NOT YET APPROVED Minutes of the Meeting 7th April 2025
NOT YET APPROVED MINUTES of the Parish Council Meeting
Held Monday 7th April 2025
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Public Forum |
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3 members of the public attended. Two applicants for the Councillor vacancy were invited to introduce themselves to the PC. |
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Meeting commenced at 7.15 |
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Present |
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Mark Newton (MN), Geoff Fearn (GF), Mick Walker (MW), Mick Brooks (MB), John Leventhall (JL), Carole Lee (CL), Paul Wood (PW) and Daryl Walton (DW) and County Cllr Alex Maughan |
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25/040 |
Apologies for Absence |
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Martin Rose, David Kelly and Jane Evans, Parish Clerk due to personal commitments. Apologies accepted and Cllr John Leventhall agreed to take the minutes in the absence of the Clerk. |
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25/041 |
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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25/042 |
Minutes & Matters Arising from Previous Meeting 3rd March 2025 |
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Matters Arising 24/186 the meeting with Roseland is still to be arranged ACTION CLERK/Cllr MAUGHAN 24/186 CCTV investigations still pending. ACTION CLERK 24/225 Witham Meadow. Sourcing of a shed is still pending. ACTION CLERK It was RESOLVED that the minutes be signed as a true record. |
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25/043 |
Co-option of new Councillor – to discuss two applications received and vote |
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Members of the public, including the applicants, were asked to leave the meeting while the voting takes place. There were 2 applicants: Andrew Taylor and Steven Maxwell Each applicant was proposed, the unanimous vote being for Steven Maxwell (SM) Both candidates were entirely suitable but the fact that SM had applied for the previous vacancy was the deciding factor. Members of the public were invited back into the meeting; the successful applicant offered the role which was accepted. The Acceptance of Office was duly signed, and SM joined the meeting. SM to receive joining matter and to be allocated an email address ACTION CLERK |
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25/044 |
County Council Report |
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AM made his valedictory remarks as this was the last meeting before he stood down as County Councillor. LCC wish to close all right hand turns through central reservations on the A1 in the interests of safety. There will be public consultations on these. Local Govt. Reorganisation: White paper published in December 2024. 2 unitary councils proposed for Lincolnshire (800,000 population) and a Northern Lincs Authority OR an East-West Split. Lincolnshire CC website carries details. Devolution – Lincolnshire County Council LCC have rejected the drainage plans for development S24/2214 Land south of The Pastures The progress on this needs to be monitored by the PC and the County Councillor*. Cllr Leventhall will monitor on behalf of the residents’ group and feed back to the PC ACTION JL Valley Lane has been patched in the eroded edge region. The access issues to Rose Gardens from parked vehicles on Main Road not being actioned by the police. LCC enforcement can issue penalties. No information on if they will send officers to Long Bennington. Main Road / Valley Lane junction improvements being considered by LCC. Proposed Traffic Island at Village Hall is unlikely to be implemented as probably doesn’t meet criteria for traffic volume. There may be future opportunity to bid for funds to implement this. * TROs – There will be a public consultation by the summer. AM has asked for this to be pre-screened by the PC before consultation. * Pastures, Bennington Close, River View to be resurfaced this year. * [ITEMS MARKED * to be raised with the new County Councillor to ensure ongoing attention] AM updated the PC on the Mayoral proposals. |
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25/045 |
District Councillor Report |
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Re S24/2214 – Kevin Cartwright the planner has referred the drainage issues to the developer. Cllr Fearn emphasised the issue of ensuring that the outfall of the drainage does not adversely affect flood risk in other parts of the village as the drainage flow will end up in the Ease Drain. Foston Traveller site has been approved. Long Bennington Traveller site revised application has been issued with a non-determination notice. Applicant has the option for judicial review. Should that not happen, enforcement action (via the courts) will occur. A resident at Winters Lane requested the PC permission to gravel the area in front of their property. The land is within LCC jurisdiction and not that of the PC. Resident to be updated. ACTION PW PW has a meeting with SKDC Strategic Planners to ascertain the housing development proposals for the new Local Plan |
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25/046 |
Planning |
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Applications -S25/0416 Morley. Application for first floor side extension at 53 The Pastures, Long Bennington - RESOLVED No comment Planning Approvals – see agenda. Planning Refusals – none Planning Appeals/Withdrawals – none Other planning issues – S25/0299 Smith. See Above 25/045 |
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25/047 |
Village Hall Ownership – to discuss current position including insurance. |
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Insurance situation to be checked with Gareth Dawkins ACTION JL |
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25/048 |
Annual Parish Meeting – to discuss format and communication |
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Chair to liaise with Clerk re final communications before the event ACTION MN Suggestion for a QR code to be placed around the village-to be progressed ACTION CLERK/JL |
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25/049 |
Footpath Vicarage Lane – to discuss request to extend the footpath. To be discussed at next meeting ACTION MN |
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25/050 |
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 New furniture at Witham Meadow complimented |
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25/051 |
Finance |
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Councillors were referred to the attached schedule of invoices for payment totalling £1,532.92. 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.
RESOLVED to approve the increase in the standing order to Jane Evans regarding Microsoft subscription, from £5.99 to £8.49 per month wef 18th March 2025.
Internal Audit to end February 2025 – Cllrs discussed the audit report and accepted the comments, satisfied the information provided. |
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25/052 |
Reports |
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Playing Fields Management Committee – See Attached Document PFMC Notes Village Hall Management Committee – Nothing of note. Next VHMC meeting April 9th. Emergency Planning Group – No report Road Safety – Minor matters reported. Police Report – MB reported from International Police Association meeting from deputy Chief Constable regarding reasons for rural policing not yet being expanded. The Police Commissioner is heading a campaign to object to the inequalities in police funding vs other counties. Footpaths & Streetlights – No report Witham Meadow – Bug Hotels and Mag Posts now in place. |
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25/053 |
Correspondence |
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Councillors referred to attached list of correspondence received during the last month. No further comments 2 items not recognised ACTION MN follow up with Clerk |
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25/054 |
Items for next agenda and Parish News Report. |
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Next agenda - Witham Meadow and AGAR
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25/055 |
Date of next meeting – 12th May 2025 |
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Meeting Closed 8.22pm |
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Signed…………………………………. Designation …………………… Date …………………… |