2022-23 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

South Hykeham Parish Council

Minutes of the March meeting of South Hykeham Parish Council held on Wednesday 8th March 2023 at 7.00pm at South Hykeham Community Primary School, Wath Lane.  

Present: Councillors: D Rowson (Chairman of the meeting), Mrs N Dillon-Jones, P Driffill, S Roe, R Phillips.

Clerk: Carolyn Wilkinson. In attendance:   Cllr Mary Green, Cllr M Overton (LCC/NKDC).   

Public Forum:  There were no members of the public present so there were no matters to discuss. 

1. To receive apologies for absence and to resolve to accept the reasons given. Apologies had been received from Cllrs Mrs Whittaker and Mrs Graham.  Cllr Roe proposed that the reasons for absence should be accepted.  Motion seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously resolved on a show of hands.  In the absence of the Chair Cllr Mrs Whittaker and the Vice Chair Cllr Mrs Graham, Cllr Driffill proposed that Cllr Rowson should chair the meeting.  The motion was seconded by Cllr Roe and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that Cllr Rowson should Chair the meeting.  Cllr Rowson welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

Apologies for absence were also received from the Police Beat Team, and Cllr M Thompson (LCC). 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.        

3. To receive County and District Councillors reports.  Written reports from Cllr Thompson LCC and Cllr Overton NKDC/LCC had been circulated to members and were noted.   There were no questions arising from the reports.  

Cllr Green apologised that she had not been able to produce a written report due to IT problems. She reported that there were still some District and Parish Council Election briefings due to take place and places could be booked by emailing the Corporate and Civic Teams.  All election packs can be downloaded and printed from the NKDC website.  There is also Voter ID information on the website and information on becoming a councillor.

Members unanimously approved North Kesteven District Council’s NK Plan 2023-26 last week at full Council, on Thursday 2 March. The plan maps specific actions for the Council, working together with its partners, to help ensure a positive future for the District and communities which can keep flourishing.

North Kesteven is committed to bringing empty homes back into use. It is necessary to ensure that homes do not remain empty unnecessarily and fall into misuse and dereliction.  Owners of long term empty homes will be subject to 4 times higher council tax on their empty property.

Tickets are available online for the North Kesteven Community Lottery, which offers the chance to win a £25,000 jackpot and help local good causes.  Good causes are encouraged to register for free as a beneficiary of the lottery.  To be eligible, good causes must operate within North Kesteven and be a charity, group with a constitution or set of rules, or a community interest company. They cannot be individuals, religious or political, or be profit-making.                            
Cllr Roe reported that he had spoken in support of the PCSOs and raised concerns with Chief Inspector John Field about Neighbourhood Policing and the impact of reducing the number of PCSOs.  

Cllr Overton reported that Voter ID could include photographic ID such as passports, driving licences which are current or out of date.  She advised that comments about the negative impact the reduction in the number of PCSOs would result in had been taken back to District and County Council and letters had been written to Ministers and the Chief Constable. The council’s budget for 2023-24 was formally approved by the full council at their meeting on Friday 17 February.  The final budget included the addition of £8.7m to the development fund. The money for this will be drawn from the council’s reserves, and it will be used for projects that benefit communities.

There was also an additional £7m for road maintenance, meaning the highways budget for 2023/24 has now risen to around £93m.  Council tax will rise by 4.99% in total (this includes a 2% rise for adult care). However, Lincolnshire will still have one of the lowest council tax rates in the country. Despite the rise in council tax, and additional government funding, the council will still need to use a further £7.5m from its reserves to balance the books, based on current projections. Cllrs Overton and Green left the meeting at this point as they had other meetings to attend. 

4. To receive the Police Report.  The monthly police report had been circulated to all members of Council in advance of this meeting and was noted. 

5. North Kesteven District Elections (Parish & Town Council) Thurs 4th May 2023. 

a) Letter from NKDC detailing Electoral Commission Guidance, NKDC Electoral Boundary Changes & Voter ID.  Noted

b) To note the Pre-Election Period 16th March – 4th May 10pm & Specific restrictions on Communication & activity for the duration of that period.  Noted

6.To resolve to adopt the clerk’s notes of the meeting of 8th February 2023 as the minutes of that meeting. Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the Clerk’s notes should be adopted as a true record of that meeting. Chairman signed the minutes

7. Finance. 

a) To resolve to approve the payment of accounts for March 2023. Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the payment of accounts should be approved.     

8.Highways matters:-   

a) Speed Indicator Device report from Cllr Roe. There was no report for this evening.

b) Outstanding/new highways faults requiring urgent attention. There were no new matters to report.The ongoing problem with flooding at Beck Lane remains.  Clerk to update on Fix My Street

9. Bus Shelter Newark Road, South Hykeham update.  

Quotes to be sought for the demolition and removal of the old shelter and reinstatement of the plinth/should be deferred to a later meeting when the quotes for the Coronation of King Charles III and Elizabeth II are considered as there may be new plinths required for the seats.  Defer to future   meeting/agenda item for all potential minor building works relating to the proposals  

10. 10 Year Strategy Working Party Report. 

a) Update on the request for NK and Sir Robert Pattinson Academies to design the village history boards.  The Headteacher John Richardson had reported that he had received confirmation from NK Academy that they were looking into the project and may be able to assist.

b) To consider activities/initiatives to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.  After much discussion it was agreed that the Council would not host an event but might take part in some other activities hosted by other village organizations.

c) To consider the quotes for the purchase of an Elizabeth II and a King Charles III Coronation village seat for installation at Newark Road area and one at the old part of South Hykeham Village.  Proposed Cllr Rowson, seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously approved on a show of hands that the 2 benches quoted by Rolls and Scrolls should be purchased with the Elizabeth II bench to be to replace the bench at Pump Hill and the Coronation bench to be installed at a suitable location on Newark Road in the vicinity of Thorpe Lane. Clerk to place order

d)  To agree the use of CIL money for purchase of the 2 new Village seats. The Clerk reported that Michelle Hoyle had advised that the CIL money could be used for the purchase of the seats.  Proposed Cllr Rowson, seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously approved on a show of hands that the benches purchase and installation costs should be met from the CIL ringfenced funds.

11. Planning matters

a)To consider NKDC planning applications received and respond by deadline. 

b)Tree Preservation Orders

23/0161/TPO    12 Fox Covert    T1/T2 Oak – crown reduce by 1.5m.  Agreed to accept the decision of the NKDC Tree Officer.  Clerk to send response to Tree Officer

c) To note NKDC/LCC planning decisions.  None

12. Litterpicking

a) To confirm the arrangements for the Great British Spring Clean event on Saturday 18th March 2023.

Details confirmed as being the usual procedure with assembly at Beechcroft commencing at 10.30am until midday.  Clerk to publicise

b) To confirm hotspot areas and agree a schedule of areas to be attended to.  Agreed to decide on the day and depending on number of volunteers attending.

13. To consider the letter from Citizen Advice Bureau Mid Lincs requesting a Donation.  Proposed Cllr Mrs Dillon, seconded by Cllr Rowson that £100 should be donated to the CAB Mid Lincs.  The motion was carried on a vote of 3 in favour and 2 against.  Clerk to advise CAB Mid Lincs/make payment

14. Correspondence.

a) Letter from RAF Waddington advising of Exercise COBRA WARRIOR 23-1 from 20th Feb to 31st March 2023. Noted

15. Community Awards update. Letters sent to schools and village organizations.  Placed on website and in Witham Herald inviting nominations.  Closing date 22nd March 2023.  Agenda item for April

16. Chairman’s report.    No report

17. Clerk’s report. No report

18. Parish Councillors’ reports –information only/items requiring a decision will appear on a future agenda. 

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 discuss under this item.

Date and Time of Next meetings: –

Annual Parish meeting Wednesday 12th April 2023 6.30pm
April Full Parish Council Meeting Weds 12th April 2023 7.00pm   

There being no further competent business the meeting closed at 8.12pm.