January 2022 Minutes
Waddingham Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 5th January 2022 at Jubilee Hall
Present: Cllrs L Williams (Chair), GA Thacker, P Williams, J Thacker, J Hill, A White, B Finnegan, R Coman & The Clerk
Cllr Bunney, Cllr J Summers
2 members of the public
Public participation
2 members of the public attended to discuss PA144146. They explained that they are the applicants and that the proposed properties, if permission is granted, would be family homes for themselves. They are active members of the community who have assisted in the village when there have been flooding issues. Their children attend the village school. At present they live in a nearby village but would very much like to move to Waddingham.
0501/1 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were accepted from PCSO Law retrospectively.
0501/2 Declaration of Interest
a. To record declarations of interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared. None. To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed None requested.
0501/3 Minutes of Previous meeting to be approved and signed.
The minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held 1st September 2021 approved and signed as true and correct.
0501/4 Matters Arising- None
0501/5 To resolve to co-opt B Finnegan on to the Parish Council- all members voted to co-opt B Finnegan. Resolved to co-opt B Finnegan. Cllr L Williams welcomed Cllr Finnegan.
0501/6 County Councillor/District Councillor Report
County Cllr Bunney reported that extra funds had been made available through the ‘levelling up’ process for councils who had received less funding historically. Potholes in the area are causing concern. The government have cut pothole allowance by £12m. Last year the County Council used £10m of their reserves but this is unsustainable. A campaign has been launched to restore the £12m. Cllr Bunney asked for as many people as possible to support the campaign which can be found at www.writetothem.com.
A great deal of work is being undertaken regarding flooding and looking at riparian ownership. A number of people are not made aware of their responsibilities regarding maintaining a watercourse on their land when they purchase a property. This is something that needs addressing. Funds are available to support communities who wish to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
District Cllr J Summers also agreed with the issue of riparian ownership of watercourses. He reported that the Gainsborough crematorium had had a successful first year financially and is operating in surplus. In addition to this over £10,000 has been donated to charity from money made by the crematorium selling metal parts (e.g. hip replacement).
The present chair at WLDC has entered his 3rd year in office. The new waste hub at Caenby Corner is now open and operating. Market Rasen and Gainsborough depots are now closed. Household waste cannot be taken to Caenby Corner- it is an operational site. Household waste can still be taken to the tips as before. These services have not changed. The WLDC climate change strategy has been established and work has started on a new £20m housing development site in Gainsborough. The WLDC investment portfolio continues to generate returns of £1.5 -£1.6 m per year. This is substantially greater that returns would be if invested in banks at the current rate of interest. Numbers using the Market Rasen Leisure Centre are increasing. There are still some funds available from the Councillor Initiative fund. This ends April 2023.
0501/7 Police report
PCSO Law emailed following the meeting to send her apologies. A full incident report will be provided at the next meeting.
0501/8 Clerk's report
The clerk had nothing to report that was not covered on the agenda.
0509/9 Finance
(a) Accounts for payment- resolved to pay
C. Wright, salary and expenses- £531.06
Village Hall, hire of hall- £90
Payments made between meetings:
C Wright- new council laptop- £194.99
G Watson- Clearing the village beck- £2400
(b) Final Precept Request
Following scrutiny of the accounts from 2020/21 and the income/expenditure of the current financial year it was resolved to set the precept for £8,500
(c) HSBC Mandate Update
The mandate was updated. Signatories are now the clerk, Cllr L Williams, Cllr G Thacker and Cllr A White.
0501/10 Correspondence for discussion
(i) To finalise local list following email from Heritage Lincolnshire- The clerk has not received any suggestions from members of the public.
0501/11 Flood relief scheme and beck cleaning matters
The Environment Agency have confirmed that they are responsible for the village beck along the village green to National Grid Reference 498510, 396188. However, the Parish Council employed a contractor to clear the village beck as the Environment Agency were unable to confirm when they would undertake the work and it was felt there was a risk of flooding if left. Beck to now be sprayed in May to keep it clear. Cllr L Williams reported that she had forwarded information to AB Consultancy regarding flooding incidents over the past few years. Cllr L Williams reported that she had contacted LCC flood risk team regarding future maintenance of the flood relief channel. No further information is available at the moment.
Cllr Stephen Bunney reported that the next LCC Flood and Water management committee meeting will be held on 21st February where he will raise the issue of the flood relief channel.
0501/12 Playpark update- Resolved to change the signatories on the playground bank account which is currently dormant. Cllr Bunney recommended contacting Matthew Snee at WLDC to assist with funding.
0501/13 Constable Ings Trust- Grants are available from the trust to improve the local environment. A reminder to be placed in the Triangle and item to remain on the agenda.
0501/14 Highways Matters– Cllr L Williams and the Clerk have again contacted highways regarding erecting signage on Redbourne Road to improve safety for pedestrians. Frustration was expressed at the lack of response. Cllr Bunney and Cllr Summers have also contacted highways. Graeme Butler from the Road Safety Partnership suggested contacting Joe Phillips, the local highways manager.
Cars are parking on the Village Green at school pick up and drop off time. Clerk to contact the school to request that parents are reminded not to park on the Green.
ACTION: Cllr Bunney & Clerk
0501/15 Planning Matters PA143447- Planning for conversion of existing outbuilding to residential- granted PA143822- Planning application for change of use of post office to 1 dwelling- public consultation underway- awaiting decision. PA144146- application for 2 dwellings, Weirside Farm- parish council to support the application- comments to be made to include taking into account measures suggested in the flood risk assessment.
0501/16 Telephone box refurbishment update- The phone box refurbishment had halted due to the weather. Once work starts again the clerk will order the necessary materials using funds provided by Cllr Summers as part of the District Councillors Initiative Fund.
ACTION: Clerk
0501/17 Confirmation of date and time of next meeting Wednesday 2nd March 7pm at the Village Hall
0501/18 Additional items for the next agenda- Constable Ings Trust, Platinum Jubilee
Meeting closed at 9.00pm