Minutes of the Meeting 3rd March 2025
LONG BENNINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting
Held Monday 3rd March 2025
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Public Forum |
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5 members of the public attended and made no comments. PW mentioned to the Parish Council, as a member of the public, that he would be putting his name forward, as an independent, in the upcoming local LCC elections. |
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Meeting commenced at 7.05pm |
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Present |
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Mark Newton (MN), Geoff Fearn (GF), Mick Walker (MW), Mick Brooks (MB), John Leventhall (JL), David Kelly (DK), Paul Wood (PW), Martin Rose (MR), Daryl Walton (DW) and Jane Evans, Parish Clerk |
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25/023 |
Apologies for Absence |
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Carole Lee due to personal commitments. Apologies accepted. |
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25/024 |
Declarations of Interest. |
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To receive Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in accordance with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012. None |
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25/025 |
Minutes & Matters Arising from Previous Meeting 6th January 2025 |
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Matters Arising 24/186 the meeting with Roseland is still to be arranged ACTION CLERK/Cllr MAUGHAN 24/186 Witham Meadow. Cut planned for end of May and CCTV investigations still pending. ACTION CLERK 24/206 DK advised the reported issue with the flagpole has now been sorted. 24/225 Witham Meadow. Sourcing of a shed is still pending. ACTION CLERK 25/011 Long Bennington Charities. Informal contact with the school is still pending. ACTION CLERK It was RESOLVED that the minutes be signed as a true record. |
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25/026 |
County Council Report |
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Councillors were referred to the report from Cllr Alex Maughan prior to the meeting. No further questions. |
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25/027 |
District Council Report |
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PW briefed the Council on the DC meeting regarding Council Tax, advised that £100k has been put into a flood defence budget, cleaning of litter on the A1 is to start early March, fly tipping can now be reported via Fixmystreet, the costly refurbishment of the Deeping Leisure Centre has now been scrapped and timescales for submission of proposals regarding devolution were advised. Cllrs were also informed £1.2k from the Uk Prosperity Fund 2025/26 will be available from SKDC. It was agreed to liaise with the VHMC to submit another grant application.
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25/028 |
Planning |
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RESOLVED to open the meeting to allow the developer to speak as required. Cllrs agreed that the previous issue of overcrowding has been dealt with by reducing the number of houses from three to two and the other main issue of drainage has also been dealt with in the application. RESOLVED to comment on the application needs confirmation from Anglian Water that they are satisfied with the proposals and it won’t exacerbate the problem with flooding in the immediate area. ACTION CLERK Meeting in closed session again. Planning Approvals – see agenda. Planning Refusals – none Planning Appeals/Withdrawals – none Other planning issues – PW advised another application has been submitted by the current illegal occupiers of the site but SKDC have not yet validated the application. |
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25/029 |
Annual Parish Meeting – to agree date and format |
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Agreed the date is set at 12th May, being before the PC meeting. |
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25/030 |
Long Bennington PC: Grass Cutting Parish Agreement 2025 |
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RESOLVED to enter into the agreement, the Clerk signing on behalf of the PC. It was agreed by the Council that following a suggestion by Steve Rowley, an early cut is to be done before the contract officially begins on 1st April. |
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25/031 |
Long Bennington Charities – to further discuss raising awareness of the services offered. |
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It was agreed to defer further discussion and further agreed to propose that a presentation is done at the Annual Parish Meeting. |
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25/032 |
Proposal for knitted poppy display at Village Hall Gardens – to discuss |
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Councillors agreed that the suggestion of a display is excellent, and approval is given. ACTION CLERK |
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Village Hall Ownership – to discuss current position including insurance and financial admin |
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JL advised the land registration process is now starting. An EGM is to take place on 5th March to vote to close the 1970 CIO. |
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25/034 |
Chairman’s and Clerk’s Report |
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Chairman’s Report No report Clerks Report Councillors referred to the attached report. No further comment |
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25/035 |
Finance |
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Councillors were referred to the attached schedule of invoices for payment totalling £5980.79 RESOLVED – to pay the invoices. ACTION Clerk to arrange payment. Monthly financial reports were provided – no questions raised. Resolved to approve Community Cleaner hours worked and payment. It was agreed not to renew the subscription with Parish Online. |
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25/036 |
Reports |
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Playing Fields Management Committee – DK provided an update on the Pavilion upgrade project, including funding plans. It was confirmed the security of the tractor, when rehoused back at the playing field is still being considered. It was suggested and agreed that whilst the new “playground” sign is a welcome addition, another approaching the area northbound is needed. ACTION CLERK Village Hall Management Committee – no report Emergency Planning Group – no report Road Safety – MB advised he has requested that a review of reactive speed signs is done in the village. Police Report – MB advised a useful conversation has been had with Mark Barr who has been into the school recently encouraging the school to encourage parents to park considerately and safely. Footpaths & Streetlights – it was suggested and agreed to ask Cllr Maughan about a footpath survey that was supposed to have been done. ACTION CLERK Witham Meadow – it was confirmed the bug hotels are to be installed this week. |
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25/037 |
Correspondence |
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Councillors referred to attached list of correspondence received during the last month. Item 7 – it was agreed to arrange a CPR and Defibrillator training session in the village – ACTION CLERK Cllrs referred to a report of a damaged verge in front of Council bungalows on Church Street. It was agreed that the residents don’t have appropriate parking like residents round the corner on Woods Close and a request is to be put to SKDC to remedy this. ACTION CLERK |
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25/038 |
Items for next agenda and Parish News Report. |
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Next agenda – Annual Parish Meeting, Co-option of Councillor Parish News – agreed to refer to recently completed drainage works near the school, commending the contractors for a good job. |
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25/039 |
Date of next meeting – 7th April 2025 |
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Meeting Closed 8.15pm |
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Signed Mark Newton Designation Chairman Date 7th April 2025 |