chairperson followed by the lighting of the Beacon at 9.15pm 

The Clerk advised that she had contacted the Priory Church Bellringers to ask if they would join our World in Ringing Out For Peace at 6.30pm but no reply had been received as yet. 

24.55 To receive an update about the joint community event 2024 to be organised along with the Market Deeping Town Council, the Lions, the Rotary and the Round Table and agree a date and time for the meeting to be held. 

It was noted that following a please for additional volunteers to organise the event, the annual raft race would take place in August 2024.

It was also noted that the annual Rose and Sweetpea Show and Fete would also be held this year on Saturday 29 June 2024 and that this date was also Armed Forces Day. 

It was agreed that a meeting should be called to consider a joint community event in the absence of the annual carnival this year and Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe Stevens and Townsin volunteered to represent Deeping St James Parish Council at such a meeting. 

The Clerk advised that she had contacted the Market Deeping Town Clerk about this and they had added it to the agenda to be considered at the next council meeting scheduled to be held Wednesday 11 January 2024. 
 
24.56 To consider holding future Christmas Carol events at an alternative venue. 

Councillor Stevens advised that a representative of the Salvation Army Band had requested a meeting with representatives from the Parish Council to consider how the Band who do travel some distances to attend this event could be better used. 

Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe suggested that to avoid being at the mercy of the weather that in future the event could be held undercover, for example in the marquees at the Waterton Arms. The committee agreed that this was a good idea and Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe said she would contact them to see if this was agreeable to them. If the Waterton Arms was not available other alternative venues that could be considered were the Priory Hall or the Open-Door Church.  

24.57 To note the date of the next meeting – Tuesday 12 March 2024.