December 2020 Minutes

MINUTES OF ANCASTER, SUDBROOK AND WEST WILLOUGHBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD VIA VIDEO LINK (ZOOM) AT 7.30PM ON MONDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2020.

Present:        Cllr D Sayer (Chairman) Cllrs Ms C Fleming, A Rock, A Newton, 
            J Leighton, N Barker, Mrs V Nelson, Dr J Entwistle

In Attendance:    County Cllr R Wootten, District Cllr I Stokes and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk

Absent:        Cllr Mrs J Pearsey and G  Nelson

Public Forum:
No members of the public were present. 
A parishioner had reported the kerb stone has worked loose and come completely away from the footpath and the stone is chipped on the corner of West View. This was where the dropped curb had been agreed in February 2016, which still had not been done. County Cllr Wootten agreed to report this again.

The meeting began at 7.40pm

1.Chairman’s Welcoming Remarks:
a. The Chairman Cllr D Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apolgies for Absence:
The Clerk reported that apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllr Mrs J Pearsey and G Nelson.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: that apologies for absence with valid reasons by accepted from Cllr Mrs Pearsey and G Nelson.

3.Declarations of Interest:
There were none.

4.To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the meeting held on 16th November 2020. The notes had been delivered to the Chairman for signing.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16th November 2020 be accepted as a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes, and these would be returned to the Parish Clerk.

5.Report from County Councillor/District Councillor:
a. County Cllr Wootten said that the Sudbrook potholes should be fixed by Christmas. He had met the new Chief Constable Chris Haward who was the previous Deputy Chief Constable of the West Midlands. He would take up his post on the 16 December and was keen to interact with parish councils.

6.Speed Watch:
a. Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership had confirmed that CSW activity will be able to resume whilst we are in Tier 3.
7.Highways Issues:
a. A reply from the Countryside Officer had said that public cannot drive down the strip of land from Church Lane, but residents must have access. The public footpath was now a real hazard to pedestrians and dog walkers. District Cllr Ian Stokes agreed to contact the Chief Executive at SKDC.

b. Cllr Wootten confirmed that the site meeting to discuss Carlton Road flooding had been requested to Highways, but  no reply had been received. 

Cllr Sayer said the garage on Ermine Street and the Church Wall looked dangerous in 3 locations and the trees had not been removed  which were leaning on the fence at Angel Court.  Cllr Wootten would chase these outstanding issues. The wall at the Old Vicarage was also in need of repair.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands that the Clerk take photographs and forward to County Cllr Wootten

c. An array of potholes had been reported to FixMyStreet by Cllr Sayer. 

8.Parish Clerk Update:
a. The Team Leader of the Big Clean at SKDC had said they would ask them to come back and cleanse Main Street and Carlton Road in Sudbrook and to cleanse Ermine Street. Most of the list sent were beyond their capabilities and came under Highways. District Cllr I Stokes agreed to talk to SKDC. 

b. A report had been received that the grit bin in Sudbrook which had been hit by a vehicle had now been fixed.

c. An email had been received for a dog bin at the traffic lights end of the village. Cllrs agreed if we purchased a further bin, the emptying would become a problem. The Clerk had contacted Pet Waste Solutions, and a quotation had been received. County Cllr I Stokes said that SKDC would collect it if it was mixed with other general waste. He would investigate this. After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands to defer this to the next parish council meeting and obtain a further quotation for collection of dog waste.

9.Correspondence:
a. ElanCity speed equipment – circulated to all Cllrs.
b. Clerks & Councils Direct – circulated to all Cllrs.
c. LCC Town & Parish Newsletter – circulated to all Cllrs.
d. Rail Technology email – forwarded to Cllr Sayer and Cllr Newton
e. ICCM Updates – forwarded to Cllr Newton, Cllr Dr Entwistle and Cllr Sayer.
f. Railwatch – forwarded to Cllr Newton.
g. NALC’s response to Standards Matter 2: Public Consultation and Public Sector Surveys – circulated to all Cllrs.
h. SKDC Parish Update – circulated to all Cllrs.


10.Cemetery/Newton Meadow/Churchyard:
a. The Current burial charges had been circulated to all Cllrs.  Cllr Newton had made a comparison with neighbouring parishes and after a short discussion it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to update the figures to a maximum of 5%. These changes to take effect as from 01 April 2021.

b. Cllr Newton suggested in future to use Epitaph only for data storage for the cemetery. He explained that at the moment he must cross reference three books. The backup for the Epitaph programme is very secure and after a short discussion it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to migrate everything necessary across to Epitaph 

11.Grass Cutting/Grounds Maintenance:
a. Cllr Newton had produced the tender document for grass cutting 2021  in the parish.  This would need to be advertised in the Grantham Journal and Sleaford Standard. After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to advertise in the Grantham Journal and Sleaford Standard, asking for prices to be received by the 31 January 2021.

b. LCC had asked if we wish to take part in the Urban Highways Grass Cutting scheme for 2021-2022. LCC pay us towards three cuts only, although we cut the verges at least 8 times. After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to continue with the scheme for a further year.

12.Finance:
a. The Approval List for Staff BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. 
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands to accept the Staff BACS payments amounting to £1667.37  and to authorise the parish clerk to make the payments.

b. The Approval List for BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands to accept the following BACS/DD payments and to authorise the parish clerk to make the payments.

D.R.Sharpe    Grass cutting to village gates    £240.00
S.K.D.C    Trade Waste Bins    £17.33
DNE Property Services    Glass/New fire door    £2375.00
Proweb    Anti-Virus x 2 laptops    £70.00
Andrew Newton    Rock Salt    £10.00
James Bell    Website    £25.00
Opus Energy    Electricity    £55.45
                        
c. The Bank reconciliations and cashbook to 30 November 2020 had been circulated to all Cllrs.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands to accept the bank reconciliations and cashbook to 30 November 2020.

d. The draft budget had been circulated to all Cllrs. After a short discussion, it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: by a show of hands to request a Precept of £27300.00

13.Planning:
a. S20/1735 planning application for erection of extension to service station (increase retail area) alterations and use of first floor as office/store. Erection of single storey extension and alterations to dwelling associated with service station Willoughby Road Garage.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to make no comments on this application.

b. S20/1577 Planning permission for installation of modular staff amenity and training building New Earth Solutions (West) Ltd. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

14.Parish Hall:
a. The parish clerk confirmed the new windows and fire door had been completed in the parish hall.
b. The parish clerk confirmed the parish hall will remain closed whilst Lincolnshire is in Tier 3.
c. It was intended to have a new heating system in the parish hall before winter 2021. Cllr Sayer agreed to explore different avenues, and get a survey done if possible. He  would report back to a future meeting.

15.Playing Field:
a. Nothing to report.

16.Report from Councillors:
a. Cllr Sayer suggested a Christmas Tree for 2021. One idea would be to have a ‘growing tree’ Cllrs all agreed this was an excellent idea and the cost would be looked at. District Cllr Stokes said he would be happy to sponsor the tree and lights out of next year’s Cllr allowance. The Chairman thanked him very much.

b. The Chairman said the Church has not been lit for a long time, and perhaps LED lights could replace the existing system. Cllr Newton agreed to contact discuss this with the Vicar and Churchwarden. 

c. It was left in abeyance as to whether the Parish Hall Exhibition would go ahead, this will be discussed at a future meeting.

17.Training:
a. No training was listed for this month.
                                
18.Date of next Meeting:
a. The date of the next zoom  meeting was confirmed as 18 January 2021.

The Chairman wished everyone a Happy Christmas, and there being no further business the meeting closed at 9.10pm

                        Signed: ……………………………………….
                        Chairman Ancaster Parish Council
                        18 January 2021


It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the virtual (ZOOM) meeting which took place on 14 December 2020 and do not become Minutes of ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL until accepted or otherwise at the next meeting.