March 2024 DRAFT Minutes
Londonthorpe & Harrowby Without Parish Council
Clerk; Peter A. Armstrong 27 Belton Ave Grantham Lincs NG31 9JE
Tel 07929321426 E-mail londonthorpeharrowby@ntlworld.com
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th March 2024 at Belmont school. Meeting started at 7.10pm after the Annual Parish Meeting
Councillors present: Paul Bakker, Alan Bowling, Geoff Parnham, Carol Markwell, Paul Nesbitt, Paul Bavin, R Keeler, Elvis Stooke and Yolanda Martin 9 members were present. LCC Cllr L Wootten & SKDC Cllr P Gadd in attendance. Chair; Cllr C Markwell in the Chair.
22/86 Apologies: Avril Gregory (I), D Thorpe (w). Pete Armstrong the Clerk took the notes.
23/87 Declarations of Interest; None declared.
23/88 Casual Vacancies: Two vacancies remain and are advertised on the Website.
23/89 Co-opted to sign declaration: None.
23/90 Clerks Notes: those of the 10th January 2024 meeting were accepted as a true record and therefore became the minutes. Proposed by E Stooke seconded G Parnham, all members were fully in agreement.
23/91 Clerks Update on Matters Arising: As usual all matters fell within the very full agenda.
23/92 Financial Statement No 6 of 23-24. Councillors as usual had received the reports taken off the Scribe system prior to the meeting. The Clerk went through the report in the detail explaining all the payments. This being the last report for the year would not normally change much before the Audit, but this year we still may receive the actual invoice for the play equipment.
Payments to Mar 10th 2024: Salaries: £1984.45.
L&O- Bridge End Grove Down Payment £4046.40 (VAT £674.40) BHMS £185.29 (VAT £9.17) Trees 156.60 (VAT £21.70) ROSPA Inspection £300 (VAT £50.00).
Newsletter: £1125. Office: Paper etc £25.97 (VAT £4.00), Clerks Annual Expenses £350, Bank Charges £6.89. Room Hire £215.60. Cloudnext £42.12 (£7.02)
Repairs: Litter Grab £19.99 (VAT £3.33) Total Spend £8457.72 VAT £769.72.
INCOME National Grid £81.32, Interest £90.78, Refund £17.98 Total £190.08
Known expenditure prior to the May meeting: Salaries, HMRC, Play Equipment Bridge End Grove- Londonthorpe, Repairs Millenium Garden, LALC, Scribe Accounts, plus any payments re Play.
The request has been received for a donation to the “Sunnifest” to be held on Sunningdale on 22nd June. This is for the toilets at a cost of £200+VAT. The Clerk will place the order in liaison. Proposed by A Bowling Sec Y Martin, unan.
Agreement to accept the Financial Statement No 6 for 2024/25 plus the normal expected payments for up to the March meeting was proposed by R Keeler seconded by E Stooke and signed off the statements for this period. Agreed Unan.
23/93 Leisure & Outdoor Committee: minutes of the last meeting had been sent to all.
a. ROSPA, this was completed on a wet day in December, no major issues some already dealt with others in our plans for replacement.
b. Belfry: the painting of the fence will be done in the spring by the team of volunteers from Balfour Beatty. We have not yet been given a supply list of materials yet. These will be purchased as and when requested. It has been reported that the post holding up the sign has been broken.
c. Londonthorpe: the meeting discussed the document regarding the purchase of the swings. After discussion it was decided that a design comprising of two flat swings and one basket swing should be purchased to replace the old wooden ones. This would be from “Kompan” under a sale offer they have on until the end of March. The cost would be around £3600 plus fitting and safety surfacing this was proposed by E Stooke Sec P Nesbitt. One of the Springers offered to us by Vale will also be located here, when the swings are done. The working party to cutback the hedge took place on Friday 8th. Work done on the day took back the hedge line by up to three metres in some places. This has left a dark and rough backdrop with some holes in the trunkline. A suggestion was made to put a fence in place. Some possibilities and costs were given to Cllrs for perusal. Members agreed the Welded Link fencing would be the best option. The L&O will define the work and quotes before the suppliers chosen. Some replacement trees were planted this week by the Clerk and P Bakker. Cllr C Markwell will organise the watering of them. A pest controller is to be brought in to try and clear the moles. National Grid took down the Cherry tree on Church Lane. Some residents not happy but this was required for safety reasons. This is to be replaced with smaller species of tree.
d. Bridge End Grove: the equipment has still not arrived, and it will possibly still be too wet underfoot when it does. UKSPF have been contacted to let them know the situation. They have not yet come back to us. One of the Springers and the Balance Equipment offered by Vale have been confirmed for this site. They will be fitted at the same time. We have a mole problem here also.
e. Withambrook: everyone was informed previously of the assault that took place here by a young unlicenced motorcyclist and another youngster. The youngster assaulted is still undergoing dental treatment. We don’t have any further information on the assailant as police are still pursuing this so won’t give further details. Community Cleaner has reported picking up a lot of cans within the bushes at the back of the industrial units which may have been used in drug abuse.
f. Hills & Hollows: We have been informed the Sofa’s that appeared last summer are still there but hidden in the undergrowth. I will arrange with some volunteers to go up and do a controlled burn of them. Again, some failed trees are to be replaced, one an Oak was replaced by Paul Bk and the Clerk earlier this month. Tony Parker has continued his clean-up of the brash from the hedge trimming, once again we will need a burn of this. Richard K has continued with the removal of the self-set hawthorn. The Clerk thanked all who continue to assist on this valuable parish asset. More trees may be planted to fill some gaps.
g. Blessed Hugh More & Jubilee Mount: The working party on the 17th February did some sterling work, the tasks completed were putting cross drains in our path down from the Hall. These seem to have worked quite well, as after the 25mm of rain that fell Sat/Sun the path was less waterlogged than normal, and the side drains contained water. Further work to enlarge these side drains would be beneficial. 15 bags of pebbles were used to form the cross drains. Once again thanks to the seven volunteers that put their backs into this task. (These included Cllrs PBK, AB, RK the Clerk and three of our woodland Trust people)
A hole was dug for the donated Cherry Tree, but as the donor would struggle to get up there in the present conditions she was asked if she would like us to plant it. She agreed to this, and the Clerk planted it and sent photos. A Cheque for the donation was received tonight. Further shrub planting took place on the slope behind the Windsor drive bungalows. It has been noted the amount of damage done by the motorcyclists on the field. This has been passed on to the police and our SKDC Cllrs. We believe a concerted effort to encourage all four Cllrs responsible for the area becoming more involved is required. Cllr Stooke has been involved in setting up the meetings with the police & PC and we must continue this.
h. Woodland Trust Working Parties: The last of the season was held on the 3rd of March with the planting of Beech, Dogwood, Hazel and a few “Field Maple” left from the earlier session at the Carpark. Over 500 saplings were planted. We have a new area manager from the 1st March, David Logan. On Monday three members completed the full day First Aid Training course for Woodland Trust Workers. Richard Keeler, Phil Trapps & the Clerk, and they all have received their certificates.
As part of the Reconnecting Grantham Project Cllr Bakker & the Clerk had attended a meeting where a possible Community event is to be held in September at Belton Park. Further details will follow.
i. Millennium Garden: the team working with Belmont School Gardening Club will continue again for 2024. It was noted that for a first year of this collaboration it has worked well but has been a learning curve for both sides. Planning is in place to start sowing flower seeds as soon as they come back after the Easter break.
Many of the wooden posts again need replacing. This is an ongoing theme year after year, so another alternative is being proposed. Recycled Plastic Planks. The cost of this if we go with the suggested supplier etc would be around £500 for materials plus fitting. This was accepted on a proposal byP Nesbitt sec A Bowling. Cllrs Bakker & Parnham attended Belmont on Monday Pm and directed and assisted with the planting of some hedgerow saplings from the Woodland Trust.
We have tried to apply for some trees from “I Dig Trees” conservation group but they have closed the applications list, but we are on the list for when they reopen application.
OTHER: Grass Cutting: the present contract will continue with Firths. An increase in cost as was expected has arrived this is 8%. This will mean an approx. £280 increase in the annual cost. This is catered for in our budget.
Outstanding Repairs: Nothing unless something requires doing from the ROSPA report and when we do the Parish Tours which will be held in May/June. All items low risk, some will be done as a matter of course others will disappear when we replace equipment.
Future Playground Plans: None reported to the Clerk since the previous meeting. Londonthorpe was next for the 24-25 financial year and planning for that is now well underway. (See C.)
Defibrillators: we are working on getting another defibrillator to be sited in Londonthorpe. One resident has offered to investigate it being placed on his home which is in the middle of the village. Clerk is liaising.
23/94 Planning: Applications dealt with as arising, these are sent to all councillors with at least five of the councillors expected to comment/reply including those on the Planning Group. The Clerk reiterated the need to reply if you are one of the five nominated.
Ash Tree Solar Farm: we are waiting for this to come up before committee or come back as an amended plan. MOD and National Trust have now put in their objections. We are learning new things everyday about these solar Farms and especially the batter storage facilities.
Welby North Solar Farm, archaeology works are being undertaken. Church Lane Welby, developers have sent plans to SKDC but not yet released. Another consultation meeting is to be held on the 26th March at Belton Woods.
23/2158 52 Saltersford Road, possible change to Childrens Care Home. Objection sent to SKDC. It had been called in but as we had nothing further to add to our earlier statements we did not speak at that meeting.
24/0234 Chancey House, better plan than original.
24/0213 Somerby Hill Caravan Site, concerns over the density of planned spaces. To be related to SKDC.
24/0331 Kenilworth Road the planned Rendering frontage does not fit in with surrounding builds on the estate.
255 Harrowby Lane, Street Naming. Suggestions have been going backwards and forwards for some time, they know we don’t like want Cherry Holt Close and they don’t like our latest suggestions.
The present suggestion from them is Fairview Close which most Cllrs replies seem happy with.
Nothing further heard on the Bloor Homes Site or Spittlegate Heath developments.
Iron Oak Farm to be referred to SKDC as there now are two dwelling vehicles on site.
23/95 Highway Matters: Turnor Road Restricted Highway-Access, considerable correspondence had been going backwards and forwards on this. Cllr L Wootten became involved and reported the design of the notice was still being decided under Section 34. We highlighted Turnor Road in the newsletter no comebacks from public received. Trying to get some more dates set for the CSW to operate again.
Harrowby Lane Running Water: still waiting for a specialist machine to be brought in to perform the task. This is quite treacherous on frosty mornings!
Londonthorpe Lane flooding from the ditch over to Five Gates. It is believed that the conduit under the road is blocked.
SLRR: first section of the bridge is continued to be built on site.
23/96 Community Police Meeting: Unfortunately, both the Clerk & Cllr Bowling were unable to attend at the last minute. Cllr Stooke brought us up to date. Items discussed mainly dealt with the continued trouble with the illegal motorcycles. They are doing considerable damage around the parish. it is noted as a priority for the Grantham East policing team. Drones are being used. The importance of reporting was stressed by all.
23/97 Newsletter: Only one actual response received which was a glowing one. Councillors though were approached when delivering, and the motorcyclists were a high priority. An agreement to run a Defib Training course had to be cancelled due to insufficient takers, at least 8 participants were required.
23/98 Policies: Standing Orders. Several policies are to be looked at by the Policies Group ready to present to the next meeting, several are due for reaccepting in 2024.
23/99 Councillor Area of Responsibilities: Defibrillator checks completed Clerk will update system. It was reported guns had been heard being fired at the H&H on the 12th early in the morning.
Dog Fouling Signs for Wentworth and Fifth Ave. Harrowby Lane flooding.
23/100 Correspondence: one email had been received requesting help etc with suggestion about Wendella Wood and the layby. The Chair and Clerk will meet up with the owner to discuss. Meeting with Ian Cooper at Belton arranged for 2:00pm on the 2nd April.
As usual all other relevant correspondence has been passed on as it arrived by email.
23/101 Matters for the 8th of May 2024 Agenda.
Meeting closed 8.54pm
Next meeting: @ Belmont School Wednesday May 8th, 2024, at 7.00pm. this will be the Annual Parish Council Meeting.