April 2022 Minutes
STUBTON PARISH COUNCIL
Members
Martin Davis - Chair
Rick Crooks - Councillor
Andrew Smith -Councillor
Joe Scaffarczyk – Councillor
Guy Pollard – Councillor
Jenny Taylor - Clerk
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 21st April 2022
All councillors and Clerk present (Plus 12 residents)
1. Introduction and announcement from the chair
The chair welcomed everyone. Cllr Davis informed the council that the meeting is being record for accuracy.
2. Apologies for Absence.
SKDC Penny Milnes sent her apologies
3. Declaration of interest.
None
4. Election of Officers for the year 2022-23
The Chair stepped down as Chair and advised councilors that he did not seek re-election.. There is currently no Vice Chair. Cllr Schaffarczyk proposed Cllr Crooks as Chair. Cllr Smith seconded.
A was vote was taken and councilors unanimously supported the proposal. Cllr Crooks noted that he would be happy to accept but noted that he does not have the length of residency in the village as previous chairs. However he will be prepared to do his best and would call upon more knowledgeable resources when necessary. Cllr Davis offered his support in any circumstances.
Cllr Scaharczyk proposed Cllr Smith as Vice Chair. Cllr Pollard seconded. A vote was taken and unanimously supported the proposal.
5. Open forum
A resident asked the Parish Council to explain their policy re meetings and extraordinary meetings about planning and whether the council considered it fair to meet and discuss some issues but not others. The Chair did say that he is keen that this should be discussed at a future meeting and a policy statement be available to the public. Parishioners will be aware of planning applications in and around the village because of their potential impact on the village.
A resident requested that the standing orders and code of conduct at present held by the council should be more detailed and stated that the council should be discussing the planning applications as well. The Chair agreed but noted that not all planning application are within our ability to comment. The standing orders are relatively new to this parish council and are still being developed.
ACTION:- A motion to adopt updated standing orders to be tabled at a future meeting.
6. Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 13th January 2022 to be agreed and approved.
These were proposed by Cllr Smith and seconded by Cllr Crooks and carried, as a true and accurate record, and signed by the Chair.
7. Planning application and appeals –
7.1 S20/0098 Continuation of use of shooting ground, Brandon Clay Shooting 01/04/2022… additional to the Noise Management Plan 07/02/2022
The Chair advised that this is a complex issue which we have received before and commented upon previously in terms that it has not meeting the nature of the Neighbourhood Plan. In view of the time frame for comment passed prior to the next Council meeting, the Councillors decided to submit to SMDC a reiteration of our prior submission as a strong objection as folows:-
”We strive as a village to maintain the ethos of Stubton Neighbourhood Plan and for thsi rreason the above application is strongly objected by the Parish Council. The peace, quiet and tranquility enjoyed in our village, the care with protecting greenspace and respect for nature are key to our residents’ aims. Noise pollution from an increase in shooting days from 50 to 150 plus an increase in footfall of shooters would greatly compromise our Community Policies set within the Stubton Neighbourhood Plan. We repeat that we strongly object to thsi application!” Fenton parish meeting has undertaken a great deal of work on this issue and their detailed knowledge assisted our commentary.
7.2 S22/0655 Erection of a single storey double garage to the front of the dwelling: 8 Claypole Road – The Councillors agreed no comments
7.3 S21/1333 Planning Appeal Home Farm Cottage, Fenton Road APP/E2530/W/21/3289681 – The Chair advised that this is in relation to a section 73 application to revise a previously approved application. The appeal is to the refusal of SKDC to add a second storey to the garage. Parish Council’s prior comment was neutral. The Council note that an agreement is in place in relation to the potential impact of the development on the solar panels of the Village Hall which was a prior concern. No further comment by councilors.
8. Update by Cllr Alexander Maughan for Lincolnshire County Council –
• He thanked residents for the highest turnout at meetings, their support and interest in issues across the county.
• Crisis in Ukraine is supported by residents of Stubton offering homes to refugees; Lincolnshire Fire rescue have donated equipment to the Ukrainian fire service.
• County Council continues to support local businesses on our Lincolnshire East Coast; grants to help businesses to go digital. The new Beach Hut Café at Huttoft (Boat Café) developed by the County Council and now rented out to local businesses.
• County Council budget been cut. £12m /25% of budget deduction from highways so to continue the maintenance of roads and an acceptable level of service, the council tax increase of 3% for adult social care precept and 2% general tax has been necessary to support this. The challenge is to work effectively with the present resources. Cllr Maughan remains committed to repair roads so encourages residents to file requests on ‘FIXMYSTREET’ and get report numbers to email to him which will be chased up in a reasonable time scale. 2025 – Clensey Lane and Doddington lane proposed full reconstruction but strong emphasis on recording complaints on FIXMYSTREET. Every request is listed and assessed on the basis of reports.
• A1 road safety – a concern that there should be improvement eg Tollbar approach road at Marston like a T-junction onto a dual carriageway so very dangerous. However there is no budget for slip road improvement – limited to lining and signage in their programme of safety works and at the moment the only allocated work between Grantham and Newark except for a new sign on a sharp bend on a slip road there. Cllr Maughan has met with local MP Caroline Johnson at Tollbar Road. She agrees this should be followed up and has met with government ministers of the Department of Transport.
• Traveler sites – A resident raised the site at Beckingham which is North Kesteven. In South Kesteven there is an issue between Grantham and Newark re ‘Popup Sites’. Sites have appeared without planning permission then retrospective plans being submitted. South Kesteven decided not to allocate any traveler sites and hence when planning officers find it difficult to refuse them despite how inappropriate those developments might be in some locations. Cllr Maughan felt that there needs to be a policy change to deal with this and make it fairer.
Question – a resident asked about the recurring fire at Fen Lane, Long Bennington.
Cllr Maughan says that it has now been extinguished. Material was spread and fire put out with a mixture of water and foam. The Environment agency is continuing to carry out the legal processes against the operator and the landowner but no details are being divulged by the environment agency. There is a concern that there is a now a thin layer of dry waste material that needs to be addressed asap after the court proceedings have been concluded. The resident commented that the decision to burn out the fire was causing a strong threat of pollution to the atmosphere and was there a policy that this should not be done again? Cllr Maughan stated that with a fire of that size and that type there is a joint approach by SKDC, the fire and rescue and the Environment Agency. Cllr Maughan had a reservation about this because of the proximity to residential property and wind direction. Environment Agency was blocking the use of water because of pollution into water sources. They also did an air quality measure and were not concerned. The cause of the fire was unknown. The aim of the Environment Agency prosecution is to recover costs and force the landowners to clear the site. This is one of a long list of this National organization which is not accountable to anybody locally.
Question - A resident asked Cllr Maughan why the management of settling Ukrainian refugees in the area was very slow, with some actions having been missed and help and support is inaccessible. Similar councils have dealt with this crisis more efficiently. Newark and Sherwood has supplied a caseworker, a support network and given £200 cash rather than voucher which in the opinion of the resident are less flexible to spend. Cllr Maughan apologized to the resident for the failings of Lincolnshire Council and explained that there may have been an accountability issue between the two authorities, LCC and SKDC, which he said was not an excuse. He offered to chase the issue up if the resident emailed him with details of who the resident has spoken to and the problems encountered.
Cllr Crooks mentioned Doddington Lane – there are now 2 ‘bend’ signs on obvious bends. But these are useful for the 30 signs erected by the CATTS Speed calming group.
A resident raised the problem of fly tipping on Fenton Lane. Cllr Maughan advised the resident to report any concerns on the SKDC website. SKDC will not accept reports on FIXMYSTREET which in parallel do not deal with littering.
9. Financial update (APPENDIX 1)
9.1 Payment requiring approval - None
9.2 Payments since last meeting – BKVC village sign paid £146.10
9.3 Current financial situation. (Appendix 1)
Start of year 2021/2 = £4386.49
Balance = £2836.83
Total expenditure 2021/2 = £1549.66
Precept for 2022/3 will be £1400.
9.4 The AGAR has been completed signed of by J.Bratton. This includes the Annual internal Audit report, details of accounts, bank statements and receipts for the year, a notice of public rights and accountability and a Certificate of Exemption. A copy of the AGAR will be sent to each councilor to check but this has already been checked by our accountant and should be signed by the Chair and uploaded onto the parish council website for public viewing before 2nd June.
The Clerk suggested an agenda item next meeting to change banks from TSB to make it possible to use online banking. Agreed by the Council.
ACTION:- Clerk to draft motion for next meeting
10. Community matters
10.1 Council Spend.
• Village hall sign £146.10;
• Planting £100;
• Gift to Save the Children £50;
• Purchase of Ukraine flag £6.89
ALL PAID
10.2 Update from Community Speed Sub-committee (CATTS) – Alex Kirk is now Chair
• Bin stickers are now available and are being used by householders along the main roads . There are 4 per household. Very slow uptake but going to advertise on the Stubton Facebook page to get more to join in.
• 30 mph speed signs have been secured on posts around the village
Stringent policies are in place to manage the committee’s work.
• Application for horse signs rejected on the grounds that there have been no accidents with horses. There are a number that go through the village and there is a need to improve safety for them.
• The group wants to fund raise to move forward with some of the actions. Trying to secure funds through donations and grants.
• Two areas to focus on: Painted roads; Vehicle activated signs.
• Three main aims: Litter; ANPR; Speeding through the village.
• The Committee wants to similarly confront the issue of fly tipping, traffic movement.
• CATTS needs a bank account
• The group has two community initiatives in mind and will invite Cllr Maughan to their next meeting.
10.3. Update on renovation of telephone box housing the defibrillator
Cllr Davis has been in touch with the contractor who gave the accepted quote of £400 but he has stopped doing that sort of work. Cllr Davis suggested Chris Husdon to complete the job. Voted unanimously.
ACTION: Clerk to contact Chris Hudson
10.4. Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Update - Cllr Davis on the Hub Jubilee Committee’s plans .
• Chair of PC to be asked to officiate the toast. The Chair accepted.
• Hub can obtained some cones for St Martin’s Close. On
• Thursday beacons will be lit across the country but Stubton will not be replicating this.
• Saturday, 5K walk/cycle/run followed by afternoon events from 2pm at The Garth. There will be various activities at The Garth.
• Sunday street party 1400-16.00 at St Martin’s Close. Village stocks for the Chair of the PC
• Cllr Smith contacted nearby parishes to see if they wished to share entertainment but there appeared to be little possibility of this because others parishes had already made their arrangements but at a cost we could investigate the Newark Town Band.
• Volunteers are needed for the event and requests for this would be put out by email, leaflet and noticeboard. Bunting and decorations erected by Hub at St Martin’s Close. Just a few balloons are needed by the gates of The Garth but no further decorations are needed. Volunteers are needed for donations of cakes/savouries.
• £2 entry for raffle and Air Ambulance Charity. Hub is to provide the toast.
• Tickets to be reserved by 19th May to get an idea of numbers.
• Union flag to be raised every day with timings from the palace in accordance with any direction because this is a civic function.
• The Hub will buy condiments and salad items to go with the Hog Roast and vegetarian items. Details of any other food required is to be brought by residents. Poor weather. Large gazebo. Prizes are need for the quiz. Cakes/biscuits/scones needed to be donated. Prizes and children’s sweets are needed.
• Next meeting Thursday 19th May 7pm.
A resident suggested that Mr John Rose be approached to do the toast.
ACTION: Chair to discuss with Mr Rose
10.5 Village Sign - survey was distributed to all households (APPENDIX 3)
The Survey was reported at the last meeting. There have been no further response.
28% Painted sign
20% Pedestal information sign
20% Carved wooden painted sign
32% laser cut Metal sign
The Chair proposed that a license be obtained for positioning the sign on LCC land prior ro further action. Agreed.
ACTION: Clerk to email Highways for Permission to erect the sign. Ask for a Structures License
11.0 Date and time of next meeting.
Next meeting 15th June 2022 at 19.30 at Stubton Village Hall