2023-24 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

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

Minutes of the March meeting of South Hykeham Parish Council held on Wednesday 13th March  2024 at 7.00pm at South Hykeham Community Primary School, Wath Lane.

Present: Councillors Mrs P Whittaker (Chairman), D Rowson (Vice Chair), Mrs Graham, P Driffill, S Roe.

In attendance:), Cllr Overton (NKDC/LCC).

Public Forum: There was no Public Forum as there were no members of the public present.

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed those present.

1. To receive apologies for absence and to resolve to accept the reasons given.  Cllrs N Southam & Mrs Dillon-Jones had sent their apologies.  Cllr Rowson proposed, seconded by Cllr Driffill and resolved on a show of hands with 2 abstentions from the vote that the reasons for absence should be accepted. 

The Police Beat Team and Councillor Lofts (NKDC) and Councillor Briggs (LCC) had also given their apologies which were noted. Reverend Collins and John Richardson the Headteacher had each been present at the 10 Year Strategy Meeting earlier but had given their apologies for this meeting as they had other business to attend to.

2. To resolve to receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider members’ written dispensation requests. Cllrs Mrs Whittaker and Cllr Driffill each declared a personal interest in item 7(a) Community Award as they are trustees of the Village Hall. 

3. To receive County and District Councillors’ reports – for information only. Items raised for any decisions will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.

Cllr Overton had sent a written newsletter, the content of which was noted by members of Council. 

Cllr Overton also reported on the situation regarding the Devolution Deal and the bid that has to be submitted for the £24 million. We are already getting an extra £30 million from the cancelled HS2 project. 

LCC will progress the route towards devolution despite strong opposition to the proposals particularly that of the role of the elected Mayor.  The findings of the consultation will be published in due course.
 
Cllr Roe reported that extra money has been secured for Highways, Flood Prevention, Children’s Care and Social Care.  The Council has a statutory responsibility for Anti-Social Behaviour prevention and the way offending youths are dealt with.  £1 million has been secured to help with that.

He has attended an online Police meeting at North Kesteven and advised that our Local Beat Team is still committed to local policing. 

There were no other reports to consider.

4. To receive the Police report. In the absence of a representative from the Police Beat Team there was no report.

5. To resolve to adopt the Clerk’s notes of the meeting held on 14th February 2024 as the minutes of that meeting. Proposed by Cllr Rowson, seconded by Cllr Mrs Graham and unanimously resolved on a show of hands that the Clerk’s notes were adopted as a true record of that meeting.  The Chairman signed the minutes.

6. Finance.  

a) To resolve to approve the payment of accounts for March 2024.    

Cllr Rowson proposed, seconded by Cllr Mrs Graham that council should resolve to approve the payment of accounts for March 2024 which had been circulated to all members.  The motion was unanimously resolved on a show of hands.

b) To consider applications for grants and donations 2023/24. No applications received.

c)To resolve to renew the annual subscription to the Website Maintenance Service 2024-25.

Proposed Cllr Mrs Graham, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously approved on a show of hands that the 20 hours of work at £360 plus VAT should be purchased by the Parish Council.

7. Community Awards 2023/24.

a) To consider the Community Award nominations and approve this year’s successful recipient.

Cllrs Mrs Whittaker and Cllr Driffill had declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the discussion or vote.  The Trustees of South Hykeham Village Hall had been nominated for their commitment to keeping the facility in good repair and in promoting the use of the Hall to everyone.  The trustees give up many hours of their time voluntarily to ensure the facility is an asset to the parish and a safe and pleasant venue where many social activities take place and several regular bookings are secured.

Cllr Mrs Graham proposed that the Trustees should be the successful recipients of this year’s Community Award.  Cllr Rowson seconded the motion that was approved on a show of hands by those members without a personal or prejudicial interest. Cllrs Mrs Whittaker and Cllr Driffill took no part in the discussion or vote having declared a personal interest.

b) To consider the Achievement Award nominations and approve this year’s successful recipient.

South Hykeham Primary School Council had been nominated as worthy recipients of the Achievement Award for their outstanding commitment to supporting its fellow pupils, teaching staff and the school administration.  They are democratically elected and represent the school at outside events and are outstanding ambassadors and role models to their fellow pupils.  Cllr Mrs Whittaker proposed that they should be the successful recipients of this year’s Achievement Award.  Cllr Rowson seconded the motion that was unanimously approved on a show of hands. Clerk to write to successful nominees/prepare and frame certificates/get the trophies engraved/purchase a gift token for each organisation 

8. Annual Parish Meeting Weds 10th April 2024 6.30pm final arrangements to be confirmed. All matters are in hand.  The Headteacher has offered the large hall for the meeting. 

9. Litterpicking report. It had been a successful litterpick with a few more volunteers coming forward to assist.   There had been some flytipping which was reported and 11 bags of waste had been collected from various locations including Beechcroft Woods.  The next date is Saturday 8th June 2024 10.30am to midday.

10.Highways matters:-   a) Speed Indicator Device report from Cllr Roe. Cllr Roe had produced a report for this evening which had been circulated to all members.  He advised that Boundary Lane is to be resurfaced next year.  The next location for the device is Long Lane and he had installed it there this evening.

b) Outstanding/new highways faults requiring urgent attention. Nothing new to report.

c) Update on the works currently in progress to resolve the ongoing flooding issues at Beck Lane. It would appear that the repairs that have been carried out have been successful.

d) LCC email seeking help to identify suitable electric vehicle charging points for residents with no off street parking & the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund(LEVI) to deliver infrastructure needed by residents.  No further suggestions to be submitted.

e) LCC email seeking suggestions of infrastructure improvements to help residents travel more sustainably.  No further suggestions to be submitted.

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

TPO 24/0267 2 Crow Park proposals for several works to mature oaks  Proposed Cllr Rowson, seconded by Cllr Drifill and unanimously approved on a show of hands that council should agree to accept the decision of NKDC Tree Officer.

b) Planning applications dealt with under clerk’s delegated powers due to deadlines for response N/A 

c) Planning appeal - 22/0925/OUT Fern Bank 12 Thorpe Lane South Hykeham.  Noted

23/0475/FUL Land to rear of 18 Thorpe Lane,  one dwelling – Decision/Refusal  

d) To consider LCC planning applications received and respond by deadline.

PL/0021/24 FORMATION OF ANCILLARY OPEN STORAGE AREA FOR SKIPS, NEW EARTH SOLUTIONS (WEST) LTD, BUILDING NO.3, ROE HOUSE, BOUNDARY LANE, S HYKEHAM   Cllr Roe declared an interest and left the room whilst this matter was discussed.  Proposed Cllr Rowson, seconded by Cllr Driffill and unanimously approved on a show of hands that Council had:-   No objections or comments.

Cllr Roe returned to the room having taken no part in the discussion or vote.

12. Hykeham Joint Neighbourhood Plan update

a) Schedule of meeting dates/proposed timeline for community engagement events and publicity. No information available.

b) Financial Report on grant funding application NPG-13797-Basic Grant.  Grant funding has been secured for the first phase and is for facilitating consultation events/publicity and payment to the consultant. Any money unspent by the end of March must be returned to Groundforce as per the terms of the grant application.  Noted

c) Report from meeting of HNP review Steering Group held on Mon 19th Feb 2024.  Next meeting is scheduled for 18th March and Anne-Marie Tasker will be in attendance from NKDC. Noted

d) To identify any further green spaces to be designated as Local Green Spaces other than those already identified in the current Neighbourhood Plan or the CLLP.  Cllrs Mrs Whittaker and Rowson have had a walk around South Hykeham and have identified areas to be included.

13. Report from 10 Year Strategy Working Party meeting of this evening. 

a) To consider suggestions for events to mark the D-Day 80 celebrations on 6th June 2024.  There will be an assembly in the church at 1.30pm on 6th June.  The party will then move to the Memorial Bench and there will be another service of dedication there which will finish at 2.15pm with refreshments supplied by the Parish Council in the church afterwards.  The school children will be taking part, and the Clerk will send out invitations to the usual guests for the Remembrance Service.  Proposed Cllr Roe, seconded by Cllr Rowson and unanimously approved on a show of hands that the service should be supported financially to the sum of £200 by the Parish Council with a wreath to be purchased. Clerk to arrange 

b) To consider the proposal from McDonalds to take over the defibrillator they donated to S Hykeham.   Proposed Cllr Mrs Whittaker, seconded by Cllr Rowson that the defibrillation should be taken over by Mc Donalds.  Unanimously approved on a show of hands.  Clerk to confirm

14. To approve Councillor/Clerk’s training nominations.  None

15. Correspondence.  None

a) Email from NKDC inviting comment on the NK Plan 2024-27.  No comments

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. No matters to report

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.  No items to be dealt with under this heading.

Date and Time of Next meetings: –

Annual Parish Meeting Weds 10th April 2024 6.30pm
April Full Parish Council Meeting Weds 10th April 2024 7.00pm   

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.15pm.