2021-22 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Clerk: Carolyn Wilkinson Website: https://south-hykeham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

Minutes of the February meeting of South Hykeham Parish Council held on Wednesday 9th February 2022 at 7.00pm at South Hykeham Community Primary School, Wath Lane.

Present: Councillors: Mrs P Whittaker Chairperson, Mrs L Graham, P Driffill, D Rowson, S Roe, R Phillips, N Dillon. Clerk: Carolyn Wilkinson.

In attendance: Cllrs M Green (NKDC) M Thompson (LCC) M Overton (LCC/NKDC) Rev Peter Collins.

Public Forum:  There had been no members of the public present for the Public Forum though a brief meeting of the members of the 10 Year Strategy Working Party and other volunteers had taken place prior to the Council meeting to discuss the arrangements for a Joint Jubilee Gala event in South Hykeham.  Agenda item 12(b).

Cllr Mrs Whittaker welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. Apologies for absence and to resolve to accept the reasons given. Apologies were received from the Police Beat Team, Phil Watt AccessLincoln, Cllr R Eckert NKDC.  Written reports had been received from each and had been distributed prior to the meeting.    Noted

2. To resolve to receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider member’s written dispensation requests.  There were no declarations of interest at this point.

a) Members Annual Review of Disclosure of Pecuniary and other interests.  Members were reminded of the importance of reviewing their DPI at least every 6 months to ensure it is current and if necessary to amend it to send to NKDC via the Clerk who will retain a copy on the Council’s file.  The new DPI form has been circulated to all members along with the email from the Monitoring Officer NKDC advising of the new DPI form and other matters regarding advertising vacancies etc.  Members  DPIs were available at the meeting for members to check that the information detailed was current.  Noted

b) Annual Review of the Adopted Code of Conduct. The Parish Council had adopted the NKDC Code of Conduct at its meeting of 3rd April 2019 and which all members of Council have had a copy of.  The NKDC model Code of Conduct is currently being reviewed and will be forwarded to all Town and Parish Councils by the Monitoring Officer for consideration and with a view to Councils adopting the revised edition.  In the meantime the current version remains in effect. Noted

3. Update from Phil Watt AccessLincoln on the Bridleway between ascot Way/Mill Lane project It was noted that there has been no further progress made on the installation of the safety barriers at Mill Lane due to there being staff shortages at Balfour Beatty.  The matter is being urgently pursued by Phil Watt who was due to report to this meeting but was unavailable. 

4. To receive the Police Report.  A North Kesteven Police quarterly briefing had been circulated to all members of Council in advance of this meeting.   Noted  

5. To receive County and District Councillors reports.  Written reports from Cllrs Green, Eckert, Thompson, and Overton had been circulated to members prior to this meeting and were noted.  Cllr Thompson reported that he had no further information to share regarding the proposed transfer of the s106 funds for the bus shelter on Newark Road at the top of Thorpe Lane.  He had also been made aware of some damage that had been caused to the turning circle at Thorpe Lane and he was awaiting a response.  Cllr Overton advised of the process for applying for grant support for businesses.  Devolution and the leveling up is currently under discussion for Lincolnshire and the neighbouring authorities.  The local Police teams are being pushed into Lincoln rather than policing locally in rural areas and this is giving cause for concern.  Cllr Green reported that there are currently a number of planning applications for Land Off the A17 Adjacent to the River Witham, Beckingham which have attracted a lot of opposition and objections. Cllr Roe reported that Sgt Whyte is splitting his time between Hykeham Town and Rural and Birchwood and Mark Wood is currently office based with 2 PCSOs.  There is currently a vacancy for one police officer.  Adult Social Care will go up by 3% with a 2% increase for general costs. £2.3million has been taken from reserves to make up for the Highways deficit.  £5 million has gone to into launching a new cooking curriculum so children will be taught how to cook basic meals.  There are plans to convert some properties to provide 2 more childrens’ residential homes with possible funding for a third  in order to bring local children back into the County.  Cllrs Green and Overton left to go to other meetings  at this point.

6. To resolve to adopt the clerk’s notes of the 12th January 2022 as the minutes of that meeting. Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously resolved on a show of hands.

7.Finance

a) To resolve to approve the payment of accounts for February 2022. Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously resolved on a show of hands.     

b) To consider the effectiveness of internal audit and to renew the auditor’s contract of employment. 

Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Graham and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the current arrangement with Rachel Popplewell meets the Councils needs and should be renewed for a further year at a rate of £30 per hour.  

c)To resolve to approve the Parish Council reserves for 2022/23.  Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the reserves as detailed on the document circulated prior to this meeting should be approved.    

8.To resolve to approve the dates for Parish Council meetings 2022/23 and venue arrangements. Proposed Cllr Mrs Dillon, seconded by Cllr Mrs Graham and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the schedule of dates in front of members should be approved and the current arrangement for meetings to take place in the school should continue for a further year with effect from April 2022.

9. Annual Parish Meeting housekeeping arrangements.  After some discussion it was agreed that there was to be no guest speaker invited to the meeting as Rowan Smith had declined the invitation due to a               previous engagement.  The meeting will commence at 6.30pm and will precede the April meeting of full council on Weds 13th April 2022. 

10. Highways Matters.

a) Speed indicator device report.  Cllr Roe reported that there was an issue with him not being able to download the report so there was no report for this evening. 

b) Outstanding/new highways faults requiring urgent attention. No matters to report.      

c) Update on LCC Highways initiatives to improve safety at South Hykeham Community Primary School.  No update on this item other than there are staffing issues with Balfour Beatty.

d) Arrangements for meeting with Rowan Smith LCC Highways to discuss urgent safety matters of concern.  Dates are to be offered for a site meeting and any members wishing to attend are to let the Clerk know of their availability.

11. Bus Shelter Thorpe Lane a)To consider the proposal from LCC Highways officer re: Highways s106 contribution 13/1464/FUL for replacement or upgraded bus shelter at Thorpe Lane, S Hykeham.  No further update on this item.  Quotes for the removal of the current structure to be obtained with a view to installing a more modern clear Perspex shelter.          Clerk to obtain estimates

b) To consider the options for upgrading or replacing the bus shelter and to consider estimates. No estimates for consideration as the local builders approached have not yet responded.

Cllr Mrs Graham proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Dillon and unanimously approved on a show of hands that the order of the agenda should be moved to allow agenda item no. 13 to be taken next and for agenda item no. 12 to follow agenda item no. 13. 

13. Hykeham Joint Planning Committee.      

a) To receive the minutes of the January/February Hykeham Joint Planning Committee meetings.  Proposed Cllr Mrs Whittaker, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously resolved that the minutes of the January/ February Hykeham Joint Planning Committee meetings should be received. 

b) Update on Lincs County Council planning application PL/0179/21 Proposal for new car park at Land off Meadow Lane, South Hykeham.  After some discussion Cllr Phillips declared a pecuniary interest in this item and left the meeting.  He did not return to the meeting once the update on this proposal had been given.  The Hykeham Joint Planning Committee had unanimously objected to the application on the grounds that it was development on an area that is designated in the CLLP and the Hykeham Neighbourhood plan as an 'important open space' formally a Visual Amenity Area within the Central Lincs Local Plan Policy LP23.  The Clerk and Chairman have each been approached by local parishioners who strongly oppose the proposed development and had asked the Parish Council to make representations on their behalf.  They had been advised that this item would be an agenda item for noting at the meeting of this evening and they were welcome to attend if they wished.  They were also advised to send their objections to both LCC and NKDC.    Noted   

c) To consider reverting to dealing with South Hykeham Parish Council (SHPC) planning applications in house at SHPC full council meetings.   Cllr Roe having previously declared a personal interest in this item took no part in the discussion or subsequent vote.  After much discussion it was proposed by Cllr Mrs Dillon, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously approved on a show of hands with one absention from the vote that South Hykeham Parish Council should leave the Joint Planning Committee at the end of the Council’s financial year on 31st March 2022 and from that date onwards would revert to dealing with SHPC planning applications in house at full council meetings.  Clerk to advise NKDC/LCC/ NHTC/Agenda item for March meeting to dissolve the SHPC Joint Planning Committee membership
Cllr Rowson left the meeting at this point.

12. 10 Year Strategy Working Party report.

a) Update on the installation of the community defibrillator/cabinet at McDonalds, Gateway Park. The defibrillator has been paid for in full by McDonalds and has been delivered to them ready for installation by their preferred contractor.  Noted

b)To engage a qualified trainer to give defibrillator training for members & the local community.  The Clerk has a quote from LIVEs for the training and alternative quotes are being sought from Lincs Fire Brigade.  Agenda item March

c) To resolve to set a date for a community event to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee June 2022 & to resolve to appropriate funds for staging the community event. After much discussion it was agreed that the date of Friday 3rd June 2022 4pm to 8pm was the preferred date.  The 10 Year Strategy Working Party had met prior to this meeting and had discussed a programme of attractions and members had been charged with making the necessary arrangements for the attractions that they had suggested.  The Clerk was looking into hiring two portable toilets and booking first aid cover in keeping with the terms of the Parish Council’s insurance policy for such an event.  Cllr Mrs Graham proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Dillon that a budget of £500 from general reserves should be vired to the budget heading for Community Engagement in order to facilitate the event in partnership with the school and the church.  Clerk to advertise in Witham Herald/ website/arrange the insurance/book first aid & toilet hire/arrange a working party meeting prior to the council meeting 9th March at 6.30pm.
 
d) Update on the arrangements and prizes for schools competition to design Parish history boards.  No further update on this item.  Agenda item for next meeting

e) To consider the suggestions put forward by pupils of Sir Robert Pattinson Academy for amenity & leisure facilities for children and young people in South Hykeham.   Referred to a future meeting of the 10 Year Strategy Working Party to investigate viable proposals which would qualify for s106/CIL gains.

The normal order of the agenda was resumed.

14. Correspondence. None

15. To resolve to approve nominations for Councillor/Clerk Training.  None

16. Chairman’s report.  None

17. Clerk’s report.  Next litterpick Saturday 5th March 2022 10.30am until midday assemble Beechcroft

18. Parish Councillor’s reports –information only/items requiring a decision will appear on a future agenda.  None

 19. To consider moving into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 as amended by section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 for confidential items.  There were no matters to be dealt with under this heading.

Date and Time of Next meetings – 10 Year Strategy Working Party Meeting Weds 9th March 2022 6.30pm (prior to March full council meeting at 7pm)
Parish Council Meeting Weds 9th March 2022 7.00pm 

There being no further competent business the meeting closed at 8.28pm.