Minutes of Meeting 4 November 2024
Present: Councillors: Richard Burbidge, Charles Henriques, (Presiding) Susan Pennant-Jones and
Paul Smith,
Residents: Dave Haydon and Valentino Calabrese
Others: Bernard Champness – Clerk, District Cllr Penny Robins.
Open Forum
Mr Calabrese wanted to address the council about two things. The first was about the telephone kiosk on the Green needed painting and he was happy to undertake that task. He wanted to know if he had permission to do so. He was told that we needed to find out who owned the kiosk as it might be BT or taken over by a charity. The Clerk was to try and ascertain who owned it before the work was undertaken. The other matter related to the footpath from the village to the A 6121 which was badly in need of work being carried out to it. He was advised that this was already in hand and the Council were anxious for the work to be undertaken.
Mr Haydon also wanted to raise two matters. He wanted to know who administered the website as he felt that it needed modernising. He was advised this was done by the Clerk. He said that he had years of IT experience and would be willing to assist wherever he could. The other matter was the need to replace the dead laurel bushes that had been planted by LCC in front of the bungalows at East Green. They had been planted to screen the bungalows, but many had died. Cllr Robins said that she would make enquiries to see if the Council could replace them and report back to us
The meeting was formally opened at 19.14
47. Apologies for absence, acceptance of Apologies
47.1 All Councillors were present and there were no apologies.
48. 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
48.1 No one declared an interest in any matter that was on the agenda.
49. Minutes of the last meeting held on the 16th September 2024 (24-03)
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49.1 Resolved: That the minutes of the Meeting held on the 16th September 2024 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
50. Matters to Report
50.1 • The state of the Stocks is getting worse, and work needs to be carried out. Cllr Henriques pointed out that ownership of them was still unknown and we did not want to start work on them as we might be considered to be responsible for them. He accepted that work might need to be undertaken, and he was happy to prepare a specification of work with costs for the work attached. Cllr Robins said that she was happy to talk to the right department at South Kesteven District Council to see if they could come out and comment on whether or not they were in a dangerous condition. This was considered a good approach, and she was thanked for her help.
51. To Co-opt a Councillor
51.1 David Haydon was present as he wanted to be considered as a suitable candidate for Co-option. He was well known to the councillors and had no questions for him although the Clerk did say that he had to ask 2 questions that were mandatory. He was asked if he was an undischarged bankrupt and if he had a criminal record.. He was able to say no to both questions. It was resolved that he be co-opted onto the council and was asked to take his seat at the table. He was then handed a declaration of acceptance of office which he completed and signed which was witnessed by the Clerk. He was also handed a register of interest form to complete and for that to be returned to the Clerk within a week.
52. To receive a report from the County and District Councillors.
52.1 County Cllr Charlotte Vernon was not present and did not send a report.
52.2 District Cllr Penny Robins gave a report as follows: -
Alicia Kearns MP has launched a Pension Credit campaign to make sure all those who are
eligible in our community are signed up ahead of the winter months. The final deadline to
apply for Pension Credit in order to receive the Winter Fuel payment is the 21st December. It
is currently taking approximately 6/8 weeks for the DWP to process claims.
A major voids contract has been awarded for 2 years in the hope that some unused
properties can be returned to SKDC stock.
South Kesteven District Council is pleased to present its Tree Planting Guide,
designed to provide advice to town and parish councils and guide community groups
on how they can best ensure the success of local tree planting initiatives.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the 100% funded, Make Space
for Nature Biodiversity Projects Scheme, which also includes tree planting.
Following a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for Green Space
Improvement, South Kesteven District Council is looking to support town and parish-
led rewilding initiatives that will provide biodiversity and social amenity value across
the district.
The first application window closed on Monday 28th October 2024. The second
deadline is Monday 16th December 2024.
She was asked to speak to County Cllr Vernon if she had any news about the request for a weight restriction through the village.
53. Clerks Report and Correspondence received.
53.1 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.
54. Planning applications:
54.1 Planning Applications to Approve: S24/1748 - Proposal: Fibre network build that is planned to start soon around in Bourne at Lings Farm Main Street Witham on the Hill Lincolnshire PE10 0JN. The Clerk explained that he had written to the assigned planning officer to ask if we needed to discuss this matter as if we did there were no documents on the South Kesteven District Council website. She did not reply and has not replied but a notice has been received and dated 30 October 2024 stating the following: - I refer to your Part 16 Telecoms Notification received on 8th October 2024. This authority has no objection to the proposal.
As a result there was no need for any discussion on this matter
54.2 Planning Applications approved: none to note
54.3 To note any Planning Applications refused or withdrawn: none to note
54.4 To note any Application appealed or any decision made regarding an appeal: none to note
55. To receive any data from the reactive sign
55.1 Cllr Smith said that he had been away for much of last month and had not downloaded any data from the reactive sign. He would see if he could now start doing this on a monthly or on a two monthly cycle.
56. To agree the increase in the Clerks salary and for it to be back dated to 1 April 2024
56.1 Notice had been received dated 22 October 2024 that agreement had been reached on rates of pay from 1 April 2024 covering the period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The new pay rates each increased by £1290.00 per annum but if you were working part time the increase would be on a pro rata basis. This meant that the increase would be £0.67 per hour and back dated to April 2024. After the Clerk had written to the accountant asking him to run payroll for the months of October, November and December the accountant found that the Clerk had been overpaid the sum of £0.92 per hour this year. An agreement had been reached that the overpayment should be repaid in October and the corrected amount to be included in the November and December payments. Resolved: that the clerk receive the increase and for this to be back dated to 1 April 2024 which meant that he was now earning £13.05 an hour
57. To consider the draft budget for 2025-26 and agree a Precept for that year
57.1 The Clerk had prepared a budget spreadsheet showing the payments made for the first 6 months of this financial year and what he anticipated would be paid in the last 6 months of this financial year. He then calculated what he thought we should spend in 2025/26. This had been circulated in advance to all councillors. He had now prepared an updated budget and that too had been circulated in advance. The new spreadsheet was discussed in detail, It was agreed that we would leave the final decision until the next meeting in January
58. To discuss the Bottom Street repairs
58.1 Cllr Henriques wanted this matter to be on the agenda as the dealings he had had with Mike Brown had gone cold.
59. To receive an update on the control of moles on The Green
59.1 Cllr Burbidge again pointed out that the problem of moles on The Green was getting worse. District Cllr Robins said that she had taken this matter up with South Kesteven District Council and they are prepared to instruct a pest controller and pay for this. They are awaiting a quote. Cllr Robins said that once the work was done she would ensure that work is done on a regular basis. She was advised that the pest controller we used was MozzyMak who were local.
60. To confirm Expenditure
£322.76 – B M Champness (salary October, November & December)
£80.80 – HMRC (PAYE)
£270.00 – D Thornburn (payroll services for 9 months)
£20.00 – C Henriques (wreath)
£3.30 – B M Champness (postage)
[ ]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 - £
60 1 It was resolved that the payments be made.
61. Any other business – Reminder – by law no decision can be made under this item only information exchanged.
61.1 Cllr Pennant-Jones said that she was now resigning from the council after many years being on the Council. She was thanked for her time and support whilst being a Councillor.
There being no other business the meeting was formally closed at 20.21
62. The date of the next meeting – to be held on Monday 6 January 2025 at 7.00 p.m. at St Andrew’s Parish Hall, Witham on the Hill