Minutes of Meeting 3 March 2025
Present: Councillors: Richard Burbidge, Charles Henriques (Presiding), and Paul Smith
Residents: Gene Plews
Others: Bernard Champness – Clerk,
Open Forum
Gene Plews wanted to mention the rubbish problem beside the road from the pub down to the crossroads, apparently being thrown out of cars, and he has been out cleaning up the mess. He had approached South Kesteven District Council to see if the road cleaner could come out and they agreed that this would happen. There was also a problem of fly tipping at the nature reserve to the west of the village. The other matter was the village stocks which seem to be in need of repair. He understood that they might be owned by South Kesteven District Council. It was explained to him that the land is not registered so responsibility for them remains unclear. Richard Burbidge said that he had an appointment with our local MP to discuss litter/fly tipping when she visits the village next week. Mr Plews asked if there was any chance of the footpaths leading up the hill being resurfaced. Cllr Burbidge explained what we had done to date about this matter. He also asked about the state of the footpath from the village to the crossroads. Work was needed to make the path safe. He was advised on what steps we had taken to have this work undertaken and was told that he could make his own complaint using FixMyStreet
The meeting was formally opened at 19.13
63. Apologies for absence, acceptance of Apologies
63.1 Dave Haydon had sent his apologies (personal) Resolved that the apologies be accepted.. District Cllr Penny Robins had sent her apologies
64. Declaration of Interest – To receive Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests, as set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 and the nature of those interests relating to any Agenda item
64.1 No one declared an interest in any matter that was on the agenda.
65. Minutes of the last meeting held on the 4th November 2024 (24-04)
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65.1 Resolved: That the minutes of the Meeting held on the 4th November 2024 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
66. Matters to Report
66.1 There were no matters to report.
67. To Co-opt a Councillor
67.1 No one was present to be co-opted so it was agreed we would leave this matter to the next meeting.
68. To receive a report from the County and District Councillors.
68.1 County Cllr Charlotte Vernon was not present and did not send a report.
68.2 District Cllr Penny Robins had sent her apologies and the report which follows.
1. Firstly, may I congratulate Rasell’s Nurseries Little Bytham, in picking up the best Garden Centre at the Rutland and Stamford’s Favourite Independent Business Awards. Also winning a category for best Butchers was Mill Farm in Manthorpe and the final award representing Glen Ward went to the Bytham Community Shop in Castle Bytham who secured the runner up spot. What talented people I have the pleasure to be representing. I wish all of them further success from all the positive publicity. Well done to every entrant.
2. On a District level.
South Kesteven Conservatives did not support rising council tax by the maximum allowed under government guidance and increasing social housing rents by 2.7% next financial year. South Kesteven administration approved maximum increases in council tax and above inflation increases in fees / charges.
Plans to roll out Food Waste across the district were confirmed and should start in April 2026. South Kesteven Conservatives argued against starting a food waste program on Easter weekend after the chaos of the purple bin roll out in 2024.
Multiple censure notices for breaches in the council code of conduct for bringing the council into disrepute were published against the chair of Governance and Audit and one other member of the administration who remain in post.
Conservatives proposed and secured support for a boost to the flood alleviation reserve by £100,000.
The South Kesteven Administration proposed breaking up Lincolnshire by suggesting a devolved authority of Rutland, Melton, South Kesteven and South Holland. The Conservatives argued that this would result in significant increases in costs and would not be allowed by the government devolution framework. Conservatives would work for whatever is best for the residents.
The 2 year Conservative Party campaign to get South Kesteven to collect litter on the A1 verges (which is the responsibility of SKDC) supported by Alecia Kearns MP yielded results after the council agreed to start collection in March.
Fees and charges were sent out for consultation with most charges rising by inflation. Green Bin charges will increase above inflation by £2 per bin to increase from the next financial year.
69. Clerks Report and Correspondence received.
69.1 The Clerk had circulated in advance notice of the various e-mails received since the last meeting. If anyone wanted to see any e-mails they should let him know and he would send it on.
70. Planning applications:
70.1 Planning Applications to Approve: there were no plans to consider or approve at the time the agenda was posted but another application has been received:
S25/0284 - proposal: Section 211 notice to raise crowns of 4 Yew trees (T1 - T4) to 2 meters over the graveyard and 2.5-3 meters over the car park and village green as well as removing Cherry tree (T5) at St Andrews Church, Main Street, Witham On The Hill. We have until the 14 March to respond. The Clerk explained that we could call a special meeting if anyone considered the application contentious or they could give the Clerk delegated authority to respond. It was agreed that the Clerk be given delegated authority to respond. Having considered the application it was resolved that there were no objections.
70.2 Planning Applications approved: S24/1907 - Proposal: Section 211 notice to fell T1 oak tree to ground level at Somersby House Main Street
After the agenda was posted another notification was received:
S25/0039 - Proposal: Demolition of detached garage block and shed and provision of a
detached 2-bay car port and a detached car port / storeroom at Cleeve Acre Bottom Street
70.3 To note any Planning Applications refused or withdrawn: none to note
70.4 To note any Application appealed or any decision made regarding an appeal: none to note
71. To receive any data from the reactive sign
71.1 Cllr Smith said that he needed to recharge the battery before he could download the data, but he would do this shortly.
72. To agree a date for the Annual Parish Meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council
72.1 The Clerk explained that we usually held both meetings on the same evening and he wondered if we do the same this year. It was agreed that both meeting be held on the same evening of Monday 12 May as the earlier Monday was a Bank Holiday. The Annual Parish meeting would start at 7 p.m. and the Annual meeting of the Parish Council would start at 7.30 p.m.
73. To agree a diary of dates for 2025-26
73.1 The Clerk explained that we needed to agree diary dates for future meetings given the need to book the hall and for residents to know when they would take place. It was agreed as follows:
12 May 2025
7 July 2025
22 September 2025
3 November 2025
5 January 2026
2 March 2026
74. To discuss the Bottom Street repairs and the dangerous tree
74.1 Cllr Henriques said that he had still not heard further from Mike Brown, and he would chase him up. He understood that they would come back to complete the resurfacing works and tidy up the mess that was left next to the Bywells.
The dangerous tree was reported to Highways over 12 months ago and this work has only recently been actioned. Although only one bough was in a dangerous state it was decided that the whole tree should be removed in order to avoid the risk of further remedial work becoming necessary in the future. Cllr Henriques spoke directly with the LCC tree officer to challenge this decision on the grounds it was unnecessary to take such drastic measures but without effect.
75. To discuss the safety of The Stocks
75.1 Cllr Burbidge has reported an approach by a resident, who was concerned that The Stocks looked to be in a dangerous state. The roof supports looked as if they were leaning and there were a lot of loose tiles. The Clerk contacted Cllr Robins to see if she could intervene and ask someone at South Kesteven District Council to inspect the Stocks and decide if they were a danger to people visiting them. This prompted a lady named Emma to telephone the Clerk and ask who owned the Stocks. She had made a search of the Land Registry which confirmed that the ownership was not immediately clear. The Clerk explained that the council had for a long time now tried to ascertain ownership by reference to our own records but had not been able to resolve the issue. The Stocks have since been inspected, and although they were deemed not to be in a dangerous condition, work was nevertheless needed. South Kesteven District Council had therefore taken action to stop people from getting too close to the Stocks in the meantime as a precaution. The Clerk was asked to write to District Cllr Penny Robins to ask if she could intervene and find out what South Kesteven District Council were proposing to do as the Stocks are a listed structure.
76. To discuss the telephone kiosk in Bottom Street
76.1 A notice had been placed by BT on the telephone kiosk stating that it would be removed. Cllr Burbidge had contacted them to say it was a listed building and therefore could not be removed. BT responded and confirmed that it was, and therefore they would only remove the telephone. The kiosk needs repainting and tidying up, although it was understood BT would secure it so internal access would not be possible.
77. To discuss the problem of moles on The Green
77.1 The moles have devastated The Green and it was now an eyesore and potentially hazardous. The Clerk was once again to write to Cllr Robins and ask her to try and persuade South Kesteven District Council to eradicate the moles. Cllr Burbidge would take photographs showing the mess that the moles had made of The Green so they could be sent to Cllr Robins to show that to all intents any recreational activities are now impeded.
78. To confirm Expenditure
£375.80 _ B M Champness (salary Jan Feb and Mar)
£94.00 – HMRC (PAYE)
£90.00 – D Thornburn (fee for processing payroll)
£120.00 – St Andrew Parish Hall Management Committee (hall hire fees)
[ ]denotes those payments paid between meetings, which have been approved by the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Parish Council or at a previous meeting but not listed
Payments made by Direct Debit - £
78 1 Resolved: That the payments be approved and the cheques signed, .
79. Any other business – Reminder – by law no decision can be made under this item only information exchanged.
79.1 Cllr Burbidge said that he has been approached about the minutes not being in the Three Towers magazine. Cllr Henriques said that he would undertake this task. There being no other business the meeting was formally closed at 20.07
80. The date of the next meeting – to be held on Monday 12 May 2025 being the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.00 p.m. and at 7.30 the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council at St Andrew’s Parish Hall, Witham on the Hill