September 2021 Minutes
Minutes of the Ingoldsby Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 1 September 2021 at 8pm in the Village Hall, Ingoldsby
Public Forum: Parishioners Helen Lewis and Carolyn Adcock were present along with County Councillor Martin Hill.
1) WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (21/036)
The Chairman, Councillor Eldred welcomed members and parishioners to the meeting and opened the public forum.
2) PRESENT (21/037)
Councillor Eldred, Chairman
Councillor Kenyon, Vice-Chairman
Councillor Weller
Councillor Ward-Barrow
Councillor Nelson
3) APOLOGIES (21/038)
a) Apologies received from District Councillor Sarah Trotter.
4) DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS (21/039)
a) No reports of pecuniary interests or applications for dispensations in relation to the agenda.
b) Councillor Eldred reported her interests in relation to the Village Hall Committee.
5) SIGNING OF THE MINUTES (21/040)
a) Members resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 July 2021 as a true and accurate record. The minutes were duly signed and dated.
6) GENERAL MATTERS (20/041)
a) County Council Matters
Councillor Hill informed the meeting that Lincolnshire County Council is going to create additional car parking space on the east side of Rosemary Rise. Mrs Lewis added that she had received written confirmation from Richard Fenwick that this will form part of the current year’s budget.
Councillor Hill added that Bitchfield Road has been surfaced dressed and expects it to be swept in due course.
b) District Council Matters
None.
c) Askey Lane
i) Maintenance
Members discussed the maintenance of Askey Lane for which the Parish Council has an annual budget of £100.00. County Councillor Hill confirmed that if the PROW application is successful, the County Council will assume responsibility for maintenance in the absence of a landowner. It should be noted that the lane is now impassable. Members discussed finances and liability pertaining to the lane. The Clerk confirmed that in the past, Yareal Farms Ltd and Mr Allen had been unwilling to provide the Parish Council with a key to the gate. In light of this, it was agreed that maintenance cannot be achieved.
ii) Statement from Mr Allen dated 14 July 2021.
Mr Allen asked that the following comments be read at the meeting.
- Mr Allen states in his email that he and his family had ‘no intention to apply jointly with Yareal Ltd which was implied in the Parish Council statement of 10 April 2021’. They feel that the Parish Council ‘mis-represented’ them in correspondence with Yareal Ltd about the subject.
- Mr Allen and his family are ‘exceedingly disappointed that the Parish Council did not believe the intentions of a villager of 30 years, who had helped and volunteered in the village and spent a great deal of time and money keeping Askey Lane beautiful’ for the village.
- In terms of the public right of way application Mr Allen and his family feel that they were ‘mis-represented around the village by a Parish Council associate’. Mr Allen reports that villagers were told that they were going to ‘block public access and erect a gate’ at the entrance to Askey Lane. Mr Allen stated that ‘nothing could be further from the truth’.
- Mr Allen goes on to state that he ‘did not erect the barrier alone. Humby Farms were responsible for the gate’. The Parish Council seemed to imply that they were however, solely responsible. ‘The gate is Humby farms responsibility, protecting their land from fly-tipping, off road vehicles and trespass’. He goes on to say that ‘at no time in the past 30 years has walking access been restricted even when the stile was in place, this is a regular footpath occurrence and does not limit accessibility’. He reiterates in his statement that, ‘we have never denied access and had no intention to do so in the future’.
- Mr Allen states in his email that the Parish Council have accused him and his family of ‘hostility’. He continues to say that ‘of course we have been upset by the Parish Council handling of the issue. It has resulted in a great deal of stress and anxiety over the last two years and has seriously affected our mental health. We have endured a barrage of threatening letters, accusations and unreasonable demands and all for wishing to maintain the status quo on the lane’ for the village. He says that he now believes to be ‘back to square one after two years of heartache’.
- Mr Allen continues to say that they ‘have never denied access to the lane’ and ‘they still continue to serve this community by giving freely our time and equipment to mow the playing field and maintaining gang mowers’ for the benefit of the public.
- Mr Allen concludes by saying that the, ‘lane is re-wilding and there has been a large increase in flora and forna especially hares, rabbits, muntjack, owls and bats. Long may it continue along with your ability to enjoy it’.
Members agreed that all parties have now submitted comments on the issue of Askey Lane. Councillor Kenyon proposed that further debate is deferred pending a decision on the PROW application. The proposal was seconded by the Chairman, Councillor Eldred and passed by resolution of the Council.
iii) Email from Mr Harden dated 5 August 2021.
Members noted that Mr Harden is unhappy with the Parish Council handling of Askey Lane.
d) Rosemary Rise Parking
Mrs Helen Lewis thanked County Councillor Hill and Mr Fenwick for their involvement in the decision to create additional car parking on Rosemary Rise. She said that it was a shame that Yvonne Bullen, who started the action is not here to see the result.
d) Archer Survey & Speeding Results
Action: Clerk to add results to the facebook page.
f) Playground
Councillor Nelson informed the meeting that Playdale, who have installed over 23,000 playgrounds across the UK including Ropsley, were invited to a meeting with herself and Jane and Martin Atkin from the Social Club.
Playdale are going to provide 3D plans for a new playground and a multi surface play area. The playground will include inclusive equipment. Playdale’s Chief Executive was present at the meeting and he offered some helpful funding advice; in their experience you have to hit funding applications hard in the first 6-months for a successful outcome. Jane and Martin Atkin have offered to carry out some funding raising and Councillor Nelson added that a number of parents (and grandparents) are keen to get involved. A budget will need to be agreed for on-going maintenance. Potential objections to the development were discussed.
Action: Plans to be shared with the working group, school and parish at large. Photographs to be taken for the application process.
g) Clerk’s Computer Equipment Allowance
Members agreed to defer the item to closed session. The decision will be disclosed in open session at the October meeting of the Parish Council and recorded in the minutes accordingly.
h) Clerk’s Overtime
Members agreed to defer the item to closed session. The decision will be disclosed in open session at the October meeting of the Parish Council and recorded in the minutes accordingly.
i) Website Management Services (£15 p/m)
The Clerk informed the meeting that LALC, in association with Mr Langford who offered free website training, are offering a website management service at a cost of £15.00 per month. This will take some of the pressure off the Clerk and long-term may say the Parish Council money. The Clerk does need to populate the website further before this can be considered.
j) Outstanding actions
Members noted that the fridge magnets, defibrillator sign and compliance with the transparency code are outstanding actions from previous meetings along with publication of archer survey results to the community Facebook page.
k) Litter Pick
Members agreed to discuss the annual litter pick despite its omission from the agenda. The Chairman, Councillor Eldred confirmed that the District Council will collect the bags of waste. Helen Lewis said she would like some bulbs and a bench for Rosemary Rise. Members agreed between £50-100 expenditure for the purchase of bulbs. This decision must be ratified at the next meeting of the Parish Council. Members agreed to hold the litter pick on 16 October 2021. Tea and cake will be served afterwards in the village hall. Volunteers will be asked to provide their own cups.
Action: Clerk to obtain a quote for a bench like the one in the cemetery. Clerk to add items to the next agenda. Clerk to prepare a notice for the community Facebook page.
7) HIGHWAYS (21/042)
a) The Council would like to remind parishioners that new faults can be reported at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/faultreporting or email cschighways@lincolnshire.gov.uk or contact customer services by telephone on 01522 782070.
8) PLANNING MATTERS (21/043)
a) Members noted the new Planning Matters:
i) S21/1425 Mr L Allen, Oaklands, Main Street, Ingoldsby – Change of use of agricultural field to dog exercise area and associated development.
Members stated they had some mixed views about this planning application and they therefore agreed not to submit a response from the Parish Council as a corporate body.
b) Members noted the decisions pending or received:
i) ENF20/0117 breach of works not in accordance with S19/1802 and S19/1311 ARNOLD The Rectory, Back Lane, Ingoldsby.
Action: Councillor Kenyon is meeting with the Chief Executive of South Kesteven District Council where he intends to raise the subject.
ii) S21/0741 Pumphrey, Ground Mount solar PV array, 4 rows of 14 panels at Scotland Farmhouse, Scotland Lane, Ingoldsby, NG33 4ES. Deadline for comments is 11 May 2021 (Case Officer, Stephen Cadman). Granted on 25 August 2021.
iii) S21/1378 Adcock, Farm Machinery Store at the Grange, Bitchfield Road, Ingoldsby. Details not required dated 3 August 2021.
iv) S21/1243 Mr & Mrs A Troughton, Moat Farm, Scotland Lane, Ingoldsby – Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of replacement dwelling. Granted on 12 August 2021.
9) FINANCE (21/044)
a) Members noted the income received between 9 July 2021 to 22 August 2021.
Interest (July) 0.07
Interest (August) 0.07
VAT Refund 208.82
TOTAL 208.96
b) Members noted the expenditure to be paid in line with the approved list of regular payments between 21 May 2021 and 8 July 2021 or for approval.
Clerk’s Salary (August) 368.20
BT (July) 44.39 TOTAL 412.59
c) It was agreed to defer approval of the monthly income and expenditure account for August 2021 to the next meeting of the Parish Council.
Action: Clerk to re-send bank reconciliation.
10) CORRESPONDENCE (21/045)
a) Email from Councillor Davies, Executive Councillor for Highways, LCC dated 18 August 2021, ‘Invitation of Grantham Transport Strategy Workshop’. Posters will be on the noticeboard.
b) Email from Planning Policy at SKDC dated 10 August 2021, ‘South Kesteven Village Services and Facilities Survey 2021. The survey has been completed and sent by the Chairman.
11) DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING (21/046)
The next meetings are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 6 October, Wednesday 3 November and Wednesday 8 December. The meetings are scheduled to start at 8pm and will be held in the Village Hall, Main Street, Ingoldsby.
The Chairman, with full agreement of the Council, and in accordance with the Public Bodies Act 1960 moved the meeting to closed session due to the confidential nature of items to be discussed.
The Chairman closed the public meeting at 9.10pm.