October 2024 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 10th October 2024 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Watkinson
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC & LCC Councillor Carrington
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
Absent:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor George
There was one member of the public present.
Public participation
A member of the public spoke about the grass cutting at Potterhanworth Road sports ground. When the parish council’s usual contractor was unable to cut the grass earlier in the year, the cricket club purchased their own ride on mower. When the parish council subsequently commissioned a new contractor to cut the grass, the cricket club continued to cut the outfield themselves, in between the contractor cuts.
The club have no adequate indoor storage for their mower and may have to consider selling it but would like to know what the council’s plans are for the grass cutting going forwards, as they don’t want to sell it if it may still be required.
The chair confirmed that the parish council would respond to the cricket club in due course.
The member of public left the meeting (7:05pm).
114/M/24 To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies and valid reasons for absence had been received from Cllrs Buckley-Jones and George and it was resolved to accept these.
Apologies had also been received from NKDC Cllr Goodwin.
115/M/24 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
Cllr Catterson declared an interest in agenda item 15 (minute 127/M/24), as a member of the WI.
116/M/24 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 9th September 2024 and for these to be signed as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Rushby and resolved to approve the September minutes. These were duly signed by the chair.
117/M/24 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
LCC & NKDC Cllr Carrington gave the following update.
LCC:
- The Headteacher at Millfield Primary Academy has been in touch to complain about the parking outside the school. Cllr Carrington will arrange to visit with LCC officers.
- The North Hykeham relief road will have an impact on traffic in Heighington. LCC have put a strong case to government for this to go ahead and have also obtained the support of our local MPs.
- There are concerns about the Environment Agency’s stance on the financing of flood recovery, and in particular potentially not upholding their commitments to the Internal Drainage Boards.
NKDC:
- Kath Marriott (formerly Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire), has as now been appointed as NKDC Chief Executive.
- Russell Stone, NKDC’s Section 151 officer, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Executive.
- NKDC have responded to consultation on draft planning proposals. There are concerns that local voices and knowledge will be squeezed out of the planning process.
- Free trees are available via The Woodland Trust.
- Cllr Carrington will be briefing the Housing Regulator on council houses.
A question was raised about the Section 19 flood reports. Cllr Carrington confirmed these have now been published (see LCC minutes of the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee).
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington and NKDC Cllr Harrington left the meeting (7:25pm).
118/M/24 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the September council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
119/M/24 To approve the monthly accounts for September 2024, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Net Position and Bank Reconciliation
The bank reconciliation for September had been signed off by Cllr Sockell prior to the meeting.
The RFO confirmed that we have now received the second half of our precept from NKDC.
Bank balances at the end of September as presented were: Co-op (current) - £30,015.24, Unity Trust (current) - £122,839.30, Public Sector Deposit Fund £48,000.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Rushby and resolved to approve the September monthly accounts.
120/M/24 To note overtime worked in August and paid in September.
There was no overtime.
121/M/24 To consider whether to replace the bench in the Jubilee Hall front garden, the old one being beyond repair.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Craig, and resolved to buy a bench, and for this to be funded from the street furniture budget.
122/M/24 To consider options for replacement of the speed sign battery, which is failing.
Following consideration of the options it was proposed by Cllr Sockell and seconded by Cllr Catterson to replace the battery, as per the manufacturer’s quote. (The manufacturer provides and installs a new battery, upgrading the battery mounting method, recommissioning, disposing of the old battery, and completing a winter service on the device. For a total of £728.32 plus VAT).
Cllr Rushby made a counterproposal to not replace the battery at all and see how much longer the speed sign lasts. This was seconded by Cllr Catlow but did not achieve a majority and so this counterproposal fell.
The original proposal from Cllr Sockell was subsequently resolved. This will be funded from reserves.
123/M/24 To agree councillors to work on the 2025-26 budget with the RFO and the Clerk, for review at December’s meeting.
Cllrs Trafford, Sockell, Catterson, Catlow, and Sowerby volunteered to work on the draft budget with the RFO and Clerk, and this was resolved.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
124/M/24 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 24/1090/TCA. Notification of intended tree works. T1 – Sycamore – 2m lateral reduction. T2 – Locust – 2m lateral reduction. Annexe at Lexicon House, High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
b. 24/1123/TPO. Proposed works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Order. T1 – Beech – Crown lift over highway to 6m and remove any significant deadwood, clear all arisings. T2 – Beech – Remove remaining part of previously failed limb back to union, also reduce spread of second partially decaying branch below, by approx. 2m back to suitable growth point, to which is now exposed and potentially at risk. Clear all arisings. The Hermitage, Mill Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
124/M/24 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
125/M/24 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 24/1044/LBC. Remedial works to pitched roof (chapel, nave, hiring rooms), installation of insulation, new roof battens, safe fixed access ladder, replacement box gutter, internal glazing of four vent apertures, removal of false ceiling in the kitchen room and enlargement of tower roof exit door alongside remedial works. Thomas Garrett Heritage Rooms & Chapel, Potterhanworth Road, Heighington, LN4 1RJ.
Council had no comments.
126/M/24 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 24/0702/FUL. Increase to store floor area through the installation of a timber enclosure, erection of external bin store, new timber fencing and gate and timber cladding to existing building. Part retrospective. True Window Care Ltd, Potterhanworth Road, Heighington. Application approved.
The planning decision was noted.
127/M/24 To consider a request from the WI for a plaque at Jubilee Hall.
Cllr Catterson stayed in the room for this item, as she had a non-pecuniary interest. It was explained that the WI numbers fell after Covid, and they were trying to attract more members. Other local WI groups have folded and the Heighington group doesn’t want to go the same way. The original suggestion was for a plaque on the wall outside the Jubilee Hall, to raise awareness that the WI met here.
Councillors made a number of suggestions as to how the WI could best promote itself and attract new members and suggested that spending money on a plaque might not be the most effective way of achieving this.
Cllr Catterson took the suggestions on board and would feedback to the next WI meeting. This item was deferred, pending further feedback from the WI.
128/M/24 To note the Q2 (July – September) litter pick report.
The report was noted.
The Clerk reminded councillors that the next Community Litter Pick will take place on Saturday 9th November, 10:00 – 12:00 (and refreshments would be available).
129/M/24 To note updates from recent changes in Employment Law and agree actions required.
Slides from a recent Employment Briefing on the new duty to prevent sexual harassment had been shared with councillors.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved for the Clerk to progress the required actions, sharing the draft document(s) with Employment Committee prior to the approval and briefing process.
The meeting closed at 8:09 pm.
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of Council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next meeting.