2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Washingborough Parish Council.

Minutes of the Full Parish Council Meeting 18 March 2021 at 2pm Held remotely, under The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 

Present:

• Cllr D Fothergill (Chairman)
• Cllr Mrs J Aspinall
• Cllr Mrs B Bland
• Cllr R Harrington
• Cllr G Kent
• Cllr G Peck
• Cllr P Scigala
• Cllr Mrs L Simons
• Cllr Mrs R Whipp
• Miss K Broddle (Clerk)

Also present:

• Cllr L Cawrey (LCC), 
• Cllr G Tinsley (NKDC) and
• Cllr I Carrington (NKDC) 

100. In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, recieved -

1. Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr R Clark and Cllr C Goodwin (NKDC)
2. Declarations of Interest received - None
3. Applications for Dispensation - None

101. Draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 18 February 2021 were approved and signed as the minutes.

102. Presentation from Lindum Homes:

Mark Foster advised that Lindum Homes have taken over the Manor Fields development at the request of the landowner.

• A planning application has been sent to NKDC with the revised change to the footprint of some of the properties and
• Amendments to the style of housing.
• Building materials and design will be matched where possible.
• The site should be completed by 2024.
• The layout of the site has not changed.
• Partially built properties will be finished as per the existing approved plannning permission.
• Lindum have theri own work force, including appretices and will use local suppliers, where possible.
• Workers living locally, will work on the site. 

103. Reports from NKDC and LCC Councillors: 

• The reports were noted and are appended

104. Public Forum:

• No members of the public were in attendance

105. Clerks Report:

1. a. Should the legislation allowing Council to hold remote meetings not be extended, from the 7th May 2021 the Clerk advised that face to face meetings would be the only way for Council to meet and as such had undertaked work to allow these meetings to take place safely. The following recommendations were proposed, seconded and resolved by Council;
   1. to use the main hall in the Community Centre for meetings.
   2. to meet on a Wednesday, with the meeting commencing at 2pm.
   3. to hold the Annual Parish Council meeting, remotely, on the 6th May at 2pm, regardless of whether or not face to face meetings have resumed.
2. The Licence renewal for the Telecomms mast has been finalised, with the point regarding confidentiality removed.
   1. The lease has been signed and returned to the solicitor.
3. Vandalism has taken place on the playing fields and an amount of fencing has been broken, this will be replaced later in the year.
4. Vandalism at the Pavilion outside toilets has led to quotes being sought to make this area more secure and these are an agenda item for Council to consider.
5. The new boiler has been installed in the Pavilion.
6. The requested letter to Dr.Caroline Johnson MP has been sent and acknowledged, it will be sent on to the Dept of Transport for discussion.

106. The following items were discussed with the resolutions as stated:

1. Request for a 20mph speed limit on Main Road - the archer speed survey received in January showed that the average speed along Main Road was 26.1mph (below the actual 30mph limit) and that there is normally a number of cars parked along the road, which automatically reduces the speed of travelling vehicles. Cllr Cawrey also advised that a 20mph limit was mainly for roads where schools are sited. It was proposed, seconded and resolved by Council to not support this request.
2. Scarecrow Competition - following discussions with Heighington Parish Council, who have also agreed to hold a Scarecrow festival. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to hold a joint festival during the month of August..
3. Royal British Legion VE Day 2021 'Tommy' - due tp the problems with an increase in vandalism, it was proposed, seconded and resolved, not to purchase a Tommy this year.
4. Community Speed Watch Scheme - after some discussion regarding the number of vehicles speeding compaints and volunteers safety and training it was proposed, seconded and resolved to advertise on our website, face book and in Sheepwash TImes to see if there is any interest from residents willing to volunteer to start this scheme, with the support of the Council.
5. Litter Pickers - it was proposed, seconded and resolved to advertise for volunteers on our website and face book to see if there is any interest in this
6. Gymnastics Club request to use the Paying Fields for two dated in April - it was proposed, seconded and resolved to allow the use, free of charge.
7. Risk Assessments: following the announcement of the easing of Covid 19 lockdown over the next four months the following assessments were reviewed
   1. Office Opening - it was proposed,seconded and resolved to open the office from APril 14th as it will be covid secure;
   2. Pavilion - it was proposed, seconded and resolved to keep the building closed until a further assessment of the building has taken place to assess needs to be put in place and the viability to re-open the buliding;
   3. Community Centre - it was propose to keep the building closed, to allow more informtaion on social distancing to be published, until mid May, at the earliest.

107. Planning Matters.

1. Applications received:
   1. 21/0195: 21 Fen Road – PNH fro single storey rear extension.
      1. It was proposed, seconded and resolved that Council do not wish to make any comment on this application.
   2. 21/0250: 10 High Meadow - erection of a detached double garage..
      1. It was proposed, seconded and resolved that Council do not wish to make any comment on this application.

108. Financial matters:

1. The payment schedule was proposed, seconded and resolved (see below).
2. Quotes for railings at the Pavilion - Four quotes had been requested and two were received. The quote from Lincoln Metalcraft for £3788.32 (net) was proposed, seconded and resolved.
3. HIre of a scarifier for preperation of the wilf flower meadow - this was porposed, secended and resolved
4. The accounts/budget for February 2021 were noted.
5. The Unity Trust Bank balance of account as at 28th February 2021 was noted   

109. For information:

1. The Routine maintenance factsheet form the Environment Agency was noted.

110. Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 it was proposed, seconded and resolved to move into closed session for the following item.

111. The payroll payments were proposed, seconded and resolved.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 3.25pm.

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS: 19 February 2021 - 18 March 2021

DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORT MARCH 2021

COVID STATISICS

• National - 59 positive tests per 100K (14 Mar)
• North Kesteven - 43 positive tests per 100K (14 Mar)
• Washingborough, Canwick, Branston area - 63 positive tests per 100K (8 Mar)
• Heighington, Potterhanworth, Metheringham - 47 positive tests per 100K (9 Mar)

Vaccinations (13 Mar)

• 1st dose vaccinations 24,196,211
• 2nd dose vaccinations 1,584,909

North Kesteven District Council meeting – 2 Mar 21

Two key issues were resolved at this meeting;

1. Council approved an ambitious NK Plan (2021-24).  Key points;
   1. The plan is fully aligned with the UN Development goals,
   2. The plan drives forward the Council’s climate change initiative,
   3. The plan is based on a strong and prosperous local economy.
2. Council approved the NK Financial Plan. Key points;
   1. The plan is prudent but ambitious,
   2. An increase in Council Tax (£4.95 for a Band D property) was approved but this is underpinned by a safety net for those in financial difficulty,
   3. The plan contains £230M Capital investment over the next 10 years. 
   4. This is impressive for a relatively small council and represents economic gain offering social and local benefits.
3. The Council has just released a 30 minute video covering the NK Plan 2021-24. Well worth a watch!

Pitts Road Junction Washingborough

The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership have recognised the issues at this junction and have bid for funding to carry out mitigation works. These works should include additional signage and refreshing of road markings as well as further opening up of the approaches by trimming back vegetation. Hopefully, the erection of Stop signs on the Pitts Road, Sheepwash approaches will be considered.

Pre-Election Period Guidance

The period of Purdah for elections taking place on 6 May 21 for Lincolnshire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and any contested local by-elections commences on 22 Mar 21. This means Local authorities should not publish any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party. Normal business should continue unless there are very good reasons why this should not be the case.

Voting on 6 May 2021

Polling stations will be open but with additional safety measures including;

1. Wearing a face covering
2. Voters encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil
3. Cleaning hands on entering and leaving the polling station
4. Maintaining social distance at all time.
5. Postal voters will need to apply by 20 Apr 21.

COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT - March 2020

On Monday 8 March, a site visit with Joe Phillips, our Local Highways Manager, was held to discuss:

• Pitts Road/ Heighington Road junction
• Church Hill
• School Lane
• Fen Road
• Washingborough Road
• Park Lane.
• Pitts Road

Cllr Ron Oxby joined Joe and I at the Pitts Road junction. It was agreed that the road markings need repainting, overhanging foliage currently obscuring signage needs to be cut back and an oddly positioned road sign needs to be re-positioned.

Church Hill

On the matter of Church Hill being used excessively - including by HGVs, Highways’ response is twofold.

1. More of an evidence base is needed (suggest waiting till volumes get back to normal following a post-Covid return to work) for the site to require any kind of intervention due to traffic loads
2. Addressing weight limit restriction, I am advised that this would be unusual at the location and would likely push HGVs to use other roads in the area that already receive complaints on levels of traffic and HGV usage) then Highways. Unfortunately, Highways will probably not be able to address the HGV issue in the short-term and, consequently, would be unlikely that the Traffic Team would be able to justify any kind of legal order right now.

This is not the news I wanted to bring you, but I need to be transparent in what can be achieved. That said, this needs to remain on our list of concerns and we will continue for it to be pushed up the list for consideration.

School Lane

To address the matter of excess traffic, opposing traffic and inconsiderate parking on School Lane, Highways are not, in principle, opposed to this becoming one-way from High Meadow to High St/ Pitts Road. The impact this would have in moving the majority of school traffic to come from the main road roundabout up School Lane may be a concern in that it actually speeds up movement of traffic past the school and then further along outside the surgery. There would still be minimal access from Oak Hill and Penfold Lane and some up Policeman’s Lane.

Highways have agreed to assess the length of School Lane for parking issues around school time and will discuss the possibility of a one-way system to alleviate some of the two-way issues when navigating parked vehicles. Of course, this will be subject to public consultation.

B1190 Fen Road

The issue of speeding traffic and the state of the surface of Fen Road (in particular close to the pedestrian crossing) was discussed. As it is a B road, and the most direct link from Bardney to Lincoln, Highways will look into improving the road surface at the crossing in the next financial year.

B1190 Washingborough Road – Footway

This is an issue that I have been pursuing for all my term of office and one on which I am determined to succeed. However, things are not always simple. While there is obviously some sort of residual tarmac under the encroaching grass and weeds along the length of the Washingborough Road footway, Highways’ footway asset register only records an official footway from Canwick Hill to the crematorium and then the short section outside the bowling alley for the bus stop. More advice is being sought on what happens here if we are able to uncover a reasonable footway, bearing in mind that the quality of the footways may vary considerably.

In principle, the Local Highways Manager is supportive of my idea of having this as a useable footpath, but they are unsure what we will uncover and may need extensive repair.

Park Lane

To address the issue of parking on Park Lane, I am advised that, in order to progress any sort of parking restrictions via a Traffic Restriction Order (TRO), I will need a formal request from the parish council, with details of the issues including photos, if at all possible. If I support the request for a TRO then I will forward the parish council’s request to Highways, confirming my support. This request will then be given to the Traffic Team to add to their investigations list. The parking issue will then be looked at. I have that guaranteed and - if a TRO is considered appropriate - a scheme will be designed to address the problems.