2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MEETING OF INGOLDSBY PARISH COUNCIL 

Minutes of the Ingoldsby Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 31 January 2024 at 8pm in the Village Hall, Main Street, Ingoldsby

Public Forum:  There were five parishioners present.  

One parishioner expressed concern about an unstable wall at Buckberry Farm.    The Chair said she would investigate and report back to the Parish Council.  

Another parishioner expressed concern about the development on Back Lane.   Councillor Trotter said that she has been coordinating with Matthew Johnstone, the Enforcement Officer at SKDC who has visited the site on a number of occasions.  Councillor Trotter asked the Clerk to read out an email from Matthew Johnston dated 30 January 2024 confirming that they are aware of the issues and will continue to monitor the development.  This provoked considerable discussion and Councillor Trotter asked the parishioners to submit their comments directly to South Kesteven District Council.  

One parishioner asked whether anything was going to be done about the state of the roadside next to the cemetery gates.  The Chair explained that following the village walkabout on 22 September 2023, it was confirmed that it would be unlikely that LCC Highways would re-establish the verge but gave permission for the area to be filled with chippings to match the current road surface.  The PCC have been informed.

Action:  Clerk to add to the next agenda for discussion. 

1)   WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIR (23/077)

The Chair, Councillor Eldred, welcomed members to the meeting.  

The Chair informed the meeting, that shortly before Christmas, former Ingoldsby Parish Councillor Barry Wedge had passed away.  On behalf of the Parish Council, the Chair expressed her condolences to Mr Wedge’s wife Brenda, and family. 

The Chair expressed her thanks on behalf of the Parish Council to those who pulled together to support each other during the recent flooding and expressed particular thanks to Councillor Kenyon for his quick action in requesting sandbags from Lincolnshire County Council. 

2)   PRESENT (23/078)

Councillor Eldred, Chair
Councillor Leigh
Councillor Nelson 

3)   APOLOGIES (23/079)

Councillor Kenyon, Vice-Chair and Councillor Lenton sent their apologies. The reasons for their absence were noted and accepted. 

4)   DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS (23/080)

No reports of pecuniary interests of applications for dispensations in relation to the agenda.  Councillor Eldred reported her interests in relation to the Village Hall Committee.  Councillor Nelson reported her interests in relation to the Playing Field Committee, PTA and PTFA. 

5)   SIGNING OF THE MINUTES (23/081)

Members resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 6 December 2023 as a true and accurate record of that meeting.  The minutes were duly signed and dated.

6)           GENERAL MATTERS (23/082)

a)   District Council

District Councillor Trotter wished everyone a belated Happy New Year. 

She reported that South Kesteven District Council has a new leader, Councillor Baxter.

Councillor Trotter informed the meeting that there are three proposed solar farms in the District.  She said that this is becoming a real concern as local farming land is being swallowed up by solar farms.  The applications will all go to the Planning Committee; Committee members are reportedly mindful about the number of proposals being submitted in the region. 

She told the meeting that SKDC have been dealing with flooding issues across the district particularly in areas where the homes have been flooded. 

Councillor Trotter reminded the meeting about the changes to domestic paper and cardboard recycling.  The new purple-lidded bins are in use and from 5 February 2024 any bins containing incorrect items will not be collected.

Councillor Trotter reported that the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Consultations are ongoing. 

Councillor Trotter reported that she is now on the planning committee. 

b)   Spring Litter Pick

The Chair reported that the Spring litter pick will take place on Saturday 6 April 2024, meeting at the village hall at 9.30 am.  A high visibility jacket and litter picking equipment will be provided but volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves.  Refreshments will be served afterwards. 

c)   Spring Newsletter

Members resolved to approve expenditure up to £35.00 for the printing of the Spring newsletter.  The newsletter will be distributed during the week commencing 4 March 2024.  

Action:  Members and Clerk to compile a list of items for the newsletter. 

d)   PCC  and PFA Annual Budget and Section 137 (deferred item)

Item to be deferred to the next meeting of the Parish Council due to the absence of Councillor Kenyon.  

e)   Flooding – Emails from Rowan Smith dated 3 and 9 January 2024

The Clerk emailed photographs of the recent flooding in the village to the Local Highways Manager (West), Rowan Smith, with a request for assistance to clear the drains.  Rowan Smith responded by saying that the Highways Department had been inundated with similar requests County wide.  Areas with internal flooding had been prioritised and sandbags made available.  A full drainage survey at the post box has been ordered but this will be delayed due to the recent flooding.  

f)   Village Walkabout – Email from Rowan Smith dated 10 January 2024

•   The potholes reported at the village walkabout have been added to the schedule fir repair. 
•   A full drainage survey has been ordered at the post box.  
•   Chapel Lane has been added to the schedule for surface dressing.  
•   Grass cutting enquiry is outstanding.  
•   The grass verge and trees on Rosemary Rise belong to SKDC.  Rowan Smith suggested a health check and clearance of 17ft. 

Action: Clerk to speak to SKDC about the trees on Rosemary Rise. 

g)   Memorial Plaque

Members resolved to approve a plaque in memory of former long-standing Parish Councillor, Mike Barrow Ward at a cost of £25.00.  The plaque will be placed on the bench a the Irnham Road junction.  

h)   Risk Assessment

Councillor Eldred reported that she had completed the risk assessment of Parish Council assets in the village. 

7)   HIGHWAYS (23/083)

Members of the public are encouraged to report any new faults at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/faultreporting or email cschighways@lincolnshire.gov.uk or contact customer services by telephone on 01522 782070.

8)   PLANNING (23/084)

a)   New Planning Matters

None. 

b)   Decisions received or pending:

None. 

c)   Member noted the email from Matthew Johnstone, Senior Planning Enforcement Officer at SKDC dated 7 December 2023 in relation to the Old Rectory, Back Lane.  

This agenda item was discussed at length in the public forum.   The Parish Council confirmed that they are going to send a response to Planning Enforcement which is currently being drafted by Councillor Kenyon who has some experience in the planning field. 

d)   Emailed questionnaire from Matt Hubbard dated 5 December, the Planning Hub in relation to a proposed planning application for a dwelling to the west of Millfield. Planning Enforcement.  

The Parish Council has no objections to the proposal with no comments for submission to Matt Hubbard. 

Mr Harden, who was present at the meeting, offered to be open and honest about any potential development, should the planning permission be granted. 

9)   FINANCE (23/085)   

a)   Members noted the current bank balances as 24 January 2024

b)   To note the expenditure to be paid in line with the approved list of Regular payments between 1 December 2023 and 24 January 2024, or for approval

c)   To note the expenditure to be paid in line with the approved list of Regular payments between 1 December 2023 and 24 January 2024, or for approval

d)   Record of reserves dated 24 January 2024

e)   Members resolved to approve the monthly income and expenditure accounts for January 2024.
 
f)   Third quarter budget review

At the end of the third quarter, the Parish Council has 19% more income than budgeted.  This additional source of funding comes from the community cleaning grant.  It was not included in the budget as it could not be guaranteed from year to year. 

In terms of expenditure, at the end of the third quarter the Parish Council is 10% over budget but is not cause for concern as we don’t expect to see a great deal of expenditure between now and year end on 31 March 2024.  

The Clerk recommends moving £10 from the expenses budget head to the S137 budget head as this is currently overspent by 15%.  This budget head is for the RBL poppy wreath.  

As a reminder, there was an agreement to draw on reserves to the sum of £1065.00 this financial year due to costs associated with the King’s Coronation.  The entire sum may not be required based on an estimate of spending for the remainder of the financial year against the funds held in the current account.  

The Parish may still need to transfer a sum of money from the savings account to the current account towards the end of the financial year to act as a buffer until the precept is received.  The Clerk will continue to monitor the status of the current account. 

The precept request for the 24/25 financial year has been submitted to SKDC and they confirmed receipt of an application for the sum of £6,841.00.

After the end of the financial year, the Parish Council will proceed with a move from the HSBC to Lloyds Bank

10)   CORRESPONDENCE (23/086)

Members noted the following correspondence:

a)   Email from LCC dated 4 December 2023, Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Survey (deadline 29 January 2024)

b)   Email from Chris Prime, SKDC re Storm Henk. 

c)   Email from LCC dated 24 January 2024, Budget and Council Tax Proposals 2024/25

11)   DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING (23/087)

Wednesday 13 March 2024 at 8pm in the  Village Hall, Main Street, Ingoldsby

The Chair closed the meeting at 8.55 pm