Minutes 2020/21 – Little Bytham Parish Council

September 2020

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting.

Held at 7pm on 03/09/2020 virtually on zoom due to COVID-19

Present: Mrs S Fraser (Chair), Mrs E Inskip (Clerk), Mr F Hughes, Mr G Lohmann-Bond, Mrs S Mcfarland, Mr J Sharpe, County Councillor Mr B Adams

Apologies: Mr P Inskip (Vice), Mr S Smith

Chair’s Introduction: Cllr Fraser welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 02/07/2020 were presented and approved (wet signatures to be obtained in the future)

2. Actions from Matters Arising from previous meeting:

• Slip hazard of footbridges: County Cllr Adams will chase ownership details. (ongoing BA)

• Roads in Little Bytham: Cllr Hughes is retrieving the data from the SIDs and will continue to do this over the coming weeks. This will enable a more detailed picture to be formed and Cllr Hughes will then feedback the information. With regards to lorries, Cllr Hughes stated that it appears at this stage there are no major issues with speeding. Cllr Fraser suggested that an article is written in the Glenside magazine, asking for any details on lorries potentially speeding or driving inappropriately/recklessly. Cllr Hughes will do this in line with the data, once he has it. Regarding the conditions of the roads, Cllr Hughes has sent to County Cllr Adams details of the poor repairs completed in the village. County Cllr Adams has sent this information to Karen Cassar (Highways). It would seem that the contractors are repairing highways to the ‘standard required of them’ and that this is a problem across many parishes therefore, data is being gathered and sent to Highways to be dealt with. (ongoing FH & BA)

• Network Rail issues: No specific information has been received to date, therefore Cllr Fraser suggested that this should be removed from the action list. (No further action)

• Pathway to Spinney & other maintenance: (Cllr Inskip had updated the clerk prior to the meeting) Cllr Inskip wants to encourage everyone to keep reporting any issues that are seen on the Fix my Street app. It would seem that things do get noted on this app and eventually actioned. Cllr Inskip also wanted the good work done on a small section of the pathway after entering the village from Castle Bytham noting. This had been cut back substantially, in some areas back to the visible edging strip, which has made the pathway far safer to walk on. It is still hoped that a similar thing will also be actioned on the pathway by the Spinney. The Highways manager has stated that it has been added to the County wide list for siding works as it is too much work for the community works gang to do. (ongoing)

• COVID 19 response update: No Cllr’s have received phone calls from Little Bytham’s response, however Cllr Hughes in his role with a group elsewhere has been asked to help a gentleman in Little Bytham with his shopping. (SF, FH, PI, GL, SS)

• Parish Room maintenance update: The person due to fix the gate of the Parish Room (kindly being paid for by Castle Bytham Music Festival committee) is yet to respond to Cllr Fraser, therefore Cllr Fraser will chase and also look into getting other quotes for the potential maintenance works required on the Parish Room. (SF)

• Tax status form from Barclays. Cllr Fraser has completed this. (No further action)

• Health & Safety policy: Cllr Inskip sent his response to Cllr Fraser in July, all other Cllrs will look back at the proposed policy previously sent out and respond accordingly. (ongoing, All Cllr’s)

• Anglian Water: Cllr Fraser continues to communicate with AW. Cllr Fraser & Cllr Inskip attended two on site meetings (adhering to Government guidelines), with representatives of AW. Cllr Inskip stated to the Clerk (prior to the meeting) that one chap had informed him that they air stirred the mud twice a day. It is important to note though that even if this was changed to different times this does not deal with the issue. Cllr Fraser stated that they were told that there is money set aside for infrastructure upgrades. Cllr Fraser is presently trying to ascertain what is due to be done. With regards to planning, AW stated that any development over 5 houses has to have some form of drainage, Cllr Fraser is concerned about another development in Castle Bytham that has 6 houses, which was initially refused and then accepted, Cllr Fraser will look into this. Cllr Fraser also would like to gain a clear understanding as to when the Environment Agency can be asked to get involved especially with regard to planning applications. (ongoing SF)

• Website: Cllr Inskip (again details given to the Clerk prior to the meeting) spent several hours on a webinar regarding migrating to the new website. This is a huge job and involves a lot of work but the result will be a much fresher and user-friendly site. (ongoing PI)

3. Continuing ongoing issues to be aware of & dealt with when Government guidelines allow:

• Vehicle issues on the High Street: (ongoing BA)

• 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: Once the data from the SIDs has been collaborated, a response can be formulated to respond to all rejected TROs. (ongoing EI)

4. Finance as of 10/07/2020 due to receiving no new bank statements to date:

Current Account Balance: £10,794.79

Savings Account Balance: £254.85

5. Planning: All planning applications and decisions have been sent to Cllr’s prior to the meeting.

• Planning Application S20/1223. Rawden, 2 High Street, 2 storey rear extension. Pending, no representations sent from LBPC. Sent to Cllr’s on 21/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/1183. Evans, 18 Station Road, detached dwelling. Pending, representations sent to planning. Sent to Cllr’s on 02/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/0963. Jones, Station Road, detached dwelling. Pending, representations sent to planning. Sent to Cllr’s on 09/07/2020 & 27/07/2020.

• Planning Application S20/0819. King, Little Bytham Road, detached dwelling. Pending, no representations from LBPC. Sent to Cllr’s on 12/06/2020.

• Planning Application S20/0616. EI Property, Creeton Road, residential development. Pending, no representations from LBPC. Sent to Cllr’s on 11/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/1249. Turners, extension to existing ag building. No details required. Sent to Cllr’s on 21/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/1200. Tye, High Street, timber framed & clad barn for housing livestock/vehicles replacing existing buildings. Refused. Sent to Cllr’s on 11/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/0934. Tye, High Street, conversion of vehicular garage for habitable use. Approved conditionally. Sent to Cllr’s on 02/08/2020.

• Planning Application S20/0768. Rasell’s, Station Road, detached dwelling. Approved conditionally. Sent to Cllr’s on 04/08/2020.

• Update on Castle Bytham Quarry Development: It has been confirmed that the development will not go ahead with the 136 houses and will stay at the total number of 87.

6. Other Matters:

• A discussion was had regarding the availability of a Government grant of £10,000 from Invest SK which Little Bytham Village Hall committee (completely separate to the Parish Council) have already received. When this was previously looked at, it seemed that Little Bytham Parish Council were not eligible for this and hence why no application had been made. County Cllr Adams will look into this to see if any funds are even available now and if LBPC would be eligible. The Cllr’s had mixed opinions on this. Cllr Hughes & Cllr Sharpe felt that LB should not apply for the money as it should only be used for COVID purposes. Cllr Lohmann-Bond stated that if the money can be applied for, it may be worth doing on a contingency basis, for any costs that may arise from COVID-19 in the future. It was agreed that even if Little Bytham Parish Council were found to be eligible, this would not be applied for until all Cllr’s had the opportunity to formally vote on this. (BA)

• Community Speed Watch: Cllr Hughes has not been contacted about this, since taking the exam (quite possibly due to COVID). Cllr Hughes will follow up in the coming weeks. Cllr Fraser stated that there are residents in the village that are willing to help if it decided that this route is necessary. (FH)

• White Paper on Planning: Cllr Lohmann-Bond raised concerns about this recent paper. He feels that it is an attack on local democracy and will remove any scrutiny in the development office. County Cllr Adams stated that planning experts seem to think that South Kesteven is not in a growth zone and therefore should not be affected in a major way. The planning committee are to hold a meeting on it and will give a response to Government by the end of October. Cllr Fraser asked to be informed after the meeting has taken place. Cllr Lohmann-Bond & Cllr Fraser agreed that a separate meeting for LBPC may be prudent after the planning meeting has taken place to decide any courses of action. Concerns were raised as to who decides the zones and when can these zones be changed for example. It was felt that this is something all Cllr’s need to be informed on as the more informed the Parish Council is the better. (GL, SF & BA)

• Sidewalk at the end of the village to Creeton: Cllr Lohmann Bond will send pictures and details to County Cllr Adams showing the issue with the sidewalk and the huge puddles that form there. County Cllr Adams also requested that Cllr Lohmann-Bond put it onto the Fix my Street app. (GL & BA)

7. Cheques agreed:

• £500 cheque for clerk for work done from 01.03.2020 to 01.09.2020.

• £350 Spinney contribution.

• £100 Glenside contribution.

Date of Next Meeting: Thursday November 5th 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)………………………………….

Little Bytham Parish Council

Date: 18th September 2020

Addendum to the minutes for the Parish council meeting held on 03/09/2020.

Via email due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Regarding item 6 of the minutes entitled, Other Matters, point 1:

On 16th September Little Bytham Parish Council were informed by County Cllr Bob Adams that the funds were available for a very limited time, and Mr P Thomas from South Kesteven requested Little Bytham Parish Council’s bank details. At this stage Little Bytham Parish Clerk asked for more details, requesting confirmation that LBPC were actually eligible, how much the grant would be if LBPC were eligible, what it could be used for and what it couldn’t be used for. LBPC Clerk was informed that they were indeed eligible and no restrictions were attached to the money other than that it would be used for the benefit of local residents.

Thus, in accordance with the agreement in the Parish Council meeting the Parish Clerk emailed Cllr’s to get their formal decision on this.

The Cllr’s were asked to email their vote on whether LBPC should receive the money being offered.

The results were as follows:

4 in favour; Cllr Fraser, Cllr Inskip, Cllr McFarland, Cllr Lohmann-Bond

1 not in favour; Cllr Hughes

2 did not cast their vote; Cllr Sharpe and Cllr Smith

The resolution was in favour to receive the money offered.

As the majority voted in favour of receiving the money, on 18th September LBPC Clerk gave LBPC bank details to Mr P Thomas at South Kesteven.

Signed (Chair)………………………………….

Signed (Clerk)………………………………….