Minutes, 2 November 2023
Minutes of the full Council meeting held on Thursday, 2nd November 2023 at 19:30 at Hougham & Marston Village Hall
Cllrs Present: - Cllrs Watson, Brown, Cartwright, Stephens, Vickers, O’Sullivan, District Councillor Paul Wood
AGENDA ITEM
1. WELCOME AND ATTENDANCE REGISTER
Chair welcomed all and introduced new Clerk for the Parish Council, Marc Whelan.
2. MEMBERS AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE (VALID BEFORE 12 ON DAY OF MEETING)
Apologies received from Cllr Duckett due to illness –
Proposer Cllr O’Sullivan and seconded by Cllr Brown RESOLVED
3. DECLARATIONS OF MEMBER INTERESTS
Under the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, made under s30 (3) of the Localism Act,
members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in any of the items under consideration
at this meeting.
No declarations
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
No members of the public present or questions raised.
5. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th September were approved and there were no matters arising.
5.1 Proposed by – Cllr O’Sullivan
5.2 Seconded by – Cllr Brown RESOLVED
6. COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
6.1 - Councillor Paul Wood – SKDC presented an overview of Committees he sits on or chairs
These are Governance & Audit, Housing, Planning & Environment as well as Live meetings
Deeping Leisure Centre has become a priority to some newly elected members of SKDC who want up to £10 million spent to
bring it back up to a standard for the community.
This will likely go to Full Council for debate and could result in possible budget pressure.
SKDC owns 6,000 Council Houses; statutory checks are under review and the housing stock is not well looked after. Dept head has left.
Challenge ongoing regarding compliance and the fact more houses were bought at £1 million.
Local issue regarding change to bin services in the area. No negative feedback so far
6.2 – No attendance by Lightsourcebp. Chair noted comment in Planning.
7. SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE AND HIGHWAYS
7.1 – Drop kerb issue has been reset by National Grid – WPD. Noted
7.2 – Waste bin Cllr Duckett has offered to move it next to the Gravel Bin. Council agreed made sense to move away from bench, especially in hot weather and accepted Cllr Duckett’s offer. The PC has a spare waste bin. It was noted that Hazardous Waste Licence would be required if it was routinely emptied by PC members and SKDC would not be prepared to empty it. It was agreed that there were sufficient bins in the village and it was resolved to dispose on it.
7.3 – Localism Act – Chair opted to move forward to January meeting
Filing cabinet will be relocated and councillors will go through contents and dispose of any documents that are no longer required.
8. ELECTRICITY SUBSTATION UPDATE
8.1 - Works completed. Old substation removed from Main Street. Noted.
Residents would like laurel bushes planted to screen the new substation. – Chair written to National Grid to raise
whether they were intending to plant them.
Discussion - Bus shelter. Issue raised by some of the residents. Cllrs discussed whether any vandalism or graffiti
and none obvious in last months. Anonymous numbers asking whether it can be removed
so Chair will write to SKDC to gain further views on removal.
Proposer: Chair. Seconder: Cllr Stephens ACTION RESOLVED
9. PLANNING UPDATE
S23 / 1263 – Conversion of Barns east of Barkston Road - Approved
S23 / 1286 – Certificate of Lawfulness at Wagtail Fisheries - Approved
S23 / 1423 – one new Lodge at Wagtails – Pending
S23 / 1507 – Hydrogen Production at Harlaxton - Pending
S23 / 1581 – Garage and Garden Store at Chapel Corner – Pending
S23 / 1892 – Corn Drier – Condition 5 approval – Drainage - Approved
S23 / 1934 – Land off Green Lane – Installation of Solar Farm – Discussion regarding the recent door knocking exercise from Light Source
with neighbours regarding the application. Chair noted that Light Source were unable to make tonight’s meeting but had requested
meeting with PC by end of November. Chair will contact Light Source to arrange. Noted that statutory consultation closes on 20th November – Clerk to ask for extension. Considerable dialogue on use of agricultural land and the state of Green Lane. Brownfield sites are available. Site is wholly in Marston Parish. The original application (S23 / 0689) has been revised after it was refused by District Councillors.
Cllrs will then arrange a final decision by extended due date.
S23 / 0780 – Church Walk Cottage – Appealed and gone to Inspectorate. Cllr Vickers to improve original PC objection for submissio
to SKDC and Inspector.
10. PROJECT UPDATES
10.1 Community Cleaner – Chair has spoken to Village Cleaner about Mower insurance. The mower will be insured ready for the start
of next mowing season including for public liability. PC will agree contribution to the cost of the insurance.
10.2 Village Green – Fencing quote of £600 received, accepted and work completed by local contractor RESOLVED
11. FINANCE
11.1 – Bank Reconciliation – Approved
11.2 – Contribution to Lives for DEFIB compliance £151 – Approved
11.3 - Church Donation - £600 – Approved
11.4 – Clerk training LALC can provide help and advice. Chair & Clerk to reconvene.
11.5 - Cllrs to be added to cheque signing process
11.6 - £50 British Legion donation put forward by Chair
Next year budget meeting – Precept – discussion Chair to discuss with Clerk – one to one training with LALC.
Chair resolved to contact LALC and arrange training within the probationary period.
Finance side – Any training would be useful and Clerk agreed to take time off from work to attend.
Update on Himalayan Balsam – Working Party cut down the plants on the river bank on 17 September- it may have to be an annual exercise.
PCC Engagement session on Teams in December regarding Community Policing to be dialled in by Cllr Stephens.
12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
4th January
First Thursday of every other month – Except May due to elections
2024 dates - 7th March, 16th May, 4th July, 5th September, 7th November
Proposed by Chair
Seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan
MEETING CLOSED AT 20:52
CHAIR: Cllr Cartwrigt
DATE 2nd November
DATE 2nd November