Minutes 2022/23

Draft Minutes of Lt Bytham PC Meeting 5th January 2023 7.30pm in the Village Hall

1. Public Forum (15 minutes maximum) One resident attended the Forum.
2. Apologies for Absence. None.
3. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the 2011 Local Government Act. – personal or prejudicial interest in any items for discussion. None.
4. Draft Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 3rd November 2022 to be approved as the Minutes. These were accepted unanimously.

4.1 Matters Arising. None.

5. Councillors’ and Clerk’s reports:

County and District Councillors’ Reports. LCC Cllr Vernon provided her report a precis of which is below.

Cost Of Living –   There is help available for residents struggling with the cost of living from the council and other organisations. LCC have a large section on their website with useful links including how to apply for Free school Meals, Financial support for carers, help with childcare costs, the household support fund and the HAF (Holidays Activities and Food Programme). There is also information about the emotional support available through local organisations and SKDC have more information too. Residents facing financial difficulties can also visit https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/ for details of the other support available.

Budget Preparation – The council again faces challenges in setting a balanced budget while maintaining the services residents rely on.

Initial budget proposals for 2023/24 were agreed yesterday by the council’s executive. Plans include:

• £275m for adult care and community wellbeing
• £84m for children’s social care
• £47m for highways
• £22m for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

The council continues to improve efficiency using new technology and a reduction in bureaucracy and expects to save £11.5m in 2023/24 as a result. In addition, it expects to save a further £11.8m between 2024/25 and 2026/27. The proposals include three options for a rise in council tax of between 3% to 5%. Despite this, and additional government funding, the council will still need to use between £3.4m to £10.3m from its reserves to balance the budget, based on current projections. Final proposals will be agreed by the council’s executive at their meeting on Tuesday 7 February before the 2023/24 budget is set by all of the county councillors at our next full county council meeting on Friday 17 February.

SKDC Cllr Robins report.

District

SKDC had now received their share of the levelling up fund money and work will begin in the New Year with various consultations. They will communicate out to the Parish Councils to see if there are any community projects that Little Bytham could benefit from.

Work is currently being undertaken to relocate the SKDC offices (will be located above the Cinema in Grantham. They will start work in the new offices on the 9th January. I have asked that the priority is that the phone lines work more effectively as residents have complained about not being able to get through.

Cost of Living Crisis

SKDC have a money helper service which is free, confidential and impartial at www.moneyhelper.org.uk. The guide is printed in SKtoday magazine for residents of SKDC. In addition to this there is a small room off the foyer area in Stamford Arts centre which is set up with an iPad and phone for customers to make payments or contact the council for any help and advice.

The Mallard pass solar farm submitted the DCO (development consent order) – application to the planning inspectorate.

Members of the public have from today 5th January 2023 until 2nd March to register as an interested party and submit their relevant representations to the planning inspectorate. Email will be forwarded on to Chris for the link. This is an NSIP (nationally strategic infrastructure project) so may take months.

5.2 Councillors Reports. None.

6.0 Financial Matters

6.1 Financial report: position at bank. The Clerk provided the accounts to date which were accepted.

6.2 To resolve to pay the following: Clerks Salary, £207.54, Chubb 231.84. These were agreed and signed.

6.3 Cheques to be signed: As above.

7.0 Co-Option Candidates. A letter of interest was received from Mrs S Fraser for one of the vacant positions of Parish Councillor. The Councillors voted unanimously in favour of Mrs Fraser, who, being in attendance, completed the Acceptance of

Office Declaration and joined the meeting.

8.0 Budget & Precept 2023-24 The Clerk presented the annual budget which was agreed and accepted by the Councillors.

After discussion, the Councillors agreed, the Precept for 2023-24 should be set at £2000. An amount to be discussed during

the next PC meeting be set aside in the Business account for special projects, namely the restoration of the Parish Room

and the surplus funds from the Covid Grant continue to be used for the benefit of community.

9.0 Planning applications –

9.1 S22/1817 Mr Chris Johnson Conversion of outbuilding to holiday let. Glebe Farm, Little Bytham Road, Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, NG33 4QN. (No action taken by LBPC) Planning permission now granted.

9.2 S22/1899 Mr Shehroz Khan, Erection of 2 storey, 4 bed dwellinghouse, Land Adjacent to Hill View, Off Station Road, Little Bytham, (No action taken by LBPC).

10.0 Correspondence –

10.1 Mr Johnson, Parish Room Wall. (Circulated to PC)

10.2 Mr Hughes, Budget, Precept. Bytham School & Co-Option process. (Circulated to PC)

10.3 Mrs Fraser, VH Warm Space. (Circulated to PC). Cllr Fraser provided an update on the Village Hall being utilised as a Warm Space area. She confirmed the take-up was low.

11.0 AOB. Cllr Hodgson raised the issue of Dog fouling. Clerk to order a Dog Bin that will be placed in Church Lane. Cllr Fraser advised two residents will take responsibility for re charge the batteries for the speed sign.

12.0 Date of next Meeting – Tuesday 2nd March 2023.

Website: https://little-bytham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/