2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

ANCASTER, SUDBROOK, AND WEST WILLOUGHBY PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 18  MARCH 2024 AT 7.30PM IN THE PARISH HALL ANNEXE.

Present:

Cllr Sayer(Chair) Cllr Leighton (Vice-Chair)

Cllrs. Fleming, Hollick, Rock, Dr Entwistle, Pearsey and Lovett.

In Attendance:

County Cllr Martin, 4 parishioners and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk

Public Forum:

Flooding Water Lane – Residents of Water Lane attended the meeting asking if there was any update on the situation. It was known that a Section 19 Flood Investigation would be taking place. The Chair had asked to be present when consultants visit the affected properties. To date no date has been agreed, but LCC are expecting to complete the investigations by August.  LCC had denied all responsibility for the culvert under the road, but this would be queried. They are still saying it is the homeowner responsible as Riparian owners. 

Parking outside School/Ermine Street – Concern was shown about the parking outside school at start and end of the day. County Cllr Martin said a consultation was to take place for parking restrictions on corners and to recommend a 20mph limit during school term.  It was asked if a lollipop person could  be employed, possibly installation of child dummies and the lights on the lamppost switched on to warn motorists of a school.

As Andrew Newton was present it was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to bring Item 11(b) forward 

Cllr Hollick and Mr Newton had met with Natural England to discuss the draft CES Agreement. He said not a drastic change to the original one. However, they had said they would like relaxed mowing in the NE Section as well as the SE section of the cemetery. They would like the number of thrift protective cages to be increased from 54  to 100. There has been a four-fold increase in the plants from 197 to 893. They would like the number of thrift protective cages to be increased from 54 to 100. This would be added expense to the parish council. Natural England only give a token contribution approximately £110 per financial year. Mr Newton suggested an increase in contribution from Natural England. Their next finance meeting was mid-April so until then we would continue as we were.

Rubbish/Smell High Dyke – Parishioners had reported a smell and a huge amount of litter on the grass verges. The recycling plant would be contacted.

Bellway Homes – It appeared properties were already occupied. District Cllr Stokes to be contacted re S106 monies.

Village Gates – These needed cleaning, the clerk to contact a contractor.

The meeting began at 8.10pm

1.Chair’s Welcome: The Chair David Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apologies for Absence:

The Clerk confirmed that apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllrs Clarke, Ferguson and Barker. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: that apologies for absence with valid reasons be accepted from Cllrs Clarke, Ferguson and Barker.

3.Declarations of Interest: There were none.

4.To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 19 February 2024. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: that the notes of the meeting held on Monday 19 February 2024 be accepted as a true record. The Chair signed the minutes.

5.Report from County  Cllr/District Cllr:

Cllr Rock asked County Cllr Martin  if anything further had been heard on Speed Measurement in West Willoughby. County Cllr Martin said this had been refused by LCC. 

It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved:  that Item 11c Local Plan Review be brought forward.

Ancaster is classed as a larger village and Wilsford Lane South (35) was already in the Local Plan. Land to the East of Ermine Street (26) and Land off St Martin’s Way (65) had been added to the plan. 

6.Chair Update:

a. Cllr Sayer confirmed that he had suggested both sides of Ermine Street to Wilsford Lane junction for Electric Vehicle Charging Locations. LCC had replied saying his suggestion would be added to the site selection list and will be considered during the  LEVI project process. 

7.Planning:

a. S24/0282 Planning application for change of use of agricultural land to a site for dog exercising/training land off Rookery Lane Sudbrook. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to make no comments on this application.

b. S24/0063 Planning application for single story side extension, alterations to windows following demolition of existing conservatory 6 Charles Avenue. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to make no comments on this application.

c. Local Plan Review draft consultation 29.02.24 to 25.04.24 – circulated to all Cllrs. This was discussed in Item 5 above.

d. S24/0097 Certificate of Local Use or Development (proposed) Ground floor rear extension to 2.5m depth 19 Brookside. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to make no comments on this.

8.Speed Watch:

a. The Clerk confirmed the two new batteries had been fitted to the Speed Indicator Devices(SID) They would now  last approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

9.Parish Clerk Update:

a. Communicating with your Community. This was ongoing and would be discussed at a future meeting.

b. EMR Ticket collection – an email had been received from a parishioner who confirmed that EMR are not collecting tickets when getting on at Ancaster to travel to either Sleaford or Grantham. As you don’t have to scan your tickets when you get to Sleaford or Grantham they are concerned that they may close the service from Ancaster, as they have no idea whether anyone has got on or not. 
The gates at the Railway on Pottergate are now closed permanently. There is no vehicle access over the railway line.  The It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to write to EMR Trains with our concerns.

10.Correspondence:

a. NALC updated guidance on council email addresses – circulated to all Cllrs.

b. Local Councils Update 

c. LALC e-news – circulated to all Cllrs.

d. LCC Town and Parish Newsletter – circulated to all Cllrs.

e. Railfuture February 2024/April 2023

f. Clerk & Councils Direct

g. LALC training bulletin – circulated to all Cllrs.

h. The Clerk

i. ICCM Spring newsletter 

j. Notification of temporary traffic restriction Annual Crossing Test Sudbrook Level Crossing 09.04.2024 8.00am-4.00pm

11.Cemetery and Newton Meadow:

a. Tall Thrift Survey – discussed in Public Forum

b. CES Agreement – discussed in Public Forum

c. Information Board and Bench – the final draft of the Information Board had been circulated to all Cllrs. With just one small amendment to the text, it was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to pay the pro forma invoice.

The Bench was out of stock and we would be informed when available.

12.Grass Cutting/Grounds Maintenance:

a. The first cut was due to take place next weekend. Andrew Newton would escort the new grass contractor for his first cut.

13.Parish Hall:

a. Nothing to report.

14.Reports from Cllrs:

a. No reports this meeting.

15.Playing Field:

a. A café had been opened for the football teams when playing at a weekend. Cllrs asked if the relevant insurance and hygiene ratings were in place. As this was being run by the Football Club, this would have no impact on the parish council.

16.Finance:

a. The Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 29 February had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and 

Resolved: that the Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 29 February be accepted as a true record. These were signed by the Chair.

b. The following Pro-Forma Invoice had been received on 21.02.24. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept the Pro-Forma invoice which had been paid on 21.02.24.

c. The Approval List for staff payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and 

Resolved: to accept the Approval List for Staff Payments amounting to £1889.00 and authorise the Clerk to make the payments.

d. The Approval List for BACS/DD Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept the Approval List for BACS/DD Payments, and authorise the Clerk to make the following payments

e. Notification had been received that the Commercial Waste collection from SKDC has been increased by £4.33 per month as from April 2024 – annual increase is £52.00.

17.Training:

a. The Clerk had attended the virtual JADU Basic Course. This was led by LALC. It appeared that our website was non-compliant. Therefore, to get it up to date we had used the LALC WMS(Website Maintenance Service). We have purchased a block of 10 hours for the work, and we could purchase further hours in 5-hour blocks.

The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Bell and thank him for all the work he had done in the past.

18.Date of Next Meeting:

a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 15 April 2024 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall Annexe.

19.To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be  discussed in relation to the following matter. 

Staff wages.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.10pm