September 2024 Minutes
Washingborough Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 18th September 2024 at 6.00pm in the Community Centre,
Small Hall, Fen Road, Washingborough, Lincoln. LN4 1AB
Present:
• Cllr Mrs L Simons (Chairman)
• Cllr Mrs B Bland
• Cllr A Fraser
• Cllr R Harrington
• Cllr Mrs A Nixon
• Cllr G Peck
• Cllr Mrs W Skelton
• Cllr Mrs R Whipp
In Attendance: Miss K Broddle (Clerk) and Mrs E Salter (Assistant Clerk)
Members of the Public: There were two members of the public present.
a. Public Forum: None.
b. Reports from LCC and NKDC: the LCC and NKDC reports were noted and are attached.
Cllr Carrington (NKDC) spoke about the flood enquiry, which is still ongoing but should be completed by late autumn: the remainder of the relief road is under review by the government . The retirement of the Chief Executive and Deputy’s retirement. Cllr Goodwin advised that NK are undertaking consultation on a design code to set a standard for new buildings.
32. Localism Act 2011 requirements:
a. Apologies and reasons for absence were received and resolved from Cllrs Mrs J Aspinall and Mrs L Hannam.
Apologies were also received from County Councillor L Cawrey
b. Declarations of interest: were received from Cllr Mrs Bland regarding item 36f and Cllr R Harrington regarding item 36e.
c. Applications for dispensation: None.
33. Draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th July 2024 were proposed, seconded and
resolved for signing as the minutes.
34. Matters raised at Public Forum: None.
35. Clerks Report (for information only):
a. An email had been received from NKDC Chief Executive regarding his retirement.
b. The activities and exercise session run by NKDC on 30th Aug was very well attended and enjoyed.
36. To discuss and resolve the following items:
a. The request from Muffin to Lose to serve desserts from the Community Centre car park – as the Council have had a number of these requests it was proposed, seconded and resolved to draw up a guidance policy, for the clerking team to implement and then advise Council accordingly.
b. The offer from the Police Safer Together Team to attend an engagement in the village – Council was advised that this team would come out to talk to specific groups rather than it being a village session. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to invite the team to the Annual Parish meeting.
c. The request from Old Lincolnians to have a season let of the playing fields – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to advise the club that a trial period would be allowed, for one season. However, they would not be able to play on a Sunday and would have to play their matches in April, May, August and September away from home due to the area/pitches being used by our current longstanding bookings. It was agreed that Council would not allow them to have a container on the playing fields.
d. The letter from the Environment Agency regarding the bridge over the South Delph – further communication had been received and it was advised that the clerking team are seeking advice from LCC regarding the type of bridge and groundworks/costings and to request an onsite visit with the Internal Drainage Board and LCC for their opinions and any clarification.
e. The request from Penfold Players to replace the stage curtains and to install rails and a new track for the back of stage curtains – Council were advised that the curtains will be fire retardant to the appropriate standard (BS5867) and that the tracks will be on the ceiling and not on the stage floor. It was proposed, seconded and resolved for Penfold to replace the curtains as requested.
f. The request from Washingborough Bowls Club to amend their grant award from bowls pushers to a new lawn mower. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to agree this request.
g. For Councillors to volunteer to help at the Macmillan Coffee Morning on 27th September – Cllrs Mrs Simons, Mrs Bland, Mrs Skelton. Mrs Whipp and Harrington volunteered to help with this event.
h. For Councillors to volunteer for the winter coffee mornings, held fortnightly from 3rd October – Cllrs Bland, Mrs Skelton and
Mrs Whipp volunteered for the October and November dates.
i. Cleaning of the MUGA Courts – following the issues of non- attendance by the current contractor, it was proposed, seconded and resolved to advise the current contractor that his services were no longer required and to look for a new contractor to undertake the cleaning maintenance of the MUGA courts and to have this done in early spring 2025 and to advise our users accordingly.
j. Update from the Flooding Working Party – it was advised that there had been a misunderstanding regarding the production of an emergency plan but this has been resolved and the draft will be available for the October meeting of the Parish Council.
37. Planning Matters.
a. To resolve any comments on the following applications received. None.
b. The following comments returned under Clerks delegated powers were ratified:
i. 24/0828/HOUS: 47 Fen Road – Erection of two storey front and side extensions and single storey rear extensions with balcony to first floor. Council had no comment to make on this application.
ii. 24/0851/TPO: 10 Church Hill – Work to trees subject to tree preservation order. Council had no comment to make on this application.
iii. 24/0825/PNH: 38c Lincoln Road – Single storey rear extension 4.0m in length from the original wall, eaves height of 2.6m and maximum height of 3.8m. Council had no comment to make on this application.
iv. 24/0882/TPO: 18 Eve Gardens – Work to trees subject to tree preservation order. Council had no comment to make on this application.
v. 24/0818/FUL: Postmasters Cottage, 5 High Street – Erection of garden office. Council had no comment to make on this application.
vi. 24/0916/HOUS: 26 Fen Road – Demolish existing extension and erection of rear extension, two storey front garage extension with dormer and new roof (loft conversion) with dormer and roof lights.
Council had no comments to make on this application.
vii. 24/0951/TPO: West Lodge, 14 Manor Road – Sycamore – fell Council had no comments to make on this application.
c. The decisions on the following applications were noted:
i. 24/0510/VARCON: 7 School Lane - Application to vary condition 4 (approved construction details) of planning permission 23/1128/HOUS – Demolition and replacement of existing garage & boundary walling and amended vehicular access – original proposal which condition relates to is not an accurate representation of what is possible to build on site due to levels. Approved.
ii. 24/0607/ HOUS: 19 Park Crescent - Raising of the roof to facilitate creation of first floor (including attached garage) with dormer windows to front & rear, two storey front extension & single storey rear extension (inc. demolition of conservatory), all with render finish and feature oak cladding & widening of existing drop kerb access. Approved.
iii. 24/0746/HOUS: 12 Church Hill – Erection of single storey extension to entrance lobby and part removal of boundary wall. Approved.
iv. 24/0778/HOUS: Claytops, Washingborough Road – proposed flat roof single storey side extension. Approved.
38. Finance matters
a The payment schedule of August 2024 was ratified.
b. The payment schedule for September 2024 was proposed, seconded and resolved and the salaries were noted.
c. The accounts and budgets for August 2024 were noted.
d. The Unity Trust Bank statements for July and August 2024 were noted.
e. The purchase of bark chippings at approximately £95 per bag (inc VAT), for the Double Mega Deck area in the play park was proposed, seconded and resolved.
f. The purchase of Grass Crete squares for areas of the play park and exercise equipment was proposed, seconded and resolved.
g. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the quote from M Gladwin Electrical for remedial work to the emergency lighting in the Community Centre and Pavilion.
h. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the quotes from Welton Tree Services for the following work to Council owned trees
i. Black Poplar (leaning) bottom of playing fields (weight to be removed from the leaning side and reduce height to balance tree £750
ii. Black Poplar overhanging B1190 (heavy pollard – traffic management and cherry picker required for this work) £1950 + VAT.
iii. Poplar x 7, Ash & Cherry trees, to pollard and crown raise (approx. 4 days’ work) at £1280 + VAT per day.
i. It was proposed, seconded and resolved to allow Selmec to work with Freedom Fire and Security to
resolve the problem with the fire alarm in the Pavilion.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 6.55pm.
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS: August 2024 Amount
Petty Cash
Aug Pitstop Petrol (July) £42.34
Current Account
Aug NKDC NDR (CC) £418.00
Aug NKDC NDR (P) £358.00
Aug XLN Telephone & Broadband £110.51
Aug ESPO Gas (CC) £132.38
Aug ESPO Gas (P) £ 73.20
Aug Glendale Chapel Park/Ferry Lane £144.32
Aug M Gladman PAT Testing £240.00
Aug Robert Marshall Refund (Craft Fair cancel) £ 10.00
Aug Karen Broddle Dell desktop x 2 £957.98
Aug LALC Missed Training M Gibbons £ 30.00
Aug ESPO Anti Climb Notices, Stationary, etc £114.18
Aug Wave Water Rates (Pavilion) £116.00
Aug Selmec Issue with Fire Alarm (P) £119.40
Aug Wave Water Rates (CC) £ 301.85
£3,125.82
Salaries etc.
Aug Salaries etc. £9,754.63
Total expenditure: August 2024 £12,922.79
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS: September 2024 Amount
Petty Cash
18-Sep-24 Pitstop Petrol ( Sept) £ 31.04
18-Sep-24 Pitstop Feeler Gauge Set £ 4.99
18-Sep-24 Sharpshine Window Cleaning £ 78.00
£114.03
Current Account
18-Sep-24 NKDC NDR (CC) £ 418.00
18-Sep-24 NKDC NDR (P) £ 358.00
18-Sep-24 XLN Telephone & Broadband £ 110.51
18-Sep-24 ESPO Gas (CC) £ 147.67
18-Sep-24 ESPO Gas (P) £ 65.77
18-Sep-24 Total Energies Electric (CC) £ 410.56
18-Sep-24 Wave Water Rates (Pavilion) £ 116.00
18-Sep-24 Glendale Chapel Park/Ferry Lane Grass £ 144.32
18-Sep-24 PPL/PRS Music Licence £ 881.28
18-Sep-24 Origin Amenity Sol Whire Line Marker £ 244.20
18-Sep-24 ESPO Cleaning & Admin £ 226.98
18-Sep-24 LALC Missed Training M Gibbons £ 30.00
18-Sep-24 Information Comm Date Protection Ren £ 40.00
18-Sep-24 PKF Littlejphn External Audit £ 756.00
18-Sep-24 LALC Councillor Training £ 72.00
18-Sep-24 ESPO Admin £ 2.10
18-Sep-24 G M Brow IT Services £ 250.00
18-Sep-24 Dexel, Tyres Puncture Repair-Tractor £ 101.00
18/09/2024 Sharp Shine Window Cleaning £ 39.00
£ 4,413.39
Salaries etc.
18-Sep-24 Salaries £ 9,849.32
Total expenditure: September 2024 £14,376.74
NKDC Report
August – September
Ian, Carola, Reece
Install complete of enhanced CCTV in Sleaford
Sleaford town centre is now protected by expanded and improved CCTV coverage, following the completion of a project to upgrade it.
Seven existing CCTV units in the town centre have been upgraded using £58,000 of Safer Streets funding, achieved in a joint bid together by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones and North Kesteven District Council. Each unit now has four CCTV cameras, and the footage provided is also of much higher quality after upgrading the technology that the cameras use.
A wider area in the town centre is now covered by CCTV thanks to four additional units installed using UK Shared Prosperity Fund monies. These extra CCTV camera units have been installed in key locations based on data assessments by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, North Kesteven District Council and with the support of partners including Sleaford Town Council which contributes towards ongoing CCTV monitoring.
It creates an upgraded network of 11 CCTV units in total, with each one made up of four cameras and all providing much better quality footage than before. It makes a total of 44 CCTV cameras available across the town centre for operators to use in the event of an incident or emergency and to help maintain community safety.
The cameras are monitored 24/7 on behalf of North Kesteven District Council by operatives based at Boston Borough Council, and are just one way that partners including NKDC work together to support safe communities in North Kesteven.
Restart a Heart Day at Sleaford Leisure Centre - Learn CPR
On Restart a Heart Day, 16 October, Sleaford Leisure Centre will host a public CPR training session that is open to anyone to attend.
Sessions will run 4:00-5:00pm and 5:00-6:00pm in the Leisure Centre Studio. More details on the poster.
Community Champions open for nominations
Nominations are now open for you to champion and celebrate those people you think your community just couldn’t be without.
The NK Community Champion Awards look to say ‘thank you’ to those people who enrich our lives through their voluntary contributions, operating selflessly, tirelessly, charitably and consistently in carrying out tasks and functions which enrich our communities – from litter picking or running sports clubs to enabling art and creativity to flourish, supporting the health and wellbeing of others, actively promoting positive climate action, being a good neighbour or an inspirational young person, or just embodying community spirit in all that they do.
Across 10 categories, the Council and its sponsoring businesses want to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributes to our District of Flourishing Communities through their voluntary actions.
See www.NKawards.org for details and to make a nomination.
The deadline for nominations is September 16, working towards an awards celebration on November 27.
If a business would like to complete the sponsors’ line-up for this year, playing a vital role in ensuring the good work of our amazing volunteers is celebrated and championed, please contact champions@n-kesteven.gov.uk.
Prosperity, Potential, Planet - a green business event
Discover how sustainability can boost your business at ‘Prosperity, Potential, Planet: Solutions for your business’, on Thursday 12 September at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln.
Highlights for the event include:
• Networking breakfast: Starting at 8am, free for all to join, but places will be limited!
• Exhibition: Open from 9am, with 25+ exhibitors
• Expert speaker sessions: Gain insights from sustainability experts and local businesses
Plus, join the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce for a networking lunch at 1pm followed by a free guided walk to explore the Bomber Command Centre.
Reserve your free place today: https://ProsperityPotentialPlanet.eventbrite.com
You can also book onto Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce’s event at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-chamber-of-commerce-networking-event-tickets-953397165587
This event has been funded by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, being delivered by North Kesteven District Council.
We're making every effort to make the event itself as sustainable as possible. If you can, please consider travelling by public transport, cycle or walking. There's information on journey planning on the IBCC website
New mosaic and works to Monument Gardens
A new mosaic dedicated to the River Slea will flow through Sleaford’s Monument Gardens following a refresh of the space starting soon – and your help is needed now on another important aspect of the works. The Monument Gardens project is expected to start in early September and take around seven weeks to complete, with the works including:
• The creation of a floor mosaic which will reflect the shape and colours of the River Slea. A local artist (Vikki Buss of PIX Glass Design, Navigation Yard) has been commissioned to create it, and it will be in keeping with the existing Les Gostick Memorial on the exterior wall of Sleaford Museum.
• Separating two of the existing Monument Gardens flower beds into four new hexagonal flower beds, adding low maintenance planting while retaining the large lime tree and two silver birch trees that are already there and the one remaining flowerbed to the north. There’ll also be feature lighting to highlight this new planting scheme.
• Repaving some of the area around the new planters and floor mosaic and giving the rest of the surrounding paving a good clean.
• A flagpole installed within the gardens, so that flags may be flown.
• Installation of new seating, which will also increase the number of benches at the gardens from two to four.
• Wall lights to highlight the museum and help its signage stand out.
• Repainting of the exterior walls of the museum and its shutter.
• As a final flourish, a salvaged heritage Sleaford town sign will be installed as a new feature for Monument Gardens.
Washingborough Parish Council Meeting
18 September 2024
County Councillor Report
North Hykeham Relief Road Funding Under Threat
As one of the first acts of the new government since July’s general election, a review of all capital schemes is underway. This has put the £110m funding previously promised for the North Hykeham Relief Road under threat.
Lincolnshire County Council has already spent £14m on the project, already secured planning permission, and are just over a year away from breaking ground. Further to this, losing this funding would mean not being able to unlock land for 4,500 homes, seven hectares of employment space, and over £350m in economic benefits over the next sixty years.
It would be a huge blow for our county, and the £110m gap is simply too large for our council to fill. We’ve got support from Dr Caroline Johnson MP and have also reached out to Lincoln’s new MP and the transport secretary, urging them to safeguard this vital project to ensure our area does not miss out.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate removes Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s ‘cause of concern’
In July, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue welcomed inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to assess progress the service had made on ‘ensuring fairness and promoting diversity’.
This area is no longer deemed a cause of concern and the Inspectorate has commended us on the significant work the service has been doing and the progress made. The feedback from HMICFRS highlights LFR’s substantial improvements in several areas including:
• Communications
• Clear processes put in place for reporting EDI issues
• Steps taken to enhance equality impact assessments
• Establishing our Talent, Resourcing and Learning Team
As the Executive Member for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, I have thanked the Chief Fire Officer for the hard work he and his whole team have put in to achieve this improvement, particularly the leadership of the service for the focus they have put on making improvements while still maintaining high standards and delivering a good service to the public. It is a great achievement in an area that is challenging for all fire services across the country.
Lincolnshire loves its libraries
Last year, residents visited the county’s libraries a million times and took out over two million items. This represents a 16 per cent rise in visits and a 17 per cent rise in issues compared to the year before. On top of these regular visits, 87,000 people enjoyed activities and events put on at our libraries, including story time sessions, craft and coding clubs, family history and reading groups. Residents’ love of their library service is also shown in customer feedback taken throughout the year. Library users rated both the staff and customer experience 4.9 out of a possible 5 stars, and 80 per cent said that ‘access to a wide range of books and other resources’ was the best thing about their library service.
It’s just around the corner
Whilst the leaves have only just started falling off the trees, plans are well and truly coming together for another exciting Christmas at Lincoln Castle. Once again, we’ll be hosting our sparkling ‘Lincoln Castle Illuminated’ event throughout December, helping residents and visitors really get into the festive spirit in the city. Due to popular demand, we have extended the event this year to add an extra weekend, running from 29 November right through to 23 December.
Tickets will be on sale from late September, exclusively from www.lincolncastle.com. More than 24,000 people enjoyed the festive event last year, and popular dates are expected to sell out very quickly.
Evening Bus Service
I was delighted to announce the commencement of a new evening bus service from Lincoln which serves Washingborough, Heighington, Branston and Bracebridge Heath in early September. I have been campaigning for an evening bus service for many years and I pleased to say that I have already used the service on a number of occasions.