January 2025 Minutes
Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir
Parish Council
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held at Woolsthorpe Social Club
Monday 13th January 2025 at 19.00
Present Cllr. McCallion - Chair
Cllr. Bunn – Vice Chair
Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh
Julie Gillies - Clerk
Guests DC Rob Leadenham
Sarah Turtle, VPG representative
3 parishioners
58/25 WELCOME REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR
Cllr. McCallion welcomed everyone to the meeting.
59/25 APOLOGIES: TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies had been received and were accepted from Cllr. Jarvis, Cllr. Packer, Cllr. Bosworth and Cllr. Whittington.
60/25 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
No declarations of Member interests in relation to agenda items were received.
No requests for dispensations from Members were received.
The meeting adjourned at 19.02 for the Public Forum.
Parishioners noted that some areas of social media had not been updated and the re-arranged meeting from 6th January was showing the previous date.
Malcolm Duff expressed his disappointment that his commitment to the checking of the defibrillator had not been recognised at the last meeting and it had been incorrectly minuted that a Councillor would be carrying out the checks. Mr. Duff explained that weekly checks were being made on the defibrillator and had been since early 2024, these checks were added to the ‘Heartbeat’ website. Mr. Duff also changed the battery and pads when required. It was acknowledged that it had been forgotten that Mr. Duff would be carrying out the checks and Mr. Duff was thanked for his commitment and time.
Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh volunteered to oversee and support Mr. Duff and the volunteers.
Cllr. McCallion volunteered to try to attach the defibrillator sign to the telephone box.
Mrs Death was thanked for providing copies of the minutes from 2016 regarding the defibrillator.
Discussion took place on whether parishioners were invited to the VPG meetings and why Woolsthorpe Parish Council did not have a representative on the group. It was confirmed that only members were allowed to attend and that Sarah Turtle was the Parish Council representative.
The meeting re-convened at 19.24.
61/25 VALE PARISH GROUP (VPG)
Sarah Turtle, Parish Council representative to the VPG, reported on a meeting held on 9th January 2025 to discuss flooding issues, where it had been agreed that parishes would carry out their own independent survey of flooding issues including historical problems, after which the group would meet with District and County Councils to identify the areas with issues to try to resolve the problems.
Discussion took place on the varying impact on different areas of the Vale.
Mr and Mrs Duff and Mrs Death volunteered to help Sarah Turtle and the Parish Council to work through the flooding map and SKDC data to identify problem areas and speak to parishioners.
Cllr. McCallion to put a notice on Facebook and the notice board to ask for pictures and information.
Deadline for pictures and information was 27th January 2025. Sarah to provide an email address.
A working party to also be arranged.
Information from the survey to be included within the Emergency Plan.
Cllr. Leadenham reported on the issues faced and the actions taken by SKDC during the flooding.
Emergency contact numbers had been sent out by Cllr. Leadenham and these could be used in the Emergency Plan.
Query was made on historical correspondence from the water authorities. Cllr. McCallion to check the archives.
A request to be put to Cllr. Whittington for the gullies to be cleaned out.
62/25 COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH
Cllr. Leadenham gave an update and confirmed that he would be putting together a mobile speedwatch team to go to the villages who do not have any trained volunteers or are struggling with the low number of volunteers.
The Enforcement Delivery Manager for Nottinghamshire Police had agreed to carry out an Archer Survey from 27th May to 2nd June, positioned on Belvoir Road between Denton and Woolsthorpe. A mobile camera unit had also been requested.
It was confirmed that at least 2 teams would be operating out of Denton during Forbidden Forest and Woolsthorpe Community Speedwatch were also encouraged to provide 2 teams during this period.
Sarah Turtle asked for items relating to Forbidden Forest to be forwarded to her before the next sub-SAG (Safety and Advisory Group) meeting on 28th January 2025.
Details on Community Speedwatch training to be put on Facebook. Cllr. Leadenham asked for permission to post directly on the Parish Council Facebook page and this was agreed.
Cllr. Leadenham to send information on devolution.
New laws and powers had been in force since December 2024 and these were explained.
63/25 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 4th November 2024 had been circulated and after the following amendment, were agreed to be a true and accurate record and were signed by Cllr. McCallion as Chair:-
To delete the following that had been said during the open part of the meeting (at 19.32) –
Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh agreed to carry out weekly checks on the defibrillator.
And replace with-
Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh agreed to investigate the annual commitment for the defibrillator, including sundries.
64/25 FINANCE
a) Resolved – To accept the bank reconciliation, payments and monies received (appendix i)
b) Resolved – To accept 2024/25 budget to actuals (appendix i)
c) Budget 2025/26 and Precept requirements – Budget figures for 2025/26 had been circulated.
A proposal was made for no change to the precept and this was agreed unanimously.
d) Asset register – Cllr. McCallion to mark asset locations on a map. Pictures and replacement values to be included on the register.
Discussion took place on CHAT benches and it was explained that these would now be part of the playground updates.
e) Records/Archive – Archive documents had been given to Cllr. McCallion and he continued to read through them. It was reported there was a gap in the minutes between 1981 and 1983 due to the Parish Council not sitting and another gap between 2005 and 2016. Cllr. McCallion asked permission to put an advert out to ask for missing minutes and this was agreed unanimously.
65/25 Planning – Applications and Decisions
a) Planning Applications
S24/2128 Castle Farm, Main Street – No Objection
Submission of details reserved by condition 2 (soft landscaping) of planning permission S24/1088 (Formation of new vehicular access, parking area and repair to existing stone wall in association with use of Castle Farmhouse, Class C2 – Childrens Care Home)
S24/2189 Ash Tree Cottage, Main Street – No Objection
Section 211 notice for minor reduction of T1 (Weeping Ash) by up to 1m away from building and target prune over extended branches to create a more uniform shape. Crown raise to 5.2m above highway as per highways standard.
b) Planning Decisions
S24/1799 Devon Beck, Belvoir Lane
Section 211 Notice to reduce conifer trees by 1-2 metres and reduce sides
Work allowed – 14th November 2024.
S24/1855
Norway Cottage, 187 Main Street
Section 211 Notice for removal of cryptomeria tree and several western red cedar trees.
Work allowed – 18th November 2024
66/25 Playground
Cllr. Jarvis had been in contact with Antony Haslam and Jacob Dunne at Belvoir Castle, however, Jacob Dunne had now left their employment. Antony Haslam had been invited to the meeting but had been unable to attend.
Information had been given to Cllr. Jarvis on a master plan for Belvoir Estate and the surrounding area, details of which could not be divulged at the meeting.
Parishioners were informed that once permission had been received on the siting of the play equipment, funding would be sought from external routes.
A safety inspection had been carried out on the existing equipment and several items had been highlighted as requiring attention. Cllr. McCallion and Cllr. Bunn to work through the report to identify the repairs required.
Councillors were given details of a grant from SKDC that could provide funding for the remedial work but would be dependant on the length of the existing lease. Cllr. McCallion to check the lease dates.
67/25 Community Orchard
Projects needed to be completed by the end of March 2025 so it would be unlikely that an application could be submitted in time.
68/25 Village Issues
a) Overgrown Hedges and Village Maintenance
The request made to the Castle for hedges to be cut had been confirmed and it was reported some of the hedges had been cut back.
b) Signage/Stop signs on Cliff Road
A reminder to be sent to Cllr. Whittington.
c) Speed limiting solutions
A quote had been received for a second charger at £230. Cllr. McCallion to obtain further quotes.
d) Dog waste bin
A request had been received from a parishioner for a dog waste bin by the seat at Cobleas. It was explained the Parish Council would have to purchase the bin and pay for it to be emptied. Costs to be obtained and the dog warden to be asked for this area to be added to the rota for checking.
e) Council Storage
Storage was required for Parish Council archive material and items. Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh to ask if there would be space in the cupboard in the Social Club.
69/25 Emergency Plan
Cllr. Hardcastle-Waugh had been unable to attend the training session held at the end of 2024 but had been in contact with the providers and they will share the paperwork packs to support putting together an Emergency Plan.
A workshop to be held in the village hall for parishioners to share knowledge and formulate the plan. The Estate have also been asked to take part.
70/25 Cobleas Cemetery
The Vicar had confirmed that the Church would take over responsibility for the water tap but she had been unable to attend the meeting.
71/25 Correspondence
Nothing to report.
72/25 Matters to report
Antony Haslam to be asked to attend the next meeting.
Village Survey update to be an agenda item for the next meeting.
73/25 Date of next meeting
Monday 3rd March 2025 at 7pm.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.04