2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 10 JUNE 2024 AT 7.30PM IN THE PARISH HALL ANNEXE.

Present

Cllr Sayer (Chair) Cllr Leighton (Vice-Chair)
Cllrs Barker, Clarke, Ferguson, Rock, Fleming, and Hollick

In Attendance   District Cllr I Stokes, 3 members of the public and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk

Public Forum 

The Parish Council had no update on the flooding on Water Lane. One parishioner told the meeting that she had been told that the beck would be cleaned out in September.  A surveyor had attended the properties and there was a proposed investigation as a drain could be blocked on Ash Gardens causing the water to flow back onto Water Lane. The enforcement officer at SKDC had kept in touch with the residents. It had been suggested a gully could be formed around the properties and flood resistant doors. This had now been five months since the properties had flooded and they did not seem to be any further on. The Clerk agreed to contact Cllr Martin as he had been assisting the residents for an update. Cllr Stokes suggested we also contact the Upper Witham Drainage Board for their input. We are in the catchment area.

Cllrs were reminded that the main sewage drain was in the garden of 12 Water Lane, and this had been flooded, nothing further had been heard.

A resident reported that a mobility scooter could not cross the road near the school because of parking. This was an ongoing situation, and this problem was already under investigation.

The footpath to Woody’s was also well overgrown from hedges. Cllrs said this could be landowners or highways. This would be reported on Fix-My-Street.

The Chair thanked the residents for attending.

The meeting began at 7.45pm.

1.Chair’s Welcome.  Cllr Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apologies for Absence. Apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllrs Dr Entwistle, Pearsey, and Lovett. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: that apologies for absence with valid reasons be accepted from Cllrs Dr Entwistle, Pearsey, and Lovett.

3.Declarations of Interest. There were none. 

4. To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the Annual Meeting and Parish Council meetings held on Monday 20 May 2024. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: that the notes of the meeting held on 20 May 2024 be accepted as a true record. These were signed by the Chair.

5.Report from County Cllr/District Cllr.

County Cllr Martin was not in attendance. District Cllr Stokes said he had not attended any meetings, so had no update.

6.Chair Update.

a. The Chair had researched 30mph wheelie bin stickers. Cllrs Clarke and Ferguson had counted the properties fronting  Ermine Street which would benefit from the stickers. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to order the wheelie bin stickers.

7.Planning.

a. S24/0815 planning application for use of land for keeping of donkeys (including siting of portable field shelter) 23 Ermine Street. The Clerk had already submitted comments from the Planning Working Group saying they did not have any problems with the donkeys but said the shelter should be well away from residential properties because of the smell and flies. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept these comments.

b. S24/0282 Planning permission for change of use of agricultural land to a site for dog exercising/training land off Rookery Lane Sudbrook. FOR INFORMATON ONLY.

c. S24/0877 Planning application for proposed conversion and extension of outbuilding to form ancillary domestic annexe accommodation. The Old Hall, Rookery Lane Sudbrook. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved:

d. S24/0957 Dead and Dangerous tree exemption. To reduce Ash trees down to a habitat pole at main union 22 Roman Way. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

8. Highways/Policing/Speed watch.

a.  Cllrs Clarke and Ferguson asked if the SID(s) could be moved and recharged on a more regular basis. They said they were often not working.  The suggested recharging them and moving them once a month and suggested the first of the month. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to request the SID(s) be recharged and moved once a month.

Cllr Hollick told the meeting that the 30mph speed limit signs were obscured as you entered the village. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to contact Highways re the obscuring of lights and the safety cuts at junctions which did not seem to be taking place.

9.Parish Clerk Update.

a.  A parishioner had contacted the Clerk re the overhanging branches on the trees at the entrance to Mercia Drive. They had reported it on Fix-My-Street, but they had said it was nothing to do with LCC. The Clerk had contacted SKDC who also denied ownership. The Clerk to investigate further.

a. A quotation had been circulated for two new white gates at the entrance to West Willoughby.  The price had increased significantly.  The Clerk had not provided the parish council with the price for the West Willoughby sign. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: the clerk get both prices and contact the supplier to see if he can offer a discount. This would all be circulated among councillors before the next meeting.

c. The Clerk asked if everyone now had their Ancasterpc email addresses. Cllrs Clarke and Ferguson were now using their new email address. As Cllrs Pearsey and Dr Entwistle had sent their apologies the Clerk would check.

10.Correspondence.

a. Town & Parish Council newsletter May 2024 – circulated to all Cllrs.

b. Pre-election briefing – circulated to all Cllrs.

c. LCC Scam alerts – circulated to all Cllrs.

d. NALC Star Council Awards – circulated to all Cllrs.

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

11.Cemetery/Newton Meadow/Orchard.

a. Cllr Hollick had now completed the form for SKDC and returned it. The sponsors had all been thanked and this was being publicised.  Cllr Hollick was thanked for all her work.

12.Grass cutting/Grounds maintenance.

a. Cllrs asked about the grass cutting. The clerk said that the contractor was adhering to the schedule, she would forward a copy to all Cllrs. Cllr Ferguson asked if further cuts could take place if necessary, this was an option depending on the weather.

The contractor would be asked to cut round the white gates as soon as possible.

13.Parish Hall. Nothing to report.

14.Reports from Cllrs. Nothing to report.

15.Playing Field:

a. The Chair reported that at the recent playing field meeting it was agreed to hold a gala in July to raise funds for the playing field. A plea for volunteers had been put on Facebook and they had a few responses. They were going to hold a meeting with the volunteers. The gala would be simple this year with tombola, tea rooms etc.

16.Finance.

a. The Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 31 May 2024 had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept the Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 31 May 2024. The Chair signed the paperwork.

b. The Approval List for Staff BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to accept the Approval List amounting to £1968.20 and authorise the Clerk to make the payments.

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

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

d. The Clerk confirmed that the first half of the Community Cleaner Grant from SKDC had been received.

e. Confirmation that LCC had reviewed the rate for grass cutting. This has been reflected in the budget.

17.Training.

a. The LALC training bulletin had been circulated to all Cllrs. Anyone wishing to attend any training should inform the Clerk so a place could be booked.

18.Date of Next Meeting.

a. The Clerk had requested that the date of the next meeting be changed from 15 July to 8 July as she was away. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: to change the date of the meeting from 15 July to 08 July.

There being no further business the meeting closed at  8.50pm.

It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 10 June 2024  and do not become Minutes of Ancaster Parish Council until accepted or otherwise at the next Parish Council Meeting.