December 2024 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 9th December 2024 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin (arrived 7:02pm)
Absent:
Councillor George
Councillor Watkinson
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
NKDC & LCC Councillor Ian Carrington
There were no members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no public questions or comments.
152/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 George and Watkinson. It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to accept these.
153/M/24 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
Cllr Trafford declared an interest in agenda item 10 (minute reference 161/M/24) as a member of the bowls club.
154/M/24 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 11th November 2024 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Catlow, seconded by Cllr Rushby and resolved to approve the November minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
155/M/24 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
NKDC Cllr Goodwin shared the following highlights:
• Changes to Christmas bin collections days can be found on NKDC website.
• The "Statutory Instrument" necessary to establish the new Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority (GLCCA) was laid before Parliament on 26 November 2024.
• North Kesteven District Council is currently consulting on a Draft Active Travel Strategy.
• The Council Chamber welcomed 77 students from six of the districts sixth forms to put their questions to a panel of experts in the 2024 Question Time NK event.
• Councillor Wright joined members of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan team at the national 2024 Awards for Planning Excellence ceremony.
• In the recent NKDC Community Champion Awards, Washingborough Academy School won in the category ‘Contribution to a better Environment’ for educating, engaging and inspiring future generations in responsible resource use and consumption.
• The Government continues to urge pensioners on a low income to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December deadline.
156/M/24 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the November council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
157/M/24 To approve the monthly accounts for November 2024, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Net Position and Bank Reconciliation
The bank reconciliation for November had been checked and signed off by Cllr Sowerby prior to the meeting.
Bank balances at the end of November as presented were: Co-op (current) - £30,015.24, Unity Trust (current) - £108,536.23, Public Sector Deposit Fund £48,000.
It was proposed by Cllr Catlow, seconded by Cllr Sockell and resolved to approve the November monthly accounts.
158/M/24 To note overtime worked in October and paid in November.
This was noted.
159/M/24 To consider opening a Unity Trust instant access savings account.
This was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved.
160/M/24 To consider further additions to the Station Road play area in this financial year.
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved, to obtain quotes for an accessible roundabout and two sensory panels for this financial year, to be funded out of reserves. Quotes will be considered at January’s Council meeting.
161/M/24 To set the hire charges for 2025-26.
Cllr Trafford left the meeting (7:20pm).
Cllr Catterson declared an interest, as a member of the WI, and left the meeting (7:21pm).
The hire charges for 2025-26, namely an increase of 50p per hour for Jubilee Hall hire and a 5% increase on pitch hire, were proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved. All our regular hirers will be notified, and regular non-commercial hirers will also be reminded about the parish council grant awarding process and timescales.
Cllrs Trafford and Catterson returned to the meeting (7:25pm).
162/M/24 To consider the draft budget for 2025-26.
The RFO shared the draft budget for 2025-26 and the assumptions that this has been based on.
The budget was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved.
The RFO confirmed that the precept amount would be set in January, once we have the tax band information from NKDC.
163/M/24 To ratify the purchase (under delegated authority) of a high-speed buffer from CSG, which is suitable for the Jubilee Hall flooring, the existing buffer being the wrong type for these floors.
This was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved. The clerk confirmed that the old buffer could still be used on the flooring at our other premises.
164/M/24 To consider commissioning an annual tree assessment, in addition to the 5-year formal tree inspection.
This was proposed by Cllr Sockell, seconded by Cllr Sowerby and resolved.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
165/M/24 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
None received.
166/M/24 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
167/M/24 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 24/1232/LBC. Removal and replacement of plaster coverings to hall and landing (part retrospective). Albert House, 6 High Street, Heighington.
Considered offline – council had no comments.
b. 24/1040/LBC. Replace existing boiler. 18 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1RG.
Council had no comments.
168/M/24 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 24/1100/HOUS. Installation of external wall insulation and render. Cladding to contrasting brickwork and sofits and fascias. 61 Canterbury Drive, Heighington.
Application approved.
b. 23/0636/OUT. Outline planning application to include details of access, layout and scale for the erection of 4no. terraced industrial/commercial units (use classes E(g)(i), E(g)(ii) and E(g)(iii). Land adjacent to True Window Care and NJE Trading, Potterhanworth Road, Heighington.
Notification that application has been withdrawn.
Planning decisions were noted.
169/M/24 To review the Four Year Plan.
The updated Four Year Plan was reviewed. This was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved.
170/M/24 To consider alterations of one of the changing rooms at Station Road to accommodate the u3a model railway group.
It was proposed by Cllr Trafford, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to permit the model railway group to remove the benches, and use a PAT-tested heater in the changing room. In addition, the council would obtain quotes for potential works to convert the other changing room into a useable meeting space, and this would be brought back to a future meeting for consideration.
171/M/24 To consider a request from Millfield Primary Academy PTA to use the Jubilee Hall for their Community Easter Egg hunt in 2025.
This year the Jubilee Hall was offered free to the PTA due to the school being out of action as a result of the flooding. Council considered the request for 2025 but thought to be fair to other community events, the minimum hire charge should be applied. This was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved.
At this point Cllr Sockell requested that thanks be minuted to officers and councillors for the additional work put in to cover the period where we were without a caretaker.
The meeting closed at 7:56 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.