July 2020
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting.
Held at 7pm on 02/07/2020 virtually on zoom due to COVID-19
Present: Mrs S Fraser (Chair), Mr P Inskip (Vice), Mrs E Inskip (Clerk), Mr F Hughes, Mrs S Mcfarland, Mr S Smith
Apologies: Mr G Lohmann-Bond, Mr J Sharpe, County Councillor Mr B Adams
Chair’s Introduction: Cllr Fraser welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 07/05/2020 were presented and approved (wet signatures to be obtained in the future)
2. Actions from Matters Arising from previous meeting:
• Slip hazard of footbridges: Cllr Fraser has emailed the map references to County Cllr Adams. (ongoing BA)
• Sheep Dyke Lane issues due to Anglian Water: Anglian Water provided the machinery and aggregate and the Turner family provided the labour. Sheep Dyke lane has been made good. Thanks were given to both for this. (No further action)
• Lorries and speeding in the village: Cllr Hughes updated the Cllr’s on the data he is obtaining from the SID’s. There is definite speeding in the village, especially at certain times in the day. For example, school traffic seems to raise not only the volume of traffic but speeding is a problem at these times. Armed with the data proof can be given to the police as it moves from a maybe to a genuine threat. Potentially the Police could be encouraged to come to Little Bytham at those times and in the areas identified. Cllr Inskip & Cllr Fraser thanked Cllr Hughes for his ongoing work and stated how useful it was to get this data. Cllr Hughes told Cllr’s that he has passed the Community Speed watch exam. A number of people would be needed to run this. Cllr Fraser reminded Cllr’s that as agreed previously they would firstly utilise the speed data from the SID’s to establish if this was needed, then a separate group of people (not necessarily Cllr’s) would be established to run the community speed watch. Cllr Hughes will continue to move the SIDs around and collect the data to establish a full picture for the village. (ongoing FH)
• Network Rail issues: No information from the parishioner received to date. (ongoing SF)
• Pathway to Spinney: This has been recorded on Fix My street. A letter was also written to County Cllr Adams inclusive of this request. Cllr Inskip stated that he had requested several issues to be addressed on Fix My Street, but that these had unfortunately been denied. (ongoing PI)
• LBPC response to COVID 19: Clerk Inskip shared the certificate that had been received from SKDC thanking Cllr’s for their willingness to help direct parishioners to the appropriate bodies during these trying times. To date, no Cllr has received a phone call asking for help and the community is seemingly continuing to pull together and be there for each other.
• Parish Room maintenance & valuation: Cllr Smith stated that generally this is in good condition. There is some vegetation that needs clearing and a little updating is required. External fascia boards, doors and windows need painting, some localised pointing is required and the old signboard needs removing. Cllr Fraser will see if the handy man that is due to fix the gate can also quote on these items. (SS)
3. Continuing ongoing issues to be aware of & dealt with when Government guidelines allow:
• Vehicle issues on the High Street. (ongoing BA)
• Anglian Water: Prior to the meeting Cllr Fraser had sent to all Cllr’s a letter received from Mr J Turner identifying several issues (a copy can be made available on request). Cllr Fraser will request a socially distant meet with AW to discuss all issues, and involve the local MP if required. (ongoing SF)
• Health & Safety policy: Cllr’s requested Clerk Inskip re send the Health and Safety email sent originally on 14/05/2020. Cllr Fraser added that a section on contagion may need to be added. (ongoing All Cllrs)
• Bank update of details: Cllr Hughes will go into Barclays when it is possible to do so. (ongoing FH & SF)
• Speed Limits in the Village: The relevant departments are still not functioning at this time and hence this will be ongoing. (ongoing EI)
• Website: Cllr Inskip continues to keep the web site up to date. Cllr Inskip has added a privacy statement to the site and is booked for on line training for the new web site which has been built. Cllr Inskip also spoke to the IT department at Lincs to see if usage data can be obtained, presently on the old site this is not possible but it may be possible for the new site. (ongoing PI)
4. Finance as of 09/04/2020 due to receiving no new bank statements to date:
Current Account Balance: £10,999.46
Savings Account Balance: £254.78
5. Planning: Most planning applications and decisions have been sent to Cllr’s prior to the meeting.
• Planning Application S20/0533. A replacement garage at 4 New Estate. Decision sent to Cllr’s 22/05/2020.
• Planning Application S20/0501. Extension of an existing agricultural building to incorporate office, W.C, kitchen & store area at The Grange, Little Bytham. Decision sent to Cllr’s 12/06/2020.
• Planning Application S20/0768. Outline permission for the erection of a detached dwelling and garage at Rasell’s. This relates to the previous outline planning application S18/2090. Details sent to Cllr’s 27/05/2020. No concerns raised by Cllr’s.
• Planning Application S20/0860. Change of use from a kennels & cattery (The Firs) to a day nursery and holiday club. Details sent to Cllr’s 04/06/2020. One concern sent to planning regarding the extra pressure this will put on the water treatment plant and details are required from Anglian Water as to what they plan to do to cope with this increase. No response received as yet from planning.
• Planning Application S20/0819. Erection of a one and a half story residential dwelling and garage on Little Bytham Road. Details sent to Cllr’s on 12/06/2020. Cllr Inskip rescinded himself from commenting on this application as it affects him personally. No concerns raised by the other Cllr’s.
• Update on Castle Bytham Quarry Development (No response received from Planning on the concerns sent by LBPC). Clerk Inskip had spoken with County Cllr Adams prior to the meeting. There were many so many applications regarding this site that it has now been formalised into one application. LBPC will await details. (BA)
• Planning Application S20/0934. Conversion of vehicular garage for habitable use, 28 High Street. Details sent to Cllr’s on 26/06/2020. No concern’s raised by Cllr’s.
6. Other Matters:
• Condition of roads in Little Bytham: After speaking to County Cllr Adams prior to the meeting, Clerk Inskip informed the Cllr’s that County Cllr Adams does need to know when work has been completed substandard. Information and photographic evidence are helpful. Cllr Hughes will take photos and communicate the information to County Cllr Adams. (FH)
• Annual Internal Audit completed and thanks: Thanks to Mr J Turner for completing the internal audit. The AGAR and Certificate of Exemption have all been completed and sent off and the commencement of public rights has begun. (No further action)
• Tax status form from Barclays and missing Current Account statement: Clerk Inskip stated that she had not received the last bank statement and hence the accounts could not be reconciled. Cllr Hughes stated that he would try and get a replacement when he went to the bank. Clerk Inskip also shared that a form has been received from the bank regarding the tax status of LBPC. Clerk Inskip will send the form to all Cllr’s so that it can completed and returned to Barclays. (EI and All Cllr’s)
7. Cheques:
• Signed prior to the meeting: (following Government guidelines on social distancing):
£204.67 cheque to Zurich Municipal for annual insurance.
• To be signed after the meeting (following Government guidelines on social distancing):
£500 contribution to the maintenance of the churchyard.
• To be signed after the meeting (following Government guidelines on social distancing):
£68.77 cheque to E L Inskip for paper and ink.
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday September 3rd 2020 at 7pm. The location will be determined closer to the time dependent on the Government guidelines in operation at that point.
Signed (Chair)………………………………….
Signed (Clerk)………………………………….