Minutes, 6 March 2025
MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING OF MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL DATED THURSDAY 6th MARCH 2025
1. WELCOME - by the Parish Council Chairman.
2. PRESENT – Cllr Cartwright, Cllr Stephens, Cllr Watson, Cllr Duckett, Cllr Brown, Cllr O’Sullivan, District Cllr Wood .
3. APOLOGIES – Cllr Vickers – accepted. County Cllr Maughan
Declared by 12 midday before the meeting.
Proposed by: Cllr O’Sullivan seconded by: Cllr Stephens
4. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
None declared
5. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
No questions submitted by members of the public at meeting or before
6. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – 16th January 2025
Proposed by: Cllr Brown Seconded: Cllr O’Sullivan
7. PLANNING MATTERS -
Planning Application – S25 /0150 – Bridge Street. Recorded no objections
Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright Seconded: Cllr Brown
8. COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
County Cllr Alexander Maughan's detailed report into County matters considered, and was nominated to be sent to Cllrs via the Clerk by the Chair.
District Cllr Wood reported on the Budget. County Council precept up by 2.99% which means a Band D in Marston will be £1,625.
Lincs Police Precept will go up by 4.95% to £318.
SKDC by 3% to £177.
The Parish Precept, in light of the cost-of-living pressures was voted in January to reduce by 0.50%.
Overall, this means a Band D property will increase by 3.4% to £2,158
District Cllr Wood proposed at Budget to increase the Flood risk budget from £30,000 to £100,000 to ensure that SKDC have an enhanced amount of money to help residents should it be required to do so. Councillor Wood voted for the Budget.
UKSPF (Shared Prosperity Fund) ends at the end of March. The new fund will be shared by the new Mayoral budget and its not quite clear how it will be administered yet but SKDC will have access to £1.2 million and organisations must apply by September 2025. A presumption of April or even after the elections is the date that organisations will be able to apply from but awaiting confirmation.
SKDC have responsibility for cleaning the grass verges for the A1. National Highways are only responsible for the road. Chair commented that this did not seem to be an efficient way of working.
Fix My Street app is being adopted by SKDC in 2025. At present you can only report Fly Tipping but through 2025 more services will engage. Chair reported to SKDC through the website on fly tipping of 16 black bags of Cannabis debris and other rubbish on Green Lane. SKDC officer came out and said it would be cleared within 2 days and it was. Service was excellent.
Devolution – update. District Council to come up with ideas by end of March. Full Proposal by end of November. Too many Councils and too many Chief Execs. Hesitation on whether the overall proposal will work with services being controlled remotely. Long term it might work financially but short term could be problems.
Elections on the 1st May for County Councillors and the Mayor for Lincolnshire. District Cllr Paul Wood will be standing for County as an independent. County Cllr Maughan is not standing. Conservative candidate is Ben Green.
9. COMMUNITY MATTERS & OTHER BUSINESS
a) Dog Fouling in Marston – There has been an increase in dog fouling in and around the village and a number of problem areas identified. Residents are reminded that any black bin can be used for disposing of dog waste as long as it is in a knotted waste bag. It was agreed to place signs at future hot spots around the village asking owners “to clean up after their dogs”.
b) Riverside Meadow – Wildflower meadow or recreation area. Wildflower meadow seems inappropriate as difficult to maintain. It was agreed that we would ask Richard Pearson to cut the grass as soon as it was fit and ask the Village Cleaner to continue cutting throughout the year. It was also agreed to keep the river bank cut to control nettles and Himalayan Balsam.
c) Appointment of Flood Warden – Cllr Duckett appointed
d) Appointment of Financed Overseer – Cllr Brown appointed
e) UKSPF – update on Application for £25,000 for Village Hall
The clerk reported that the admin side of UKSPF at SKDC was an issue which had hindered the application and actual receipt of the funds after successful allocation. District Cllr Woods was thanked for his intervention which led to the release of the funds to the Village Hall Committee.
Cllr Brown reported that the electrician had fitted all new LED lights inside and out which will substantially cut the electricity bill, rewired all storerooms and toilets. Extra lights will also be fitted.
The plumber will be upgrading the toilets, taps and waste systems.
A new patio is being installed week commencing 19th March.
Cllr Brown also reported that he had another joiner on the project after being let down by the original one. More funds being allocated due to rush job on doors. New internal / External Foyer doors and dummy screen as well as extensive repairs.
There will be new lights in the kitchen. The village hall floor will be re-sanded and polished. A new barrier will be installed in the car park which will create 4 rows of dedicated parking and stop ‘dough nutting’ on the new surface. 60 rolls of insulation purchased to insulate the roof. New doors and frames ordered and new floor scrubber. £1,500 over budget and still need money to repair the roof leak after the lead was stolen some years previously. Running costs cut by 2 thirds example 700 watts in main hall now 180 watts. Outside 100 watts instead of 500 watts etc
The Clerk and Cllr Brown were thanked for their hard work in applying for the grant and organising and managing the work on behalf of the Village Hall committee.
f) UKSPF – update on Application for £15,000 for The Thorold Car Park.
An application had also been made to SKDC for UKSPF funds in support of The Thorold public house. A decision was awaited.
The Clerk updated and requested an intervention from District Cllr Wood. It is unclear when or if the application will be considered and whether there is any possibility of the grant. District Cllr Wood agreed to pursue it on behalf of the Parish Council.
UPDATE Dist. Cllr Wood notified the Clerk that the application was unsuccessful as all the money had been allocated.
The Thorold can apply for a grant through the new scheme in May.
Thanks to the Parish Clerk for making the application on behalf of the Thorold and Dist. Cllr Wood for chasing it with SKDC.
Proposed by: Cllr Ducket Seconded by: Cllr O’Sullivan
10. FINANCIAL MATTERS
Signing of monthly reconciliations: January 2025 and February 2025
With grant money from the Solar Farm likely next year, a more robust approach to supporting local organisations is required. The Clerk advised it would be worth considering adoption of a S137 policy for releasing funds to the Parish. The Clerk will present a template for this policy at the May Annual Meeting and Parish Meeting. When the Solar Farm money is due then a discussion will be held to arrange a public meeting looking for sensible project ideas.
Proposed by: Cllr Stephens Seconded by: Cllr Brown
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a) Cllr Watson reminded all present of the Litter Pick which was due to take place on 9 March.
b) A number of suggestions regarding excessive littering from a villager were discussed. It was agreed that the Clerk contact Anglian Water and request that they instal a litter bin at the Bird Hide Car Park,
c) Cllr Stephens agreed to clean the reverse side of the village sign on the village green.
d) The possibility of purchasing sand bags or the new type ‘aqua bags’ was discussed. Cllr Duckett agreed to look into the costs and practicalities of doing this.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 15th May 2025
MEETING CLOSED AT: 21:17