2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir Parish Council

Notes of Parish Council Meeting held at Woolsthorpe Social Club

Monday 28 November 2022

Present:

Councillor Packer            
Councillor Remzi                            
Councillor Bradshaw
Councillor McCallion
Councillor McPhilbin    

Janet Morton (Clerk)
        
Guests

District Councillor Mark Whittington

1.   WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIR

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  

A warm welcome was given to Andrew McPhilbin who has been co-opted onto the Parish Council and attending his first meeting.

Cllr Packer informed the council that the Church has a couple of carol services including one along the village street.

2.   APOLOGIES: TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN

None received 
 
3.   TO RECEIVE DECLARIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011

No requests for dispensations from Members.

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 5 September 2022. Proposed by Cllr Remzi and seconded by Cllr Mcallion.

5.   CLERKS REPORT

CORRESPONDENCE.

Pensions regulator
Have your say on the future of policing in Lincolnshire
Parishes Policing Priority Setting Meetings Feedback Form
Parish Precept
Cost of Living Information Leaflet – On website
South Kesteven District Council - Local Development Scheme 2022-2025
Safer Together Coordinator NSK Quarter 3 Newsletter
Query about land adjacent to Cobleas, Woolsthorpe

FINANCE

Income since 5 September 2022 as outlined in the respective Finance Report was noted.

It was resolved to retrospectively approve the expenditure since 5 September 2022 as outlined in the respective Finance Report. Proposed by Cllr Bradshaw seconded by Cllr Remzi and unanimously agreed.

To resolve to approve Q2 Accounts 

It was resolved to approve the quarter 2 accounts proposed by Cllr Remzi, seconded by 

Cllr McCallion and unanimously agreed.  All financial sheets signed by the Chair Cllr Packer. 

To view the budget to half year actuals

The half year budget to date was reviewed. It shows that the budget is very tight to the end of the financial year.  This was put down to some larger expenses this year including upgrading of the play area, a new parish noticeboard and reroofing of the bus shelter.  Cllr Packer looked at the expected outgoings for the rest of the financial year and resolved that spending should be kept to a minimum until the next financial year.  This was agreed unanimously by all the Councillors  

Precept for 2023-24

The clerk had prepared a budget for 2023-24 which shows the proposed spend for the year 2023-24.  This shows an expenditure of just under £10,000.00 for the financial year.  It was proposed by Cllr Bradshaw that the precept to be increased from £9,000 to £10,000 which equates to an increase of just over 10% or £0.06 per month on a Band D property. Seconded by Cllr Remzi and unanimously agreed by all councillors.

6.   PLANNING

S22/2126 
Applicant: Mr Antony Haslam 
Proposal: 1 x Willow - Remove or reduce, 1 x Beech - Remove 
Location: The Croft, 65 Main Street, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, Lincolnshire, NG32 1LX

S22/2127 
Applicant: Mr Antony Haslam 
Proposal: Remove 15 x Red Cedar Trees 
Location: 1 Rectory Cottages, Main Street, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, Lincolnshire, NG32 1NA 

This was discussed due to the amount of trees and the council were informed that the trees have caused damage to surrounding area due to their size. No objections received.

S22/1833 Permission Granted
Date Received: 16th September 2022 
Applicant: Ms H Luke 
Proposal: Retrospective application - Change of Use from residential to mixed use (sui generis) - to incorporate dog day care and boarding. 
Location: Mill Farm Sedgebrook Road Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Lincolnshire NG32 2HE

S22/1236 Withdrawn
Date Received: 26th July 2022 
Applicant: Mrs J Jones Agent: Mrs Aida McManus 
Proposal: Change of use of dwelling (C3) to residential care for a solo child (C2). 
Location: Cliff View Sedgebrook Road Woolsthorpe by Belvoir Lincolnshire NG32 1NU

S22/1552 Permission Granted 
Date Registered: 8th September 2022 
Applicant: Mr David Willows 
Proposal: Submission of details reserved by condition 6 (new window to Greyhound Cottage) of pp S21/0543. 
Location: Greyhound Cottage Main Street Woolsthorpe by Belvoir

S22/1640 Permission Granted 
Date Registered: 15th August 2022 
Applicant: Mr L Holmes 
Proposal: Approval of details required by conditions 3 (Drainage), 4 (Land levels), 6 (Joinery), 7 (Landscaping scheme), 8 (Boundary Treatments), 9 (Location of Brick/Stone and Pantiles/Slates), 10 (Material Samples) and 11 (Rainwater Goods) of S22/0797 
Location: Land To North Of Belvoir Lane Belvoir Lane Woolsthorpe by Belvoir.

No objections were received from the council. 

7.   PLAY AREA

The work renewing ground areas of the Play Area was completed at the beginning of November, Cllr Remzi has done a visual check on the equipment and has noted that one small ramp area has some rot.  A new sign saying no dogs allowed for the gate is required.  The community cleaner has been asked to check the bins in the play area in the future.  

The annual RoSpa inspection is twice the price at this time of year as it is not in the discounted period.  Cllr Packer suggested that we defer the inspection until the discounted time in July – August and suggested that a risk assessment is produced, and a weekly inspection done of the area.  There was concern as to whether the Council would be covered by their insurance if an official inspection had not been done.  After some debate it was decided to use Wickstead.  Clerk to set up the inspection.

8.   JUBILEE TREE

The tree has been planted in Cobleas along with a plaque.  Cllr Remzi suggested that a more formal declaration could be done in the future.  Perhaps coordinating with the church, social club at the Kings coronation. Further thoughts for future meetings.

9.   CHRISTMAS TREE

The Christmas tree has been ordered from the same place as last year for around £85.  Hopefully this will be in situ ready with the lights for the Carols on 10 December.

10.   CHURCH YARDS

Cllr Packer asked if the Parish Council should continue to pay for the cost of cutting the grass in the churchyard and the burial ground.  Cllr Remzi said that the church needs to formally close the churchyard so that the responsibility is passed to the District Council.

Cllr McPhilbin informed the council that the church is aware that they need to close the churchyard and believes they are in the process of doing so, unfortunately the vicar has 7 churches she looks after and is extremely busy and is trying to get the paperwork done.

Cllr Packer explained that there are 2 acts that contradict themselves regarding the Parish Council assisting the church.  The 1894 Act expressly forbids parish councils to contribute funds to the church.  However the 1972 Act allows the parish councils to maintain areas that are for the general benefit of the parish. Further reading reveals that the provision of a burial plot is a parish citizen right and that such land is to be construed as to being provided for the general benefit of the population.

Cllr Packer asked that the Councillors to decide whether the Parish Council should continue paying the costs of cutting the grass in the two areas.

Cllr Remzi said that the church does not make much money out of the burials and the parishioners do get upset when the areas are not maintained. Cllr Remzi would like to continue with the upkeep of the areas.

DC Mark Whittington informed the Council that some churches are now rewilding areas and that grants are available for this.

Cllr Remzi proposed that we continue to care for Cobleas burial ground.  The churchyard until July 2023 by which time the church should have closed the churchyard and the responsibility passed to the District Council. This was seconded by Cllr Bradshaw and unanimously agreed by all councillors.

11.   BUS SHELTER

It was noted by several of the Councillors that work had started on the reroofing of the bus shelter this morning.

12.   AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING

Grass Cutting/Church
Play Area
Bin emptying on Sedgebrook Rd

13.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Wednesday 18 January 2023
Monday 6 March 2023