Minutes

Meeting of Greatford Parish Council on Tuesday 17th November 2020

(Held online due to Covid19 pandemic and Government guidelines.)

Present

Parish Councillors Jon Workman (Chair), Phil Britton (Vice chair), David Anderson (Finance), and Gemma Taylor.

Helen Britton (Clerk).

Bridget Everitt, Chris Granville-White, Bob French, Nigel Ashby, Elizabeth Ashby, Lois Webb, and Elaine Hawkins.

Welcome by the Chair

Cllr Jon Workman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for coming. He offered condolences on behalf of the village to Lynn Jeveons and family.

20/21 - 26 Apologies for absence

Cllr Kelham Cooke, Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, Cllr Ibis Channell, Dani Wheeler, Martin Brebner, Richard McDermott.

20/21 - 27 Approval of Minutes from 8th September 2020

Proposed by Cllr Phil Britton, seconded by Cllr Gemma Taylor.

20/21 - 28 Reports from County and District Councillors

The Clerk read Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellews points:

1. The SK community fund is again open for applications to provide financial assistance for:- Small grants – groups can apply for between £500-£2000 Community Events-groups can apply for between £500-£5000 Community Projects- groups can apply for between £500-£5000 Projects that tackle loneliness, social/rural isolation, mental health & wellbeing; outdoor facilities, work to community buildings & social enterprises that support communities in the district. Application-small grants scheme can request up to 100% of projected costs. Groups wishing to apply for assistance with a community event or project with a value in excess of £2000 can request up to a maximum of 80% of total, the other 20% must be contributed from elsewhere of which 10% can be from in-kind volunteering or materials. Closing date 4th December and 26th February 2021. For more information email – communityfund@southkesteven.gov.uk

2. At the INVESTSK meeting held on Wednesday we had 120 businesses register to hear about the government grants available.

3. BP/Marks & Spencer - SKDC refused planning permission at Langtoft/Market Deeping roundabout A15/A1175 but this has been overturned at appeal. It was felt that there was not sufficient evidence to show that the location and access would not be safe.

4. PL/0082/20 Mineral extraction and restoration of site at King Street, Greatford. The consultation period has been extended to gather further information and the application is not expected to go to committee until early 2021.

5. Information about LCC HGV Weight limit strategy. It would seem that LCC do not have a published policy or strategy, restrictions are on individual basis: safety or environmental.

6. I have again contacted Meynells regarding HGV’s using Greatford as a shortcut instead of using Bourne by-pass which has been proved longer in mileage but shorter in time taken.

7. LCC & SKDC are both looking at budgets for next financial year. Balancing the books is going to be difficult and some hard decisions will have to be made but will protect essential services.

8. Finally, I would be interested to hear the Councils response about the new LCC website, about the training, website itself and help available.

Points were discussed. In response to point 4, the PC would like to ask Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew what is the extra information which is required. They will be asking for Freedom of Information in relation to the application, and approaching Langtoft, Barholm-with-Stow, Wilsthorpe and Baston PCs to do the same.

In response to point 5, see 20/21 - 33.

In response to point 6, villagers will be asked to send information about quarry lorries (company, date, time, registration number) for the Clerk to collate and approach the companies concerned and as a record to defend the request for a weight-limit.

In response to point 8, the Clerk explained how several adjacent PCs, including Greatford PC, are using a professional company to do this.

Cllr Kelham Cooke was unable to attend due to sudden unforeseen circumstances and offered his retrospective apologies.

20/21 - 29 Meet the Welland Rivers Trust Community Engagement Officer

Cllr Jon Workman welcomed Perry Burns to the meeting who expressed how he hopes to meet villagers in person as soon as possible. Perry thanked Chris Granville- White, Greatford’s chief flood warden, for his extensive document about the fluvial history of Greatford.

Perry works for the WRT, speaking to landowners, parishioners, charities etc. to establish steering groups to co-develop new projects with the aim of improving the local water environment. He hopes to meet Chris and the other river wardens (Ross Edgar and Mike Stonestreet) when possible in the new year, 2021.

There was some discussion about the history of footpath access to the river.

Cllr Jon Workman thanked Perry for coming and thanked Chris for all his knowledge and work. Chris said he would continue to liaise with Perry.

Chris G-White’s written update provided an overview of current issues with flood risk-reduction activities.

Overview

Despite some recent heavy rain, the river through Greatford was still very low. However, there was now a slight rise which is likely to continue in the weeks ahead as the catchment area becomes more saturated.

Watercourse around Greatford Gardens

On Sat 26 Sep volunteers had a ‘socially distanced’ clearing session which worked well within the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Neighbouring farmer George Bremner (who has joint riparian responsibility with the Greatford property owners for this section of the watercourse) allowed the green waste to be deposited on the edge of his field.

Fallen Tree Removal

The gardeners at Greatford Hall will remove a tree which fell across the river onto the bank at the Steadings.

EA Support

Chris had put two questions to the EA last December for potential remedial work upstream of Greatford. The EA had now replied that they are unable to carry out such suggestions which would need to be properly designed and engineered and supported by evidence to understand

the implications on the River system. Without the evidence and justification to support changes to the flow regime, there would also be the issue of liability as a result of the changes.

However, in the context of land management options, tree planting further upstream might have potential to slow the flow towards Greatford. Meanwhile, one of their consultants could look into flood risk mitigation options to see what information and data might be available.

20/21 - 30 Financial matters - current cash position to end of first half

Cllr David Anderson gave the following reports on financial matters.

The balance reported at the last meeting was £8874 . We have since received £1633 which includes £453 for the second half year SKDC Community cleaner grant and £200 from SKDC for third place in the Best Kept Village competition. Donations towards the Playing Field Project for the benches and trees amounting to £980 were also included as was a £100 grant from Kelham Cooke. Expenditure in this period amounted to £1300 which included £407 for repairs to the play equipment, £298 for a strimmer and £91 other costs for the Playing Field Project. The third clerks fee of £250 was also included as was £120 for 4 hires of the Village Hall for 1920/21. The first two meetings were not paid for, being on Zoom but we agreed to pay for all others irrespective of how these are held. The closing Current Account balance on 31st October was therefore £9207.

20/21 - 31 Financial matters - Second half and year forecast

The remaining Playing Field grant of £500 is due from Mathew Davey and £30 for the wayleave. Playing Field benches costing £1600 will be paid as will,the lectern at £1140 and £222 for others. Clerks' fees of £750 will be payable and £237 for hedge and grass cutting. I have assumed payment of £100 for the Heartbeat Trust phone line and I have included £800 for the slide refurbishment and a special inspection. Total expenditure is estimated at £4915 which will leave a closing balance at the year end of £5608 including £786 in the Business Account.

It was suggested that the PC apply for a community grant to cover the cost of the slide repair and installation. Cllr David Anderson reiterated how the net cost of the playing field project (including heritage orchard, wildlife hedging and information lectern) will be very close to the initial budget forecast due to the generous donations and grants received. Cllrs Phil Britton and Gemma Taylor added their thoughts that the project will make for a very pleasant environment for villagers now and in the future.

20/21 - 32 Financial matters - Budget

I intend to apply for a Precept of £3800, an increase of £200 as for this year. The litter and maintenance grant from SKDC should be circa £930 and the VAT refund should be £810 mainly due to the Playing Field project costs. Together with the Wayleave this will give a total income of £5570. Clerk’s fees have been included at £1560, grass and hedge cutting at £812 The other major costs included are £350 for the play equipment annual inspection and £350 for insurance. Total costs are budgeted at £3842 which will leave a surplus of £1728 and a closing combined bank balance of £7336 which is broadly in line with the target giving us room to comfortably cover other projects. After discussion it was agreed to add in costs for a hedge cutter and a potential computer /software upgrade, which is under discussion. The budget will be revised once we have some estimates on these costs. We may also be able to secure a Community grant towards the slide!

Cllr David Anderson asked about ideas for future projects and they included revarnishing the noticeboard, painting the railings and purchasing a hedge-trimmer attachment for the strimmer that is used to clear communal spaces around the village.

Cllr Jon Workman thanked David for preparing the budgets and for all his work on the playing field project finances.

20/21 - 33 Planning matters - update on Category A application for gravel extraction & processing at King Street, Greatford

The Clerk reported that SKDC have “no objections to raise” about Planning Application S20/1351 for gravel extraction and processing at King Street. Cllr Jon Workman expressed how the Planning Department goes against central government planning advice and that the village will take a firm approach to this through an official complaint to the Head of Planning and to William Richards, Head of Development Management. Regarding the site meeting, attended by Jon on 24/9/20, the PC will seek a Freedom of Information Request for all documents relating to the planning application. The PC will invite Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, Cllr Kelham Cooke and Gareth Davies MP, as our representatives, along with representatives from the above-mentioned village PCs to respond to the letter from Paul Little, Head of Highways Asset Management, who made these points to Cllr Trollope-Bellew and which were forwarded onto GPC. GPC would like to meet them in person in Greatford to experience and discuss the necessity for a legally-enforced weight-limit through the village, as there is in nearby Rutland villages.

20/21 - 34 Planning matters - other

Planning applications are forwarded to villagers, as necessary. There was nothing to report.

20/21 - 35 Local Plan Consultation

The PC has looked at this and sees nothing that might impact on Greatford.

20/21 - 36 Playing Field Orchard project progress

Cllr David Anderson explained budgeting for the project. We had budgeted for this project to span two years at a cost of £800 per year. In the event all the costs should fall into 2020/21, with the VAT refund falling in 2021/22. Including the strimmer the net cost of the project will be just £1566 in line with the budget. Generous grants and donations of £1830 together with villagers' help will have enabled us to complete a larger scale project than originally envisaged.

Thanks to the ongoing organisational efforts of Dani Wheeler, the slide is being repaired at the workshop of Jim Coulam for the cost of labour only; a generous gesture which will make a welcome saving to the village. Lower branches of trees adjacent to the field are being trimmed at the end of November, shrub planting will take place after that and the trees are due to be planted in January 2021. Following that, the lectern and seats will be sited.

Elizabeth Ashby suggested a village celebration once the project is complete, and Jon and everyone concurred.

In light of a query raised by Cllr Ibis Channell (absent from the meeting), Cllr Jon Workman explained how the boundary between the playing field and the field is a ‘general boundary’ which thereby does not define where the boundary is. Both parties agreed that the current fence is the boundary, and, in the past, the PC liaised with the field owner, Ed Smith, when adding rabbit fencing to it. This boundary will be further established through the planting of the 2 metre wildlife belt and fruit trees. Cllr Phil Britton will take photos and measurements of the boundary area to keep on record. Cllr Ibis Channell is carrying out ongoing research with Chattertons, who hold the Deeds.

20/21 - 37 Sports Holiday Club proposal

The Clerk told the meeting about a proposal of a one-week holiday sport club for children aged 5-12. There was support for this and the Clerk will find out more information from Jack Hubbard, Director of Finding Fitness Ltd.

20/21 - 38 IT matters

Moving the website to the new supported platform and training for the Clerk to keep it updated will cost £300 and is due to be complete by 31/12/20. The software on the PC computer does not include Microsoft Office so Cllr Phil Britton will take some advice about adding this to the current computer or whether a new device will need to be purchased, and report back before a decision is made.

20/21 - 39 AOB

● Paul Wheeler was thanked for his help clearing the footpath, along with Bob French.

● Cllr David Anderson has set aside £150 for rabbit control on the playing field following a complaint by the dog-training people.

● Cllr Gemma Taylor spoke about the quarry lorries and so villagers will be asked to note details so that the PC can pursue this with companies such as Meynells.

● Lois Webb has offered to help with painting the rails when this project is undertaken. She has emailed Cllr Kelham Cooke to ask about the judging of the Best kept Village Competition for future reference. The Clerk has also emailed Debbie Nicholls (SKDC) with these queries.

The next meeting is on 26th January 2021. Jon and those present felt that, whilst they would all prefer to meet face-to-face, the venue will be called very close to the time, in light of changing guidelines due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and that showing a duty of care for the health of parishioners is paramount. A request had been made by Cllr Ibis Channell but there was no appetite to hold a meeting before January.

The meeting closed at 10pm.

Signed by the Chair (Jon Workman)

Signed by the Clerk (Helen Britton)