January 2025 Minutes
BISHOP NORTON & ATTERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Record of the Parish Council meeting held in the village hall on Monday 13th January 2025 at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr Suggit (Chairman,) Cllr Widdop, Cllr Townsend, Cllr Freeman, Cllr Dean, Cllr Thody and Jayne Moore (Clerk.)
Public Question Time: No members of the public were in attendance.
1. Apologies for absence: Cllr Guy
2. Record of the last Meeting:
11 November 2024 – Minutes proposed and seconded, all agreed.
3. Matters arising: None that aren’t covered in the Agenda.
4. County & District Councillor Reports:
District and County Report:
Cllr Bunney had visited the developing Glentham digestate site for briefings. Concerns submitted regarding potential odours had been noted, but minimization measures were being effected and movement of feedstocks and processed waste would routinely avoid the main settlements, except when roads were being repaired or when some waste is spread periodically on fields. Parish Councils representatives may be invited to visit for reassurance. The Chair had been in contact with WLDC Resilience Officers regarding the procurement of ammonia detection and measurement systems and contingency reporting procedures.
The nearby fatal lorry collision on the A15 on Christmas Eve had again highlighted the dangers of the road. Cllr Bunney would continue to pursue local concerns with the Road Safety Partnership again, albeit the likelihood of improvements remained at a lower priority and were likely to remain so until local government restructuring is complete and additional funding may be allocated - Highways responsibility shifting from County to the Mayor. The Chair advised that BBC Look North intended to broadcast another feature near term and the profiling of A15 issues would continue.Assuming everything goes as regard to mayoral authority, the roads system will come under the combined mayors authority and not Lincolnshire highways. Although this may cause a slight delay it may ensure people start to listen.
Cllr Bunney advised that annual Budgets and Council charges were still to be set. District Councils structures would continue with the same structure/ layers but this may change in 2/3 years’ time. WLDC could go into Lincolnshire County Council, or perhaps even join North Lincolnshire, subject to discussions due in 2 years’ time. Adult and social care is coming from reserves now instead of percentage increase.
Gate on the Ancholme – Private Lane with a public footpath at the end of the lane. An option may be to ask the landowner if they could offer pedestrian link to the path. Legally, the Water authority is entitled to put up a gate. It is understandable why uncontrolled vehicle access is not desired - risk of bank slips etc.
If there are any Resilience issues, the Council may contact Grant White or Cllr Bunney direct.
Cllr Bunney was thanked for his attendance and left at 7.52pm.
5. Declarations of interest; to receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011:
Clerk and Cllr Dean disclosed an interest in Item 15.
Clerk disclosed an interest in item 10.
Cllr Suggit, Cllr Townsend, Cllr Freeman declared an interest in item 14.
Cllr Townsend declared an interest in item 11 and 12.
6. Planning Applications: None received since last meeting.
The development down Green Lane is well advanced.
7. Community Resilience and Flooding:
The Chair had telephoned WLDC officers and left a message, but didn’t get anything until early December. One of the staff was no longer at Gainsborough, placing additional workload until replaced. Flooding continued to be an issue at the Norton Lane / Glentham Road junction - 45mm last weekend, mainly rain, with 9mm of snow melt. Cllr Suggit has asked the Resilience team to raise the inadequacy of under road culverts with Highways again. David Lee had communicated with the Chair. The Chair thanked Ian Moore for putting out the flood signs.
The allotments had been partially flooded, because the dike was full. Overflows from lower Well Street didn’t help. There was further evidence of toilet matter on the road; the Chair would photograph and submit to WLDC again to press for Anglian Water action.
Ammonia detectors – The Chair has asked WLDC whether or not there is an affordable piece for Parish Councils and what readings would provoke an Authority intervention. Details hopefully to be provided by our next meeting.
8. Playing Field improvements:
Grant Funding – Unfortunately no funding remains available for the project from WLDC, but our application remains lodged in their system.
Mole Infestation – Clerk discussed the mole issue and Cllr Freeman added that they are very active on the right hand side. The Clerk would check when their next visit is so Cllr Freeman may be able to meet them on site.
9. Finance update: (See RFO finance report):
Circulated prior to the meeting. Clerk will be completing VAT return in due course.
10. Local Government Pay increase:
The automatic Local Government pay increase percentage was agreed at the same scale point, taking it from £13.06 to £13.69. This will be back paid to the effective date of April 2024.
The Councillors agreed the Clerk's scale point merited a periodic review. The Pay Sub-committee will meet before the March meeting. The Clerk would forward the Pay Scales summary to Sub-committee members.
11. Triangle:
A request for further support had been received. It was noted that the other two parishes contribute as well. We donated £400 in previous year, all agreed to donate the same amount. Proposed and seconded. Cllr Townsend would note relevant matters from this evening's Council for input into applicable editions.
12. Litter Pick:
Zoë Henderson had offered to coordinate the next community litter pick on 29th March 2025 The Parish Council to support with funding for refreshments, again. To assist future planning, it was proposed we would create an annual arrangement of up to £30 per litter pick (allowance of 2 per year.) Proposed and seconded, all agreed.
13. Final Precept 2025/2026:
As preliminarily determined at the November Meeting’s discussion, Council approved to request an increase by 1% to £6,817.50 for 2025/26. Clerk to send paperwork into WLDC.
14. Allotment Fees:
It was decided to remain the same price of £5.00 for half and £10.00 for full plot. Drainage would be discussed at March’s meeting.
15. Grass cutting including additional village grass cutting:
The current contractor has requested if the cuts can increase to 12 cuts if necessary. The 2025 cutting plan incorporated some parcels hitherto excluded. Proposed and seconded, to go with the current contractor again for 2025/2026 at £96.75 + VAT per cut.
12. Grass strip in front of playing field:
Cllr Townsend purchased some signs to inform people not to park on the grass strip. The choice is to attach to the uprights or exchange some for portrait shapes. A request received from a Parishioner to have a ‘Slow down, children playing sign’ outside of the field/ play area. The Clerk would contact WLDC to brief them that patterns indicated delivery drivers are going too fast by the playing area and asking them what they can do and if there is a proprietary sign that can be procured.
13. Village flower boxes:
The troughs to be purchased as soon as possible, with soil. The bases to be completed by local contractor. Triangle magazine to put in their next edition a piece about the planters.
Agreed to reimburse the Clerk immediately after purchase.
19. Defibrillator at Atterby:
Cllr Townsend contacted Claire Morris and gave the measurements for the defibrillator.
H: 465mm, W: 435mm, D: 240mm. Asked about the electricity supply, this is for the heater in the cabinet and a light, the heater is thermostatically controlled and depends on the weather. She confirmed that it was no more than a few pounds a year.
Cost of £640.00. Proposed and seconded, all agreed. Cllr Suggit to contact land owner again.
20. Meeting Dates:
Monday 10th March
Monday 12th May (APM)
Monday 14th July
Monday 8th September
Monday 10th November
17. Items for next Meeting: Feedback on resilience, Allotment review, procurement of village boxes, feedback on speed signs past playing field, defibrillator, mole infestation, report from the pay committee, drainage outside the allotments and flooding on Stonepit Lane.
18. Date of next Meeting: Monday 10th March 2025 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall
Chairman thanked all in attendance and meeting closed at 8.52pm.
Chairman signed………………………………………. Date: ……………………….