Minutes, 5 January 2023
NOTES of the Parish Council meeting held at Hougham and Marston Village Hall on 5th January 2023 at 7.30 pm
Present: Cllr P. Cartwright (in the Chair), Cllrs A.Barradell, S. Brown, V. Morell, and C. Stephens. Also Dist Cllr P Wood and Cty Cllr A Maughan.
There were no members of the public present.
Chairman welcomed all present.
Dist Cllr Paul Wood gave his report: SKDC are looking at their budgets for 2023-2024 and it is expected that there will be a £5 increase on the Band D precept. They require £18,000,000 and half of this comes from precepts and £7,500,000 elsewhere. The £1,500,000 shortfall will come from reserves. The Management restructure has saved money. There is apparently an interested party for the Council offices. The move to the new offices is imminent. The Deepings Leisure Centre will be handed back to LCC. The future of EnviroSK is being considered.
Cty Cllr Alex Maughan gave his report: The budget proposals at LCC include a 3% increase on Council Tax. This would mean that for a Band D property Council Tax would be £1475 leaving a £10.3 million deficit for LCC; if a 5% increase was made then this would mean Band D Council tax of £1503 and a deficit for LCC of £3.4 million. £585,000,000 is required for services and adult social care uses more than 50% of that. There are cost pressures of £65,000,000 and any shortfall will come from Reserves. Highways funding cannot be allowed to drop any further. There are two reserves £46m in savings and £16m in a general fund.
22/23-71: Apologies – Cllr K O’Sullivan.
22/23-72: Declarations of Pecuniary Interest – there were none.
22/23-73: Minutes of the last meeting – the Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd November 2022 were read and approved, and it was resolved that the Chairman sign them.
22/23-74: School Safety Zone and Highways – the consultation with regard to the change in the yellow lines in School Lane and Stonepit Lane has now closed. There is no argument re School Lane and it is likely that this will go ahead first. There were a lot of objections regarding Stonepit Lane and the PC felt that the yellow lines should be left as they are, if there are to be any at all.
There has been no change to the dropped kerb outside the new development in Main Street. The contractors have now left but there is a 12 month maintenance programme.
Flooding is still ongoing in Toll Bar Road, and the corner of Pinfold Lane and Main Street still floods – works are programmed for the current year.
The wooden bridge along the footpath between Hougham Church and Stonepit Lane has been repaired.
Hedges along School Lane and Bridge Street have both now been cut back. However the hedge at Toft House needs cutting back – clerk to write to owner.
All 30 mph signs and dog fouling signs have now been replaced.
22/23-75: Electricity sub-station: WPD are waiting for signed paperwork from SKDC – Cllr Wood will chase. He will also chase Andre Ford-Hamilton about cutting the existing hedge on Kerrs Crescent.
22/23-76: Planning:
S22/0780 – new dwelling at Church Walk Cottage – pending consideration.
S22/1830 – Felling of a tree at Meadow View – approved.
S22/1846 – Lightsource application for battery storage – pending consideration.
S22/2166 – Engineering operations re surface access to solar farm – pending consideration.
S22/2361 – Replacement garage at Roseneath – pending consideration.
22/23-77: Community Cleaner – nothing to report.
22/23-78: SID – Cllr Barradell reported that the Archer Survey report was now available and the results showed we were not entitled to traffic calming measures. Speed camera positions have been looked at and recommendations were put forward to have 2 x solar SIDs which will go at the existing positions on Bridge Street and Toll Bar Road. Cllr Barradell will apply for funding from the SK Community Fund in the sum of £5,000. A hand-held speed gun will cost in the region of £350 but 6 volunteers are required to carry out the service. A message will be put on HAMES and in Together magazine to see if we can get 6 volunteers – if we do, then a hand-held speed gun will be purchased.
22/23-79: Amenity Area – some trees have been cut back.
22/23-80: An event at the Village hall had resulted in more problems within the village. Those hirers will not be allowed to hire the Hall in future.
22/23-81: Finance: It was resolved to sign the bank reconciliations at 31.10.22 and 30.11.22. It was resolved to agree a precept of £5,650. It was further resolved to pay an £18 share to SLCC for 3 training sessions for the clerk.
22/23-82: Urgent matters for discussion – the smell in Toll Bar Road has returned – Clerk to refer to Anglian Water again. Lightsource has asked for a meeting regarding funding for the Solar Farm – clerk to ask why a meeting is required if we are entitled to the payment anyway.
22/23-83: Date of next meeting: 2nd March 2023.
Meeting closed at 8.43 pm.