Minutes 2024

MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY. 7TH NOVEMBER AT 7:30 PM.

 

PRESENT: Parish Clerk, Cllrs S Brown, P Cartwright, R Duckett, K O’Sullivan, C Stephens, A Watson, S Vickers and Dist Cllr P Wood

 

1. WELCOME by the Parish Council Chairman Cllr Cartwright.   

 

2. APOLOGIES – Cllr Maughan due to several other Parish Council meetings

 

Declared by 12 midday before the meeting

 

Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright   seconded by: Cllr O’Sullivan

 

3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY 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 additional ones declared.

 

4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 

 

No members of public present

 

5. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – 7th September

 

Proposed by: Cllr Watson Seconded:   Cllr Brown

 

6. PLANNING MATTERS -  

 

Hougham Care Home application. District Cllr Wood. Explained how SKDC have turned down another application but they won the appeal based on no solid evidence provided by SKDC on parking arrangements. Noted this was in Grantham that has infrastructure whereas the Hougham application alludes to it but has none. Cllr Wood has the power to call in an application and has done exactly that. The application now has over 30 objections. MPC objected with a substantial report. 

 

7. COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS

 

A very detailed report from County Cllr Alexander Maughan outlining what is happening in the County. The report covered Devolution and the fact that some devolution deals have fell apart after the new Government took office but Lincolnshire is going ahead and will look to vote in a new Mayor in May 2025. Covered off the TRO in Long Bennington and protection of the ancient Drove Road. He expressed the disappointment on the Solar Farms planning decisions and the cut in carbon emissions by LCC of 74%. Three-year road repair programme in Dry Doddington. Copies available if requested to the PC Clerk.

 

Cllr Paul Woods report – covered off the continuing depot acquisition. A review of whether electric RCV’s is viable for the SKDC patch which is geographically expansive. Cost prohibitive and viability will likely make it difficult to attain.

 

8. COMMUNITY MATTERS & OTHER BUSINESS

 

A. Lincolnshire County Council have gone out to public consultation on the change of speed limit to the Brandon Road / Viking Way from the railway bridge to the Village Hall and the 30mph on Marston Bridge being extended to the Village Hall boundary. Plan discussed previously and sent out to all Councillors prior to the last MPC meeting.  

Public consultations until 4th November and chief executive objections until 6th January 2025. Cllr Watson will publish on HAMES so residents are aware. Unless there are substantial objections to the proposal in writing, to the Chief Executive it is likely that in early 2025 the 30mph speed limit will be extended from the bridge to the Village Hall with a 40mph limit from there to the Railway bridge.

 

B. Xmas Tree. Would we be interested in one for the Village Green? 

Approach was made on the 8th October but in general councillors felt that there was insufficient time to organise things. Clerk will write to company and ask for a reminder before the first Thursday of next September to enable an early decision by the Parish Council.

 

C. Quote accepted for Collaboration project with LCC / Hougham PC, Village Hall Committee, Cllr Maughan & Marston PC to renovate Village Hall car park. Minute thanks to HPC in their majority decision with their financial assistance and also their chair, John Wright for a further personal contribution. See letter to the Chair and the Council for agreeing and sending out. 

On behalf of Village Hall Committee Cllr Brown to send copy of quotation to Hougham PC Clerk and an invoice for their contribution. Clerk to send out approved letter to HPC. Cllr Brown will organise an invoice to MPC for their £2000 donation. Cllr Wood asked whether we had considered UKPSF funding from SKDC. Clerk to investigate.

 

D. Lightsource BP have been in touch to say they were NOT successful in acquiring a connection to the grid for Green Lane Solar Farm and the funding will be delayed until likely 2026. 

Chair stated that work was progressing well on the Gonerby/Cliff Lane Marston Solar Farm and he anticipated this should be fully operational early next year.

 

E. Welcome to Marston letter 

Councillors agreed ‘Version 9’ which they were pleased with. Chair thanked Clerk and Councillors for hard work on the project and believes we have developed an informative document to send to new residents in the future

 

F. Defibrillator – Update on maintenance contract. It was resolved to pay year 11 as we have received the new pads and a new battery will become due next year. The likelihood is we may look to replace it after year 12 through the London Hearts scheme. Clerk will look into the lifetime expectancy of defibs as soon as possible to ensure Marston’s remains ‘Fit for purpose’

 

G. Dates for 2025 meetings, 2nd January, 6th March, 15th May, 3rd July, 4th September, 6th November. Update to January meeting added. 2nd January becomes 16th January

Agreed – Clerk will send dates to Village Hall committee.

 

H. SID pole has been erected by LCC.  

Councillors agreed that they will remove SID from SKDC footway lighting on Sunday 17th November at 10am and install on new pole. No budget required

 

Proposed by: Cllr O’Sullivan Seconded by: Cllr Stephens

 

9. FINANCIAL MATTERS

 

A. Signing of monthly reconciliations for July, August, September and October. Due to data crash.

 

Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright   seconded by: Cllr Duckett

 

B. Precept Proposal – See Councillor spreadsheet & emails from September. Budget review.

Clerk put forward some reductions and some ideas on the precept including monies for grants for small clubs on application. Councillors resolved that with cash in the bank the precept should stay at the 2024/5 level of £6100. Clerk will look to squeeze extra value for the ideas by reductions in current items.

 

C. Laptop purchase for asset register – to address recent data crash. Budget £500.

Chair motioned that MPC should have purchased a laptop some time ago and it was agreed to authorise the budget requested

 

D. Marston Church donation – £600 annual donation towards costs – Agreed.

 

E. Together magazine £60 annual contribution – Agreed.

 

F. British Legion £100 – Agreed.

 

Proposed by: Cllr Brown Seconded by: Cllr Watson 

 

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 16th January 2025 – 7:30pm 

 

11. MEETING CLOSED AT:  20:55